2000 Durango Towing
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 14,228
Likes: 19
From: Riverton, UT
One thing I would recommend anytime one puts an airspring, airshock or similar device on their rig: do not tie the air lines together with Tee fitting. If the air lines are T'd together, when the vehicle rolls in a turn, the compressed air spring can force air into the spring on the other side of the vehicle, further lifting that spring and increasing body roll. Just keep the two lines separate, and bring two air lines out to your fill point. Mine are on either side of the license plate, hardly noticeable, but easy to reach when needed.
Never had a problem even with all the loads I carried or the corners I took, then again you shouldn't be taking a hot corner while towing anyway ya know.
i believe all the trucks were wired for towing from the factory(harness should be tucked up near the spare tire if i am correct) (only the plug is missing from the back, but i could be mistaken) the trucks came with a class IV hitch if you got the tow package from dodge, the larger (6x9 folding tow mirrors) a heavy duty electrical system including a larger battery and a 160 amp alternator, along with a heavy duty cooling group which included a transmission cooler.
Incorrect, (at least that is what my '98 is telling me) my truck did NOT come with the tow package and there is not a blue connector under the dash or any connectors tucked away in the back.. i have searched many times... however all truck have to holes already drilled to accept the hitch if it does not have one already...
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 14,228
Likes: 19
From: Riverton, UT
Ya.........
Sharps is correct. There are 2 different styles and that is where you are getting messed up.
1. On the trucks with the tow package installed they put the blue plug under the dash (for trailer brakes) and they also have a different harness going to the back. On this harness there is a 7 wire loom for the 7 wire round plug in which is also supplied with the tow package.
2. The standard package has only a 4 wire loom tucked up between the frame and the spare tire area on the drivers side. There is no blue harness under the dash (because no tow package) and they get just the standard package harness going to the rear. Because there was no tow package installed the buyer would not need the other 3 wires to make the 7 wire loom. So if a buyer wanted to install a hitch then he could but with the higher gear ratio (3.55's) then most likely they would only tow a small trailer, or they would have bought a tow package.
So they tuck that loom under there just in case. Check your owners manual.
Incorrect, (at least that is what my '98 is telling me) my truck did NOT come with the tow package and there is not a blue connector under the dash or any connectors tucked away in the back.. i have searched many times... however all truck have to holes already drilled to accept the hitch if it does not have one already...
1. On the trucks with the tow package installed they put the blue plug under the dash (for trailer brakes) and they also have a different harness going to the back. On this harness there is a 7 wire loom for the 7 wire round plug in which is also supplied with the tow package.
2. The standard package has only a 4 wire loom tucked up between the frame and the spare tire area on the drivers side. There is no blue harness under the dash (because no tow package) and they get just the standard package harness going to the rear. Because there was no tow package installed the buyer would not need the other 3 wires to make the 7 wire loom. So if a buyer wanted to install a hitch then he could but with the higher gear ratio (3.55's) then most likely they would only tow a small trailer, or they would have bought a tow package.
So they tuck that loom under there just in case. Check your owners manual.
Ya.........
Sharps is correct. There are 2 different styles and that is where you are getting messed up.
1. On the trucks with the tow package installed they put the blue plug under the dash (for trailer brakes) and they also have a different harness going to the back. On this harness there is a 7 wire loom for the 7 wire round plug in which is also supplied with the tow package.
2. The standard package has only a 4 wire loom tucked up between the frame and the spare tire area on the drivers side. There is no blue harness under the dash (because no tow package) and they get just the standard package harness going to the rear. Because there was no tow package installed the buyer would not need the other 3 wires to make the 7 wire loom. So if a buyer wanted to install a hitch then he could but with the higher gear ratio (3.55's) then most likely they would only tow a small trailer, or they would have bought a tow package.
So they tuck that loom under there just in case. Check your owners manual.
Sharps is correct. There are 2 different styles and that is where you are getting messed up.
1. On the trucks with the tow package installed they put the blue plug under the dash (for trailer brakes) and they also have a different harness going to the back. On this harness there is a 7 wire loom for the 7 wire round plug in which is also supplied with the tow package.
