OK, wife is hot to get an enclosed trailer for camping. I haven't researched models to see what's out there, but her dad has one that has everything like shower, toilet, etc, and weighs around 5000 lb. There may be some slightly smaller ones available.
I have a 2004 4.7 with 3.55 gears (2wd), 5 spd auto, and trailer tow pkg.
I think it's rated to tow something like 6000 lb. I don't really want to tow anything that heavy, but I'm wondering if 4500-5000 lb or so is doable.
I've searched the forum and found little, except a general agreement that an extra tranny cooler is advisable.
I'd like to hear from anyone who has actual towing experience with a similar vehicle and something in the trailer wt category I mentioned. I'm concerned the engine may not have enough oomph or that the truck is too light to handle correctly. I'd rather not have to jump up to a Ram 1500, but if that's the only way to do it, I will.

 

you should be fine if you have a trailer brake controler or surge brakes on the trailer, with a RV you are more than likely going to need the brake controler

another few musts is a sway bar and weight distributing hitch, and of course your chains and lights

you should be fine towing out of OD

 

I'm having to add air bags to my rear springs because it just squats way to much with a decent load on the hitch. And at night it's harder to see than when it's sitting normal.

 

AND to add trams life, go to auto-zone and get a trans fluid filter 2210, ( magna-fine ) fits a 3/8 steel tubing size, ( YOUR*DODGE*), it goes in the return line, that goes to the rear trans fitting. both out and in are on the left side i had my shop put it in. they said it is hard to find a place to put it.. but they found a spot between the rad a engine. NOTE: use high pressure hose, and after you cut the tube, bulge the tube end to hold the hose on, like the old carb fuel tubes. side note NOT FOR DODGE wix trans filter 58964 5/16 tube. NEW SUBJECT: from factory sevice manual. 2001 vin decoding info, position 4, gross vehicle weight rating, F=4001-5000 lbs, G=5001-6000 lbs, H=6001-7000 lbs. position 8, engine P=2.5L,X=3.9L,N=4.7L.Y=5.2L,Z=5.9L. a trans cooler is a MUST, all so there is a check valve in one of the lines that should be re moved.

 

The 4.7 will have enough power, it wont be blowing up mountains or anything, but it will do.

You need brakes on the trailer. The dakota will not stop a 5000lb trailer safely w/o them.

Be sure to add the trans cooler & turn off the overdrive when towing. Overdrive generates a **** load of heat if towing & heat kills auto tranny's.

The dakota will do OK with towing this much weight, but its more suited for 3500lbs than 5000.

 

I was pretty much cognizant of everything you say. I certainly wouldn't pull anything much over 1500 lb without trailer brakes. Tried that once with my '96 Intrepid, pulling a medium wt. pop-up. Braking performance was scary, yet supposedly the trailer was within wt limits for towing without trailer brakes!!
I don't plan to pull 5000 lb if I can help it. I've done some research, and I was pleasantly surprised by the number of decent sized hardshell travel trailers that come in under 3000 lb. Of course, I do realize there will be extra wt from water and other stuff you load in, but that should give me a decent safety margin.
I saw a Jeep Liberty, which is the 3.7L 6 cyl, pulling a trailer like I am considering, and I guess if that can do it, the Dakota should not have a problem.