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skitter
Dodge Dakota
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11/05/2003
19:34:24
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 Subject: RE: 4.7 Towing????
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i pulled a 26ft travel trailer for 2 years and had no problem. that engine had more than enough power. my gas milage was only about 12-14 mpg though.
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jam0o0
Dodge Dakota
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11/05/2003
20:51:39
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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thanks for the info. ok so what kinda trailer brakes should i get? or is there no difference? i have an old ford that has a trailer brake thing on the dash. can i use that one? or should i just buy some for the dakota? and what should it cost? i'd do the install myself if it was at all possible.
thanks again
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AndrewM
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2003
10:19:18
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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jam0o0, is the flatbed trailer equipped with electric brakes? If so, I would buy a Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller. The price is $98.99.
RV Wholesalers
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2003
16:57:36
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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Tekonsha seems to be a good brand. I've had no problems using one of their cheeper models for several years. Your older one may be fine if you can figure out how to wire it.
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skitter
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2003
22:37:57
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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i had the dealership put one in when i bought it brandnew. i think it is a powertrac surepull. it works pretty good.
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MD
Dodge Dakota
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11/07/2003
11:29:26
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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I have to smile just a bit when I hear some on this site state that they have towed 6,000 - 7,000 lbs with the 4.7 and 3.55's without problems. I think they should add the word, YET!!!
The question shouldn't be how much can I tow, but rather, how much can I tow without prematurely frying the engine/trans, or both. Just because you can do something, doesn't necessarily mean you should.
The 4.7 is a rather high reving engine for a truck engine - it is not designed to make its power at low RPM's. If you are going to tow 2500 to 3000 lbs, or more, the 3.55's are a lousy choice. If you have oversize tires and tow almost anything, 3.55's are a terrible choice.
If you are keeping your stock tire size (diameter), the 3.92 ratio is probably your best bet, under most towing conditions. If you are going to go with a taller tire or tow in mountainous terrain, 4.10's are the way to go - and if you're going to go "ape-sh+t" with your tire size (32" +), 4.56's just might be your best option.
After 40 years of towing all kinds of stuff, with all kinds of pickups, over all kinds of terrain - this is my opinion.
MD
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jam0o0
Dodge Dakota
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11/07/2003
21:01:32
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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thanks for the info. i will not be towing this thing very often, hopefully. so i'm probly not goting to spend 100$ on a trailer brake controler. i've looked around and found $50 to $75 to be the normal range. i got to go look at the trailer but i'm pretty shure that if it has brakes that they are electric. i'm probly going to forgo the trany cooler too. i would look into getting one if i was going to make a habit of towing with the dakota. but at this point i don't think i'm going to do that. i do appreciate the advice.
o yea, side note:
does anyone know what a set of helper airbags, for the rear of our trucks, should cost?
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mrsbaddakota
Dodge Dakota
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11/08/2003
01:27:29
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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A trailer dealer that sold us a cargo trailer sold us an electric trailer brake control & installed it for $50.00.
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MD
Dodge Dakota
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11/08/2003
01:33:26
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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I would not go with air bags - go with adjustable helper springs. I have ATTCO helpers - Helwig also makes a good helper. Cost? Truckperformance.com - about $150 to $200. Cinch to install - and easily removed when not needed.
MD
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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11/08/2003
07:27:03
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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Roadmaster active suspension is also available at about the same cost and works quite well on our trucks. Just to present another option.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
11/08/2003
12:23:48
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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I've got them stock 3.55 gears on my 4X4 4.7 and have no problems pulling the hills bringing me up to the 7000 ft altitude mountains coming from near sea level here in Phoenix. Even with my trailer and ATV's it holds 70+ for the most part pretty damn easy. This little 4.7 definitely shines over the old 318 in the towing department. It may even be better than the stock 360 for all I know. Less PEAK torque and all but with the longer torque curve and better transmission it may just be.
However, MD is pretty much correct if you pull anything more than what I pull. I have no clue what a 12 foot trailer with short sides and three ATV's weigh for me but I know it's no way near 6000 Lbs! I'd not be doing THAT on a regular basis and expect a small V8 and drivetrain to withstand it.
Like he kind of said. Let the GEARS do the work. Lower gears will be a lot easier on your existing and smaller drivetrain.
I have to say, I'm sure this new 5 speed auto tranny is a LOT tougher than the old Dodge 904 tranny that everyone and their brother could fry even when just trying to pull the truck alone up hills LOL!
I will probably change my gears to 3.92's when I get the chance. I don't want to suffer too much on economy so they should be about right for the towing job I do and with my stock tire size.
2003 Graphite QC 4X4 4.7 Auto 3.55
Home Brewed Cold Air Intake, Flowmaster 40 series, Modified TPS to .72VDC, Modified IAT. 160° T-Stat.
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Duner
Dodge Dakota
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11/08/2003
13:17:48
| Need more radiator
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I use my 4.7 (3.92s, 5-speed) to tow a trailer full of sand toys to the dunes all the time also. It tows exactly the same as my R/T did..... except for the additional 5 mpg! I've used my 4.7 to tow another Dakota or my Camaro on my car trailer a number of times also. No sweat!
It definately won't pull a load like a big Cummins will..... the whole truck isn't designed for it.
The only issue I have with towing is the lack of radiator and cooling capacity. Now that I've increased the power output, I need to increase the cooling capacity to keep up. As long as I keep it out of boost it's fine. But if I decide to show off and accelerate while towing the trailer up a long grade (like going to Flagstaff), it will bring the temps right up to 210 or so. The truck has the same radiator in it as the 5.9 does, it's just not large enough to keep it cool under a full load.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
11/09/2003
15:54:07
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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Duner, Do you live here in Phoenix?
