Hi guys, I'm new here. I'm looking at buying a 2011 Dakota with a 3.7. I'm wondering if it would have any problems towing a 3 rail dirtbike trailer with 3 bikes, about 800lbs. or so. Any help is much appreciated.

 

my 2001 dak has safety cert label on the driver door shut face, that shows the GVW s.

 

You'll have to find out what the truck can tow and see if your trailer/bike combination is more. Personally I'd skip the V6. Not hating on them but if you can hold out for the 4.7 you will be better off. Pretty much the same mileage as the 6 but better towing/hauling capacity. And a few more bolt on mods available for the V8.

 

The chart shows 4500lbs. I will just be towing 800-900lbs. max. I was just wondering if anyone has a 3.7 that pulls about this same weight, and if the engine has any problems with it. I hate to pass it up, it is a super clean 1 owner with 30,000 miles.

 

You will have no problems. If the price is right, don't pass it up. I routinely tow a waverunner/trailer combined for about 1,500 lbs up a medium to steep ramp with no issue, and on streets and highways it's a breeze with TOW/HAUL on to keep the wear & tear off the transmission. This is with 3.55 gears.

I've also had it up at about the 4,000 lb mark using a U-Haul 6x12 enclosed cargo trailer (empty weight 1,920 lbs and an estimated 2,000 lbs of furniture) for about a 5 mile trek on surface streets, made sure not to overload the tongue, and it still ran fine. It certainly wasn't a beast off the line, but who is honestly looking for that when moving furniture? Just give it a little gas, let the truck accelerate where it's comfortable, and don't push it.

Remember, when it comes to towing, they say it's not about what you can pull, it's about what you can STOP. And aside from the powertrain, it's the same truck as the V8...which means the same brakes and chassis. If you can stop it with a V8 under the hood, you can stop it with a V6 in the same spot. And it certainly stopped fine with the surge brakes on that U-Haul. The waverunner trailer isn't equipped with brakes (not required under, I believe, 2,000 lbs in Florida), but the truck stops about as well as if it wasn't even there.

Good luck!

 

one thing to check out, make sure the truck has the tow package included, which means a tranny cooler, not someone who attached a hitch to the truck

 

on a 2011, if you have a 4x4 quad cab, I believe you should have 3.92 gears. that's what I have in mine (I checked) and when I read the charts here (http://www.trucktrend.com/features/t...s/viewall.html), that's the only gearing the 2011 4x4 quad cabs have. This should give us a max 4600 lb trailer weight.

I personally towed a 2500 lb trailer as well as on a separate occasion towed about 1800 lb with another 1000 lb in the bed. You'll notice a difference at these weights, but on a sub 1000 lb total load (the trailer and 3 bikes in your case) you shouldn't have any issues if you have the 3.92 gears like I do. When i tow my 16' boat, which in total weighs about the same as what you say your trailer and bikes weigh, I don't even use tow/haul and i don't have any issues with towing. I barely notice it.

 

The ST model comes with 3.55 gears (3.7 & 4.7), 3.92 gears came with just about all of the other trim packages.

But you won't have any problems towing 800 lbs, and the tow package mentioned above definitely makes it easier on the truck.

If you want to find out what the truck is equipped with, get a build sheet from Dodge. You will need the VIN (last 8 digits), and you'll get an answer fast. It will let you know the gearing, and if the truck has the tow package. What you really want to see is Heavy Duty Service Group, which was also included with the tow package. Get the build sheet HERE.

The Heavy Duty Service Group includes:
— Heavy-duty engine cooling, power steering cooler, and 750-amp maintenance-free battery (included with Trailer Tow Group)

The Tow Group includes:
-- A Class IV receiver hitch, 7-pin wiring harness, Heavy-Duty Service Group (Laramie), and dual power 6x9-inch folding exterior
mirrors (included with Utility Group)

Also if you PM me the VIN, I can run an Autocheck report on it.

 

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Your AutoCheck Vehicle History Report

2011 Ram Dakota Bighorn
Report Run Date: 2013-12-02 20:56:37.162 EST
Report Summary

• Class: Pickup - Small
• Engine: 3.7L V6 SMPI
• Country of Assembly: United States
• Vehicle Age: 2 year(s)
• Calculated Owners: 3

• VIN: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Year: 2011
• Make: Ram
• Model: Dakota Bighorn
• Style/Body: Crew Cab 4D

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AccidentCheck

Reported accidents: 0 Title and ProblemCheck

Your vehicle checks out! OdometerCheck

Your vehicle checks out! Last Reported Odometer Reading: 31,740
Vehicle Use and EventCheck

Specific vehicle use(s) or events
AccidentCheck

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Your Vehicle Checks Out! There have been no accidents reported to AutoCheck for this 2011 Ram Dakota Bighorn (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx). AutoCheck receives its accident data from government sources and independent agencies, and based on the information available to us, we have found that no accidents have been reported on this vehicle.

