Hey Guys,
Just wanted to double check, I have a 99 D SLT 4x4 with tow package. If I remember correctly it can handle up to 7500 lbs? I am towing my 02 Honda Civic about 30 miles out to get worked on, Hond is about 3-4,000 LBS TOPS, and the trailer empty is just over 2,000. Should be good right?

 

Thirty miles won't hurt it, even if your honda weighed 6000 pounds (it probably weighs less than 3000, if I had to guess). Just don't get in a hurry when you're towing something and you should be fine. I wouldn't personally use this Durango to tow anything at all, but I have other, heavier vehicles for that. In a pinch, I wouldn't be afraid to use it, though....I'd just be easy with it, like I said.

 

Definitely going to be easy with it, I have towed before (small trailers) with smaller SUVs, just first time towing with my D, and first time towing so much weight without the use of the flatbed :-( (used to be a wrecker driver, used to tow road tractors, so I know I can tow this weight, was just worried about my wonderful D lol)

 

ok here are the rating break downs as i remember them off the top of my head (they may not be 100% correct, but they should be good ballparks)



engine-----------drive------- gear---------- weight
5.9----------------2wd--------3.92------------7500 lbs
5.9----------------4x4---------3.92------------7200lbs
5.9----------------2wd--------3.55------------7200lbs
5.9----------------4x4---------3.55------------6900lbs
5.2/4.7----------4x4---------3.92------------6800lbs
5.2/4.7----------2wd---------3.92------------6800lbs
5.2/4.7----------4x4---------3.55------------6400lbs
5.2/4.7----------2wd---------3.55------------6500 lbs


all of these numbers are assuming the tow package is installed on the truck (trans cooler and class IV trailer hitch with 7 way connector)

 

You'll be okay; just keep the OD off.

As mentioned in another thread, I towed my '01 Durango 5.9L with my '99 Durango when I had the 5.2L for a round trip of 300 miles. She kind of struggled a little bit to get up to 70mph, but once there it was no problem. Biggest concern was trailer whip. Any more than 70mph it would start swaying.

I'd have no hesitation pulling a little econobox with the Durango.

 

Is it simply because you have other vehicles to tow things why you wouldn't use the Durango to tow? This sounds to me like you don't trust the Durango to tow anything and I can personally vouch my D has the 5.9, 2WD, and had 3.92 gears on rear-end and towed anything and everything under the sun without a hassle.

If you're going to be towing more often, I'd suggest upping your rear-end gearing to the 4.56 gears, I did this and noticed a substantial increase in power and 'get up and go'.

 

It's just not as ruggedly built as I'd prefer for something I'd use to tow regularly with. I haul alot of things (equipment, building materials, vehicles, etc), at least a couple of times a week, so when I'm "hauling", it's not a little boat or a small trailer with a few boards, and I prefer to use something bigger, like my old '87 3/4 ton 4x4 4 speed Ram. I get 10 MPG with it, whether I'm hauling 15,000 pounds uphill, or empty, downhill with a tail wind. Sucks, but at least it's consistent. It's getting a motor change next year, and being converted to propane. I'm building a 360 for it this winter with a healthy cam, and some extremely high compression pistions, and I'm hoping to raise the mileage up into the mid-teens.

Sorry, I rambled.

 

Well I disagree on how ruggedly the D's were built. I think they were quite heavily built, especially compared to tahoes and expeditions of the same year. I have towed many different loads, ranging from 1500-9000lbs with my D. The BIGGEST factors with trailer sway are 1) How is the trailer loaded (weight distribution) /tongue weight 2) Wind 3) Moisture on the road 4) tire air pressure (trailer and vehicle). I have seen 3000lbs create more sway on the same trailer than 7000lbs because of how the weight is distributed. Have some one who has towing experience help you load it and get pressures right if you don't know how (trust me there are some situations you don't want to be in while towing).

 

I've been in about every situation you can imagine, while towing Trailer sway is the least of my concerns.

It isn't that I don't think they're built well enough to pull 10k pounds or so...it's just that I prefer to tow "stuff" with something that's more appropriate for the job. Why pull a 6000 pound trailer/car load with a Durango with an auto tranny when you can pull it with a 3/4 ton Ram with a standard tranny, right?

Durangos are light duty framed vehicles. If I were pulling a 1500 pound boat, I'd think nothing of dragging it with my Durango, but I get to go fishing maybe twice a year. When I tow a trailer, it's going to have a significant amount of weight on it, and I don't see any reason to wear out a clutch pack on the Durango when I can put the Ram to work and not worry about having to rebuild an automatic tranny sooner than necessary.

 

I hear ya, there is some stuff you check your pants afterwards.

Well I have to say if you take care of the tranny right you can still get a good amount of miles out of it with towing a lot. I say it is one trip, big deal. The D will be more comfortable to ride in. If you have a work truck I would save it for work, just a personal preference in this type of situation.