With an older vehicle, the whole thing could be a big onion. After you get the weights figured out and end up with a trailer, you will need an equalizing hitch (I've towed my 5,800 lbs setup equalized for 14 yrs now). Then you will need a decent brake controller (I recommend Teknosha Prodigy) and wiring for a 7 pin plug. Then when you say, "Yay, I'm towing!", the trans will go out and the cooling system may have issues, both from just being old and now working harder. How many miles are on the Durango?

 

Been there and asked that! Apparently the 4.7 and its smaller V6 variation were referred to as "next generation magnum". Basically Dodge just used that name on all of their truck engines for a while. I suspect it also was used to differentiate between which engines weren't the HEMI when those came out, but it seems the 'Magnum' name disappeared around that time as well though.

 

Thank you for that info. I believe it. I just don't want to put more on her than she can hold. She's been good to me this long.

 

Before I make any moves or spend any money, I will talk with my local Dodge dealer. I hate to get rid of her, but may have to upgrade. :/ lol I want to pull something I can live in .. on the road.

 

You can tow 6000 lbs in a Durango, just likely not your Durango. If you like them, swap it out for another with better towing capacity. I am one who finds more utility in my life style in owning a SUV truck than a pickup truck.

 

We pull a 35 foot trailer passport ultralight 5900 pounds with the Durango 2012 4.7 L engine with no problems. We just come back from the West and went up 14,000 foot mountain so if you Durango's rated for the weight you shouldn't have any problems.

 

...except that their Durango is 15 years old and has 145,000 miles on it. It is not exactly "new" like your 2012. Those 12 years can make all the difference...it is not just motor size.

 

They only had a 3.6 v6 or 5.7 v8, I assume you mean 5.7. Those newer ones are heavier. That is the big issue here. A camper has a significant surface area and is greatly affected by the wind. Sure you can pull 6k with a 4.7 and even push 10k with a 5.9l. But you need a heavy tow vehicle when the surface area gets larger so the wind can't push as much. I put almost 10k on my durango with a trailer that had low sides and sand/conrete chunks as the load. That didn't get pushed like when I pulled a 25ft travel trailer (old one) that was 7000+ with all the gear. You could get a weight distributing hitch that will help with sway. We have one like this and it works great http://www.ebay.com/itm/Equal-I-zer-...-/231629126403 My parents have a 32ft travel trailer that is 7400lbs dry and thats what we use on a 03 2500hd chevy. Can't even feel that camper with that.