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Okie
GenII
 
4/08/2006
22:08:01
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 Subject: Trailering - Tow Package
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I'm new to the board and very impressed with all the input you guys give. So here is my question.
I load my truck up pretty heavy when I go out plus I just bought a new pop up to pull. It weighs about 3,500 to 4,000 pounds when I get all the gear and family on board. I added an air lift..very cool, for the added weight. The owners manual suggests a tow package if you get over 2000lbs. It talks about relays and fuses and even mentions a concern about the electically from the trailer being too much for the Dak to handle. But, when i went to the dealer mechanic, he said "ahh, you don't need all that stuff"...huh? No Sale. But now I am worried. Does anyone know what the manual is talking about?
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ewraven
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/08/2006
22:38:01
| RE: Trailering - Tow Package
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What are the specs for your truck? Is it an R/T? What engine/transmission does it have? What year is it?
If everything is working after you've been towing the trailer; everything should be fine.
It's talking about installing the relay in the relay box under the hood for the factory trailer wiring harness that you can have installed at the dealer. Something that would be good if you had a trailer with a lot of running lights and things like that on it.
You should be fine with that little pop up trailer though; they aren't very long and as such, they don't have a lot of exterior running lights that could blow your electrical system fuses.
The 2000 pound weight limit thing should've been taken care of when you installed the air bags in the rear end. It sounds like you might have an R/T though. There was a big deal when they first came out because they were only rated to tow 2000 pounds with the factory suspension. You've fixed that with the air bags though.
More on that R/T thing, if I remember right, Dodge ended up buying a bunch of them back because they came out with the 2000 pound towing limit After they'd been selling for a few weeks.
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Okie
GenII
4/08/2006
23:28:47
| RE: Trailering - Tow Package
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Message:
02 4x4 quad cab 4.7 auto. I had a seven pin wiring unit installed with trailer breaks, not done by a Dodge mechanic.
So, they aren't talking about anything that will change the performance of the Dak while towing? That's my main concern. All the lights seem to work fine. other than, for some reason my reverse lights quit working. But i hear that has probably been broken for some time without me knowing and is a seperate issue.
Any thoughts on trailering performance or maintenance?
Thanks a million for your responses. I will sleep better.
Where to!? 02 4.7 Quad Cab 4x4 Dakota Sport
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DOT
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/09/2006
07:36:32
| RE: Trailering - Tow Package
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Well you are taxing the trans with all that weight.Heat is the enemy of a transmission. IMHO I think you need to add trans cooler after doing a flush(at least drop the pan and add the 7 fresh qrts).Also I would go to a synthetic motor oil and 4k drains(assuming you don`t have an oil cooler). Trans Go or B&M (I think,some big name,I forget)make a nice oil cooler with an electric fan that comes on at 175 degrees. That would be perfect.
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DOT
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/09/2006
07:47:14
| RE: Trailering - Tow Package
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"Trans Go or B&M (I think,some big name,I forget)make a nice oil cooler" Just to clarify,I meant trans oil cooler. Even without a engine oil cooler you should be fine using synthetic motor oil. Even towing 4 thousand miles drains is not long at all with a quality synthetic.
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ewraven
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/09/2006
10:57:46
| RE: Trailering - Tow Package
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Yeah, I forgot about the transmission.
Turning off the overdrive will help to save the transmission on hills and that kind of thing.
I'd really though probably leave the overdrive off all the time while towing that much and with the truck loaded down so much.
You can lower your cruise speed some to make up for the negative impact on gas mileage.
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Kowalski
GenIII
4/10/2006
16:54:01
| RE: Trailering - Tow Package
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I wouldn't worry about the overdrive with the 4.7; I leave it on to tow about 5000 - so do several others here with that tranny. Only seems to go into OD in low load situations, like downhill. The tranny cooler is a great idea; and I'd suggest an electronic brake control if your trailer has electric brakes and is over 2000 lbs.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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