I would advise against it. I own a 2009 Ody and do not think it could handle the load well. I do A LOT of towing, in fact my truck rarely goes anywhere without a trailer of some sorts behind it. Two boats, one 3000 lbs and one 5000 lbs, a utility trailer that is always loaded 2000 lbs to 5000 lbs, and a 10,000 lb 5th wheel/toy hauler. I do all my towing with a F 250 Powerstroke.
Here are some reasons why I do not think the Ody could handle it. I know when we load our Ody with 4 people and a dog and luggage for a weekend, it is already squatting the suspension and it feels “heavy” on the road. Now with the pop up, you will be adding 250 to 500 lbs tounge weight to the suspension. In addition, the Odys are prone to brake warping. One hard stop or one large/steep downhill could cause damage to the brakes. Plus the Odys are prone to transmission problems. Then there is the failing shock problem of Odys. Adding more weight may cause the shocks to fail. You may also be exceeding the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of the Ody which could get stopped and get you a ticket in some states.
I would also be concerned that 3500 lbs may exceed the weight rating of a Class II hitch. I am not certain, but it might. I would suggest a Class III hitch and finding a Class III hitch for an Ody might be tough. Not to mention that the tounge weight of the pop up might exceed the Class II rating.
Most campers have two weight ratings. A dry weight, which is the empty weight and a wet weight. The wet weight includes the extra weight of full propane tank(s) and full water tank(s), it does not include the weight of any gear, such as dishes, linens, food, ice chests, etc. Double check the weight ratings because if the dry rating is 3500 lbs, adding propane, water, and general camping gear adds weight fast.
Before you tow with the Ody, I would make the following suggestions:
1. Make sure the pop up has brakes and they function properly. Install a good trailer brake controller in the Ody to operate the trailer brakes.
2. Get a quality Class III hitch installed.
3. Install a very large transmission cooler and change the fluid often.
4. Don’t tow in overdrive. Towing with excessive weight in overdrive creates enormous amounts of heat and can cause transmission failures.
5. Keep speeds reasonable. Since you will be maxing out the Ody’s tow rating and maybe the GVWR, you may experience a lot of swaying. If the pop up starts swaying, it can cause the Ody to start swaying which can cause a very bad accident. This is the “tail wagging the dog” syndrome. VERY DANGEROUS.
6. Inflate your tires to the Max psi that is stamped on the sidewall. This allows the tire to reach its max weight rating and causes less sidewall flex which causes less heat build up in the tire.
I am not trying to sound negative or discourage you at all. In fact I encourage everyone I know to go camping and let their kids experience and enjoy the outdoors. BUT I do see a lot of bad accidents every year from overloaded vehicles or vehicles that are towing excessive amounts of weight. When I am towing my 5th wheel, I am maxing out my F 250 and I have had some “white knuckle” moments. Those are not fun! You don’t want a fun weekend to turn tragic or endanger your family. I’m sure others will chime in and give additional advice or say I am full of BS, but I do have a lot of experience towing. LOL!
Just my .02. Hope this helps.
