pasusan
PA
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Joined: 05/13/2009
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You can find the Trailer Life Towing Guide here.
Find out the GVWR (instead of the empty weight) of the trailer and look up the Durango.
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"Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy." JB & GF
Susan & Ben ~
84 Bronco & 90 Award Classic 23 joined with a Hensley Cub
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Ron Gratz
full time RVer
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Joined: 12/27/2003
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pappcam wrote:Epacer78 wrote:passport2590bh wrote:Durango's payload is only about 1,300 lbs. Does not leave much weight for the family. Wouldn't the weight distribution hitch help with the payload? No. It just transfers some of the weight from the back of your TV to the front. I disagree with pappcam. A weight distribution hitch will help with the payload.
A properly sized and properly adjusted WDH typically transfers a load equal to 70-80% of the tongue weight from the tow vehicle axles to the trailer axles.
If the tongue weight were 800#, you might have 600# added to the tow vehicle and 200# transferred to the trailer axles by the WDH.
Ron
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Ron Gratz
full time RVer
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Joined: 12/27/2003
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CakeHenn wrote:I think it's good to be cautious...in this case if the "dry weight" is 5800 I bet as seen on the lot it's around 6300 and the gross is 8-9k. I think it would be safe to say the average loaded weight would be about 7300-7800lbs which I'd think would be at or over the TV's max towing.--- I agree it's good to be cautious. However, I think the caution should be applied when comparing towing capacity (as opposed to "trailer weight rating") with "best estimate" values of loaded gross weight and loaded tongue weight.
The brochure dry weight for the 28DSBH is 5365# and the brochure dry tongue weight is 610#. The GVWR is 7500#.
The OP's stated dry weight of 5800# is consistent with the actual measured weight of a well-equipped 28BSDH with battery and full propane.
If the OP limits the weight of "cargo" to 1000#,
the loaded trailer would weigh about 6800#,
and the loaded tongue weight would be about 900#.
With WD applied, the load added to the TV would be around 675#.
Of course, only the OP can estimate how much cargo is likely to be added, but he does have the ability to control the numbers.
Ron
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DwnSth
SE Louisiana
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Joined: 03/04/2008
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I'm in the 'yeah, you can do it but do you want to' club. We really liked the Jayco 26DSRB Whitehawk, but when the dealer got the actual unit in back in November we saw the actual weight was over 5800 lbs. I'm sure I could have pushed the limits of my Tahoe and kept things within the limits but I just didn't feel like maxing things out. Went smaller and lighter. New TT tows nice and I really don't think I would ever want anything larger or heavier behind the Tahoe.
Just my opinion. If you are able to select the tow vehicle to pull the TT rather than the other way around, get something that will make the job easy.
2012 Aerolite 212RBSL
2013 F150 Lariat EB S-Crew max tow HD payload
1996 Four Winns Horizon 190 (gotta have a boat down here)
old - 1995 Jayco 1007 pop-up (lost to a fallen branch)
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Cedarhill
Deep South
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Unlike the older Durangos, which were based on the Dakota truck Chassis, the new Durango is of unibody construction. It does not have a steel beam frame. The frame is welded stamped steel. A weight distributing hitch applies a huge twisting or bending force about the hitch ball that transfers weight to the TV front axle and the TT axles. The amount of force you can safely apply through a hitch to sheet metal is very limited compared to a steel beam. It is a very bad idea to dismiss excessive tongue weight by assuming you are just magically moving it to the trailer axles.
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opnspaces
San Diego Ca
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Joined: 12/22/2004
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True, but the Durango probably has a max tongue weight with weight distribution specification. Regardless of construction (unibody or frame) if his tongue weight is below the max it should be fine.
My opinion on the towing combination is that a midsize SUV should not be pulling a 30 foot camping trailer.
1996 Suburban 4x4. 350, 4.10 3/4 ton
2005 Jayco Jay Flight 27BH
1986 Coleman Columbia Popup.
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nhshep
New Hampshire
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From experience. I tow 28ft trailer weighs 6100lbs. never had a problem with the set up. Wheel base was my concern, which is why I use Hensley. Weight is ok but i'm not in Colorado either. In New England it's mostly flat or moderate hills. I've gone over the White Mountains several trips with highest peak was 3600ft. Would not do it on a regular bases.
My advise 30 foot is a stretch. If you plan to do mountains, over time you will task the Durango. Not sure I would go 30 feet even with the Hensley, 28 is my limit and I would not go more than 6100 lbs fully loaded. My two cents. Like some people say I want to enjoy the ride as well as the destination.
2006 Dodge Durango Hemi
2005 Springdale RELL-GL 28'
Hensley Hitch
McKesh Mirrors
Prodigy Brake Controller
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kodiakcanuck
Ottawa, Canada
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For those that are telling you the payload will not be enough, my Ram has close to the same payload rating (1430 lbs for mine) and I am very close to my max with my tongue weight and trailer weight.
But what helps my experience in towing is the fact that the Ram has a longer wheel base and more stable for towing that lenght of trailer.
I think it would be a safer and easier towing experience if you look at a Ram pickup. Gas mileage is really not that different.
2011 Kodiak 240KSSL
Husky Center Line WDH
2010 Dodge RAM 1500 4x4, 3:55, 5.7L - at last, a HEMI
2007 Kodiak 214 HTT (prior)
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HarleyEnough
PA
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Joined: 09/19/2006
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I don't know much about the new Durango's but I believe they aren't built to the same standards of the previous gen. We had a 2006 limited with the 350hp Hemi. It was built on a modified dodge ram frame and had a higher tow rating than my half ton truck at the time. Was around 9k. I've seen several of those pulling 25-30' trailers around here. I believe the new Durango's built on the grand cherokee platform and is significantly smaller than the previous gen Durango. Some people may be confused since they see the last gen Durango's pulling heavier campers around.
And our last 30' TT was pulled by the 1/2 ton truck due to the longer/safer wheelbase and footprint, not the Durango.
2011 Dodge Ram Laramie 3500 Crew Cab Long Bed SRW
2006 KZ Sportster 41GKx2 Toy Hauler
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