Also do you have the TOW package? Mine does so I don't know if that helps or not. Mine never went over half way on the temp. But some day I'd like to get a Supercharger. But I've decided to wait until my 3 year/36,000 mile waranty is expired.
My 4X4 4.7 tows my toys just fine to the Rim, going thru Payson, Pine, Strawberry, Clints Wells, etc.
Oh yeah, I'm going to the Dunes AGAIN this weekend. Leaving after work Friday the 14th and will stay until Sunday at Olgiby just past Yuma in California. The ONE hill we go over on the way to Yuma gives some people a problem but my Dak didn't slow down much at all!
Do you ever go to ogilby Duner? It would be funny to meet there :-)
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Duner
Dodge Dakota
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11/09/2003
16:56:21
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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I live in Chandler.... so close enough!
I ordered the truck with the heavy duty cooling package. It's only an issue with the turbo making the extra power. Power makes heat.
I won't get a chance to go again until Thanksgiving. We usually go on the buttercup side and camp at Gray's wells. We ride over to the Olgiby area sometimes as well as to Glamis.ere.
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Bunkey
Dodge Dakota
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11/12/2003
08:49:51
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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Took a '99 3.9, auto, with a 3.55 rear through the western mountains of Virginia towing 1200 lbs, including trailer, plus 400 lb. payload in truck.
The truck really lugged on some of the hills and I had concern for the transmission. It did not slip but it was straining. Since the trip was to return with a payload of 800 pounds in the bed and an an additional 800 pounds on the trailer, did not feel this truck and transmission would do the job.
Was I being overly cautions in concern for the transmission?
80% of the time the truck is used until non-load and fairly level terrain. My hobby takes me into the mountains and long distances of inter state travel over varying terrain. My concerns are pulling the weight and fuel mileage under normal driving conditions described.
Sales people know diddley-squat about gear ratios and pulling as the best they come up with deals with what they need to say so they can sell what they have on the lot. One sale rep even went so far as to tell me a Ram 1500 with the same 4.7 engine would do the job!!! In his mind, bigger is better I guess.
I would appreciate any assistance and information those reading this might offer. Thank you.
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Doug4.7
Dodge Dakota
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11/12/2003
12:45:59
|  RE: 4.7 Towing????
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For those of you with automatics: are you towing with the OD on or off? I have the 3.55 and when I tow, I turn off the OD (as the dealer service rep. suggested) and I run ~3000 rpm at highway speeds. I don't seem to have any troubles. Of course, I’ve only had the truck for less than a year, so troubles may appear later. If I had the 3.92 or 4.11, that would put the rpm's even higher, unless I used overdrive. So what is wrong with the 3.55 and turning off the OD?
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DakUSA
DakotaEnthusiast
11/12/2003
13:05:30
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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I tow my camper (see pic below) no problems 70MPH no problem starting not a problem truck at idle will pull the camper 4.7 TQ curve is flat you get max TQ off the line adn it stays almost max got a DYNO to prove it it also have the 3.55s and an auto. Also i am running a hotchkis suspension with the roadmaster active on top
Chris Lambert
Dakota USA
01 Graphite QC -- 4.7 Auto, MBRP Dual Exhaust Custom bent on 45s,
Bed Rug, Bed Rails, CF Euro Tails, Clear Fronts, Leer 100XQ, Custon Leather seats, NR Auto gauges, Kenwood CD, 350 amp, JL 10" sub in console, DVD player
18X9 ALT at200s, GTS style hood, SS front
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
11/12/2003
16:51:22
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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Awesome.
I will be towing my trailer with two ATV's in it with a full load of firewood to the dunes this coming weekend. I will leave the CLUTCH FAN off to see what happens. My electric comes on at 175 degrees or so and I will bring my clutch fan with me just in case. I'm cursious as hell now on weather the electric fan will keep up on the hills. Last time I went I still had it on and it hardly engaged. It's a lot colder out now.
Hey Duner. I saw where Butercup is on the map. We park right in Ogilby so we can get to the big hills real quick. Actually, I've never been in the buttercup section before but it looked smaller on the map than Olgilby.
I'll be going a few more times this winter so keep in touch. Maybe we'll meet up out there.
What do you run? I don't have anything really big yet. We just have a Warrior and a Polaris and a kids Honda 70. I wanted Quads that would be all purpose. My friends with Banshee's don't like them at all when out in the woods, etc. But they hall a$$ in the sand!
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gregor
Dodge Dakota
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11/12/2003
20:22:23
| RE: 4.7 Towing????
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I have a question regarding maintaining ride height when towing. Would appreciate comments
or personal experience with the Roadmaster or
Air bags. My own experience was with a Buick
Rivera that had an auto leveling system. The
rear shocks were controlled by an on-board air
compressor. When you loaded up with people, stuff, or gas, the little motor under the hood would start whirling. Although considered a
'gadget', I actually liked the system. The car
handled better, the ride quality didnt change, and the headlites werent pointing
at the moon when we loaded up.
I've seen an
aftermarket air bag system for DAK's with a leveling sensor. I'm skilled at installing electrical accessories. Anyone out there got pros/cons for using the air bags? I have
a '01 2WD QC tow package/hitch and a A.R.E. topper.
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sandy
Dodge Dakota
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11/13/2003
15:18:47
|  RE: 4.7 Towing????
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Hi. I am looking at buying a 2001 Dodge Dakota quad cab 8 cylinder with a towing package. What I need to know is: will it pull my boat and trailer? Boat weighs 4400 lbs. Not sure what the trailer weighs... it's a MagicTilt trailer. Thanks...
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