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jpkomm
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2006
12:21:50
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 Subject: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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Hello all,
I may be making a move up to Kentucky from Georgia here pretty soon, and I would like to make use of my truck's towing capacity to its fullest. To date, I've just towed small utility trailers. Could someone give me an estimate on how much of a U-haul trailer I could tow? I will have to contend with a lot of mountains between NE Georgia and western Kentucky.
2000 Dak CC SLT 4x4 4.7L
Class III hitch
8.25" 3.55 rear end (Oh yes, it is gonna suck)
I'm gonna end up really wishing I had 4.10's and a programmer, but I have to work with what I got. I'll just have to leave overdrive off. Thanks all.
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modain
GenIII
 
5/12/2006
17:01:19
|  RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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With that FD ratio the GCWR is probably 9200 pounds. Subtract your truck's weight and you have what you are rated to tow with that truck. Of course the truck can handle more, but then you can enter into safety issues if you go way overboard.
Changing the FD ratio to 3.92 bumps it up another 1300 pounds.
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
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Exocet
Dodge Dakota
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5/13/2006
21:30:54
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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You should be able to handle one of the 6x12 enclosed U-Haul trailers. Their GVWR is right around 4000 lbs. Just make sure that the surge brakes are working correctly. If your Dakota has an automatic, it would be wise to have a transmission cooler, if you don't already have one.
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jpkomm
Dodge Dakota
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5/14/2006
18:59:52
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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Ahh good.. The 6x12 is what I was hoping on. I am not sure if I have a tranny cooler on my 45RFE. Where is it located? I just actually went out and looked around and it looks like I have a smaller radiator grill on the front of the main radiator. Is that the tranny cooler? I've never really bothered to look before. Thanks.
2000 Dakota CC SLT 4x4 4.7L
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FloriDak
Dodge Dakota
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5/15/2006
16:24:32
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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yea, with all that weight, hills and warm climate, a tranny cooler wouldn't hurt... the smaller radiator that covers the entire surface of the regular radiator is for the AC. I don't have an oil cooler so I'm not sure exactly what it looks like for the Dakota, but usually they're pretty small, compared to the engine radiator. If you have a factory installed hitch and factory trailer wiring, it comes with a transmission cooler also.
I've driven the hills in upstate NY with the truck bed full of tools and 6x12 uhaul loaded to the gills with furniture and such. You definitely knew you were pulling a load, but the truck handled it just fine. Only thing was the tounge weight on the trailer was too light and the trailer got REAL squireley going down hills... definitely made for a white knuckle ride. If you get the tounge balanced right, it should be pretty solid tho.
318v8 4x4
extended cab
dual flowmaster exhaust, high flow cat
K&N filter
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jpkomm
Dodge Dakota
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5/15/2006
16:59:31
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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Thanks for the tips. I'm pretty sure the hitch and trailer harness are from the factory, so I'll have to do a bit of research and find out what all it does have. Since I'm not too sure what I'm looking for, I think I can send the VIN to DC and get a list of what all the truck was ordered with from the factory.
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mccamp
Dodge Dakota
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5/15/2006
17:40:07
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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I have loaded several 6x12 Uhauls and I can honestly say that I have never found one that wasnt unbalanced. I centered the weight over the axles, even weight throughout, etc. And I have tried them with 3 different vehicles....all of them I have used fishtail just enough to vibrate the steering wheel and drive you crazy. Granted I have only used them 3 or 4 times, but alas they all acted the same way. So just be happy you dont have to haul anything in the snow.
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jpkomm
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2006
13:07:24
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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Correction: It is a 9.25" differential. I don't know why I was thinking it was a 8.25" I went out there and counted the bolts and there are 12 on the housing. Also, the DRB code is listed on the sticker in the glove box. Also, there is a DSA rear axle code. Is that for Limited Slip? I didn't realize they put LSD on 3.55s. If that is the case, I may just swap it out for 4.10s, but I have absolutely no idea what I need to get. I assume Ring and Pinions but other than that, I don't know. Not sure if that LSD can be reused with the higher gears or not. What is the difference between a Posi and a Locker? I assume Posi and LSD are the same. In any case, I'm figuring it should be a lot less stress on the truck with higher gears while towing on those steep grades. Probably also would be a good idea for me to swap out the front differentials too.
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Kowalski
GenIII
5/16/2006
16:20:55
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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Sounds like you have the factory tow package; that would include the tranny cooler. Whatever you do, don't load a trailer like mccamp. Trailers should never be loaded evenly or with more weight to the rear, that's asking for trouble. The trick to good handling with a trailer is for it to have some tongue weight; otherwise the tail wants to wag the dog !
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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mccamp
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2006
10:49:43
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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I tow stock trailers and car haulers across Kansas and across Colorado.... one is the windiest state, and besides Arizona, Colorado is probably the hardest to pull a trailer in. I know how to load a trailer, and obviously you put some weight over the tongue, but unless you are just hauling a moped, you should put the heaviest weight over the tandum axles, with a slight weight advantage to the nose, and I agree that on a single axle, you definitely want the weight to be toward the front, but there is a tongue weight capacity for a reason, and the bulk of the weight should be centered over the axles. It is good advice not to load to far to the back, but I never said I did that. Point is, I have hauled with several trucks (rarely my quad cab dakota usually an F450) and I have never had a trailer work against me like a uhaul... so I am saying to load as well as you can and take it slow because the do not exceed 45 mph stickers on the wheel wells apparently isnt a joke.
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jpkomm
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2006
10:54:42
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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Is Ryder a better alternative, or are they pretty much all the same?
