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ajchatel
Dodge Dakota
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8/02/2008
14:20:33
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 Subject: Towing Capacities
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I have a 2002 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab with a 3.9L V6 engine. It also has the towing package right from the factory. I am curious to know if any other people on here have the same, or close to it, and what could I tow with it? I'm thinking of a 24' light weight trailer, with tandum wheels. Thanks in advance!
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ToddTexas
Dodge Dakota
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8/02/2008
18:02:34
| RE: Towing Capacities
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You will be fine. Make sure you have trailer brakes.
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wvtrader
Dodge Dakota
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8/02/2008
18:25:52
| RE: Towing Capacities
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The trailer limit is about 5,000 lbs.
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ajchatel
Dodge Dakota
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8/02/2008
18:54:34
| RE: Towing Capacities
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Thanks! Yes I am getting an Electric Brake control put in. Also hooking up the sway bar attachment. I did take it out for a test drive, and I can feel it, if you know what I mean. I just wanted to post here cause I know there are people here that have experienced the same thing.
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ajchatel
Dodge Dakota
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8/02/2008
19:02:55
| RE: Towing Capacities
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I forgot to mention that the trailer's dry weight is 4060lbs, and I don't think I'll load 960lbs into it.
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ajchatel
Dodge Dakota
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8/02/2008
19:04:55
| RE: Towing Capacities
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Oops! Should have stated 940lbs. LOL.
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ToddTexas
Dodge Dakota
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8/02/2008
23:16:31
|  RE: Towing Capacities
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Always figure you will add 1000lbs of junk, that is the standard.
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modain
GenIII
8/04/2008
13:09:36
|  RE: Towing Capacities
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Message:
Good luck towing something that heavy with too little engine. I tow nearly 6000#s with my 4.7L V8, and it really gets worked on some stretches of highway. I'd hate to try the same load with a wimpy V6.
Unless you are going to tow on flat terrain and hope to never go faster than 60MPH it "could" work.
What's your left foot doing?
==============
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, R/T rear swaybar, no chrome, 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
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ajchatel
Dodge Dakota
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8/04/2008
20:01:07
| RE: Towing Capacities
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forgot to mention that my tranny is a 4 speed auto, and my Rear Axle a 3.55. Like I stated in my first post, I have pulled a 24' light weight with a dry weight of 4060, and was able to cruise at 80-85km. I did go up some small hills, with no problem, but our area is relativly flat, so I haven't tried those long, and more severe hills. Is a 3.9L engine comparable to the small 307 Chev engine?
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ToddTexas
Dodge Dakota
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8/05/2008
17:40:56
|  RE: Towing Capacities
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With that gear ratio you will struggle some. Make sure you use synthetic oil in the rear end and have a tranny cooler. Watch your temps on the hills. The puny V6 will surprise a lot of people.
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Jessie
Dodge Dakota
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8/06/2008
22:13:58
| RE: Towing Capacities
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I have a 20' center console boat weighing around 5000lbs that I regurarly tow with my V6 5speed quad cab dakota, and it has no problem toting it around town, on the interstate, and right up out of the boat ramp. Given, I have added an exhaust and intake system, and installed some hellwig helper springs (to get rid of some of the bounce...). It definitely lacks a little get up and go with the boat behind it, but I'm not trying to win any tractor pulls...
You'll be fine. As mentioned above, you'd be surprised what a little "wimpy", durable, fuel concious 3.9V6 can do.
20mpg all day... not going to find that in any dodge V8
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Jessie
Dodge Dakota
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8/06/2008
22:17:45
| RE: Towing Capacities
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I have a 20' center console boat weighing around 5000lbs that I regurarly tow with my V6 5speed quad cab dakota, and it has no problem toting it around town, on the interstate, and right up out of the boat ramp. Given, I have added an exhaust and intake system, and installed some hellwig helper springs (to get rid of some of the bounce...). It definitely lacks a little get up and go with the boat behind it, but I'm not trying to win any tractor pulls...
You'll be fine. As mentioned above, you'd be surprised what a little "wimpy", durable, fuel concious 3.9V6 can do.
20mpg all day... not going to find that in any dodge V8
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modain
GenIII
8/07/2008
15:24:38
|  RE: Towing Capacities
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Towing a boat and a travel trailer are not the same even if their weights are similar. The V6 engine might have enough guts to pull the trailer, but there is a huge wind drag to factor into the mix. The trailer is basically a parachute, and the boat will slip through the air a bit better. After all, it's made to slip through water with ease, it also cuts through the atmosphere in the same manner.
I have towed cars on a tandem axle trailer which weighed about the same as my 20' toy hauler (when loaded). The towing experience and throttle responsiveness between the two are completely different. The only real difference is the wind profile. A *big* difference!
I would never want to tow my trailer with a 3.9L V6 - I'm afraid I would never be able to go faster than 50MPH without a tailwind on flat ground.
What's your left foot doing?
==============
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, R/T rear swaybar, no chrome, 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
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Jessie
Dodge Dakota
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8/07/2008
19:32:13
| RE: Towing Capacities
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Yes, a travel trailer is a very different experience than towing a boat. My experience with towing a travel trailer is that if your trailer weighs significantly more than the truck you're pulling it with, the trailer will win on the interstate. Sway bars will help, but when a freight truck passes you at high speeds while you creep along in the slow lane, it's all you can do to not get "sucked" into the left lane. Frightening experience, to say the least.
But, with sway bars and a load distributing system, (trailer brakes definitely help) a travel trailer that is close to equal the weight of the tow vehicle should be a true-trekking rig. Seeing as how the trailer in question weighs about the same as the tow vehicle, I'd say it would be OK. Not ideal, but OK. The power used to tow it really doesn't come into play, I'd say power is more of a luxury thing to have when towing.
Here's my tip: get some helper springs. Travel trailers tend to be very heavy toward the front, even with a weight distributing hitch.
Mine were $150 installed, and have helped tremendously.
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ajchatel
Dodge Dakota
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8/07/2008
20:08:23
| RE: Towing Capacities
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Thanks for all the replies! There's nothing like suggestions from people that has experience in towing, with a similar vehicle.
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