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scuba_smc
Dodge Dakota
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2/09/2005
00:36:27
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 Subject: trailer towing
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I have a 2001 QC 4.7L with a 3.55. The quesion I have is will this pull a 28ft travel trailer with an empty weight of 4700lbs. I will only be going about 30 miles with the trailer and truck empty besides myself in it. I have added a class III hitch and receiver on the truck with an electronic trailer brake controler.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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2/09/2005
01:27:09
| RE: trailer towing
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I don't think you'll have a problem, I towed a 18 foot camper that was over 4000# loaded, 300 miles to a lake that was over 9000 feet in elevation. Another 10 feet ot trailer and 700# shouldn't make that much of a difference for only 30 miles. If you were going to tow for a long distance I would add a tranny cooler though.
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Crow318
Dodge Dakota
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2/09/2005
07:47:25
| RE: trailer towing
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I have a '97 with the 5.2 in it.
I went to Uhaul and got one of their full lenght 2 axle trailers because my brother's truck, a 96 4x4 extented cab, had died on the side of the road.
I know this isnt legal, but he was towing a trailer, and I didnt want to leave it there unattended.
So anyways, we got his truck up on the trailer and left rehooked his trailer to his truck.
Total weight uhaul trailer (guess) 800, his truck 4000+, his trailer 3600 = total pulled weight, 8400. Thats one hell of a load. I even impressed myself. I have a few pics I'll have to dig out.
I drove about 30 miles at about 30 mph. With no over-heating problems.
Sorry, long story short, go for it.
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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2/10/2005
13:02:08
|  RE: trailer towing
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#30 mile trip will be no problem with the set up
you have scuba_smc. If you plan to do a lot of 28'
camper towing, I'd suggest 3.92 gears, class V
hitch and transmission cooler. All this comes in
a Dakota with the tow package. You also get a
plug under the dash for your trailor brake
controller.
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Kowalski
GenIII
2/10/2005
16:03:28
|  RE: trailer towing
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I'm not sure why the myth that 3.92 gears come with the tow package keeps getting repeated, I've disputed this before. It's just not true - I have the tow package with 3.55 gears; towing about as much weight. You will be fine.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
2/10/2005
21:14:42
| RE: trailer towing
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My truck has the tow package.
Got the 3.55's as well.
Going to be 4.10's though when I get a chance.
Oh. But the tow package DOES give you the nice hitch, trailer plug which even includes a continuous 12VDC for powering stuff in the trailer, and the heavy duty cooling.
I even leave my clutch fan off sometimes. Depends on what I tow and how HOT it is (Arizona).
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scuba_smc
Dodge Dakota
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2/10/2005
22:18:01
|  RE: trailer towing
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Thanks guys. We see how it goes tomorrow when I get the trailer.
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ZZ
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2005
20:27:45
| RE: trailer towing
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4700 lbs is the maximum allowable trailer weight for your truck based on Dodge's website.
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Fast Eddie
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2005
22:15:08
| RE: trailer towing
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Your right at your max so be careful. With your 131" wheelbase the "suggested" max trailer length is 25'- 26'. Be sure to have a sway control and a weight distributing hitch, and have it adjusted correctly. Also be sure to have a properly adjusted brake controller. I pull a 26' travel trailer about 4500 lbs loaded and it's OK but I wouldn't want to pull any more. Keep in mind the important thing is not whether it will pull it up the hill, it's whether it will stop and turn it going down the hill.
Eddie
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Fishful
Dodge Dakota
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2/14/2005
22:52:40
| RE: trailer towing
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I have a 2002 4.7 SLT with 3.55 and installed a Valley class 3 Receiver and wiring harness. I tow a 20 foot boat weighing in at about 4,200 lbs with surge brakes and have had no problem towing it. I have made a number of 180 mile trips to Cape Cod. Remember to knock off the over-drive and take it easy. During the summer heat, I try to do the long tows at night when there is less traffic and it is cooler. I had a 98 Dakota with the 5.2 V8 with the factory tow package (3.92 rear end) and I think this truck (2002 with the 4.7 and the 3.55) (transmission is much better) does a better job towing the same boat, much better on hills and when passing???? I have never had a problem with over heating. I am sure that you will be fine. Remember it is a truck. Big difference when towing with the Dakota compared to my wife's 2000 Jeep Cherokee. Can't belive that the Jeep has a 5,000 lb tow rating??? Good luck, take it slow and have fun. Fishful Thinking
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jay
Dodge Dakota
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4/01/2005
22:17:55
| RE: trailer towing
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i have a 1993 5.2 4x4 extended cab. i dont know where you get that 4700# crap from. dodge rates mine at 6900+ pounds. ive looked. and the new dakotas a little bit more capable. so yours will handle it just fine.
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AndrewM
Dodge Dakota
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4/04/2005
12:02:25
| RE: trailer towing
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jay, that "crap" is from the Dodge specs. With 3.55 gears, my 02 4.7 4x2 QC is rated at 4,700 lbs. With 3.92 gears it's 6,000 lbs.
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JOENYPD.
