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Tugs
Dodge Dakota
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7/23/2004
11:19:15
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 Subject: Dakota Towing
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Message:
Hi all,
I am going to be moving about 1500 miles and wanted to tow a 5x10 foot Uhaul trailer. I have a 2002 2wd Dakota Club cab sport with 4.7L engine. I am also thinking of putting a drawtite class receiver hitch on.
I read that the truck can tow over 5000 lbs. Although I wouldn't have that much weight with the trailer loaded.
Has anyone towed using a similar setup and how was it? Or if you have any suggestions. I just want to make sure it won't be to hard on the truck or transmission.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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7/23/2004
11:32:07
| RE: Dakota Towing
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One of the main determinants of towing capacity is rear end gear ratio. Since you don't have a hitch installed, that means you don't have the trailer tow package. And you probably have a 3.55 rear end gear.
The brochure I have is a little vague, but that puts your max trailer weight right at 5,000#. A 5x10 U-Haul probably weighs around 1200-1500#. A class III hitch would be a darn good idea.
I don't think U-Haul makes Tap-A-Lights for our trucks. But plug in wiring kits are cheap at Pep Boys.
Without a trailer tow package, you're also missing the HD trans cooler. So drive easy, keep it out of OD most of the time, and stop often to let it cool.
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93Dak
Dodge Dakota
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7/23/2004
12:52:41
| RE: Dakota Towing
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Even though I have a completely different setup than you, this should give you a little confidence:
I have a 93 Dakota 4x4 with a 3.9. It has a transmission cooler and at one point in it's life it had a trailer hitch (but was gone when I bought it). I mounted a Drawtite class 4 trailer hitch on it, and I tow my boat which is about 3000 lbs with it. I can't run overdrive of course, but otherwise it pulls just fine. I also have 3.55 gears.
With that 4.7, I'm sure that you should be able to pull it well.
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Tugs
Dodge Dakota
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7/23/2004
13:13:43
| RE: Dakota Towing
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Thanks for the repsonses. The truck has 30,000 miles on it. Do you think I should change the trans fluid before I make the long tow? So one else offline told me I should do that.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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7/23/2004
13:41:30
| RE: Dakota Towing
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The normal service interval is 37,500 miles. You're nearly there, so it certainly wouldn't hurt. But I don't think it will make a huge differance one way or the other. The advantage to doing it later is that after towing, you'll have fresh non-abused fluid for the next 37,500 miles.
Here's my opinion. Dodge makes an excellent truck. They always have. When I was growing I used to watch my father just beat the crap out of his Dodge trucks. They just kept running! We lived in upstate NY, so he got rid of them when they rusted out.
I drive a Dodge mostly for that reason. My truck has nearly 60,000 miles on it now. I never think twice about hooking up a heavy trailer and hitting the highway. A couple of months ago I hooked up a heavy trailer and loaded the bed with tools and hauled it from MA to CO. I do routine maint according to the manual, and that's about it. I've never had to repair anything.
I if I were, I would install a hitch and do the wiring, and just drive the thing. It will do fine. Really.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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7/23/2004
17:39:42
| RE: Dakota Towing
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Message:
You shouldn't have a problem towing if you turn the OD off and keep it at 65, guess it all depends on how much weight you are going to be towing. I have a 3000# boat and camper that's over 3000# and tow each of them several times a year, I always keep the OD off and the speed at 65.
My truck is the same as yours except it's a 2000. After towing for about a year I added a tranny cooler because I didn't want to have problems with the tranny, but you should be fine without a tranny cooler as long as you don't push the truck hard.
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Exocet
Dodge Dakota
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7/23/2004
17:55:27
|  RE: Dakota Towing
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I've recently towed a 6x12 U-Haul from NH to NY with my 02 QC, 4.7, auto, 4x4, 3.92s. The trailer was packed, including a piano and antique organ. I guesstimated that it was in the 3500-4000 lb range. I towed with the OD off and didn't have any problems in the mountains of NH and VT. The truck easily maintaind 65 MPH on the highway. On some of the steeper hills the speed dropped to around 60, but I was still in 3rd gear with plenty of air underneath the right pedal. You'll get about 11-12 MPG.
I regularly tow a 2500 lb camper without any problems.
If you don't have a tranny cooler, get one. It is cheap compared to fixing a toasted transmission.
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