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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
09:46:35
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 Subject: 4.7 Camper towing?
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Message:
I'm looking for opinions.
I tow a 4000 lb camper with my 4.7 3.55 rear.
On a flat Interstate, to do 65 MPH I do about
2100 to 2200 RPM.
On Interstate with hills (not mountains), to do
65 MPH I do about 2700 to 2900 RPM.
Engine does not seem to be overworking at all. No knocking whatsoever.
Am I still within desireable limits on the engine?
Should I be pushing harder for better torque?
Do I still have working room on the RPM's to take
higher hills?
I have been told that 3200 is the max rpm.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Joe
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Black Magic
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
10:47:34
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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Good question... I also own a 2000 4.7
I tow a 3,200lb boat with a 1,600lb trailer, plus all my racing gear and other occupants. I'm very close to the 6,200lb towing capacity.
Can anything be done to improve engine or transmission performance while towing?
Joe, where did you hear that 3200 is max rpm?
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
11:27:28
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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Max torque is rated at 3200 RPM. After that, it is supposed to fall off.
Dakota catalogs and an online site I had found relating to towing limits. Sorry, cant remember the site at this time.
I have added an aftermarket trans cooler for the
transmission since you brought it up.
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J. C. Brandon
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
13:06:00
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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I'm curious how you guys have got your trucks set up. I'm considering buying a trailer and having trouble finding one that is within the published weight limits.
Gross combination weight rating for a 2000 4.7 automatic with 3.55 gears is 9200 pounds. My truck weighs just a hair under 5,000 pounds, leaving 4200 pounds available trailer weight. My truck has the standard payload, but does have heavy-duty cooling and electric systems, plus factory tow package.
Sounds like Joe (above) has shorter tires than I do as my truck turns 2100 rpm at 70 mph on the flat. (Mine's a 4x4 with 31" tires.) So I may be at a disadvantage there, having taller effective gearing.
I know lots of people routinely exceed published tow weight limits, often at the insistence of commissioned trailer sales folk. I'd like to avoid that if I can. If I can't I'd like to know just how hard my truck is working when I have exceeded the published limits. So your experiences would be helpful.
Black Magic, you say the tow limit on your truck is 6200 pounds. That's the maximum when "properly equipped" according to Dodge. I take that to mean with maximum payload, cooling, and electrical packages, plus 3.92 gears. Is that your understanding as well? From the 6200 number, I assume your truck is a 4x4, yes?
thanks for the advice,
-J.
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
13:41:37
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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According to a dodge towing manual page that I had received from the dodge service dept:
3.55 rear
4.7L V8
CC
max towing is 5150 pds
I added an aftermarket heavy duty trans cooler.
draw-tite class III hitch.
I use a 1000 pound weight dist equalizer hitch.
I only have an ultralight camper.
It is only a 21 foot
dry hitch at 333 pounds
dry camper at 3135
dry with options from factory 3450
I dont fill any water tanks and very little extra.
My loaded full is only between 4000 and 4200 pds.
Bed of truck only has folding chairs or small cooler.
Passengers are myself, wife (114 pds), 5 year old son (51 pds).
This truck currently rides like on glass (so far).
Hope this helps any comparison.
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MikeF
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
14:22:45
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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Message:
I've had various vehicles and towed various weight trailers over the years, and have always changed the rear-end fluid to Amsoil 75W-90, and the Amsoil tranny fluid. None of the vehicles had tranny coolers, or were "properly" equipped. I've put 200,000 miles on every one of them without any driveline repairs/problems. I intend to do the same with my '02 QC 4.7 auto. The factory specs on towing are, in my opinion, conservative, per the legal dept.
(If you run th Amsoil you won't really need a tranny cooler, because it runs 20 degrees cooler than the petroleum fluids.)
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Black Magic
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
15:39:32
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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J.C., it sounds like were runnng the same set-up, yes my 4.7 is a 4x4. It has the "tow-package" which is maximum payload, cooling, and electrical packages, plus 3.92 gears.
I know Im pushing the recomended limit but when on the highway, I can hardly tell the the boat is behind me, until I stop at the pump to find I'm only getting approx. 9 MPG.
