Hi Everyone, we're a "french couple from Québec" looking to buy a 17B...

[RSD Escape]

Our tow véhicule will be a Dodge Grand Caravan 2013. I'm curious to read about yours experiences witch that specific 17B combos.

Regards!
Sylvie & Réal

[bvansnell]

The towing capacity of the 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan is 3600 pounds according to this source: Dodge Canada | Minivans | 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan Efficiency

The loaded weight of an Escape 17B is less than 3000 pounds according to this source: Trailer Weights in the Real World - Fiberglass RV

Looks like you should be okay.

[Donna D.]

Hi Sylvie & Réal, welcome to the Escape Forum. You'll find the answers you seek here... members are a sharing group.

[LeonW]

Welcome. I tow a 17b with a Toyota sienna that has a towing capacity of 3500 lbs and have no problems. I believe there are one or two caravan owners here

[Sandra L]

Originally Posted by LeonW

Welcome. I tow a 17b with a Toyota Sienna that has a towing capacity of 3500 lbs and have no problems. I believe there are one or two caravan owners here

I also tow my 17B with a Sienna, but her age is creeping up (2005) as we go only about 35 mph up to the top of the Siskiyou summit (about 4300' elevation). On level ground, it is hard to remember the "Suite Escape" is back there.
Welcome. You'll be happy with an Escape!

[RSD Escape]

Thank you for your replies and good words. From now on we've got to save some money to afford that rig.

[Jim Bennett]

Hi Sylvie & Réal. welcome to the world of Escape trailers. A good choice. Hope you can save up your pennies and get one soon. Well, dollars maybe, seeing we no longer have pennies in Canada.

[RSD Escape]

Thank You Jim! We're working on it... and continue reading your posts and others.

[hillary]

Welcome! I too tow a 17B with a 2006 Toyota Sienna with towing capacity of 3500lbs without issue. Sure, we take it easy on mountain passes and usually try to just ride the tail of a decently fast semi, but we haven't had any trouble with power, we're trying to baby the van because we want to keep it going strong for years! On flat, decently paved highway, we hardly know it's there.

[lorrie]

Love seeing all the Toyota Sienna towing vehicles out there. We too pull our 17B with a 2005 Sienna 3500 towing capacity and find it does an excellent job.

[Brian B-P]

I'm another Sienna owner, and while we don't have an Escape, our 17' Boler is wider and heavier than an Escape 17... so I know it would be fine with the Escape. Since about the 2004 model year the Grand Caravan and Sienna are very close in most characteristics, including towing capability (as are the Honda Odyssey and Nissan Quest).

The relatively long wheelbase and reasonably good rear suspension load-carrying ability of these vans enable them to handle this size of trailer well. Although some people always want more power, we have found that we can accelerate and climb mountain grades as well as any recreational trailer rigs we see on the highways.

As with most vehicles, it is important to ensure that the van is equipped with whatever the manufacturer says is required for full towing capacity.

[hillary]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

As with most vehicles, it is important to ensure that the van is equipped with whatever the manufacturer says is required for full towing capacity.

Good point Brian! I neglected to mention we do tow with a WDH, as per the manual to actually have the 3500lb towing capacity (I believe it's 1500lb or 2000lb without WDH) and much prefer the ride with a WDH to without. We towed the trailer home about 30 miles without it when we first bought it, and it was a very clunky ride and we definitely knew the trailer was behind us!!

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by hillary

I neglected to mention we do tow with a WDH, as per the manual to actually have the 3500lb towing capacity (I believe it's 1500lb or 2000lb without WDH)...

The capacity of a Sienna is actually 3500 pounds regardless of whether or not a weight-distributing hitch is used. Equipment to reach that 3500 pound capacity in the case of a Sienna is

• Toyota's "towing preparation package" (which is optional in some years and markets) for engine or transmission reliability
• trailer brakes (required for trailers over 1000 pounds)
• possibly a sway control device (depending on the year and information source) and of course a suitable hitch

A WDH hitch is needed with the Sienna if the hitch weight is over 350 pounds; some Escape 17's are this tongue-heavy, but they generally don't need to be.

Depending on year, the capacity without that towing prep package is only 1200 to 2000 pounds. Perhaps that or the sway control was what Hillary was thinking of.

The Grand Caravan requirements are likely similar, so this is a useful list of things to consider... but the owner's manual is the place to go for specific information. I don't think the Dodge manual contains any specific requirement for a WDH or sway control device, but it does require trailer brakes.

[hillary]

You're right, I just looked in the manual and it says "The maximum gross trailer weight (trailer weight plus cargo weight) must never exceed 3500lb. If towing a trailer and cargo weighing over 2000lb, it is necessary to use a sway control device with sufficient capacity."
Guess I'm not following their rules after all, I completely remembered the requirement being a WDH and not sway control. Oh well, it tows much better with the WDH and we've yet to experience sway.