KC8WX
OH IO
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Joined: 12/23/2007
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Got a local friend wants to get a TT like mine. He has a 2001 Dodge Dakota with the 4.7L. Not sure of the Rear Gear Ratio at all. It is a Quad Cab 4x4. Thinking he has a 4 Spd Tranny, not yet sure if Automatic with a Tow/haul or Manual. Find that out later today.
Anyone have any Towing Specs. for this model and year truck?
Anyone with Dakota's, what are you towing?
I'm telling him he needs to stay under 5000#'s Dry to get into a
TT around 28ft with Bunkhouse (has 4 kids)that he can pull based on our 4.7L experience with a 3.55 and now 4.10 gear set. I'm assuming my 4.7L being a 2006 has more torque and HP so he will probably be at Max Towing Capacity around 5800-6000lbs.
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2006 Durango SLT 4.7L, 545RFE, 4.10 Motive Gears with TracLoc 2WD AIRAID Cold Air Intake, PML Deep Tranny Pan, KYB Shocks
2007 Wildwood LE 27RB
Equalizer Hitch
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wa8shc
Parma, Ohio
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Joined: 12/11/2003
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I've puller 2 TTs with 2 different Dakota 4.7L trucks
TT #1 was 21' and went abt 4000# loaded...pulled decent w/ 2000 Dak 3.55
TT #2 was 25' and was abt 5100# loaded...didnt like way it handled hills & headwinds at all....2005 Dak w/ 3.55
The Dakota is a decent TV in the 25' and UNDER range
The 4.7L is a strong engine, but cant handle a 5000# Empty TT (6-7000# loaded)
JMHO...tell your friend to either get a stronger engine, or nothing more than abt 23-24' and 3500# EMPTY
Denny WA8SHC and Rita WB8TIR
Siberian Husky Ta'kya (Princess RIP 10/04 Taz RIP 5/12/08)
2007 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab 5.9L CTD 3.73/LSD,Quadzilla RECON monitor
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SemperFiCop
USA
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Joined: 10/19/2007
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2001 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab
3.9 V6 Manual 4x4
Horsepower: 175 hp
Torque: 225 ft-lbs
Curb Weight 4423 lbs
GVWR 5630 lbs
Max Towing Capacity: 3400 lbs
Maximum Payload: 1350 lbs
Did not see any 4.7L for 2001?
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surveyorjp
Missouri
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Joined: 09/05/2005
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SemperFiCop wrote:2001 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab
3.9 V6 Manual 4x4
Horsepower: 175 hp
Torque: 225 ft-lbs
Curb Weight 4423 lbs
GVWR 5630 lbs
Max Towing Capacity: 3400 lbs
Maximum Payload: 1350 lbs
Did not see any 4.7L for 2001?
You need to check your sources. In 2001 there was a 4.7L v8 available that replaced the 5.2L v8 in 2000. Here is a link with some 1997 to 2004 Dakota info.
http://www.allpar.com/trucks/dakota-1997.html
To the OP, there are some 30 foot TTs available that can be towed behind a Dakota. I have one in my sig pic. I sometimes tow this trailer with a 2004 Dakota Quad cab 4x4 and it tows just fine. The dry weight is 4200lbs with a loaded weight of 6000 lbs. The 2004 Dak can pull hills with my trailer as well as my 95 Ram, however the Ram does have a bit more stability. The Dakota does not feel inadequate though. JMHO.
2005 Surveyor SV-291
1995 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie SLT 4x4 5.9L V8 low miles, lower payments
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dakotapicker
Huron SD
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I had a 96 Dakota quad 4x4 318 v-8 and pulled a 4000lb empty .
It was not good in any wind or hills. I loved that little pickup but
it was heavy eough or powerful enough for pulling a 26ft camper.
2002 Dodge diesel 4x4 5 spd, 26 ft Dutchmen TT.
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Mousefart
New Jersey
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My 07 Dakota has 3.92 gears, the 4.7 HO engine (260hp, 310 ft lbs torque) and the 5 speed auto. This is the EXACT same drivetrain as the RAM 1500 (except I have 30 MORE hp). It's tow capacity is 6800 lbs.
