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Old 09-12-2012, 12:46 PM   #1
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Question Towing with Dodge Dakota

I have a 27 ft International with gross weight of 6200 lbs.
Will a 2006 Dodge Dakota 4.7L V8, 5 speed auto trans with tow package handle it?
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Old 09-12-2012, 12:59 PM   #2
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Is the Dakota even a half ton rated truck? I would say no unless you are just towing for a short distance on flat ground. That would be like me trying to pull my 31 footer with my Ranger.

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Old 09-12-2012, 01:36 PM   #3
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Here is a link to the Dodge towing guide. Watch how you load and get a good weight distributing/anti-sway hitch and you should be fine.

Dodge Towing Guide - By Vehicle
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Old 09-12-2012, 02:02 PM   #4
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Aw forget all of the maufacturer's weight and towing guides, and take that thing to Can-Am in London, ON, Canada and they can fix it up so it will tow a 34 footer 100 miles an hour thru the slalom course, no problem. ;-)
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Old 09-12-2012, 03:14 PM   #5
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This type of post draws many reactions. It would be nice to receive actual experiences from Dakota users. I suspect your mileage will go south when towing. But when doesn't that happen?

We've had a significant number of Toyota Tacoma owners actually report that they've been very happy towing mid-sized newer Airstreams (ie, they've gotten heavier over the years). Some of these are from the Pacific Northwest with mountain passes and all.

Edmunds says it has a 7000# tow capacity and 1720# payload. I probably was the first on AIRForums to own a Nissan Titan and it only had a 1342# payload. I'm still listening to your proposal...
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Old 09-12-2012, 03:56 PM   #6
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I tow my 21 Globetrotter with a 99 Dakota extra cab, 4X4, 5.2 V8 Automatic, with 3.93 Gears (I think ) at least 3.9?. Great on the flats, lacks power in the Rocky Mtns, and steep hills even at the lower elevations. I believe my 21' trailer is about maximum with the Dakota. Next truck will have more power. I will be taking it up to South Park this weekend to try to take the elusive Wapiti with an arrow.
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Old 09-12-2012, 03:59 PM   #7
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The V8 should have plenty of power. With a properly set up hitch and brake controller you should be fine. Don't listen to the people who say you have to have a 1ton to tow an airstream. The trailer stops its self, that's why it has its own brakes.

I tow with a Tundra 4.6L V8. Most people don't consider that a "real" half ton, but it has lots of power, and it's a very stable and reliable tow vehicle.
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Old 09-12-2012, 04:33 PM   #8
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Joking aside, I had a full size Dodge pickup with the 4.7L engine, auto transmission, and pulled a 23', 1975 trailer with it (much lighter and smaller than your 27'), and I was dissatisfied with the truck. Felt it did not have enough power, down shifted too much, and slowed down too much on grades.
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Old 09-12-2012, 04:44 PM   #9
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similar truck:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f353...ml#post1027117
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Old 09-12-2012, 04:47 PM   #10
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Quote:
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Joking aside, I had a full size Dodge pickup with the 4.7L engine, auto transmission, and pulled a 23', 1975 trailer with it (much lighter and smaller than your 27'), and I was dissatisfied with the truck. Felt it did not have enough power, down shifted too much, and slowed down too much on grades.
In contrast our 3.5 V6 car has power to spare towing our 23' Airstream. Another forum member has been towing a 27' for years with his 2.5 5cyl Volvo. Works fine. Every case is different. Aerodynamics, vehicle weight, connection quality/set up, are all factors that determine performance.

Also realize Airstreams are a very easy trailer to tow compared to shoe box designed trailers.
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Old 09-12-2012, 04:50 PM   #11
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By the book rule of thumb is try to be at 80% of the tow vehicles ability and if you have a close to stock 27 then it's about 4260 lbs. With that in mind adding 600 lbs of stuff you are within the rule. I towed a 22 Argosy with a Toyota FJ Cruiser, handled great and got 15 mpg up through Pennsylvania hills. It worked out as an 80% of towing capability rig. I love the Reese dual cam setup for stability.
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Old 09-12-2012, 04:55 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Road Ruler View Post
In contrast our 3.5 V6 car has power to spare towing our 23' Airstream. Another forum member has been towing a 27' for years with his 2.5 5cyl Volvo. Works fine. Every case is different. Aerodynamics, vehicle weight, connection quality/set up, are all factors that determine performance.