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Kowalski
GenIII
5/17/2006
15:21:36
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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mccamp - sounds like you know what you're up to with a trailer; your second explanation should help any novice a lot.
I think about 10 % of the load on the tongue is about all you need for most tag alongs. I know most of us don't have scales - I just watch that the back of the truck has sagged slightly more from some load.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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mccamp
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2006
18:04:12
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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I have no idea if Ryder is better, and it could just be really bad luck with my Uhaul experience... I have no problem with Uhaul at all, except I like to tow 65 mph or higher, and was unable to with the trailers I was issued. I have used one of their fullsize trucks and a car dolly, and they both were just fine.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
5/19/2006
00:10:32
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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Damn. When i tow something as small as 3000 to 4000 Lbs it don't even effect my truck at all. When I have a 3,000 :b car on a near 1,000 Lb trailer my truck will still peel out!
Not to be a jackass, but it does.
Now the funny thing is when I use my bro in laws trailer (single axle backhoe trailer) and have a car on it, it fish tails BADLY! It is about 4,000 Lbs I believe. Has LOTS of power left towing that but like I said, got to keep it no faster that 65 or 70 max to be smooth.
Now my 7,000 to 8,000 Lb Toy Hauler has two axles and a stablizer hitch thingie.
While I have to really get on it to move that, it tows smooth as silk even at 75 or so.
I would not sweat towing a 6x12 trailer at all loaded with whatever. May just want to watch the fish tailing.
Mine has the tow package which is nice. And my gears help too... but I towed a 6x12 open trailer easy as cake with my stock 3.55's.
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jpkomm
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2006
07:32:05
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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Great. Thanks everyone for the advice. Guess I'm just a bit paranoid. My 2000 comes with the towing package, heavy duty package, etc, etc, etc. So, I really shouldn't worry I suppose. I would *like* a new set of gears, but I need to watch my money since I'll probably be switching jobs here soon.
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david lyall
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2006
12:34:14
|  RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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I have a year 2000 Club Cab, 4.7 and 3.55 posi. LSD is the generic term, positraction is a General Motors term. Trac Loc is what Chrysler calls it. Probably from Eaton.
I tow a 28 foot Silver Streak travel trailer with mine and it works just fine. Lower gears would help with mountains, but just go slower. Course, a rig like mine uses load levelling hitch and sway bars.
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dsdamaged
Dodge Dakota
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5/27/2006
19:22:28
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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help please, i have two dakotas a grey 03 v6 and a 04 red 4.7 stampede i recently bought a new jet ski and trailer. the wiring harness on the 03 was easy with a plug in adapter at the rear for my trailer lights. i want to be able to tow the trailer with my 04 stampede but i cant find anywhere, where an adapter can be plugged into my factory wiring harness ive looked all over even under the spare tire, there is no plug in the line all the way to the front of the vehicle, the only plug in i see is where the license plate lights hook into the harness. where do you plug into the harness and where is it located? help i dont want to cut and splice my factory wiring harness if i dont have too....thanks
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
5/27/2006
23:23:06
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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Looks like you 2003 has the Towing harness wired factory and the 2004 does not.
You can go to a auto parts store, or a U-Haul and buy a kit.
You don't really have to CUT and splice the wires really.
You just use these splice connectors that clamp OVER your wires to your tail lights and metal connectors sort of pierce into the wires as you clamp them connectors over them as they connect the new wire to them to your trailer connector.
All you need is a ground, and 3 other wires.
Left Turn Sig
Right Turn Sig
and Running Lights.
The LEFT and RIGHT Turn are also the brake lights.
Anyway. There is only THREE wires you need to tap onto under the rear of the truck to make it work. Getting a cheap 12V test light (that can has a sharp test probe to pierce into wires) can help big time when finding which wire goes to what light.
And having a helper inside the truck turing the lights on and off helps too.
Hope that helps. I can see why you want to use the 2004 over the 2003 with the V6.
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dsdamaged
Dodge Dakota
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5/28/2006
00:09:54
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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thank you, i just heard of this clamp or tap in connection from another site too, so at the very least i wont have to cut and splice. yea the v8 is stronger but in reality the v6 with the standard trans is not having any prob towing the ski and trailer which combined is only about 1k lbs, but my wife cant drive a stick so she cant run the truck while i release the ski the stampede is auto matic not to mention its red and matches the jet ski (lol) also another poster told me of a similar set up with his 04 and also noted the only plug in is located in front behind the front tire, i saw this connection too, but wasnt sure if they made an adapter to fit that plug since it appears to support about a half dozen wires instead of the two each that the 03 had. in the reference guide there was mention of a special 7 wire adapter for some dodge dakotas but it was not in stock, perhaps that is the one i need for the up front plug in connection. if not at least those tap in clamps should work without me having to cut, thanks for your response i do appreciate it
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dsdamaged
Dodge Dakota
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5/28/2006
22:36:26
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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i was able to find a plug in adapter for my 04 dakota stampede...refer to hopkins or hoppy part #42205...though not stocked by most stores they will order them for you. i actually found a set on ebay. they tee off to the plug behind the tailights , once you have removed the tailight assembly the tee in directly behind the bulb assembly no cutting splicing or even tapping is neccessary. i was able to pull up an installation diagram before i ordered it and they are a perfect match
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Justin
Dodge Dakota
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12/05/2008
11:15:44
| RE: Approx. towing cap for my rig
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I have 2004 dodge dakota with 4.7 motor. I have thinking about buying a 16 foot camping trailer. Will my truck be able to handle the load? or should I go with something smaller? what is the biggest trlr could haul with me truck?
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