| From | Message |
GraphiteDak
GenIII
 
9/04/2006
15:51:36
|
 Subject: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
First, lets get around the GOOGLE ADS!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Four ATV's shoved into a Toy Hauler made for 2 to 3. With all our crap most likely has the 7700 Lb GWVR Trailer a little over 8,000 Lbs!
We went up to the Cinder's just NorthEast of Flagstaff Friday night and came home Sunday night.
I was really dreading pulling the huge grades on the way up there getting close to 8,000 foot altitude yet I actually had to slow down for SLOWER traffic and get around them then the little 4.7 would get me back to 50+ mph again.
Holy crap I thought that was pretty good!
20 yrs ago 4 cylinder cars could not even maintain 50mph on these same hills!
I know this is really pushing the limits of a Dakota. But I'd love to see any other "mid sized truck" like a Colorado, Ranger, Tacoma, or (lol!) a Ridgeline do a job like this!!!!
|
clint
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/04/2006
18:16:46
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
actualy the ridgeline is a full size truck with about 230 hp. rated truck of the year even though it only has a six cylinder.
i hate the trucks but thought you aught to know.
|
Obio3
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/04/2006
20:03:08
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
Graphite... I know your a very smart and also Dakota savey person and I most likely am waisting words on this but Just to be on the safe side. I hope your hitch is rated for that much weight. At times, Even the smart guys, Myself included, Don't think of everything even though we know better..
So many problems .... So little time
|
eddy
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/04/2006
21:18:05
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
If he had a Reese or MOPAR hitch he was most likely at least 2-3 pounds over the rating. IF he had a Putnam or Valley I've seen some of those that are actually rated for 8-10,000 pounds.
Ragardless, he was most likely over the rating for the truck. Our trucks can tow 77-7800 pounds absolute max with the right equipment in lighter cab styles wite one single driver and no payload or cargo in the truck. If it was a one-time, short distance thing, good for you. If it's gonna be a regular basis thing, well, I know plenty of half ton owners who would upgrade to a 2500 if they towed that much on a regular basis.
|
eddy
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/04/2006
21:19:08
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
Should read 2-300 pounds, not 2-3.
|
GraphiteDak
GenIII
9/04/2006
22:32:09
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
Clint, I know that Honda is 230 HP, and the 4.7 is about the same. But TORQUE would be apples to Oranges. In fact, I doubt the Ridgeline could even make it up the hill, 30 mph, or even at 5 mph LOL!!!! And by that time, the uni-body would be torn apart :)
I bet my engine was making more torque at 2500 RPM's than the Ridgeline does at peak screaming RPM's.
I just had to report this because of all the times the Taco guys or Ridgeline guys come to the board and say their "trucks" have more power.
eddy, I have the FACTORY hitch. However, I have noticed that Dodge has installed more than one variety when you buy a "Tow Package".
Mine is the heavy duty one bolted to the frame and looks liek evey other heavy duty hitch you would have installed.
My bro in law has something like a 2004 ~ 2005 1500 RAM 4.7
I about laughed my a$$ off when I saw his "tow package" hitch. It was intregal to the bumper and looked weak!!!
I know I am OVER the "rating" but I know I can get away with what I'm doing. I keep it no faster than 65mph just so it isn't stressing the truck too much and also so the trailer don't get away from me.
The 4.56 gears are no doubt helping the rest of the drivetrain so it doesn't get over worked.
Friday afternoon we went through bumper to bumper because of an accident and then onto the grades. Pushing it hard, the A/C on in the Arizona afternoon my temp never went over 2/3 scale.
I actually run HOTTER when I am going off road climbing hills in 4 LO :p
|
Deerridge
GenIII
9/05/2006
11:52:41
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
I do 8000lbs every year hauling hay and pull a three horse trailer that weighs out over 7000 frequently. My little Rc pulls way better than the Silverado (350)I replaced with it. Great little truck. The Tundra may compare to the Dakota, but none of the little ones.
Real Horsepower
|
GraphiteDak
GenIII
9/05/2006
12:26:29
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
I was waiting for you to chime in Deeridge as you have proven the capability of the Dak :)
Some people may not know that some Dak's also come with the bigger 9.25 rear axle and some don't.
Mine has the big axle and large disc brakes. Which is teh same as on a Ram 1500.
|
eddy
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/05/2006
12:32:22
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
I'm not the weight police so like I said, if it was a one-time short distance thing good for you. There's a difference between going 20 minutes to the campsite or yanking a trailer around in a private field or for short distances for work, and cruising 65 on public highways for long distances on a regular basis. If you plan to start towing 8000-pounds or more with your DAK all the time, as far as I can tell you don't live anywhere near me or use my roads so makes no difference. I just wouldn't want to be behind or beside a compact truck towing a trailer that weighed 3500 pounds more than the truck. I have a REESE that attatches to the frame and it maxes out at 7500 pounds with weight distribution. Most mopar hitches I'm seeing are rated for about 7500 pounds, maybe 8000 on a few which still puts you over. You didn't even quote any numbers for your hitch which leads me to believe you don't actually know them. Scary.
Hopefully you at least used weight distribution. If you didn't you were probably at least 2000 pounds over the hitch rating as I've never seen a class IV hitch for our trucks rated for more than 6000 pounds without WD setup. Most are only rated for 5000. You've decided it's worth it to you to do this. Good luck, stay safe, and have fun. Wouldn't be worth it for me. Sounds downright crazy to me actually.