Title and ProblemCheck

Your Vehicle Checks Out! AutoCheck's database for this 2011 Ram Dakota Bighorn (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) shows no negative titles or other problems. When reported to AutoCheck, these events can indicate serious past damage or other significant problems, and disqualifies the vehicle for AutoCheck Buyback Protection. Check the Vehicle Use and EventCheck for reported accidents that can affect vehicle safety and value.

0 Problem(s) Reported:15 Title/Problem areas checked: No abandoned title record
No damaged title or major damage incident record No fire damaged title record
No grey market title record
No hail damage title record
No insurance loss title or probable total loss record No junk or scrapped title record
No manufacturer buyback/lemon title record No odometer problem title record
No rebuilt/rebuildable title record
No salvage title or salvage auction record No water damaged title record
No NHTSA crash test record
No frame/unibody damage record
No recycling facility record

OdometerCheck


Your Vehicle Checks Out! AutoCheck examined the reported odometer readings reported to AutoCheck for this 2011 Ram Dakota Bighorn (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) and no indication of an odometer rollback or tampering was found. AutoCheck uses business rules to determine if reported odometer readings are significantly less than previously reported values. Not all reported odometer readings are used. Title and auction events also report odometer tampering or breakage.
0 Problem(s) Reported: MileageDate Reported

10 09/09/2010
21,633 10/10/2011
21,633 10/17/2011
21,639 12/14/2011
21,680 12/19/2011
21,963 03/05/2012
21,963 03/05/2012
22,159 03/15/2012 not included in rollback calculation
22,100 04/24/2012
24,181 08/27/2012
31,740 10/17/2013

Vehicle Use and EventCheck


Information Reported! AutoCheck shows additional vehicle uses or events reported to AutoCheck for this 2011 Ram Dakota Bighorn (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx). This includes reported vehicle uses such as rental or lease, and events such as whether the vehicle has been reported to have had a loan/lien or a duplicate title issued. Other events show if the vehicle has a reported accident and how many calculated accidents or if it has been reported stolen or repossessed. It is recommended to have pre-owned vehicles inspected by a third party prior to purchase.
1 Event(s) Reported: 6 Vehicle uses checked:
Fleet, rental and/or lease use record(s)
No taxi use record
No police use record
No government use record
No livery use record
No driver education record

1 Event(s) Reported: 9 Vehicle events checked: No accident record reported through accident data sources No corrected title record
No duplicate title record
No emission/safety inspection record
Loan/Lien record(s)
No fire damage incident record
No repossessed record
No theft record
No storm area registration/title record

 

Full History


Below are the historical events for this vehicle listed in chronological order. Any discrepancies will be in bold text.
Report Run Date 2013-12-02 20:56:37.162 EST
Vehicle: 2011 Ram Dakota Bighorn (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Event date Location Odometer reading Data Source Details 09/09/2010 TN 10
Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE (Title #:81831169)
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
TITLED OR REGISTERED AS A RENTAL VEHICLE, OR PART OF A RENTAL FLEET 08/12/2011 MARYVILLE, TN

Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
TITLED OR REGISTERED AS A RENTAL VEHICLE, OR PART OF A RENTAL FLEET 10/10/2011 TX 21,633
Auto Auction REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION 10/17/2011 TX 21,633
Auto Auction AUCTION ANNOUNCED AS FLEET/LEASE 12/14/2011 TX 21,639
Auto Auction REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION 12/19/2011 TX 21,680
Auto Auction REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION AS DEALER VEHICLE 03/05/2012 TX 21,963
Auto Auction REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION 03/05/2012 TX 21,963
Auto Auction REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION AS DEALER VEHICLE 03/15/2012 ORANGE, TX 22,159
Dealer Record VEHICLE IN DEALER INVENTORY (COLOR REPORTED AS WHITE)
VEHICLE REPORTED TO BE UNDER WARRANTY 04/09/2012 ORANGE, TX

Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL 04/24/2012 ORANGE, TX 22,100
Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE (Title #:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) (Lien Reported) 08/27/2012 PORT ARTHUR, TX 24,181
Dealer Service VEHICLE SERVICED 04/01/2013 ORANGE, TX

Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL 10/17/2013 PORT ARTHUR, TX 31,740
Dealer Record VEHICLE IN DEALER INVENTORY
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Term Section Location Definition Loan/Lien Vehicle Use and EventCheck A loan/lien is the legal right to take and hold or sell the vehicle of a debtor as security or payment for a debt. Normally, a vehicle will have a lien due to a loan or unpaid repair bill against the vehicle. Check with the seller to ensure that the lien has been satisfied. Fleet, Rental and/or Lease Use Vehicle Use and EventCheck The vehicle has been reported as used as a fleet, rental, and/or lease vehicle.
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It's a Big Horn, so it should have 3.92 gears, which are better for towing.