Hey guys, new to the forum. We are concidering the purchase of a 2 Gen Durango. We are looking for somehting that will hold the whole family (2 adults and 2 kids for now) and tow our camp trailer up and down the mountains of Utah. We have a trailer that is 19" long and weighs 4500 lb. loaded. After looking around it seems as though the durangos are rated to tow alot more than the rest of the SUVs out there.

So we are trying to find a used durango that is 4x4 with 4 Low, 5.7 Hemi, and the tow papckage. Is there anything else that I should look for? We are looking to buy used as the prices seem to be 10 grand less than buying new. Any reason for this?

What are some of the good/bad of owning a 2Gen durango? I've read alot of the reviews online, but they are mostly of initial test drives. What is the durango like after driving and living with it for 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and such? Anyone out there towing with one? How is it?

Any information or advice would greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Less than a month ago I set out, like you to buy a used SUV with which to tow my 5500 lb boat, and carry the family. I came back with a brand new Durango 4.7L.
Dodge had and I believe still has the employee pricing offer plus they were offering $5000 rebate on top of that. I walked away with a Durango with an MSRP of $34,000 for just shy of $25,000. The similar used SUV that we saw were all more expensive, so it seemed like a no brainer to get the new one. Under normal circumstances it makes sense to buy used but with Dodge trying to move these gas guzzlers (and it does drink a lot) out the door with their incentives give the Dodge dealer a try, you might be pleasantly surprised.
As far as the vehicle goes, we love it so far. Getting 12MPG city and 19MPG Hwy, of course towing it drops way down but that's understood. Rides very nice, tons of room, tows without a problem. If I had to change anything in my buying experience it would be that I would get the Hemi, not that I have any complaints about the 4.7L, but I'll always wish I had the Hemi.....just because it's there. You know what I mean...that guy thing.
Good luck.

Flea

 

I bought my 2004 new two years ago. We are extremely pleased with it. The only disappointment I have is that it doesn't have a bed on it (I traded by 2500 Ram in on it). As far as power, them Hemi is great. If your planning on pulling quite often with it, get the 3.92 rear end. I have the 3.55 as I do more highway than towing. Even with the 3.55 gearing, I don't have a problem pulling my utility trailor with 3500 lbs of gravel or loaded with firewood. The durango does great in the Big Horn MTNs here in Wyoming. Behaving on the interstate driving about 70mph, I can easily get 21mpg with the Hemi, and about 12-13 in the city.

The only warrenty work I have had to have performed was to replace some of seals around the drivers door. They just started pulling off.

 

YES