Towing Capacity?
#1
02-20-2008, 10:51 PM
Towing Capacity?
I just bought a 2003 Durango SLT plus with the 5.9L V8. What's the towing capacity withit having the 3.55axle ratio? It's suppose to have the Camping and Towing Package.I know ithas the class iv hitch reciever, 7 point wire harness, and the 750 amp battery. What else is it suppose to have and how canI tell if I have it?
Also the label inside the driver's door say's that it's suppose to be running 245/70/16's, but it has 265/70/16's and the spare is too. Was this an option for this truck and will it throw off my speed-o?
Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Also the label inside the driver's door say's that it's suppose to be running 245/70/16's, but it has 265/70/16's and the spare is too. Was this an option for this truck and will it throw off my speed-o?
Any information will be greatly appreciated.
#2
02-21-2008, 02:08 PM
RE: Towing Capacity?
with a 3:55 gear ratio, I think your maximum towing is around 5k lbs. for a 5.9 engine. If you had 3:92 gear ratio, the max will be 7500 lbs.
As far as the tires go, your speedo will not be affected by the differences in tire size you specified as the tires your currently have are just wider than the OEM, but the height size is still the same (70/16).
As far as the tires go, your speedo will not be affected by the differences in tire size you specified as the tires your currently have are just wider than the OEM, but the height size is still the same (70/16).
#3
02-21-2008, 03:44 PM
RE: Towing Capacity?
ORIGINAL: Kensai
with a 3:55 gear ratio, I think your maximum towing is around 5k lbs. for a 5.9 engine. If you had 3:92 gear ratio, the max will be 7500 lbs.
As far as the tires go, your speedo will not be affected by the differences in tire size you specified as the tires your currently have are just wider than the OEM, but the height size is still the same (70/16).
with a 3:55 gear ratio, I think your maximum towing is around 5k lbs. for a 5.9 engine. If you had 3:92 gear ratio, the max will be 7500 lbs.
As far as the tires go, your speedo will not be affected by the differences in tire size you specified as the tires your currently have are just wider than the OEM, but the height size is still the same (70/16).
70 refferes to 70% of the tread width.
245/70 is ~ 170 tall
265/70 is ~ 185 tall
this translates to the speedo reading 3.7% slower (or when your speedo reads 60 you are going 62)
if you got 265/65/16's the speedo would be as accurate as with the 245's
#4
02-21-2008, 06:01 PM
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#6
02-22-2008, 09:18 AM
RE: Towing Capacity?
I always thought the 70's, etc, is the height measurement from the edge of the rim to the top of the tread. Thus defining the profile height of the tire.
I have put up tires next to each other with same profile series and rim diameter, just one tire narrow than the other, and height looks the same to me. But when you put up a lower profile tire vs a higher profile tire (55 vs 60) with the same rim diameter, you can see a height difference. I looked this up when I was at costco deciding on sticking with OEM size 60 series profile and comparing that with the 55 series profile.
I have put up tires next to each other with same profile series and rim diameter, just one tire narrow than the other, and height looks the same to me. But when you put up a lower profile tire vs a higher profile tire (55 vs 60) with the same rim diameter, you can see a height difference. I looked this up when I was at costco deciding on sticking with OEM size 60 series profile and comparing that with the 55 series profile.
#7
02-22-2008, 09:34 AM
RE: Towing Capacity?
visually they can be pretty close since it is in percentages - doesn't take a whole lot of height difference to increase the circumferenceof the tire
[/blockquote]
TireRack has a pretty good write up explaining what all the numbers and letters of tire designation mean.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=46
Sidewall Aspect Ratio
Typically following the three digits identifying the tire's Section Width in millimeters is a two-digit number that identifies the tire's profile or aspect ratio.
[blockquote]
P225/50R16 91S
The 50 indicates that this tire size's sidewall height (from rim to tread) is 50% of its section width. The measurement is the tire's section height, and also referred to as the tire's series, profile or aspect ratio. The higher the number, the taller the sidewall; the lower the number, the lower the sidewall. We know that this tire size's section width is 225mm and that its section height is 50% of 225mm. By converting the 225mm to inches (225 / 25.4 = 8.86") and multiplying it by 50% (.50) we confirm that this tire size results in a tire section height of 4.43". If this tire were a P225/70R16 size, our calculation would confirm that the size would result in a section height of 6.20", approximately a 1.8-inch taller sidewall.
