just bought a 2008 dakota, v6 auto 2wd, crew cab

we will be towing a 2400lb travel trailer 6000 km next month

truck has the factory tow package, but i have to add our brake controller and posibly an aux tranny cooler

suggestions or advice?

 

If I was towing that far I would.
Change Oil and Filter (If Your using Dino Oil, I change mine Ever 5k, Synthetic can go farther 8k-10k)
Change Transmission Fluid and Filter (If it has never been done)
Change Differential Fluid (But thats because I have a 05, and Dont think its ever been done)
Check Coolant, Change if needed
Check Brakes (Trucks and Trailers if it has them)
Check All Lights, Trucks and Trailers and Make sure they are all Functioning.
-I try to keep a few Spare Bulbs in my truck, Like A set of Headlights (H13), Tails/Reverse (3157), Signals (3157NA) and a Few Fuses.

We blew 2 of them in my Bros Compass in Ontario, Because his dum GF plugged a hair drying into the Built-in Inverter for Cell Phone Chargers, Then plugged a inverter into the 12V and blew that one to

A Aux Transmission Cooler would be a good investment for towing, and even more going that far and being a V6.
If you tow all the time, Investing in Timbren Bump Stops or Monroe Load-Adjusting Shocks Will help keep the rear from ******** as much.

Ive seen 05+ Daks Towing Larger RV's and Even one with a MASSIVE in bed Camper. I seen about 4 In one day driving to Cape Breton here.

 

thx for the reply, funny thing is, we're heading your way!!

5 weeks in nb,ns and pei

we towed the same trailer with a windstar last year(same destination) so long distance towing is not new to us

the tranny cooler should be easy, its wiring the brake controller from the windstar.

can i just splice into the brakelight switch like i did on the ford?

 

My Dakota Came with a Pigtail and Trailer Brake Wiring already (Connector on the bottem left side of the Dash) So Other then using the pigtail and wiring it to the controller, I dont think you should need to splice into anything else.

 

cool, the sales guy knew the dakota we bought had the factory tow package but wasnt sure about the brake controller wiring

it only has a four pin connector to a trailer, so i just need to switch my 7 pin over from the van and track down the brake controller output feed wire in the back of the dakota.

we havent used the other two leads for anything so far, one would be a constant 12v to keep the trailer battery charged, the other maybe a backup light or something

 

Check out some of the wiring diagrams in the "manuals" sticky. I think that you can just plug in a 7-wire system at the back and get a patch chord for your brake controller under the dash. Mine didn't come with factory tow package, but a few parts from Princess Auto made it happen without too much effort. I ended up buying a patch chord for the Brake Controller/Dodge harness at Princess Auto, and then just spliced it in. It was no big deal, but you should have a party just plugging yours in.

Good luck and safe towing!

 

steve em
where are you and where are you towing?
I tow with my Dakota
Trans cooler, large plate type with 1/2 inch in and out
change lines to 1/2 like a Diesel- there is a reason- much more flow= oil proof hose works fine and use only atf+4 no additives -
no universal "compatible" ATF "compatible" is meaningless ( Diesel oil is "compatible", soapy water isn't but that's about as far as it goes)

Transgo reprogramming kit- go on their website and see if "back to low" is a available-especially if you are towing in the mountains
Synthetic oil SN (no need to worry about low ZDDP with roller tappets)
10-40 warm climate 5-40 5-50 if it gets cold where you live
IF you have plug wires get the spiral-wound ones
carbon core arc internally
maybe go one heat range colder on the plugs
if you have the slightest pining for a very short period of time- that's normal
any more go to a better fuel
myV8 rattles like heck on regular
NO Performance Computer
HOT day towing in OD without big cooler on flatland will eat up your thrust washers
towing up hills in OD will eat up your thrust washers
(unless you put in diesel guts)
(experience is with 518-46RH others can comment on your trans
I have relays for my trailer and headlights and breaklights

 

thx for all of the advice

we will be towing about 3000 pounds(absolute max) about 6000 km, we did the same trip last year with the windstar

all high speed driving is *******ly flat, max speed 105(60 mph), engines revs never over 3000, od off.

low speed driving; manual shifting, max revs 3000

if the van wanted to do 70 kph up a long hill, so be it. stay in the slow lane with the semis. in the whole trip last year, that happened twice on a freeway

so im very conservative, we do the long distances overnight when its cool and little traffic

truck is delivered today, so get the mods done. it already has new brakes and tyres, hitch is installed but never used

tranny cooler should be easy compared to the windstar, wiring and brake controller sounds easy so far

 

you should be fine
I tow a lot more weight in a lot hotter area
remember, if you change your tranny, fluid only ARF+4 (especially formulated to prevent converter chatter> failure) It really is a premium product
bring back a report
do watch for pinging

 

If it has the tow package, It comes with a 4 and 7 Way Connector, Mounted to the Hitch bar to the left of the Opening.