Also realize Airstreams are a very easy trailer to tow compared to shoe box designed trailers.
I would probably have been satisfied with my little Dodge also in Ontario where the speed limit is like 55 and nothing greater than a 1% grade.
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Old 09-12-2012, 06:07 PM   #13
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It is not 6200 lbs

Quote:
Originally Posted by gandichen View Post
I have a 27 ft International with gross weight of 6200 lbs.
"Gross weight" or GVW is not the weight of your Airstream. GVW is Airstream's recommend maximum combined trailer+cargo+fluids weight.

You 27' International weighs 4230 lbs dry with a 490lb tongue weight. Start with these numbers and add a few hundred pounds for what you might carry.

Also note that you can increase the towing capacity of the truck with lower ratio rear axle and upgraded tires and suspension.
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Old 09-12-2012, 06:21 PM   #14
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I would probably have been satisfied with my little Dodge also in Ontario where the speed limit is like 55
The speed limit up here is actually 100!
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Old 09-12-2012, 06:33 PM   #15
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The speed limit up here is actually 100!
Yea, in some places it's as high as 100, Kilometers PH, not MPH. We have speed limits in Texas as high a 85 MPH, which would be about 137 KPH.

Do you guys even have cars that will go that fast?
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Old 09-12-2012, 08:00 PM   #16
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I have a Dakota and have towed my Tradewind and Globetrotter with it. I have the 5 spd auto tranny with the V-8. All due respect to all the other folks kind enough to comment, IMHO you are maxed out at that weight. I have had Mopars for years (including dragging horses here, yon and elsewhere) and while I love them it is best to err on the side of caution when dealing with a Dodge transmission. Mine loves the GT and tolerates the TW. The rear end replacement, lower gearing options are a personal decision but before I spent that money I would shop for a diesel. Always disable your overdrive when towing and don't be afraid to go slowly up mountains. That is why God invented flashers.
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Old 09-14-2012, 12:54 PM   #17
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Yea, in some places it's as high as 100, Kilometers PH, not MPH. We have speed limits in Texas as high a 85 MPH, which would be about 137 KPH.

Do you guys even have cars that will go that fast?

Does anyone tow at 85mph?

No wonder there are so many GYM tire failures.

Major highway's in Ontario generally have a 100kph speed limit, but thats the MAXIMUM speed. Responsible drivers should travel according to road conditions and their driving situation. I have no doubt my truck could reach 85mph towing, but I don't care what a sign on a post says, that's not safe, and I won't do it.
My sports car's another story but it doesn't have a trailer hitch.
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Old 09-14-2012, 01:27 PM   #18
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The answer is NO !

I had a 2005 Dodge Dakota 4.7L v8 with posi traction and rigged for towing and then bought my 2005 AS Safari 25 ft LS.

Works fine on flat land but when I made the trip to Yosemite I had a major problem with the engine heating up and barly made it to the top of the summit when the engine turned itself off!
YOu can only imagine the fear one gets going uphill with other rigs behind you and your motor is heating up and your truck starts to slow itself down and eventually shuts itself off !

On the way home I had to wait for the engine to cool before I could go up hill on the "grapevine" on hiway 5 (CA). EVen then, I had to get a running start to make it up the hill.

When I took it into the shop I was told I had a cracked head and my exhaust pipe had expanded due to the etreme heat. Good news..... I was still covered under the warrenty (I had 1000 miles left on the 36000 warrenty).

Cost for repairs..... $3200 and change.

So, that`s my story sad bu true.

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Old 09-14-2012, 01:52 PM   #19
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Quote:
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Does anyone tow at 85mph?

No wonder there are so many GYM tire failures.

Major highway's in Ontario generally have a 100kph speed limit, but thats the MAXIMUM speed. Responsible drivers should travel according to road conditions and their driving situation. I have no doubt my truck could reach 85mph towing, but I don't care what a sign on a post says, that's not safe, and I won't do it.
My sports car's another story but it doesn't have a trailer hitch.
There are definitely nitwits here in Texas who tow all manner of ratty, poorly-maintained trailers with mix-and-max tires at those sorts of speeds with their HD pickups. They pass me with some frequency when I'm towing the Argosy, though not nearly as many of them pass me when I'm in the Legacy GT... not sure why.

I will say that these people are usually towing utility trailers and flatbeds, it's rare (but not unheard of) to see my fellow Texans pulling their travel trailers that fast, probably because they've often got their family with them and their spouse calls them on it!
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Old 09-14-2012, 03:00 PM   #20
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Yea, in some places it's as high as 100, Kilometers PH, not MPH. We have speed limits in Texas as high a 85 MPH, which would be about 137 KPH.

Do you guys even have cars that will go that fast?
LOL, actually our TV's speed limiter is set at 240KPH (148MPH) but for towing the 23' we keep it down to 41% of that. We like a nice safety cushion.
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