Question about max towing weight
 

Hello,
We are looking into buying our first trailer and we have a 2002 Dodge Dakota that we can tow a maximum trailer weight of 5050 pounds. My question is, I would assume you don't really want to tow to the max allowable pounds. Is there a general guideline of how close you can get to that max weight?

Thank you,
Cheryl

Well, general guide line is to stay at or below 80-85% of the max tow rating. I am presently over that with my 2209T and I would not recommend doing that to anyone, as I go all over the country, lots of mountains. My engine cooling is good but transmission temperatures go to dangerous levels.
You can go over 85% if you only do trips on fairly level ground with no problems.
Does your dodge have the factory tow package?

Thank you so much for the reply. We do hope to travel around farther from home so we'd better keep it under the 80-85%. Not to mention we have two young children and will have all of our bikes and stuff.

We do have the factory tow package. Does that make a lot of difference?

Oh wow. I just did the math on towing 80-85% of 5050 lbs. That is only 3788-4040lbs. :( That is not much trailer.

The 17-19 ft towlites fall into that category. Our 1707T is all the trailer we want. It gets us into small campsites pretty much anywhere.

- Jack

The factory tow package usually gives you a bigger radiator, larger alternator, and a transmission oil cooler. All of this is necessary for towing. Some tow packages provide dash gauges rather than the standard "idiot lights" for the dash.

Bob

21 ft. TowLites fall in this range, my 2209T which is 22 ft is 3860lbs and a couple hundred over 4000 loaded, classic models are heavier.

Towing Capacity
 

Cheryl,

I found a chart on Dakota towing capacities and if I'm reading it right and your truck falls into one of the three vehicles shown, your towing limit may be a little more than you thought depending on whether you have a 2-dr/4dr.

2002 Dodge Dakota Specs & Specifications - CarsDirect

According to this chart [shown when you select the [+] key in the capacities field ] the trailer weight limits for the three trucks shown are:

Max Trailer Weight 5,950 lbs. 6,450 lbs. 5,950 lbs.

With these limitations you might want to limit your Hi-Lo trailer length to around 22 - 24 foot length.

Our 2406 weight is 4025 lbs. and presents no problem for our 2000 4WD F250 with the 7.3 Liter Diesel with towing package. We hardly realize the trailer is back there. I would think it would be a maximum load for your truck when the trailer is loaded. Especially if you load a trailer with 'stuff' like my wife!

Hope this helps.

Jerry Curtis
Fredericksburg, TX

Thank you so much for all of the great information, everyone!

Ok, on the tow limits, very confusing… I am getting different information everywhere I turn.


According to the dodge.com website my max trailer weight is 5050 lbs.

According to 2002 Dodge Dakota Specs & Specifications - CarsDirect my max trailer weight is 6050.

According to https://www.cascaderv.com/Towing/02towingguide.pdf my max trailer limit is 5300.

At this point I am just going by the lowest weight to be safest, and that is on the Dodge site. Also the Dodge site asked for my axle size and engine size so I feel like maybe the info is more specific to my vehicle.

Does anyone know why the information varies so much? As I mentioned, I am going by the lowest weight rating but if I can tow more I’d sure like to know it. I don’t want to rule out any trailers because I think they’re too heavy if in reality they’re fine.

Thanks again,
Cheryl

Add the Trailer Life 2002 Guide to your list: https://www.trailerlife.com/Towing-Gu...-Towing-Guide/

You have to be sure how your truck is set up to make the proper determination.

That is the one that says 5300 lbs.

When you say I have to know how the truck is set up, what info do I need? So far what I know is it is a 2002 Dodge Dakota SLT quad cab 2WD with a 4.7L v8 engine and a 3.55 axle. And it has the tow pkg. Is there info other than that I need?

Which listing limits are known to be most accurate? I even tried calling the Dodge dealer and to be honest, it didn't really seem like they knew much about and limits.

Thanks,
Cheryl

Cheryl, I would say the source that asked for your engine size and axle ratio is the one to go by.

You should be able to find the axle code stamped on a tag that is on your rear axle. Once you have it, use this page to find the ratio: What Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep rear end ratio do I have? - Drivetrain.com

This page will give you other information relating to your VIN:
Dakota VIN Decoder

Larger engines and a higher rear axle ratio will increase the amount of weight you can safely tow.

You might also find the tow rating in your truck's owner's manual (along with the engine size and axle ratio). I was hoping to find a no cost source for an online owner's manual if you don't have one, but the earliest Dodge offers is 2004. You can buy one though. The source for either one is: My Dodge: Dodge Owners Service Manuals - Dodge Cars, Trucks, Minivans, SUVs, Wagons, Hatchbacks

Edit: You were posting while I was researching these sites, so I see you have the engine/axle information. Have you looked in the Owner's Manual?

- Jack

If Dodge had a towing guide for 2002 you may be able to get a more accurate determination. I know Ford publishes one every year and it pretty well covers all the possibilities.

