I think I may have been screwed by a dealer as I just bought a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT. It has a 5.9 Liter and the dealer told me it had 3:55 gear ratio and was rated to tow 7500lbs. From what I'm seeing on this forum it's actually only rated to tow 4000lbs (is this right). I'm concerned as I have a camper with a dry weight of 3,950lbs and a GVWR when fully loaded of 6,000lbs. Kind of upset as my 4.0 liter Jeep is rated to tow 5,000lbs.

 

Previously posted by IndyDurango...
Depends on whether it has the towing package. Here is what the 2003 D is rated at:

Tow Limit (lbs.)
Durango 2WD 4.7L V-8 (f) 4650
Durango 2WD 4.7L V-8 (g) 5950
Durango 2WD 5.9L V-8 (f) 5850
Durango 2WD 5.9L V-8 (g) 7550
Durango 4WD 4.7L V-8 (f) 4400
Durango 4WD 4.7L V-8 (g) 5700
Durango 4WD 5.9L V-8 (f) 5600
Durango 4WD 5.9L V-8 (g) 7300

(f) 3.55 axle ratio
(g) 3.92 axle ratio

2003 ratings were reduced from 2002 ratings partially based on Government regs.

 

Well if based on the above chart I should still be able to pull my camper then as the GVWR is with full water tanks and I never pull that way. Just to be safe I would assume that my weight will be somewhere around 5,000 to 5,500lbs pulling the camper dry with our clothes and food. Does anyone else on here pull 5,000lbs with a Durango that has a 3:55 gear ratio and if so how does it do? Should I be considering getting rid of it already.

 

To put your mind at ease, yes it will pull 5,500 lb. just fine. Please make sure you have electric brakes and an electric brake controller because the last thing you want to have is not being able to stop.

I've pulled 6,800 lb. many times with my 2000 2WD 5.9 Durango with the 3.92 rear-end and I have to say it more than blew me away the first time I was pulling. It definitely has best in class towing and the 5.9 does a damn good job pulling an extra load!

 

Got a crazy question....My Durango currently has 15" rims if I switched to 17" rims and went to a 275/50/17 tire size wouldn't that effectively give me a 3:90 gear ratio? Next question is will they fit on a 2000 Durango?

 

WhiteWidow, I already have a prodigy brake controller installed and have electric brakes on my camper (It's a 20ft travel trailer). I was just concerned because I bought this thing thinking that the 5.9 would pull great then I got on this forum and started realizing that it wasn't even rated to tow my camper GVWR. I think I am going to give it a try and see how it does since even if I'm running my camper fully loaded it's only 400 lbs over the tow capacity.

Why does the gear ratio change the tow capacity so much?

 

It changes the tow capacity so much simply because the engine is spinning more per wheel revolution, thus it gives much more power and doesn't put as much strain on the drive line.

Think of this, with the 3.55 gears the rear-end spins at 5502 RPM at 65 MPH, while with the 3.92 gears the rear-end spins at 6076 RPM at 65 MPH.

 

Certified, you don't say where you live. Altitude makes a big difference to the ability to tow. I have the same engine and rear diff as you, but mine is a '99. I also have the factory fitted tow option with the hitch rated at 6,000 lb and the 7-wire harness.

I used to live in Colorado and have towed a 5000 lb trainer over the Eisenhower Tunnel (11,000+ feet) and over Trail Ridge Road (12,000+ feet). At these altitudes you do not have the power with or without a trailer but the Durango was great. I did have to turn the over-drive off in the mountains and very occasionally manually hold it in 1st gear. I would not trade it for any other gasoline powered car in this use. Diesels esp. turbo-diesels are a different beast.

Now I live in Minnesota at a "mere" 1,000 feet above sea level, pulling a 4,500 boat is a snap. I don't think you will have a problem.

 

just wondering.. what is the limit for a '98 5.2l with 3.92 gearing?

 

I've got the same setup, 5.9, 3.55, factory towing. My next trip will take me from 5,000 ft, to -40 and back up again (Indio, Ca is below sea level) I have been very pleased with how the D Pulls. This trailer is 'bout 4,500 loaded.