I am a new guy here. I bought a 2000 Durango brand new in 2001. It is a 2wd, 5.9L, 3.55 with a tow package. It only has 70,000 miles on it now and most of the miles are towing miles. About 2 years ago I had to have the transmission repaired because it blew a front pump out while pulling a Pathfinder on a UHaul car trailer. The repair shop beefed the tranny up for towing and it has been doing great ever since.

I have a 1800 lb open car trailer that I load my 3700-3800 lb Chevelle on and take it to shows. The trailer is a twin axle and one axle has electric brakes. Next month we will be trailering it about 1000 miles with the D being loaded with vacation stuff. I have not had a problem in the past with it pulling but this year we will be going through the Central VA mountains. I know I am about maxing the D out but it pulls fine, we hauled our Sunbird convertible to the beach on it last year and it did great. I am going to be getting a load equalizer hitch, is there anything else I need to do to the D to make sure it doesn't have any trouble? This is the heaviest, longest haul yet but with more to come.

Thanks in advance.

 

Hmmmm... Tow package WITHOUT the 3.92 gears? Bummer. I got mine with the 3.92 just in case of towing. I can give you my experiences with my D.

I have a 2002 2WD with the tow package. Mine has the 3.92 gearing. Rated for 7,500lbs. I tow a 24 foot power boat on flat land with mine. Boat is 4200 dry with a dual axel trailer of about 1500. So we are talking about 5700 dry. Add some fuel (there is always a little) plus gear and I'm easily at 7000. That's A LOT to tow on a small framed truck. On the flat roads of Florida, I tow from Tampa to the Keys without issue. I don't move very quickly (60 MPH), but I get there. I leave plenty of room for breaking. My trailer has brakes on both axels, but they are surge type.

I'm not sure what kind of "vacation stuff" you will have, but I'm betting a lot. Sounds like you will have a pretty big load in a mountainous area. Not sure if I would go there or not...

 

Yeah when I bought it it was a leftover new 2000 with 3.55 gears, I wanted 3.92. I pulled my trailer to the MD coast from NC last year with my 3750lb Sunbird on it with vacation stuff in it and it did fine. I just ordered a sway control and load leveler for it today. The truck has pulled the Chevelle through the Uwharrie Mountains of NC but they are really just rolling hills. My truck never wimpers, it just goes no matter what I throw at it.

 

Should be fine although make sure you have a transmission cooler installed.

I can't beleave that they kept the 3:92 out of it although it should have been installed with the tow package but oh well. Makes me wonder what else they left out?

I use the 12k EQ hitch and I have air bags installed:
http://www.fsip.com/riderite/rrkit/k...i=215&rrk=2222
http://www.equalizerhitch.com/productinfo/

I run 7300 lbs with 748 tounge weight and 3:92 ratio with a 1998, 5.9L with an great build for towing in the motor, trany, and transfer case.

 

I know it is strange. I saved the window sticker and yes it has a towing package with the 3.55 axle. Fortunately it has the tranny cooler, dual fans, all of the wiring, big mirrors etc. I have pulled with it from the day I got it. I had a 20' pontoon boat that tore 2 tow vehicles up but the D handled it well. UHauls, tow dollys, landscape trailers and pig cooker have all been dragged around the Carolinas and now the car trailer.
Thanks for you help. I am impressed with your rig Hydrashocker, do the air bags really help a lot?

 

Thanks..... The air bags are like god in heaven........LOL....

When I pull the RV if I don't install the EQ it will drop me about 2 inchs on the rear. With the EQ that " I " set up (don't let them do it because they always screw it up) I drop 1 inch on the rear and 1/2 inch on the front as required. I then only need to bring my air bags up to 27psi and I sit perfectly normal minus an over all 1/2 inch on both front and rear axel.

The other thing here is the weight you can still add on with the air bags. I'll put em on the next vehical I get without a doubt.

Now this package was a great install as there is no drill. It's all strait bolt in. Now I ran both the air lines together using a "T" fitting and drilled through the bumper next to the license plate and installed the air valve there so I did drill there. Looks great! I made the air lines roll around the spare tire so that there will never be a problem lowering the spare.

 

Where in NC are you? I am in Clayton, near Raleigh.

 

Agree 100%



IndyD

 

I am in Siler City.

Thanks for the air bag info. My EQ will be in next week, any advice on setting it up? Should I have the trailer loaded with the car when I do it or can the trailer be empty?

 

LMFAO......Indy

Those can save me any day..............(drool)