ive got a 98 with the 5.2L motor and 3.9x gearsand im planning on towing a 17 foot (i think) bass boat for some tournament fishing this summer. is the durango up to atask like that? i would think it is, but i just wanted to make surebefore i tried it. is there anything i should know about towing? neither one of usyoungins have ever had to tow anything, just want to cover all my bases.

 

Im confident your D could tow the boat. You may want to see if the trailer has electric brakes on it, as that would make the trip A LOT safer for you, and easier on your D. And if you D has a trailer brake modulater

I tow a 13 ft trailer, about 3400lbs dry weight plusat least another 500lbs inequipment in the trailerwith my 4.7L w/ 3.55 gears, and the D barely breathes hard. This is also with 5 people and a trunk full of coolers, luggage etc.

basically my point is, with a smaller motor and shorter gears I tow quite a bit, and have yet to encounter a problem because of it.

 

good to hear, pardon my ignorance (ive been into sports cars all 4 years of my driving life) what is a trailer brake modulator?

 

I only know what it is cause i have one. It is a small control unit (about the size of a radar detector) and it controls the strength of the brakes on the trailer. Since the brake signal is electric to the trailer, it controls the signal to make the brakes either firmer or weaker. If the brakes are too firm, when you step on the brakes, the trailer is out braking you and pulling on the hitch. If too weak the D is working harder than it has to.

I have no idea where I got my modulator (i think thats the right word) from. My dad bought it for our Grand Cherokee8 years ago, and it made its way to the D when we upgraded (yes thats an upgrade!!!)

 

Towing a bass boat will not be a problem. You trailer will most likey not have brakes on it since the trailer goes into the water. Most trailer brakes are on heavy trailers and they are electric. Your boat and trailer likely weights under 3000 pounds total.I would guess your closer to 2000 pounds with trailer.I think the Durangos are tow rated about 5500 pounds (i can't remember the exact rating). And with the 3.9 gears you motor should not feel any strain.

 

I know the 3.55's are good for 4500 lbs. and I am thinking the 3.95's (I think that's it I forgot [8D]) are good for 7500 lbs but that may be all the way up to 4.10's...

 

thanks for the input guys, next question: i called around looking for someone to install a tow hitch, i was told about $230 total does that sound right?

 

That's not too bad.

 

I wouldn't pay it but yeah it sounds close to right is that at the stealership? I got my hitch for $140ish after shipping on ebay. I did the install myself though and it only takes 20 to 30 mins if you're on your back. I took it into my local AAMCO because I knew the guys pretty well and they put it on a lift for me and gave me an extra set of hands for free. It took about 15 minutes on the lift.

 

nah, 230 was at some local trailer place and im not real sure that includes wiring. uhal told me 300...