Have you checked the owner's manual?

I just looked it up in the owner's manual. It says 4900 lbs, so that is Lower than what it says on the Dodge website. :( I don't understand why/how it is different than the website when I had to punch and select all the specific information about my vehicle.

80-85% of 4900 is mighty low. :(

What body style is it, 2 door, 4 door, club cab? Is it 2 or 4 wheel drive? Those all figure in with the engine, diff. ratio, and tow package.

Quad cab (4 door) and it is 2 wheel drive.

Cheryl, I have an '04 quad cab Dakota 4x4 with a 4.7 V8 - I tow a '95 21 ft Towlite, as PopRichie says about 3400 lbs. Loaded with gear maybe 4000. It tows it easily, with decent 13 to 15 mpg.

Cheryl,

It is one thing to get your Dakota and trailer rolling, which have all been discussed by previous posters ... the discussion about axle ratio, engine HP, supplemental transmission coolers, etc all having an effect on the towing limit of your Dodge.

It is another concern as to how you will get it stopped, not many people address the stopping issue! The condition of your Dakota brakes and pads as well as the total sweep area of those brakes will impact your stopping ability ... the same goes for the trailer brakes ... and the type of brake controler you use will also have an affect on your stopping ability. When you have an additional 3,800 lbs pushing you want functioning brakes on the trailer as well as your Dakota.

I would recommend you seek the advice of your local Dodge dealer mechanic and also a RV repair center and ask your questions of these experts who make a living servicing these vehicles. As you have discovered everyone has an opinion and often they differ, so ask an expert ... it could save you a lot of money in the future.

That is encouraging. Thank you.:)

Thank you for the great advice, John. I got nowhere when I tried the Dodge dealer. I couldn't get a mechanic on the phone and could only speak with a service advisor. I am going to call an RV repair shop though. That is a great idea. I will also try callling the manufacturer and I will see if I can find out why their website is giving me a different tow limit than my owner's manual.

In case anyone is curious, I will post back my findings.

Thanks again,
Cheryl

To add to the confusion....
 

I forgot to mention that I have the factory installed Tow package. The difference in the web site and owners manual could be based on what options were installed. Also I would not like to tow a high profile trailer of the same weight.

:eek:Ugh.... no more, no more... ;)

I have the factory installed tow pkg as well. That makes sense about it being the reason the owner's manual is different.

I tried calling two RV places today, didn't get anywhere. Will try another couple of places again tomorrow and discuss brakes, max weight, and what they think of my truck as a tow vehicle.

At this pointthought, I'm thinking I am just going to end up basing my decision on the lowest weight and stay within 80-85% of that weight. I am going to find the smallest, lightest hilo that will fit my family and definitely make sure to put as much research into my brakes (thanks to the sensible info from John on this thread) as I am on tow weight.

Thanks again, everyone! :)

Cheryl


.

You will probably find that most RV dealers are reluctant to give you any tow vehicle figures due to liability, etc. The manufacturer has the best figures and you have seen how that has gone for you. As you said, stay on the conservative side and you should be ok. It just seems that your vehicle as equipped should have a much higher rating. Maybe Dodge is more truthful than the others, as tow ratings have been inflated in some vehicles due to competition over the years.

Starting next year the published tow ratings are supposed to be established according to a standard that was developed. We will see how that changes some of the bragging by the manufacturers.

I think you will find that the Dakota has plenty of HP and torque for towing. It only slows down on the longest and steepest grades.

That is very encouraging to hear. I am so glad that there is someone here with a Dakota to tell me about their experience. I think I will be fine with a 21ft Towlite. Now I just have to find one! :)

So, I called two different RV repair facilities. I didn’t bother calling Dodge because the different in weight from their website vs the owner’s manual is only 150 lbs so I am not going to bother sitting on hold to talk to a customer service rep to get to the bottom of it. Ok, so my phone calls to the repair facility…

The first place I spoke with wanted to also know the wc and wd of my hitch. WC= 3500 and WD = 6500, so I will need to get a weight distribution hitch. Then, the mechanic told me he isn’t really familiar with the Dakotas and that whatever limit the manufacturer is saying is always inflated. He said he can’t believe the weights that the manufacturers say are safe. At one point he said I shouldn’t tow more than 2000 lbs and at another point he said I’d probably be ok with 3000 or 4000 lbs. I told him that on Craigslist there was someone towing one with a Ford Ranger, which is smaller than my truck and he said he doesn’t think that would be a good idea. I told him that someone on the forum is towing one with a truck like mine but a 4X4 and he said that a 4x4 is heavier than my 2wd so that could make the difference. In the end, he said he just doesn’t really know about Dakotas, that my truck might be fine and I should really just try hooking one up and towing it and that is the only way I will know for sure.

I called another guy who said to go ahead and tow all the way to limit and (I am quoting him here) “that is what it is made to do”. I asked about going up hills. He said, “that is what second gear is for.”. Yeah….. I don’t know much about all this towing stuff but I certainly have enough common sense to know that doesn’t sound right.

