Hello All,
New member here. This question has probably been asked and answered a million times, but I can't locate what I'm looking for.
I have a 1996 Dakota SLT 4X4 Club Cab with the 318 5.2L engine and automatic transmission.
I am planning a move to Oregon from Colorado and looking into the possibility of towing a cargo trailer behind this truck. I have never attempted
this before so I am proceeding cautiously.
Before I go looking for a trailer, I would like to know how big a trailer I could tow obviously loaded with household items.
Here is the specifics on my truck.
GAWR (F) 3166 lbs
GAWR(R) 3000 lbs
GVWR 5630 lbs
GCWR 9200 lbs
3.55 Rear Axle Ratio
P215 75R15 Tires 15 x6
I believe I have a class 3 frame mounted receiver with a hitch rated at 5000 lbs max and a tongue weight of 500 lbs, 5/8" pin and a 2" ball with a 1" shank.
Any help would be appreciated and sorry if this has been discussed before.
Cheers,

 

I'd put LT215/75R15 tires on the back - I bet you'll find that in load range D are specified.

GCWR of 9200 lb and GVWR of 5630 means you can only put about 3370 pounds in that trailer.

RwP

 

215s are at least 2 sizes small for a 4wd truck.

 

I moved to OR from CA and pulled a very heavy 8x10 closed trailer with a 95 Nissan Pathfinder 6cyl. No problems. I also went back and towed a 87 Jetta up too. A little slow on the climbs in the Siskiyou Mts. I bolted up some receiver hitch that sounds like the one you have to do it.

 

Sorry Folks,
I took the tire information off the manufactures label.
Here is what I have-
Bridgestone Dueler A/T
30x9.50R15LT
Load Range C

Ralph,
You said this-GCWR of 9200 lb and GVWR of 5630 means you can only put about 3370 pounds in that trailer
Does that include the trailer weight as well?

 

Make sure the brakes are in good order. Stopping at HWY speeds and on downhills will be a lot different with a load.

 

As I understand the ratings, yes.

RwP

 

yup. weight of cargo and trailer combined. Yet in one of my Dakota owners manuals I remember seeing that "ALL Dodge trucks are equipped to tow up to 4000 lbs from the factory"....
I tow either a popup or a 6-1/2'X13' utility trailer with both of my trucks. both 318s both club cabs. the 2wd is 3.55 gears, and 225/70/15s (door tag says way smaller)
the 4wd is 3.91 geared, with 235/75/15s, and the 2wd truck seems to handle towing better than the 4wd. with the lower (higher number) gearing I would expect that truck to haul better, but I "feel" a trailer behind that one a lot more than I do with the other truck.... the 4wd also has 10" back brakes to the 2wd's 9 inchers, but for some reason the 2wd tows better....
I don't think the 4wd was taken care of as well as the 2wd was by past owners oil change wise and such, I do know that the 4wd uses more oil than the 2wd does....

 

This is my understanding of the ratings..... But I could be wrong.

1.GVWR= The total weight that the truck, passengers, and load can be in the truck . In your case you said 5630.
2 GCWR= The total weight of both the truck, trailer, and everything they are hauling combined. In you case, you said 9200.

Now here is where I may disagree with what has been said.

If your truck was empty, and your you driving it, it weighed 4200, Then you could tow a trailer that weighed 5000 and still be ok.

Now there are lots of other things to play in.
1. Type of hitch you are using,
2. In my state (Va.) any trailer over 3500 lbs must have brakes.