Typically following the three digits identifying the tire's Section Width in millimeters is a two-digit number that identifies the tire's profile or aspect ratio.
[blockquote]
P225/50R16 91S
The 50 indicates that this tire size's sidewall height (from rim to tread) is 50% of its section width. The measurement is the tire's section height, and also referred to as the tire's series, profile or aspect ratio. The higher the number, the taller the sidewall; the lower the number, the lower the sidewall. We know that this tire size's section width is 225mm and that its section height is 50% of 225mm. By converting the 225mm to inches (225 / 25.4 = 8.86") and multiplying it by 50% (.50) we confirm that this tire size results in a tire section height of 4.43". If this tire were a P225/70R16 size, our calculation would confirm that the size would result in a section height of 6.20", approximately a 1.8-inch taller sidewall.
TireRack has a pretty good write up explaining what all the numbers and letters of tire designation mean.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=46
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#8
02-22-2008, 01:22 PM
RE: Towing Capacity?
ORIGINAL: Kohburn
TireRack has a pretty good write up explaining what all the numbers and letters of tire designation mean.
TireRack has a pretty good write up explaining what all the numbers and letters of tire designation mean.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
#9
02-22-2008, 09:47 PM
RE: Towing Capacity?
Thanks for all the advice I really appreciate it. I didgot a hold of customer service at Dodge and they told me my towing capacity was 5450 lbs and that the tires on my truck were ordered that way from the factory so my speed-o should be fine.
They could not tell me though what my hitch weight limitwould be. Is hitch weight and tongue weight the same thing?How do I find out what the limit is?
AlsoI forgot to ask how i could tell if my truck came with side impact airbags. How could find this out?
They could not tell me though what my hitch weight limitwould be. Is hitch weight and tongue weight the same thing?How do I find out what the limit is?
AlsoI forgot to ask how i could tell if my truck came with side impact airbags. How could find this out?
#10
02-23-2008, 01:50 PM
Hall Of Fame
RE: Towing Capacity?
No on the air bags.
Class I Hitch =2,000 Lbs Capasity towing
Class III Hitch = 5,000 " " "
Class IV Hitch= 7,300"" "
All Durangos are intended to tow trailers up to 2,000Lbs. without added equiptment.
Trailers over 350 Lbs. Tongue weight needs a Equalizing Hitch.
Tongue Weight is the amount of weight on the hitch from the trailer loaded.
You should always load a trailer with 60% weight towards the front and 40% of the weight towards the back of the trailer to insure there is enough weight on the hitch to keep it from comming undone and braking power of the vehical. This means 10% of the weight is on the tongue of the vehical.
Maximum is 15%.
Trailer weight is the full load of the trailer loaded.
By this calculation the maximum tonge weight of a class IV Hitch with the tow package installed by the factory is 1095 Lbs. according to the owners manual. It states maximum would be 15% tongue weight of trailer towing capasity.
My older manual states that G_Owens79towing capasity is 10,500 with the 5.9L and 3:55 gear ratio. But this is an older manual and it includes tow package.
Class I Hitch =2,000 Lbs Capasity towing
Class III Hitch = 5,000 " " "
Class IV Hitch= 7,300"" "
All Durangos are intended to tow trailers up to 2,000Lbs. without added equiptment.
Trailers over 350 Lbs. Tongue weight needs a Equalizing Hitch.
Tongue Weight is the amount of weight on the hitch from the trailer loaded.
You should always load a trailer with 60% weight towards the front and 40% of the weight towards the back of the trailer to insure there is enough weight on the hitch to keep it from comming undone and braking power of the vehical. This means 10% of the weight is on the tongue of the vehical.
Maximum is 15%.
Trailer weight is the full load of the trailer loaded.
By this calculation the maximum tonge weight of a class IV Hitch with the tow package installed by the factory is 1095 Lbs. according to the owners manual. It states maximum would be 15% tongue weight of trailer towing capasity.
My older manual states that G_Owens79towing capasity is 10,500 with the 5.9L and 3:55 gear ratio. But this is an older manual and it includes tow package.