Let's talk vans... Mini Van's and Trade vans

If I was in your position I'd do what I already do which is use my own absolutely perfect safety record worth of wits and common sense to safely tow with whatever I feel like. I wouldn't personally use an nv200 or a promaster city unless i had to, but lots of minivans and SUVs with <3500lb ratings would be fine.  I've towed cars on dolley with multiple generations of chrysler minivan with no issues. 

Given that nobody likes that option, the next thing i'd look at is an NV3500. It'll do anything any half-ton truck will do while being a van and also NOT (necessarily) being a huge commercial van. 

I also think the whole thing about the Astro is overrated. Mechanically it's an S10 with a van body. It's not particularly better suited for towing than any other random minivan. Brakes are blah, stability in hard maneuvers is below average, and the 4l60 isn't really any better than many minivan transmissions for towing unless it's already been gone through and fixed up. In terms of being a minivan it has a cramped footwell and a high step in height. I'm not totally against them, but i think their 'advantages' for towing are exaggerated and more than overshadowed by the uncertainties of 20 years old parts/cars in general. 

This far into this thread and we haven’t seen the candy van yet?  You’all are slipping   

Some of the older Chrysler vans (early 2000s) have a really nice tow package, which includes a 2" reciever, extra trans and oil coolers, beefier rear springs, rear sway bar, and these magical "Nivomat" shocks in the rear. They are self-pumping air shocks that automatically level as they go up and down, so there is never any sagging, and they're pretty stiff. Those shocks are big fatties that cost like $250 a piece to replace but they never seem to break. 

An even rarer subset of these vans also have AWD, but only until about 2003.

We own one such van. I've only ever towed a shell on a dolly, so call it 2200 lbs, but I swear it wasn't even back there. The long wheelbase of minivans makes them pretty stable. If you can suffer the age and build quality of a 4th gen Chrysler van, I would recommend one with the tow package. It's a lot of van.

Those shocks are big fatties that cost like $250 a piece to replace but they never seem to break. 

I have nothing against Nivomats aside from replacement cost, but they DO break. Case in point i bought a Chrysler Pacifica off a friend to fix up and flip. They only came with nivomats in the rear, and these are completely wasted as far as damping. I'm trying to replace them with Koni STRTs from an LX  car. TBD.  

Nice van!

I bought one to flip but it turned out so nice I gave it to my mom, then my dad liked it better and took it, and now it needs a hitch so he can tow his bike. 

Came in to agree with others on three points:

- 07 and up Odyssey when towing (it has the better Ridgeline transmission starting in that year). I'd also install an aftermarket transmission cooler and would monitor trans temps like a hawk.

- Siennas are generally regarded as having better transmissions than the Odysseys

- Airlift springs make a world of difference in a minivan (I installed them on our '05 Odyssey)

Wife and I are in the market for a van this fall.  We are strongly considering a Mercedes Metris, it's more utilitarian then a Sienna or Odyssey, higher towing capacity ( 5k pounds)  and larger interior load area.

JesseWolfe said:

Wife and I are in the market for a van this fall.  We are strongly considering a Mercedes Metris, it's more utilitarian then a Sienna or Odyssey, higher towing capacity ( 5k pounds)  and larger interior load area.

If you are ok without dvd players and stow seating you'll like it. See https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/comfortable-not-trucks-with-ok-towing-capacities-3/146080/page2/

I always felt like our ‘10 odyssey had weak brakes for just normal driving. 

In reply to maschinenbau :

One of my neighbors towed his boat with one of these early 2000s/late 1990s Grand Caravans.  I believe he added airbags to the rear and said it worked pretty good.  This was back when these were relatively new.

I've owned an '08 Odyssey Minivan since ~2011. It has 170k miles now and has been pretty reliable.  Frankly, it hasn't aged very well. The  paint quality (white, non-metallic) was garbage from the factory and now it's flaking off on the roof and hood.  The tan cloth interior picks up dirt, but cleans-up OK.  It just feels tired.  I put $1k into suspension & a motor mounts last year, but there's still a wobble under acceleration that my indie mechanic couldn't diagnose.  He swore the axles/CV joints were good.  It feels like it's a lot older than it really is.

I've never towed anything with it. The Internets says a rigorous PM schedule w/transmission fluid is important, and I've followed it.  It's also a timing belt engine, so if you go this route plan it's replacement @ 100k or 120k miles or so (I can't remember which).  The early 00's odysseys are supposed to have an even weaker transmission, so definitely be wary of those.  The brakes aren't  overly confidence inspiring.

In reply to Hoondavan :

Our 02 T&C just hit 160k miles. I'm pretty happy with the brakes on our T&C. Paint quality is still good, but it's from the midwest so the rockers are gone. I service the trans fluid pretty darn often, like 30k mile intervals. 

I want to start towing my racecar on a dolly with it, but it's the only car my wife can drive and she never wants to go racing. So instead I use my El Camino.

JesseWolfe said:

Wife and I are in the market for a van this fall.  We are strongly considering a Mercedes Metris, it's more utilitarian then a Sienna or Odyssey, higher towing capacity ( 5k pounds)  and larger interior load area.

Before you buy one watch Doug Demuro's review:  Metris Review

maschinenbau said:

Some of the older Chrysler vans (early 2000s) have a really nice tow package, which includes a 2" reciever, extra trans and oil coolers, beefier rear springs, rear sway bar, and these magical "Nivomat" shocks in the rear. They are self-pumping air shocks that automatically level as they go up and down, so there is never any sagging, and they're pretty stiff. Those shocks are big fatties that cost like $250 a piece to replace but they never seem to break. 

An even rarer subset of these vans also have AWD, but only until about 2003.

We own one such van. I've only ever towed a shell on a dolly, so call it 2200 lbs, but I swear it wasn't even back there. The long wheelbase of minivans makes them pretty stable. If you can suffer the age and build quality of a 4th gen Chrysler van, I would recommend one with the tow package. It's a lot of van.

The long wheelbase pulls really well

And a truly Craigslist quality photo:

I want to start towing my racecar on a dolly with it, but it's the only car my wife can drive and she never wants to go racing. So instead I use my El Camino.

Bonus points for those two sentences.  

Sparkydog said:

JesseWolfe said:

Wife and I are in the market for a van this fall.  We are strongly considering a Mercedes Metris, it's more utilitarian then a Sienna or Odyssey, higher towing capacity ( 5k pounds)  and larger interior load area.

Before you buy one watch Doug Demuro's review:  Metris Review

a slightly more professional review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C00aaAx3uzA&feature=youtu.be