So there you have it. At this point, I really think I will do fine with a 21 ft towlite but I am going to ask the seller if they’ll let me hook it up and pull it around to try it out. Well, first I’ve got to find one…

Thanks again, everyone.
Cheryl

Cheryl, Your plans sound very reasonable to me. I don't have a WD hitch but plan on getting one over the winter. There have been a few times in high winds or heavy traffic that I was uncomfortable. PopRichie tows the same trailer as mine with a V6 Tacoma - rated at 6500#s??? But they are lighter than the Dakota. The '05 Dakotas are listed at tow ratings of ~7000# but the only difference from the '04s is cosmetic. I think that the Dodge recommendations are under for liability reasons not inflated.
I hope you can find what you are looking for.
Ralph Arnold
SLC, Ut
2004 Dakota quad cab 4x4
'95 21' Towlite.

Well you have certainly done your homework, and are now probably just as misguided by all of our good intentioned opinionated advice as the rest of us. The majority of posters on this site agree on taking a cautious approach to towing, they recommend:

1. de-rating the manufactures towing capacity estimates to about 80% to have a margin of safety,
2. use an appropriate weight distribution hitch with anti-sway capability,
3. use a quality brake controller (ones with a decellorometer are the best),
4. realize that the additional "stuff" you carry also counts against your TV's load capacity (stuff like: you, fresh water, waste water, LP, gasoline, food, chairs, wine, beer, rover, etc.)
5. keep your brakes and tires in good condition (inflation is critical)
6. drive conservatively, knowing your rig's capabilities
7. watch out for the other guy, they are driving tired, way overloaded and often driving faster than they ought to be!

Your TV/Hi-Lo is not so different than the ones towed by myself and other posters ... good luck and enjoy RVing.

Thank you so much. Reassuring and helpful. I am the researcher of the house and my husband will be the one setting it all up and driving so I will definitely make sure he reads this sound advice. :)

Rolff,

Do you know what size axle you have? I have the 3.55 axle and I compared our trucks on Dodge.com and if you have the 3.55 you have a slightly lower tow capacity than I have and if you have the 3.92 then you have a higher tow capacity than I do.

I’m asking because I found a hi-lo that is very similar to yours in weight and it would be reassuring to know that since you’re able to tow yours nicely, I would be able to tow something similar. If you have the larger axle though, I can’t compare my truck to yours.

Thanks so much!:)

Cheryl

Big Day tomorrow
 

Well, I have two Hi-Los to go and look at tomorrow. One is a friend of a friend's that was supposed to be an '89 21ft funlite but turns out is an '89 22ft Funchaser. That extra foot is about an extra 800lbs! I know it isn't really the one extra foot that is adding that, but you know what I mean. The dry weight is 3560 and the max weight is 5000. I figure if we can keep the cargo at 700ish lbs, that will keep me right at 85% max towing capacity. I know it is pushing it and I had wanted to stay at 80% but the price is right and it will fit my family.

Is this crazy? Am I allowing enough lbs when I say 700 lbs of cargo. I feel like I am being generous but cargo (especially with two little ones, bikes, etc.) does add up.

The other one I can't get a straight answer from the guy on the size. He is saying it is an '89 11 ft Funlite. That's right; he says it is eleven feet long. I told him the smallest I've heard of is 17 feet and he said he measured it and it is 11 feet. Any thoughts??? Maybe he should be taking into account the hitch or something? It has a double bunk and the dining table turns into a bed as well. Could that even be a 17 foot? Anyway, I'm waiting on a call back from him so we can set something up for tomorrow.

Inthepink,

Hi-Lo measured their trailers from the hitch to the back bumper. So, our 21ft towlite actually had living space of approximately 17 feet (the box). I suspect that the funlite measured at 11ft is actually the living space and not the true size of the trailer. It is probably a 15 or 17 ft trailer. If the trailer is 19 ft or less, it has one axle. If it is larger than 19ft, it will have dual axles.

One way to keep your weight down in the trailer is to tow it dry. By dry, I mean to tow it without water in the tanks and make sure the holding tanks are empty. Water and waste will add a lot of weight in a hurry.

We personally prefer to tow a dual axle trailer.

Les, why do you prefer to tow dual axle? Is it easier to tow?

We find that the dual axle tows with less sway and it doesn't bounce around as much.

Good to know. Thanks. :)

And, you don't immediately drop on to a wheel rim if there is a tire failure when there are dual axles.

It is also MUCH easier to change a tire/grease bearings/adjust brakes, etc if you have dual axles. All you have to do is drive the wheel you're not working on up onto some kind of "platform" (they make plastic ones for this) and the other wheel is suspended in the air. AND, there is an "expanding" chock that goes between the wheels on dual axles that will prevent rolling.

I REALLY WISH my trailer had dual axles, but the ones below 19 ft all came with single axles.

- Jack