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Exocet
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
16:18:35
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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Message:
Joe, you are fine towing wise. Towing a trailer that weighs 70-80% of your vehicle's rated capacity should not be any problem. If you get into the mountains, you may have some steep grades where you run around 50 MPH, full throttle in second gear. This won't hurt your engine. The 4.7L loves to rev. Adding the tranny cooler is a good thing. It helps the tranny run cooler and keeps that heat out of your truck's cooling system, which is also good. Also, check you owner's manual regarding the rear diff fluid. For my 02 QC, that manual says that if you are towing you should change the fluid to a synthetic 75W-140. Happy towing.
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Jim Dugger
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
16:27:59
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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To give you some reference point:
I pulled a 4000 trailer all over the midwest for years with a Toyota T-100 4x4 ext. cab, with the 190 hp V-6, Auto. No towing add-ons, not even a trans cooler. Never a problem, althought it would run out of steam on steep grades over 70 mph. My QC 4.7, auto 4x2 has far more horsepower/torque, than the Toyota, and Dodge being famous for a strong drive train, I would not worry too much about towing near the capacity, especially with the towing package add-ons. The higher RPMs from the trans shifting out of overdrive, only really effects the gas guage. (I never shut off the OD on the Toyota). As long as the engine and the trans fluid stays within temp limits, and you change trans fluid occasionally, put the pedal to the metal.
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Darren N.
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
21:11:25
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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I tow a 2001 26' Trail-lite travel trailer 8' width, 3815 lbs unloaded with my 93 Dakota Ext. Cab 4X4 3.9L Automatic with 270,000kms or approx. 160,000 miles. Also there is a topper on the truck, barbeque, firewood, etc. and sometimes a canoe, motor and fishing gear. The only modifications are trans. cooler, Jacobs RV Team Ignition System, K&N FIPK, and Helix Power Tower. The truck tows the trailer fine except loses some power (understandly) up longer lower grade hills, up steeper hills no problem in second gear. Next mod's are V8 throttle body and Jet stage 1 module. I am right at my towing capacity of 5000lbs but no worries as long as you frequently go over some items such as fluids and check over nuts and bolts etc. on equalizer hitch etc.
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EyeTrip
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
22:39:11
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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I just traded in what could have been the best truck I ever ownd. I ran accross a scale fully loaded and weighed in at 9943LBS without me in it. It was a 20' 5th wheel trailer, water supply for a week, tools... ect. The truck was a 93 dakota sport 3.9 2wd 5speed no upgrades. and I drove it for about 30k like that without any problems other than a cat smoked on me.I don't think you guys with the 4.7 would have any problems towing.
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Jim Dugger
Dodge Dakota
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4/16/2002
13:56:28
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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I live in the northen part of the US, and I will change the rear-end fluid to the Amosil 75W-90, when it's time. The 75W-140 is just too thick for the winter here, and really isn't necessary if using a name-brand synthetic. I've used it before, and had no problems towing.
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terry
Dodge Dakota
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7/03/2003
13:06:00
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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Message:
Do you think 02 qc 4.7 can tow a 30ft trailer witha dry weight of 4470 with the proper hitch set up?
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midnightmagic
GenIII
7/03/2003
13:21:06
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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Message:
i have a 2000 4.7 auto with 3.55 rear. here is the senario: my truck 4060lbs. i put 1160lbs in the bed towed a 2000 cavalier z24 with 960 lbs in the inside on a tow dolly , from maryland to north dakota, driving 65- 70. i weighed in at a CAT scale and was 10000lbs even truck,tow dolly and car. i got between 18 and 20 mpg all the way up here. never once overheated, hell it barely moved off of 200 degrees. they are definately stout little motors..go 287
It's Gumbo night every night with all the rice i cook!
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Dakota 03 4WD
Dodge Dakota
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9/09/2003
20:40:19
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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I recently bought a Club Cab 2003 Dakota 4.7 with 4WD & 3.55 grears, auto trans. Were towing a 2750 Lb trailer (17 ft Keystone Cabana). We probably add an additional 200 lbs to the trailer & 1000 lbs to the truck. The Dakota has all the Heavy Duty upgrades (service group/tow package). We frequent Penn mountains. How do you all believe this will preform? Does the K&D air filter offer a real power increase? Traded in a 2001 Dakota 2x4 3.9. Not enough power for the hills. The 2001 had a 3.92 rear. Do we need that rear? If so how expensive to replace?