2. The standard package has only a 4 wire loom tucked up between the frame and the spare tire area on the drivers side. There is no blue harness under the dash (because no tow package) and they get just the standard package harness going to the rear. Because there was no tow package installed the buyer would not need the other 3 wires to make the 7 wire loom. So if a buyer wanted to install a hitch then he could but with the higher gear ratio (3.55's) then most likely they would only tow a small trailer, or they would have bought a tow package.
So they tuck that loom under there just in case. Check your owners manual.
so, that brings me to 2 conclusions.....
1. The first owner spec it with 3.92 gears to add a aftermarket cooler, hitch and 7 pin connector for whatever unknown reason (maybe it was a cheaper route?).....
or
2. The last owner before me hacked all the wiring and took the hitch off before he sold it... but, why would someone wanna go though all that trouble??
As for the owners manual my rig did not come with one but, it something that is on my list of things to get.....
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Joined: Jun 2010
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I am trying to set up my durango to tow my trailer and have the same issue. Mine has the larger 3.92 gears, a tranny cooler, the blue plug under the dash for a tralier brake and even fueses for a trailer in the fuese box but no trailer hitch or wiring up by the spare tire. I think i found wiring attached to the frame under the car about where the driver sits but not really sure. If anybody knows if thats the wiring please let me know because thats all i need and id love to use my trailer a few times before the summers up
I am trying to set up my durango to tow my trailer and have the same issue. Mine has the larger 3.92 gears, a tranny cooler, the blue plug under the dash for a tralier brake and even fueses for a trailer in the fuese box but no trailer hitch or wiring up by the spare tire. I think i found wiring attached to the frame under the car about where the driver sits but not really sure. If anybody knows if thats the wiring please let me know because thats all i need and id love to use my trailer a few times before the summers up
After further review, i have found no plugs what so ever for trailer hookups so, if the '98 owners manual states that there should be a 4 wire plug tucked somewhere near the spare on the drivers side like stated above that it appears that some a$$ hat did some chopping under there at some point.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 14,228
Likes: 19
From: Riverton, UT
That's what it stated in my old 1998 owners manual and people have found it?
Tink<----- Sounds like somebody cut it or something. You are going to have to do some testing to confirm your wiring loom. There is no reason that the blue 4 wire connector would be there without a hitch and loom at the rear.
Old<------You could buy the D in a 3.92 without the tow package. Mostly people who bought those lived in places that had a lot of hilly terrain and such and needed or wanted extra power. Get under there and I would remove the spare and follow the entire wiring. One person I talked to said it was a real b!tch to find and others say it was right there. As for checking for a extra trans cooler, open the hood looking down at the top of the front clip right in front of the radiator is a black about 1 inch strip rubber. Lift this and look between the condenser and radiator with a flash light. If you have one it will be between them on the 1998-1999 models. I want to ensure that sometimes that light blue connector sits on top of the main wire loom connector and it can be a real b!tch to see in some cases. Look directly above the E brake up against the fire wall (like under the master cylinder approximate location) but of coarse inside the cab.
Tink<----- Sounds like somebody cut it or something. You are going to have to do some testing to confirm your wiring loom. There is no reason that the blue 4 wire connector would be there without a hitch and loom at the rear.
Old<------You could buy the D in a 3.92 without the tow package. Mostly people who bought those lived in places that had a lot of hilly terrain and such and needed or wanted extra power. Get under there and I would remove the spare and follow the entire wiring. One person I talked to said it was a real b!tch to find and others say it was right there. As for checking for a extra trans cooler, open the hood looking down at the top of the front clip right in front of the radiator is a black about 1 inch strip rubber. Lift this and look between the condenser and radiator with a flash light. If you have one it will be between them on the 1998-1999 models. I want to ensure that sometimes that light blue connector sits on top of the main wire loom connector and it can be a real b!tch to see in some cases. Look directly above the E brake up against the fire wall (like under the master cylinder approximate location) but of coarse inside the cab.
Last edited by hydrashocker; Jul 31, 2011 at 03:52 PM.
With all the things i have tried to do with rental cars in the past, the least of my worries would be someone trying to tow with it... just sayin
