Hello everyone. I have a 2005 Dodge Dakota with the 4.7 V8 and I love it. It's got plenty of get up to it without a trailer. But my problem is that when it has a trailer, even lightly loaded, it gets way more sluggish. Now I'm sure this is normal because towing a trailer adds another ton to the truck but I want to try and get rid of the sluggishness but I was wondering if y'all had cheaper solutions than what I've heard. I was told to get long pipe headers, dual cams, and a turbocharger but I don't have anywhere near enough money for that. So any help y'all can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

I would suggest picking up a Superchips 3865 tuner and loading up the tow tune. That will give it a little extra kick.

 

Thanks. Other than tuners, is there anything else I could do under the hood? A friend of mine mentioned a CAI to help the engine breath better and new exhaust to help relieve back pressure.

 

A CAI and exhaust will also help. A K&N drop in filter is just as beneficial as a CAI. The restriction in our exhaust system is in the Y-pipe. Most of us here have either a cat back system, or have removed both resonators and dropped in an aftermarket muffler.

Here's what I have:

• K&N drop in filter with an Airaid modular intake tube. It feels exactly the same as the full Airiaid CAI, minus the noise. (I've tried both.)
• Removed both resonators, installed a Magnaflow muffler, sounds awesome.
• Superchips 3865, running the 87 tune, with some additional adjustments to torque management with the trans tuning option, and also a few other tweaks.

The truck is feeling great and running amazing with these pretty simple mods.

 

Along with what dakotaff mentions, you can think about an efan, 180 thermostat and a bored throttle body. Hipotek is a good one. Welcome to the forum.

 

Thanks a bunch, guys. Y'all have really helped out. Now I just need to check prices again.

 

A Dakota is like a boat (B.O.A.T) Bust Out Another Thousand

 

I have every mod listed in this thread..it did make a big difference but gas is too expensive to drive around like a complete @ss IMO

 

first find out what gears you have, open up glove box and check sticker on the inside back, if your truck is equipped with 3.55, the only mod that will help out is a gear swap, with the money you spend upgrading crap, you still wont be happy untill you swap gears, exspect to pay around 1500.00 for a 4x4, but with buying tuners, exhaust and intakes, you will spend close to that, 4.10 swap will make towing easier and you will love the get up and go better then what you have now

 

As far as I know, it has 3.55s in it, even though there's no sticker in the glove box. I checked. And I have a 4X4 and $1500 is a lot.