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Cadeuses
Dodge Dakota
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12/09/2003
10:46:36
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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Message:
Do you think 02 qc 4.7 can tow a 30ft trailer witha dry weight of 4470 with the proper hitch set up?
Terry;
No you can't tow that much trailer. At 100" WB you can tow a 20' trailer. for every 10" of WB after that you get another 4" of trailer. Therefore you will max out at 23'trailer lenght. Besides you would run out of GCVWR long before getting to trailers of that size.
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deerridge
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2004
16:46:08
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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Message:
I pull a 3500pound three horse trailer in the mountains with my 4.7 AWD Dakota with up to three 1100 lb horses and associated gear on board with no problems. Trailer brakes are good stuff. I have all the heavy duty stuff and the 5 spd auto, handling pkg and the 5900 lb GVW. I believe the 6300 lb tow weight is underrated to sell more 1500's. The Durango has a 7200 lb capcity and weighs 500lbs more with the same set up as does the 1500. Any comments?
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scott
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2004
18:38:59
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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I pull a 21 ft camper all thru the Ozarks with no problems I have no idea what the weights are the 4.7 bogs down a little on the steep grades, but I still usually end up in the hammer lane to get around some other trucks who are bogging a little harder, the only bad thing tends to be the trailer likes to push my truck down hill it has no trailer brakes. A friend of mine bought a great big 30 footer and a Chevy H.D to pull it with, while we were out on a trip the trailer prooved to be more than he could tow with the H.D so we swapped them over and I pulled it the rest of the way to where we were hunting. The Dak didn't like it, but it got it there in one piece thank god it had trailer brakes.
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dan
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2004
13:37:19
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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I wish I'd found this page before I made my purchase. I have a '99 Dakota with 318 and 3.55 gears. A camper salesman talked me into a 27' pull behind that weighs 4450 lbs. I had a friend pull it home for me, and I'm ready to fix my truck up to pull it. What am I in for???? Any suggestions on a set-up?
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2004
15:26:23
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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Dan, depending on where you live I don't think you'll have a problem. Keep the revs up to around 3000-3500'ish when you need max power - like hills. Only use 1/2-3/4 throttle to accelerate from a stop. Watch your temps in the summer, especially transmission temps. Don't use OD for pulling hills; downshift and get the engine into the power band.
That 318 can be just about beat to death and still keep on running. You'de be amazed at how much abuse it can take. But the transmission is the weak point. I've seen my father (a builder) beat the crap out of 318's since I was kid. I've seen him haul 3 full palats of bricks across PA in a maxivan. I think the suspension was all the way down on the stops :) He's never had to rebuild an engine. But he's gone through a few transmissions.
As for the trailer, make sure the brakes are good. And use a weight equalizing/anti-sway hitch. Weight is not nearly the "problem" that most people make it out to be. It's getting the trailer set up properly so it doesn't whip around or jack knife.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2004
15:26:43
| RE: 4.7 Camper towing?
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Dan, depending on where you live I don't think you'll have a problem. Keep the revs up to around 3000-3500'ish when you need max power - like hills. Only use 1/2-3/4 throttle to accelerate from a stop. Watch your temps in the summer, especially transmission temps. Don't use OD for pulling hills; downshift and get the engine into the power band.
That 318 can be just about beat to death and still keep on running. You'de be amazed at how much abuse it can take. But the transmission is the weak point. I've seen my father (a builder) beat the crap out of 318's since I was kid. I've seen him haul 3 full palats of bricks across PA in a maxivan. I think the suspension was all the way down on the stops :) He's never had to rebuild an engine. But he's gone through a few transmissions.
As for the trailer, make sure the brakes are good. And use a weight equalizing/anti-sway hitch. Weight is not nearly the "problem" that most people make it out to be. It's getting the trailer set up properly so it doesn't whip around or jack knife.
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