Dodge Dakota ForumDodge Dakota PhotosDodgeDakota.net Membership
  Forums   Forum Tools
06:35:03 - 04/18/2024

General Dakota Board
FromMessage
riderjones
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


9/07/2006
03:31:16

Subject: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
Hello I have a 2004 Dodge Dakota 4.7l v8 AWD with the factory towing package and am looking at towing a travel trailer. One dealer said my max towing capacity was 5300 lbs but another said it was 6100lbs, anyone know which one it is???

thanks

Riderjones




little jer
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

9/07/2006
09:00:17

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
maximum trailer wt. for the Dakota *when properly equipped range from the low of 6,100 lb for a quad cab 4x4, to 6,700 lb for a reg cab 4x2. Properly equipped means towing package and engine and cooling packages.



jayb
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

9/07/2006
12:14:30

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
the funny thing is, they rate the quad cab to tow less, but it should tow more cause its heavier and the load wont throw the truck around as much.
thats how the state looks at it, if its got a longer wheelbase, and weighs more, it can tow more.



modain
GenIII
 Email User Profile


9/07/2006
13:25:54

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
It's all about GCWR, which is about 10,500 pounds. They arrive at the "max" trailer weight by subtracting the truck's weight from the GCWR. Since the RC weighs less than the QC more pounds are available for your trailer.

Personally, I'd rather be pulling a long and heavy trailer with the longer wheelbase of the QC. But the numbers cited by the mfgr don't take the tow or towed vehicle lengths, sizes, or weights into consideration when deriving what the max trailer weight should be.

Go to www.dodge.com/towing to see what the specifics for your truck and drivetrain are.

What's your left foot doing?
=========================================
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, loads o'fun...
2001 Patriot Blue Durango SLT, 4.7L, 45RFE, Superchips 3715, 3.55 Open (for now)
1999 Forest Green Dakota RC Sport, 2.5L, NV1500, 3.55 Open


Dan M
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

9/07/2006
13:55:35

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
In addition to what was said above, there are other things to keep in mind about towing and hauling.

suspension. The QC has a heavier suspension stock than the RC/CC. This is to support the added weight of the truck. As modain pointed out, you need to keep in mind the gross vehicle weight (truck + all cargo + trailer). Based on the gross weight and the extra weight of the QC you can tow less than a RC/CC.

A heavy trailer, weak suspension can drag the back end down and you may get some chain draggage including pretty sparks.

Also, keep in mind the state you live in and the weight restrictions for the tag you have. As an example, the standard truck plate back home in Indiana is (was) 7,000 lbs (at least when I lived there). This mean the vehicle and any cargo and trailer could not exceed 7,000 lbs or you can be ticketed. There was a big deal about this about 10 years ago and i know people with cargo vans wound up buying the truck plate instead of the standard plate (used by cars, vans, etc basically any vehicle but a truck) because the standard plate was something like 5500lb GVW. The next step up was a 12,000 lb plate that many of the full size work truks were using.

In NC, the is some sort of farming plate (my father in-law has one) that has a higher weight limit than the standard plate.

Also, keep your gears in mind. On my 02 QC 4.7L The manual has a lower towing weight limit with the stock 3.55 gears than the optional 3.92 gears.

My truck has the towing package (class IV hitch) and heavy duty group (transmission cooler). Yes, it has a Class IV hitch which is a 10,000 lbs hitch vs Class III which is 5,000 lbs.

I personally would not tow anything over 5,000 lbs on my stock 3.55 gears. If i swapped out gears to something better, i'd get a load distribution system to towing anything near 10,000 lbs.

Also keep braking in mind.

personally i have towed a 6x12 uhaul trailer with around 4,000-4500 lbs in my old 95 CC 4x4 3.9L auto with no tranmission cooler using an aftermarket class III hitch with no problems except bad gas milage (10 mpg instead of my usual 17) and a lot longer braking distanced needed. A trailer weight 4,000 lbs easily pushed my old CC and it would be a little hard to push my new QC because of the huge weight difference between the 2 trucks.

- Dan M



Deerridge
GenIII
 User Profile


9/07/2006
16:06:52

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
I've got an 03 RC Awd. Mine has the heavier load capacity and a 3.92 rear. I pull a three horse trailer loaded over 7000 lbs with mine. The tow rating is about 6500 pounds.

