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scuba_steve
Dodge Dakota
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6/21/2005
23:27:27
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 Subject: V8 camper towing
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I have a 2000 4.9L V8 quad cab with a 3.55 rear end. I am towing a 26ft travel trailer that weights 4700lbs empty. I know I am right at the towing limit for this trailer and for that reason I am going to sell it and get a lighter one. Does anyone know of a good weight range to shoot for for the next trailer. I found a lot of trailers that are around 3500lbs but I'm not sure if this is light enough or do I need to go even less. I use a weight distributing hitch now, and keep the truck out of OD, to pull my trailer and the truck pulls it fine, except for the hills it doggs my truck down. I only tow for short distances under 40 miles but would like to start towing it on the interstate for 100's of miles. Let me know what yall think.
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Super-bee
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
10:33:49
|  RE: V8 camper towing
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4700 lbs is the towing limit?
that seams real low to me
my 90 dakota is limited to about that
i can check the 95s manual but im sure its more than that
id jsut leave it, going up a hill will bog down any engine, as long as you arent losing speed going up the hill with the pedeal mashed you should be fine
and more than the weight i think you are feeling the drag from a big old trailer behind you
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scuba steve
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
11:40:01
| RE: V8 camper towing
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I dont have a book on my truck so I found that rating on the trailer life magazine website.
I dont lose speed on the hills, I normally just shift down to second gear and power up them depending on how big they are.
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dmould
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
12:43:59
| RE: V8 camper towing
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On my 2004 Dakota 4.7L 4x4 CC with manual transmission and 3.55LS, the tow limit is listed at 5100lbs, would be 6100 lbs with the 3.92 gears. I tow a 26ft Trail-Lite trailer, about 3500lbs dry, 4400 GVWR. Tows pretty good, have to use 4th gear if the road is not flat or if there is a headwind. MPG drops to 10-11.
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Kowalski
GenIII
6/22/2005
17:35:07
| RE: V8 camper towing
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I pull a 24.5' fifth wheel camper that I figure is about 5000 lbs. loaded with no problems. The 4.7 is happy to rev, just flog it up the hills.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2005
19:09:18
| RE: V8 camper towing
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When towing anything, lighter is better no matter how you look at it. When buying a new trailer, go for the lightest one that fits your needs.
The dodge will tow quite a load, as long as you're patient and smart. I see people towing big trailers at 85mph thinking it's safe just because their diesel can do it. Don't drive faster than you can stop or corner. Don't be a traffic hazard, but don't try and do normal highway speeds either. Take your time getting up to speed, and allow the truck to slow on the hills. Don't get anxious and try to pass motorhomes, trucks, and other big vehicles.
And make sure your truck is prepared to haul these loads. E rated tires, good fresh oil, good shocks, trans cooler, etc.
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scuba steve
Dodge Dakota
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6/24/2005
02:32:21
| RE: V8 camper towing
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I just weighed the camper today and yaaaa im over. It weighed 5200lbs so im over like by 500lbs. But I did find something interesting when I hooked up the weight dist hitch it lightened up the axle weight by 300lbs. So i guess it does work.
Im lookn at two campers now a ROo and a streamlite. both are like 3600lbs empty so like 4100lbs with my crap in it. So i'm like 1100lbs lighter with the new camper. My truck should like me better.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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6/24/2005
09:48:17
| RE: V8 camper towing
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Yeah, 1/2 ton of towed weight will make a noticable differance.
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rdmcphe
Dodge Dakota
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6/25/2005
16:18:40
| RE: V8 camper towing
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Looking for a lighter trailer is a good move. It will make your truck happier (if a truck can be happy) but more importantly reduce your liability if you have an accident and it can be proven that you were overloaded.
Remember trailer weight by itself can be a bit misleading. Dodge rates its vehicles using Gross Combined Vehicle Weight (GCVR). The 2000 Dodge Trailer Towing Guide states that the GCVR for a 4.7l Automatic 3.55 axle Quad Cab is 9200 lbs. They suggest a max. trailer weight of 4800 lbs (assuming a truck weight of 4400 lbs).
The fine print has a large disclaimer... The trailer weight must be REDUCED by the weight optional equipment (e.g. Canopy), passengers, cargo and trailer hitch on the truck.
If your truck, loaded with gear and passengers, weights more than 4400 lbs your max trailer weight must be reduced by the amount you are over.
Regards,
Russell
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scuba steve
Dodge Dakota
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6/26/2005
21:51:28
|  RE: V8 camper towing
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Thats some great info.
So 9200 minus 4400 for truck, minus 500 for adults/kids/WD hitch leaves me 4300 for a trailer weight. Then I minus 500 for cargo I put in the trailer (food,clothes,toys,etc) leaves me with a dry trailer weight of 3800lbs. This sound right?
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rdmcphe
Dodge Dakota
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6/27/2005
01:14:28
| RE: V8 camper towing
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You understand the idea. I can't comment directly on your weights. They seem reasonable. I would look for a trailer under 3500 lbs to allow for a factor of safety.
You also might want to consider confirming the weight assumptions. Often dry trailer weight does not include the weight of optional equipment in the trailer (like the A/C).
I tow a 3600 lb trailer with my 2001 QC 4x4, 4.7, auto, 3.92 axle, My GCVR is 10,500. My allowable trailer weight is around 5800 lbs (based on a 4x4 truck weight of 4700 lbs). It tows it well - once I got used to the lousy gas mileage (11 mpg) and the fact that the 4.7 has so little low end torque - the motor likes to rev.
Its unfortunate (from a towing point of view) that so many daks are sold with 3.55 axle ratios. The 3.92 axle adds up to 1300 lbs in towing capacity.
Russell
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deerridge
GenIII
6/27/2005
14:22:00
| RE: V8 camper towing
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The Gen III's had two load ratings available too. They were the 5900 GVWR and 5400 I believe, thats another 500 lbs not available to everyone. I don't believe the Gen IV has the higher rating anymore either.
Real Horsepower
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