bikendan
Napa, Cal.
Senior Member
Joined: 11/21/2005
View Profile
 Offline
|
planetchad wrote:I am considering buying a trailer to tow using my Concorde. The manual says that the maximum trailer weight is 1,500 lbs for Concordes with the 2.7L engine and 2,000 lbs with the 3.2L engine. Mine has the 2.7L engine. The trailer I was looking at weighs 1,800 lbs empty. Do you think that my car could safely tow it? Why would the larger engine be able to handle more? My car is around 200 hp, so I'm thinking that should be enough power. Has anybody had any experience towing campers with this car? If so, what size can it tow? Also, I don't want a pop up.
the only trailer that you should tow is a tear-drop, since you don't want a popup.
a car isn't built for a real travel trailer. your engine is smaller than most minivan's. and they aren't recommended for towing Travel Trailers either.
horsepower is not what you need for towing. torque is what you need. and cars don't have much torque, because they aren't built for towing.
maximum trailer weight means what it says. and you have to subtract any car cargo or passengers' weight from that number.
not many trailers other than teardrops or popups at 1500lbs. maybe a Casita or Scamp.
Dan- Firefighter , Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur , Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever , 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
|
emtee
West Virginia
Senior Member
Joined: 05/24/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
As long as you have stock options in the transmission assembly plant, along with engines and brakes ( oh yeah, lots of brakes), knock yerself out dude. But I wouldn't even tow a four wheeler trailer with it. Your ride is designed to be a passenger car- only. The token 1500 lb rating they give you will still wear a car of that caliber out in a hurry.
If you really want to camp, get the right gear (no pun intended). It'll be a helluva lot more fun if you don't break down every whipstitch, or kill yerself.
Mark and Lucy T.
2004 Chevy 2500HD Gasser
2008 Jayco Eagle 27.5 Super Lite
Superglide on Homemade Removable Rails
|
Road Ruler
Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 09/11/2003
View Profile
|
planetchad..
This thread is a classic example of how "little" most forum members know about the fine art of towing and tow vehicles.
Order up the free Hensley video and have a look at some of the sample combinations.
One of the combinations towing a 34' aerodynamic TT is a Chrysler Intrepid (same chassis as your Concord). Note the Intrepid in the video is a pro set up and does have a custom hitch as Albert F outlined.
The best engine/drivetrain in these vehicles is the 3.5L version and the 2.7 is the poorest but still may work for your needs with some considerations.
I once drove the Intrepid that was shown in the video towing a 31' Airstream and it was the best handling unit I had ever driven!!!
Hensley Video
|
topflite51
In The Desert of Nevada
Senior Member
Joined: 05/13/2004
View Profile
|
Must be a Hensley hitch. VIDEO
David
Just rolling along enjoying life
|
Dick A
Spokane
Moderator
Joined: 12/15/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Moved from General RV'ing forum.
|
|
|
ib516
Up here!
Senior Member
Joined: 04/18/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
I wouldn't do it myself. You're going to be ~700# over the tow rating when hitched up. This may not sound like much, but when you consider that it is roughly 150% of the specified tow rating, it's not going to be a fun experience IMO. I won't debate the safety or handling, but I will debate the power required to tow a full profile trailer in any kind of wind or hills, and a little 2.7L won't do very well IMO. I would also question the durability of the transmission and the cars cooling ability with a trailer in tow.
Check your manual for frontage size at the 1500# tow rating. It may be limited to well below a full sized trailer for a reason.
2004 Cougar 301 BHS 6580# Dry, 9000# wet, 9600# GVWR)
2007 Dodge/5.9L Cummins 3500 SRW Megacab 4x4/3.73
Hypertech Max Energy
"MEGACASPER" 10100# GVWR, 5200# FGAWR, 6200# RGAWR
PICTURES
ELIM 3000 Gen (still going )
Collision Reconstructionist
ScanGauge2
|
Exocet
Central NY, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 04/11/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
A couple of years ago I saw a Concorde towing a 27-28 ft Airstream down the road. I couldn't believe it. It must of had the bigger engine.
2008 Nissan Titan SE, Crew Cab, 4x4
Long Bed, Big Tow
2006 Rockwood 2501
Equal-i-zer
Tekonsha Prodigy
|
dodge guy
Chicago, western subs.
Senior Member
Joined: 03/23/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Nope don`t bother. the 2.7 has issues just hauling around the car itself letalone any type of trailer!
Google search "chrysler 2.7" and you`ll see what I meen.
Wife kim
Son brandon 7yrs
Daughter marissa 6yrs
Dog shadow
07 Cherokee 32B
02 Excursion 4X4 V-10 4.30 gear
Reese HP dualcam,Prodigy brake controller,
Air lift air bags.
Better to have a bad day of
camping than a good day at work!
|
outdoorsman2007
In the Woods - Somewhere!
Senior Member
Joined: 04/12/2007
View Profile
|
planetchad: A previous poster advised that you will need a lot of brakes to tow a trailer - this is not correct advise. The tow vehicle's brakes do not stop the trailer, the trailer's brakes stop the trailer. There is no need to look for a tow vehicle with "lots of brakes" when towing a camper. Please make sure you sift through the advise you get here. Some of these folks have no problem giving advise that will cost you a lot of money for no reason.
|
lrak
MA
Senior Member
Joined: 11/03/2006
View Profile
|
emtee wrote:But I wouldn't even tow a four wheeler trailer with it. Your ride is designed to be a passenger car- only. The token 1500 lb rating they give you will still wear a car of that caliber out in a hurry.
How much will he tow the trailer? What is a hurry?
I've got a 1.8L 1994 Corolla with ~175k miles on it that has towed boat and utility trailers varying between 300 and 1800lbs. It still works fine. Of course its primarily a commuter car. Its only had a trailer behind it for 10-12k miles.
I think towing a popup a few thousand miles a year would be just fine.
|
|
|
