Sienna as tow vehicle

[rstundra]

Debating whether or not to trade in the tundra for a more efficient small car. Doing so means the wife's sienna becomes the husband's sienna and primary tow vehicle.

So, here's the question. I have a boat that weighs 2800# according to the specs. The Sienna is rated for 3500# giving me a 700# cushion. I equiped the trailer with brakes so comfortable with the stopping side. So, the questions are:

1. Are engine oil cooler and trans. oil cooler standard on a 2006 Sienna LE?
2. If not, how hard would mounting aftermarket components be? The cooler on my truck doesn't appear that sophisticated. Has anyone done this. I don't want to spend thousands at toyota for a simple small radiator. Seems would be just a matter of putting in line on a transmission hose. JC Whitney sells them for under a hundred bucks (tank of gas, lol).

3. Keep the tundra and trade in the sienna taking a beating on the financing while I'm at it? The tundra is paid for.

Thanks

[maxwell11]

I pulled a 16ft trailer, 300 miles with my van once and it pulled it fine, but vans are not built to be full time tow vehicles.

You alway need a 25% overage factor in tow capacity for your tow vehicle, this is a safety factor.

When you pull that boat out of the water, its going to strain the van and I believe you will be rebuilding the trans in short order.

Again, just my two cents!!!!

I tow a travel trailer (6000#) with a 2500 series chevy pickup, truck handles it well, but on a long steep hill the engine will scream getting to the top.

Had to have torque converter replaced in truck transmission ($1000) 80K miles on truck.

Good luck,

[rstundra]

Thanks for the feedback. I think we're sticking with the current car arrangement.