My Dakota doesn't have the towing package. However, it does have a heavy duty round tube hitch bolted to the frame MINUS the 2" receiver portion.

I checked with our local accessory shops and they want $134 just for that bolt on plate.

Anybody add that to theirs for a more reasonable price???

 

I did not have the tow package either. I have the bar also. I probably paid almost $200. But this was like a month after the 3gen Dakota's came out. So anything less than $200 is good. Also its a pretty simple install just make sure all the bolts are in loose before you start to tighten one up to full torque.

 

Sounds like a fair deal. It's easy to put on yourself. I always loosened up the 4 bumper bolts before sliding it on. Like Eimer said, get them all started before tightening up to spec.

 

Auto anything has them for 87.95, with free shipping so the final cost truely is 87.95.

Its a 500/5000 OE style hitch that bolts directly to your factory round tube, just like the one you are wanting to buy. And its a CURT, not some cheap off brand.

am I allowed to post a link? I hope so, http://www.autoanything.com/towing/7...0A1903920.aspx

When you click that link, it shows the square tube, scroll down a little below where it says "select options for your 2005 dakota" and you will see two drop down options...click the first one and select OE style, then click the second and select the only option for color which is black, it will show a picture of the OE style hitch, and the price.

2" receiver, nice hitch. No drilling, it bolts to the existing holes. I looked at them, I decided to go with the full square tube on my truck because it rates up to 8000lbs with a weight distribution hitch, and the GVWR of my camper is 6200 lbs (thats with it loaded, all tanks full etc) dry weight is 3600Lbs, but there will be times like when leaving a campground before the tanks are all emptied that I would exceed the 5000 lbs of the OE style hitch, although it would only be for a few hundred feet to empty it...id still be pulling it that far.

Awsome thing about the square tube on the Dak from CURT that I bought, it ALSO bolts to the OE round bar bumper hitch, so you have BOTH supporting the weight..the round tube, and the square tube.

anyway, sorry for rambling, just thought Id try to save you fifty bucks for the OE style.

 

This looks like the "cats meow".

Will have to check this out.

 

I looked under my truck and the tube is drilled from the top through the bottom of the tube.

The existing chain plate has big holes in it so there is no way this is going to bolt to that plate, unless I'm looking at it wrong.

Kinda strange, to say the least.

 

I beleive they actually bolt through the existing chain plates that are welded to the round bar, and then a bolt goes through the bumper flange...so its being supported upward by the bumper flange, and when you put weight on it then it is pushing back on the round tube... which makes it stronger than the bumper mount alone.

looking at the mounting instructions, I am now about 99.9% sure it bolts through the existing chain plates. Those chain plates are made to secure the trailer in case the hitch fails, so I would say they are strong enough to support the hitch receiver, especially since it is also being supported by the bumper mount.

Like I said, its a curt hitch, they are usually pretty good at design for existing holes and such.