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Car Forum / Dodge / Dodge Trucks / June 2006

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Towing Capacity-Dakota

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Frank Boettcher - 05 Jun 2006 18:42 GMT
I'm confused by the owners  manual charts for towing capacity.

What is the towing capacity of a Dakota club cab ('98) 2 wheel drive
with 3.9L V6 and 3.55 rear end when a class III hitch is installed.
Anyone know?
mac davis - 06 Jun 2006 15:18 GMT
>I'm confused by the owners  manual charts for towing capacity.
>
>What is the towing capacity of a Dakota club cab ('98) 2 wheel drive
>with 3.9L V6 and 3.55 rear end when a class III hitch is installed.
>Anyone know?

hmm.. I tried Trailer Life's site but they only go back to 2000 models..

My guess would be in the low or mid 4,000# range...

Our 01 Dakota CC with 4.7 V-8, auto and 3:55 gears has a max tow weight of
5,200#
Goes up to 6,400 with the 4:11 gears, which IMHO is a joke..

Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm
Frank Boettcher - 06 Jun 2006 23:35 GMT
>>I'm confused by the owners  manual charts for towing capacity.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
>https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

Thanks for the site info.  Acutally goes back to 1999.  Both the '99
and 2000 rate a 3.9L CC with auto/od and a 3:55 rear end for 4800lbs.
I don't think there were any frame or mechanical changes from 98 to 99
so I'm thinking mine is the same.  I need to tow a 4200 lb. package so
I think I'm ok.

Notice you're a turner.  Nice work.  I don't turn but I'm a
woodworker.  I know about you turners.  If you mess up, it's art. :~)

Frank
SnoMan - 07 Jun 2006 02:04 GMT
>I need to tow a 4200 lb. package so
>I think I'm ok.

Be prepared rro a very slow go of it and if hills are involved it will
realy be slow at times. Do install a aux tranny cooler or if it is a
one time deal do it when it is cool outside and do not use A/C while
towing to maxi,ize engie and tranny cooling with load.
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
mac davis - 07 Jun 2006 15:12 GMT
>Thanks for the site info.  Acutally goes back to 1999.  Both the '99
>and 2000 rate a 3.9L CC with auto/od and a 3:55 rear end for 4800lbs.
>I don't think there were any frame or mechanical changes from 98 to 99
>so I'm thinking mine is the same.  I need to tow a 4200 lb. package so
>I think I'm ok.

Glad it helped!
I discovered Trailer Life when we were shopping for our travel trailer and all
the trailer places said that the Dak would tow "over 6,000 pounds".....
If you allow a 10 or 15% safety factor, you're right up there... keep in mind
that the max towing weight includes anything in the trailer and usually the
driver, passenger, etc..

>Notice you're a turner.  Nice work.  I don't turn but I'm a
>woodworker.  I know about you turners.  If you mess up, it's art. :~)

yep.. much easier than flat work, Frank...
No square cuts, fancy joints, accurate miters or any of that stuff that gets so
frustrating... If you don't turn exactly what you planned, you just buff it up a
little more and it still looks good... *g*

Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm
SnoMan - 07 Jun 2006 02:00 GMT
..

>My guess would be in the low or mid 4,000# range...
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>Mac

Well why both are off a bit 4000 lbs with a 3.9 and a 3.55 axle would
be a bigger joke than 6.4K lbs with a 4.7 and a 4.10
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
Nosey - 07 Jun 2006 07:27 GMT
> ..
>>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> The SnoMan
> www.thesnoman.com

The class III hitch limits him to 500 tongue and 5,000 draw.
Signature

Ken

SnoMan - 07 Jun 2006 13:05 GMT
On Wed, 7 Jun 2006 02:27:24 -0400, "Nosey"

>The class III hitch limits him to 500 tongue and 5,000 draw.

It has bigger problems than a Class 3 hitch because just putting a
class 4 hitch on something does not make it so if vehicle is not up to
it.
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
Nosey - 07 Jun 2006 15:43 GMT
> On Wed, 7 Jun 2006 02:27:24 -0400, "Nosey"
>>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> The SnoMan
> www.thesnoman.com

I wasn't disagreeing with you. I was just pointing out that the hitch the OP
currently has installed limits his towing capacity to less than 6.4K
regardless of what engine or gears he has. I didn't mean to imply he needs a
bigger hitch. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
Signature

Ken

mac davis - 07 Jun 2006 15:15 GMT
>..
>>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>The SnoMan
>www.thesnoman.com

IMO it's the size of the truck and the suspension... a ram with some length and
weight to it would be ok maybe, but just putting lower gears in a truck doesn't
do a thing to the size, weight, wheel base, etc..
In our case, a Dak pulling a 30 foot trailer would have been the tail wagging
the dog..
Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm
Christopher  Thompson - 07 Jun 2006 18:52 GMT
> >..
> >>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> the dog..
> Mac

i have to agree..ive towed with short wheel base and long wheel base trucks
there is no comparison IMHO.

not to mention the diff between towing with a compact vs. full sized.

Signature

-Chris
05 CTD
06 Liberty CRD

Real trucks don't need spark plugs

> https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
> https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm
Mark Filice - 07 Jun 2006 00:55 GMT
>I'm confused by the owners  manual charts for towing capacity.
>
>What is the towing capacity of a Dakota club cab ('98) 2 wheel drive
>with 3.9L V6 and 3.55 rear end when a class III hitch is installed.
>Anyone know?

Here is the Trailer Life article for the 1998 model year that you might find
interesting:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3707/is_199801/ai_n8763313

Mark
"Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't"
 
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