The quad cab is rated lower because it has to pull that extra 500lbs of curb weight. The combined rating would be the same. Mine has a GCWR of 10500 lbs with a curb weight of 4000 lbs. The change in curb weight to 4500 lbs for the quad comes off the tow capacity. Going down to a 3.55 rear end takes off another 500 to 1000 too.

Real Horsepower

RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

9/08/2006
06:43:29

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
Besides the max weight a Dakota can pull, keep
in mind how long your RV is also.

When my better half and I were buying a travel
trailor, the RV dealer ship looked up the specs
for my 02, 4X4, EX Cab, V8, Auto and Tow package
and 26' was the max it said it could pull, SAFELY.

We ended up with Trail Lite 26 footer and got all
the extras to pull it at highway speeds. It
handles very nice.




Rider Jones
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


9/10/2006
09:28:56

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
How much does your travel trailer weigh? Did you have to get a weight distribution hitch??



Tracy
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

2/20/2015
20:04:55

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
Just purchased a Jayco Jay Flight 26bh.
Looking at purchasing a 2000 Dodge Dakota 318 automatic with a v8 and it is a 4WD. Is this a good tow vehicle? Camper weighs dry 4500 up to 7500. I can't find anything online that state what the dodge can tow. Sorry single women here, I may have purchased too big of a TT.



daddio
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

2/21/2015
07:30:24

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
I hate to be the one to tell you but the 5.2/318 was not
available in the Dak in '00. Look for a 5.9.



Mike Ackerman
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

6/06/2016
12:40:14

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
I am looking at buying a 2001 Dodge Dakota CC with a 4.7 V8. how do I find out if it has a trani-cooler? I will need to add the class III hitch and I will be towing a Pop-up with bikes and Kayaks about 3,500 total.



craig ainswor
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/20/2016
20:55:18

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
can i haul a 20 ft tandem axle prowler trailer




Zelma Alexand
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

8/21/2016
11:15:42

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
I am thinking about purchasing a 2001 Dodge Dakota
Sport, 5 speed, 4 cylinder. I need to know the
towing capacity.



Bill Hilty
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

8/24/2016
18:17:33

TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
I have a 2010 Dakota 3.7L automatic... crew cab
with short bed. Thinking of buying a travel
trailer mid 20s' feet in length. Can't find how
much weight I can tow safely. Any ideas ??? thank
you !



jacob
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


9/20/2016
17:31:08

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
I have a 2004 dodge dakota quad cab awd if I pull the truck
with a chain will it mess up the tranny



jacob
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


9/20/2016
17:33:53

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
I have a 2004 dodge dakota quad cab awd if I pull the truck
with a chain will it mess up the tranny. These replica rolex Daytona watches are designed to look and feel like the real thing, making them an affordable alternative that you will be proud to wear.



Steve Barker
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

9/29/2016
18:19:36

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
I have a 2006 dodge Dakota 4 dr slt 3.7 motor automatic. I have seen conflicting info on the weight of a rv I can tow. Can someone please come up with an answer for me I can't find a gvwr on my truck.



TrishaGarrett
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

1/31/2017
10:31:01

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
I have a 2011 V8 Dodge Dakota Bighorn. Want to get a
camper trailer to haul for trips. Looking at a 2011 Heartland
EDGE M21, The dry weight on the camper is around 3300 lbs.
and GVWR is around 4200. Also included is an Equalizer
weight distributing/anti-sway hitch as well as a Prodigy electric
brake controller with wiring harness. Need to know if my truck
can handle this camper?



Mike Scott
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

9/04/2017
18:30:20

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
I have a 2006 Dodge Dakota SLT 4x4 with 3.7v6 short bed-it has the tow/Haul on the shifter,my camper is a 2016 Forest River Flagstaff 12RBST hardside pop-up weight 2112lbs. The truck tows it,and it's not all over the road. usually 50-55 mph.



Matt
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

10/28/2019
16:39:04

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
Need to know towing capacity for my 2011 Dodge
Dakota Big Horn Crew Cab 4x4 4.7-Liter V8 FFV
Engine 5-Speed Overdrive Automatic Transmission.
The boat I bought has a certified weight of 5,640
without gas.



OJ
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

6/10/2021
17:50:31

RE: TOWING CAPACITY??
IP: Logged

Message:
Can anyone tell me why the towing capacity is only 2000lbs on a 2000 Dakota R/T 5.9 Liter?



   P 1 Next Page>>


 



Home | Forums | Members | Pictures | Contact Us

This site is in no way affiliated with Chrysler or any of its subsidiaries.