So in my case, anything that can be towed by a 4.7L RAM 1500, I can tow with my DAK (minus about 300 lbs). Drag and crosswinds have never been an issue as it is a heavy truck with a decent wheelbase.
I tow a 3800 lb HTT and I PASS people in the climbing lanes on steep hills!
Now the 01 was a different body style from mine but I think the towing capacity should be about the same.
Now as for whether a TV "sucks" at towing or not is strictly the perception of the owner. Some people say a TV sucks because it won't tow their 40 ft 5th wheel up an 11% grade at 75 mph without downshifting  , others are perfectly happy if they can maintain 55 mph on a 4% grade when towing thier pop-up.
The towing calculator (link) on the Dodge website only goes back to 2002, but it lookes like the towing capacity is in the range of 5000lb to 6000lb (without more specifics on the truck).
* This post was
edited 05/04/08 09:05am by Mousefart *
Paul (Mouse)
2007 Flagstaff Shamrock 17 Hybrid (heavily modified for boondocking and winter camping).
2007 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab, 4.7L HO engine, Factory tow package, Equil-i-zer WD Hitch, Prodigy brake controller.
Yamaha EF2400 Generator.
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virstens
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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I would agree with wa8shc above. I had a 2001 Dakota with a 4.7. At that time I had a 24 hybird that scaled about 4500#. If I came upon a hill or a head wind that trailer was all that truck could handle. If he was going to go only a few miles to camp he might be ok but longer trips would be a pain. He will be much happier with a lighter TT.
1 wife that loves to camp
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Mousefart
New Jersey
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virstens wrote:I would agree with wa8shc above. I had a 2001 Dakota with a 4.7. At that time I had a 24 hybird that scaled about 4500#. If I came upon a hill or a head wind that trailer was all that truck could handle. If he was going to go only a few miles to camp he might be ok but longer trips would be a pain. He will be much happier with a lighter TT.
Now come on here, reality check time.
Both you and wa8shc are one of those I mentioned above that wants to tow their 40 ft 5th wheel up an 11% grade at 75 mph without downshifting.
A Dakota will handle a 24 ft hybrid just as a RAM 1500 (or F150, or any other 1/2 ton pickup would). You people just have the unrealistic expectation of towing feeling like you have absolutely nothing attached to the rear.
Granted, he will probably want to stay under 5000 lbs (80% rule), but seeing both of you TVs tells me you are into gross towing overcompensation. Give the guy a break and don't talk him into buying an F350 Super Duty to tow a pop-up.
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KC8WX
OH IO
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Ok, the guy had the original Window Sticker and I got to see all the packages installed and the Trailer Weight is 4800#'s. Has the towing package and the 45RFE(which I believe is the 4 Speed Auto with Tow/Haul) with 3.55 gears. I have the 545RFE 5 Speed. Mine was 6000#'s. with the 3.55 gears. Now I have 4.10's and could pull 8000.
So, since I am able to tow what you see in my Sig, he is looking at an 08 of the same Wildwood series. So far found two Quad Bunkhouse Units and they are 4500 Dry, 250#'s less than mine. He is also going to convert to 4.10's to be able to tow it.
I don't run 75mph up hills but I can run 55-60mph at 4200 RPM's up hills.  Usually I get a run at about 60mph, (2 lane State Roads) and let it bleed off and then hold 45mph at 3300 RPM's for long hills.
I don't expect to cruise like I would in a car when I am towing 6000.
I have towing experience with industrial trailers, hauling from the factory stacked 5 high, 5'er's with gas and diesels, and TT's.
Sure I would love to have a 1/2 ton with a hemi or an F250 V10 but we use the Durango for all around use 90% of the time. With the engine mods I have done, I am getting 16mpg local driving and 22 highway (non-towing) so hard to beat for a dual purpose vehicle. I'm happy with our towing performance even though it's 8-10mpg towing in hills.
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KC8WX
OH IO
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Well my friend called the Dodge dealer today and ran the VIN. Turns out the vehicle has the Factory Towing and the previous owner already had changed out the gears to a 4.10 set for towing. They are already going TT shopping starting tomorrow AM and again later this week. Some guys get all the luck!
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