Hey all,

Ive asked something similar before but with more digging on the laws and ratings I知 more confused lol.

There is no published solid number I can find for the tow capacity of a 92 Dakota 4x4 SCLB. I致e found 3000, 4500, 6000, etc, it varies a lot.

In my setup I have the stock drivetrain and suspension, but swapped in a Magnum 5.9 with a mild cam and a 650DP, keeping the stock AX-15 from the v6.

On my door, the GAWR is 3400/3850 front and rear, the GVWR is 5830 (~4000 empty), but I do not have a posted GCWR. My registration also has the truck registered at a 6500 GW if this matters.

Doing the math, with a 10% tongue weight technically I can have a trailer 7500-8000 pounds without overloading the suspension for the most part, of course brakes and other things are the limiting factor as well.

i was just curious how I can determine my ACTUAL capacity to follow. I plan to bump up the brakes, and in Virginia you need brakes on a trailer over 3000 pounds anyway so I would have them on a heavier load, I知 also going to add air bags to the rear, traction bars, and bump up to 3.90 gears for better stability and grunt getting a load moving.

 

Edmunds says 4300 pounds.... But, that's with the six..... Don't think a V-8 was even an option in 92??

That said, max rated tow rating is a 'legal' number, and if you exceed it, your insurance company can deny any claims associated with an accident while towing over-weight...... Doesn't matter what mods you have on the truck either......

 

I think the 5.2 was an option for the 92 but not a 5.9, regardless I知 just confused why my registration is blank for GCWR. There is no sticker anywhere else that tells me my GCWR on the truck and there isn稚 a place for it on the door sticker, only GAWR and GVWR

I know there is legally a weight limit, but it痴 weird that I don稚 have a way to find out what that legal number is. I read that in some places the GCWR (if under CDL limits) doesn稚 completely matter, it痴 more of the GAWR/GVWR and condition of equipment like hitch, brakes, controller, chains, etc

 

You aren't the first to run into this issue..... I would suggest having a chat with the dealer, but, given the age of the truck, that is likely a fruitless effort as well.... Think I would just run with the 4300 max trailer weight, and call it a day. If you want to haul something heavier than that, buy a bigger truck.

 

Lol yeah I致e tried vin decoders and what not, and they all don稚 help. I知 sure the dealer would be the same. I was just looking to see if anyone knew some magic way to find out the max weight. I don稚 plan to heavy tow with this thing often, maybe occasionally, I really just plan to haul heavy stuff in the bed given its huge payload. (Not sure if the GW on my registration means I can legally haul more than the door sticker says, if only they made this stuff not so confusing).

I just want to know how much I COULD tow in theory lol.

 

Theoretically, you can pull anything you have the power to get moving, and keep moving.... With enough horsepower/gearing, you could pull locomotives.... Now, would that be a 'good idea'??? Probably not. I think brakes are going to be the biggest limiting factor..... being able to pull something is can be rather dangerous if you can't also STOP it.....

 

I think brakes are the worst part about this truck lol, other than maybe the mpg (go figure), I think the heaviest thing I would ever tow is a car hauler rated at 7000, and having my Jeep JK on the top. I plan to start getting into personal trailer rental and I want to buy a car hauler bc they池e popular and if I did have one I would like to use it to tow my jeep occasionally. I think the jeep is a little under 5000 pounds, trailer is probably 1500-2000 depending on the brand I知 sure. I would have brakes on both axles and have a controller in the truck with a 7 pin. Aiming to keep a 55/45% brake split between the truck and trailer.

im not going into this whole thing entirely blind, I just don稚 know the LEGAL aspects of what I can or can稚 do. It would be really convenient to just be able to have a number stamped on the truck that tells me lol but that would be too easy

 

Car haulers are not light..... If you want to haul around your jeep on a trailer, I would HIGHLY recommend a full-size truck....

 

Yeah especially the uhaul ones lol I think they池e almost 3000 empty

Alright, well I mean if I知 doing rentals I can probably tow the car hauler empty with the Dakota and still be safe. Just was curious what an actual number would be. I値l probably stick around 4500ish, which I知 thinking is a lot more than it sounds on paper

 

Go to this link and scroll down to see the "see more" link top left corner of first photo click it. The rest of the page will drop down under it.There is a chart near the bottom IDK if it will help.
https://www.allpar.com/threads/dodge...ost-1085223563