Has anyone tried to pull a fifth wheel or a goose neck trailer with their Dakota and if so what size?

 

I've seen pictures around the internet of some 1st Gens that had a fifth wheel or gooseneck.

But I never had towed with one. I do tow quite a bit with the regular hitch.
The most I've towed was my 6,000lbs travel trailer regular hitch.

Are you looking to tow something big with the fifthwheel or a gooseneck? Just keep it under the recommended tow weights. The FAQ has a list.

 

I am looking for a used travel trailer and I am finding more fifth wheel style than bumper pull and I am not really sure how much I want to push my luck with my truck just got done rebuilding my engine and finally got it running again tonight

 

From what I have observed, most goose neck and 5th-wheel style trailers i would say are big enough to require that type of mounting. Anything that big, needs a bigger truck. I personally wouldn't try towing one with my Dakota. They may be tough, but that's why they have a big brother...THE RAM!

 

I would recommend before you do any hardcore towing, install an aftermarket tranny cooler. The extra weight will cook tranny fluid and cause a premature failure of your transmission.

 

and a brake box. i personally would not do more than the max reccomended wheight. 6000 lb is alott of metel if you think about it. and not only do you have to get it moving (most likely not a issue is your a v8) but you have to stop it. you have to turn it and you have to be able to handle the wheight jumping up and down over bumps ane wind blowing it around. i had a ranger that i tried to pull 5000 lb with for just 5 miles and it was the scariest 5 miles of my live. barely got it moveing (v6 5spd) i hit the brakes hard and locked up all four wheels and i didn't slow down. it friggen pushed me. even towing my mower or a small pop up beat me to death in it. it was terrible. i've done all of this with my dak and i have thought several times i lost the trailor cause i couldn't feel it behind me. the diff is it's a bigger stronger heavier and sturdier truck with a descent towing rating. the ranger was rated for 1300lbs. my dak 5500lbs if i remeber right. it's enough for me but anything bigger and you need a bigger tow vehicle to do it safely.

trust me it's not worth risking you life over. just because i can move it doesn't mean that it should.

 

I have pulled a loaded trailer at 9000 lbs a few times. It is WAY too much and I would never do it on the highway, but it will do it. you WILL cook on a tranny pulling any type of enclosed trailer because of the wind resistance.

I have always wanted to build my dakota with the 5.9 motor and the entire rear drive train of a 3/4 ton Ram (suspension and everything from the drive shaft back). This being a few inches wider, would allow for a nice and easy dually conversion with out spacers and such. Throw in a tranny cooler and it would be a B/A little truck! Still a build that's not out of the question!

But to answer your question... with a stock Dakota? No. Not safe nor legal because it CERTAINLY exceedes the towing and payload capacity.

 

I've looked into this quite a bit. The big problem is finding a trailer that is light enough to be within towing capacity of the truck. The largest I've found is a 25' fifth wheel that is an ultralight. The supposed advantage of the fifth wheel is towing stability. The disadvantage is the loss of space for equal trailer length. I talked with an RV salesman that said he could set me up with a 25' regular trailer that would tow nicely behind the Dakota.....but you have to set up the tow hitch to be the stabilized type. Those have their own problems. I saw a Toyota Tundra with a fifth wheel in a KOA campsite once, but didn't get to talk to the owner. Personally, I want my Dakota to grow up into a nice 2500 diesel, then I won't have to worry about the trailer I tow : >)

Matt Ross
1993 Dakota 2WD Ext Cab - 5.2l towing package
290K miles -- no major engine or trans work

 

This sounds like the same salesman that sold my brother-in-law a 6000# (Empty) 25' bumper pull camper, a class 5 reciever hitch, and a break controller FOR HIS V6 FORD ESCAPE!!

"Oh sure, it will pull it. Your vehicle is rated to pull 6000#." Dont factor in wind resistance or people, gear, water weight... I cant believe they sold him on that. I give that escape one more summer on that trans. They will say anything to make a sale.

 

Bump,

I have to agree with you - it seemed like he was selling a bill of goods. I have towed 6000# but it is a chore and eats brakes - especially if the trailer brakes are not great.

Matt