Have 05 Dakota Quad Cab SLT, 4.7, Automatic, RWD, 3.21 axle ratio think, Class 3 hitch, 6010 for weight sticker on door..................this is my 3rd dakota...(96, 2003 both 6cyl) Towed a few things but not a car. .....

Looking to do a tow dolly for a 04 Hyundai Santa Fe... ...thought the 05 V8 would be enough ... but just have this one tow like 120 miles once ...U Haul saying not rated for this truck to tow it...car is like 3,400 - 3,900 lbs and looks like tow dolly is 2,000 lbs...thought that was high weight...so say cant do it...thought of trying a different car to do the booking for other day they told me I could have the rental.. looks like GCWR 10,500 lbs...max trailer 5750

Will it be safe?

 

I used a tow dolly from them recently, towed my car 200 miles. My car weighed about 2800 lbs though and didn't throw any red flags. Dakota pulled it easy. About all I can say is if you do tow this, you'll be in breach of the uhaul contract and they will not be liable for anything - not that they would be anyway.

 

What tow dolly weighs 2000 lbs? Most of them are 300-400 lbs at best. Your tuck will pull that fine.

 

With the 4.7 you either have the 3.55 or the 3.92 gear. A quad cab, 4x2 with 3.55 is rated to tow 5500lbs. The 3.92 models are rated at 7000lbs. You are rated to pull it but maybe not rated to stop it..

Does the car dolly from u-haul have surge brakes on it? If not that may be why they won't allow it. You'll probably have to use the full car carrier which does have surge brakes but creates another issue. The combined weight with that heavier trailer would probably exceed your town rating.

Below info from U-Haul. The Santa Fe may just be too heavy for the actual tow dolly.

Capacity

• Max Load: 3,450 lbs. when towing a front-wheel drive vehicle, 3,900 lbs. when towing a rear-wheel drive vehicle.
• Empty weight: 750 lbs.

Towing vehicle requirements

• Must be equipped with a full hard top if it is a sport utility type vehicle. If the top or any portion of the top is removed, or is not a hard top, your sport utility type vehicle cannot be used for towing U-Haul equipment. A full hard top must be in place.
• Tow vehicle and trailer lighting must be operational at all times, day and night. All U-Haul trailers and towing are wired with a 4-way flat light connector.
• Must weigh at least 750 lbs. more than the vehicle being towed
• Must have Class 2 tow hitch (3,500 lbs. minimum weight-carrying rating)
• Must have 1-7/8" or 2" hitch ball (3,500 lbs. minimum)
• Must not exceed maximum allowable hitch ball height of 25"
• Must have external mirrors on both sides
• Must have fully operational lighting
• Maximum recommended speed is 55 MPH
• Load trailers heavier in front.
• Reduce normal driving speed.
• Wear a seatbelt.

 

Thank You All for the Information and facts...my guess is its for cant stop due to the weight exchange...I found another path by just driving car to my friend and getting a rental for way back for about same as the tow dolly one way....
which was $86 +..........dont know how to check for what axle ratio I have...Any good ideas?

 

Your build sheet will tell you what gears were installed at the time of build, plus a lot of other info.

Link to Build Sheet

 

I pulled that up that you gave the link for and it showed the vin decoder .... axel ratio shows 3.55, 392, 321 321 min 392 max...thats line under vin decoder tech specs....then in another section under Mechanical & Powertrain shows 3.21 axle ratio

 

Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the second page.

 

The DF Decoder (Post # 11) is not what you want.

Go to post # 14 of that thread, replace the xxxxx with your VIN in your browser, then press enter. = Your Instant Build Sheet for your truck will show.

Mine shows this listed on the first page:

3.55 Rear Axle Ratio

 

OK thank you...Found it :-) you are right on axle ratio :-)
3.55

oh and I have a Lock-Up Torque Converter