But hey, all that matters is she pulled hard on the hills, right???
|
eddy
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/05/2006
12:34:07
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
My Dak also has the 9 and a quarter.
|
Seriously
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/05/2006
14:23:35
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
I can't beleive they even consider the Ridgeline to be a truck. I mean seriously, it has independent rear suspension which, when you put a load on causes the wheels to have a severe camber problem. And a trunk?! Seriously, stick to you Civics Honda. my .02
|
Kowalski
GenIII
9/05/2006
15:04:39
|  RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
So a 4'x8' sheet of plywood will fit in the back of a Ridgeline ? If not, its not a full size truck...
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
|
jayb
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/05/2006
15:05:31
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
thats cool that you can pull all that weight, but i found out the other day that if i get caught pulling my travel trailer by the pigs, i would get a BIG fine, towed, and someone would have to get the trailer. our trucks may be rated to pull say 7800, but you gotta look at state law too. like that new f-150's rating of 9900lbs. if someone got caught pulling even 9k with that truck they would probably get arrested.
|
GraphiteDak
GenIII
9/05/2006
15:29:22
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
LOL yeah This state doesn't seem to be too picky like California. In Cali an auto pulling a trailer can't go over 55MPH!!!
Eddy. I'm actually pulling the trailer 150 to 200 miles at a time and going to Flagstaff, it's a lot of mountain grades!!!
I am posting from my work van in between jobs, so I couldn't go see the model off of it. :p
As for W/D. Yeah I wouldn't tow without it.
I've got the heavy duty one that slides on brackets going to the tounge. Not the CHAIN type either.
Air bags on my Dak are rated really high so I'm fine there. Absolutely no sagging on the rear of the truck.
When I loaded the trailer last, I stood up each large ATV which put each one over each axle then the two kids ATV's standing up just inside the rear fold down door. That should be ok since it's got a load of water and septic on the front end.
The 4.7 with my gears and tranny probably does quite a bit better than if it was the 5.2 with 46RE
Running 2nd gear to pick up speed and even letting it run 4800 RPM's isn't nothing. ANd hitting 5500+ before shifting is already past the rev limiter of a 5.2 but 1,000 rpm's below my rev limiter.
The 5-45RFE shifts perfectly and will hold low gears based on load even if I remove my foot to half throttle.
I could tell you that I don't always take it out of O/D, but that would start a good argument there from those who don't know the 5-45RFE tranny's :)
|
eddy
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/05/2006
15:38:49
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
I still think you're nuts, but have fun.
|
shaved
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/05/2006
16:14:28
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
There is more to life than a dodge dakota. I like mine but if I wanted to do real truck stuff I'd get a 2500. They are great trucks but a little on the small side for towing through the mountains.
|
jayb
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/05/2006
16:22:37
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
And Graphite said: "Running 2nd gear to pick up speed and even letting it run 4800 RPM's isn't nothing. ANd hitting 5500+ before shifting is already past the rev limiter of a 5.2 but 1,000 rpm's below my rev limiter."
so, what is the rev governer set at for a 93 5.2?
|
PB
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/05/2006
18:26:06
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
the 93 5.2 doesn't have a rev limiter i hit 6,000 once, scary
|
GraphiteDak
GenIII
9/05/2006
22:06:34
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
I know a 2000 5.2 limiter is barely over 5k which is lame I think. WITH a SuperChips programmer they get 5500
That engine should have a 6k limiter stock I would think. The power would drop off on a stock 318 and at least you would rarely hit the limiter. My bro in law runs into his limiter all of the time and it pisses him off.
Anyway. I got home a few min ago and checkout out my hitch again.
I'm over the limit by over 1,000 Lbs.
I've never taken the trailer loaded to a scale. But I know it said GVWR was 7,700. Which would be full tank of water and intended load of ATV's. I am stuffing a little extra in there.
That's the hitch.
And there is the air bags I installed last year.
The truck will probably tow the trailer a few times a year.
The trip to Flagstaff is shorter distance, but more grades to climb!
When I bought the toy hauler, I bought the lightest one I could find and for the deal I got. Which was two yrs old and $10k less than the original owner paid when new :)
We have two Dodge vehicles already no more than 3 yrs old each. We don't want to stress finances any more to upgrade trucks right now. And when we do, I'm thinking of the lines of trading the minivan in for a TurboDeisel Excursion or something. The Dak is too modded and too easy to work on to get rid of. The MiniVan is another story. NOT easy to work on and I know will be a POS if we keep it too long. It's only 2 yrs old.
|
modain
GenIII
9/05/2006
23:49:16
| RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
Hey GraphiteDak, couriously what MPG do you get while towing your rig? My last two trips I got 7.5 and 8.3. You can't be getting any better...
I'm convinced that our Dakotas can pull a big load and do it quite well. But be prepared to pay dearly at the gas pump.
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
|
modain
GenIII
9/06/2006
00:02:59
|  RE: The Dakota is a trailer towing BEAST :)
IP: Logged
Message:
Oh yeah, the Ridgeline...
There was a guy at an adjacent campsite this past weekend that pulled a tent trailer with a Ridgeline. When he was loaded up with the bed full, four people inside, and the trailer hooked up the rear end was sagging real low. The suspension is made for comfort, not load carrying.
When I pulled my tent trailer with a loaded bed, the rear end hardly had any sag.
When I arrived he was amazed that my "little" truck pulled my trailer. (Ha! to myself) It pulls it with ease.
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
|
| | P 1 Next Page>> |
