| Author |
Message |
johnwood (206.252.250.66)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 11, 2002 - 4:38 pm: | |
Looking into a caravan c/v for a toad. Will probably need a lube pump. Biggest attraction for me is the rig weighs 2800lbs and has cavernous cargo capacity.
Probably pay as much for the tow bar, mount and pump as the caravan, but I suppose there are no less expensive alternatives.
My question to you all is have you had any experiences with the towability of this rig? Does it "behave" behind the coach? |
Jojo Colina (Du1jec) (209.75.20.72)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 11, 2002 - 6:55 pm: | |
The guy I bought my coach from used to tow an early 90's caravan with a remco lube pump. In fact, I still have the lube pump switch/indicator still installed. Been meaning to yank it, just never got to it. He said it towed just fine. |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.213.39)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 11, 2002 - 7:57 pm: | |
Hello John.
I know a fellow who has towed two different Caravans now the inexpensive way: flood the transmission.
A wrecking yard trip gave him an old windshield washer tank of good size. Work bench bits and pieces gave him a small brass quarter turn valve and some rubber tubing and connections. Plumbed it all into the tranny coolant lines. Figured out how much extra oil that had to go into the tranny to submerge the vulnerable parts and drew a line on the washer tank in permanent marker. Fill old washer tank with extra tranny juice up to the line.
When you want to tow, open the valve, let the extra oil drain down by gravity into the tranny. Want to go for a drive, open valve, start engine, tranny pumps the oil back into the bottle, close valve when the marker mark is reached.
The lube pump and drive shaft disconnect people wouldn't want you to know how simple this is to do.
Perhaps someone with direct experience, instead of this peeping tom, can give better details to assist with an attempted execution of this fine idea.
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
Johnny (63.159.125.29)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 11, 2002 - 8:45 pm: | |
They're rare, but out there: 5-speed Caravans. These need no modifications: just toss it in neutral & go.
I wouldn't trust "flooding" the slushbox transmission--they're fragile as it is.
Also, Astros & Aerostars were made with 5-speeds. |
Alan Baker (205.188.209.11)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 9:09 am: | |
I have been towing a 92 Voyager for 8 years. It has a Remco lube pump. I know too many people who lost their tranny with the "flood method".
It tows like a dream with the exception of the steepest grades you wouldn't know it was there.
I think you read the weight wrong, I belive mine weighs 3800 lbs and I have the short model. I also tow a PT Cruiser with the same set up, I belive it weighs 3200 lbs.
The Plymouth could be for sale soon.
Alan |
johnwood (206.252.250.111)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 11:57 am: | |
The caravan c/v which is the cargo/utility version does list at a curb weight of about 2800!
Shows how much all the seats, trim, carpet, glass, etc weighs, eh?
I was tempted by the flooding method. Prob. stick to pump.
really appreciate all the help.
john |