Dodge Dakota
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4/04/2005
12:27:46
| RE: trailer towing
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I HAVE A 2003 Q/C 4.7 WITH 3.55 REAR END AND I PULL A 26 FT APOX.5,400 LOADED.MY Q/C IS EQUIP.WITH A FACTORY TOW PACAGE AND I GO AT LEASED 150 MILES A TRIP 4 TIMES A YEAR A SMALL TRIPS IN BETWEEN WITH OUT ANY PROBLEMS(KNOCK ON WOOD)
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ZZ
Dodge Dakota
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4/06/2005
16:19:50
| RE: trailer towing
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You are over your recommended maximum towing weight.
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klrobertson
Dodge Dakota
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9/02/2007
11:50:44
| RE: trailer towing
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my husband and i have a dakota slt 4x4 quad cab.this past summer we towed a 22 ft tavel trailer 3500lbs dry weight. we did load the trailer with water and clothes. we had mild weather but windy, we travelled 3 hours which took us 5 hours. we had to keep pulling over every half hour to let the truck cool and add water, until we could get more anti-freeze. we are still wondering why we overheated, the garage tested and found nothing wrong.
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Kowalski
GenIII
9/02/2007
12:55:51
|  RE: trailer towing
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Year and motor ?
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Nelson
Dodge Dakota
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9/10/2007
15:57:05
| RE: trailer towing
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Hi.I'v got a few questions.I'm new at the whole towing and truck seen.I have a 2001 dakota sport QC 4x4 4.7 with the towing package.I just bought a 2006 Gulfstream Amerilite 24rs.The weight is approx 4300 pounds.The camper has the slide at the rear.Will this cause more of a chance at it swaying.The dealer says my truck will pull it no problem is this true.I have tried to find pics on the internet of a dakota towing a camper around the same size but I have not been able too.Does anybody know of a site.Also I don't know if i have the 3.55 or 3.92 how can i tell.Plus any tips and advise would be great.Thanks guys.
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Kowalski
GenIII
9/10/2007
18:30:43
| RE: trailer towing
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Yup,your truck should pull that with no problem. You should find your gear ratio on a tag in the glove box, I also have it on a tag on my left rear axle, visible through the wheel well. How your trailer is loaded can affect sway greatly, and the extra weight of the slider in the rear could contribute. You'll find a lot of guys recomending sway control bars; not a bad idea but often that isn't needed with the right weight distribution. A good rule of thumb is 10% or a little more of the total weight should be on the tongue. You can get fancy with scales and levers or weigh stations - or just see how much your truck squats with a couple beefy freinds sitting on the tailgate, and look for that much squat when you hook up. Then try a trial run to see how it handles. Big coolers or large water jugs forward of the trailer axle have worked well for ballast for me. Location and content of drinking, black and gray water tanks can change the balance. You'll want an electric trailer brake with that much camper; applying it a bit manually will help if you get sway on the tril run. Be especially careful of your first downhill turn at speed, a white knuckle ride with a neutrally loaded trailer was how I learned when new to this. Use safety chains of course, and always be sure the hitch is latched. have fun !
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Nelson
Dodge Dakota
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9/12/2007
12:44:24
| RE: trailer towing
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Thanks for the advise Kowalski.Much appreciated.Take care
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Nelson
Dodge Dakota
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9/13/2007
16:01:43
| RE: trailer towing
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Got a couple more questions.Is it ok to pull a camper with the cruise control on.I was told yes and no.The camper weighs about 1000 pounds more then my truck.Also you were right I found the gear ratio on a tag in the glove box but its the 3.55.From what I've read here I was hoping to have the 3.95.Does it really matter.Also my holding tanks are on the front of my camper bought i don't plan on filling them before towing it anywhere.I'll load the majority of our stuff in the front.I pulled my camper to a campground only about 15 miles from my house.Thats the farthest I'v pulled it so far.I shouldn't have, but because I wasn't going very far I didn't use any weight distibution bars or electric brakes.I just bought them plus will be getting the brakes installed next week.I plan on taking the wife and my 3 kids for a trip next summer. Going approx 600-800 miles. Besides weight distribution, electric brakes and swaycontrolbars is there anything else I should do to make sure we have a safe towing trip.It will be through Ontario so there's no elavation worry's but will my truck go the distance without over heating.I do have the tranny cooler.Were planning to stop at different campgrounds along the way .Thanks again.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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9/13/2007
18:20:08
| RE: trailer towing
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Another thing you might consider is a set of air bags to beef up the rear suspension. With 500# of the tongue weight, 10% of loaded trailer, the rear suspension is going to sag, probably too much. I have 400# of tongue weight that I tow with my 03 QC and the back of the truck sat too low. I added the Roadmaster Active Suspension to handle the extra weight, but wish I would have installed a set of air bags, the bags are easier to adjust for varying loads.
You want the rear of the truck higher or level than the front truck, if the back end is lower, it will pull weight off the front tires and reduce braking and turning ability, not good. It's kind of a see-saw affect, with the back axle acting as the center pivot
As far as leaving the truck in OD or not, I turn off OD if the truck is down shifting a lot. Since I tow in the mountains I almost always have OD off and only turn OD on when I hit the flat lands or long downhill stretches.
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