[gregb]

I'm looking at buying a boat and I'm wondering what my towing capacity is. This is what I have:

4.7L V-8
3.55 rear
transmission cooler

There's no tow hitch, however I'm planning on installing a weight distributing hitch.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[FSTDANGO3]

You need to find out if you have the factory tow pkg. I doubt this unless someone removed the hitch!
If Not you're limited to about 2000-2500 lbs towing ability
Steve
DOC Pres

 

[Nav]

Trailer Life shows the tow capacity as 4650 pounds for your set up. That assumes a tow package and a 150 pound driver. From that number you have to subtract any additional weight in the form passengers, gear, etc carried in both the D and the trailer. A second consideration is wheelbase length. The distance from the trailer hitch to the center of the rear axle if a two-axle trailer or center of the single axle should be no more than twice the wheelbase of the D.

 

[dizzyD]

Leaning towards what Steve says, 2300 #'s max trailer

 

[FSTDANGO3]

Trailer Life shows the tow capacity as 4650 pounds for your set up. That assumes a tow package and a 150 pound driver. From that number you have to subtract any additional weight in the form passengers, gear, etc carried in both the D and the trailer. A second consideration is wheelbase length. The distance from the trailer hitch to the center of the rear axle if a two-axle trailer or center of the single axle should be no more than twice the wheelbase of the D.

I doubt it has the factory Tow Pkg on it but who knows Go to dealer and ask them based upon your Vin # if your D was equipped with the Trailer Tow PKG
Steve
DOC Pres

 

[found_fish]

ok? I'll ask. This is new to me?

So are you saying without the factory tow package, only about 2300 lbs. But with the factory tow package, up to 4600 lbs?

 

[thomsonc]

If someone has the factory tow package, does that automatically mean one has a 3.92 axle. How can you tell if it's a 3.55 or 3.92?

 

[FSTDANGO3]

No The tow pkg came with several other items beside the hitch
It had the heavy duty alternator , Heavy duty cooling, Heavy duty Tranny cooler
Factory wiring complete with hookups for Brake controller
Steve
DOC Pres

 

[found_fish]

okay. Thanks Steve!

 

[Silver Ghost]

If someone has the factory tow package, does that automatically mean one has a 3.92 axle. How can you tell if it's a 3.55 or 3.92?

No. You could get the tow package with either the 3.55 (which was standard) or the 3.92 (optional on all but the R/T).
Have any Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep dealer print out a "build sheet" for your specific VIN (or you can e-mail Dodge Customer Service and ask for it.) The build sheet will list everything that was included on your D when it left the assembly line.
The axle ratio may also be on a placard inside the glove box.
The truly critical pieces to the tow package are: Class III/IV hitch; wiring to accept brake controller (though you could do that yourself), and the tranny cooler (though many folks are getting additional cooling).
Without the tow package, Dodge conservatively put the towing limit at 2000 lbs though you can probably exceed that somewhat. The biggest risk to towing heavier loads would be damage to your transmission.

Joe

 

[Grease is the Word]

The truly critical pieces to the tow package are: Class III/IV hitch; wiring to accept brake controller (though you could do that yourself), and the tranny cooler (though many folks are getting additional cooling).

Couldn't all of those items above be added later fairly easily? With a boat, no need for a brake controller since most, if not all, will be surge brakes. The hitch is a given, the tranny cooler can be put on for $50 to $100. I'd add a tranny gauge for ~$150. The biggest factor IMO in this case (besides what SG lists above) will be the 3.55 gears. If it's new tire time, you could go with a lower profile tire and get the equivalent of a better gear ratio.

Just a side note for WD hitches and a boat. Most surge brakes don't work together with WD hitches. Double check that your coupler/actuator and WD gear are compatible.

Another tip is to look on the rear diff pumpkin for a tag on one of the bolts that'll tell you the gear ratio -- unless someone hasn't left it off during servicing.

Gregb, what size boat and trailer? Single or dual axle? If you have the boat specs that can help too.

Here's some good boat trailering reading: http://www.trailerboats.com/output.cfm?id=1199251

This link below shows you're OK to 4400 lbs. You go to 5700 just by getting 3.92 gears. This is assuming 4WD vs 2WD. The database doesn't say anything about trailer tow package. I really don't know if a tranny cooler or radiator is the same size with or without the package. The alternator or surge brake doesn't matter with a small boat IMO

http://www.trailerboats.com/towrati...ndex.cfm?action=search&yr=2003&make=Dodge&model=Durango&min_tlimit=&max_tlimit=

Small boat trailers weigh ~1000 lbs, then the dry boat, then gas, then toys, then people, finally, food and drink. It also depends on where you'll be towing, how far, and what type of terrain.

 

[FSTDANGO3]

The truly critical pieces to the tow package are: Class III/IV hitch; wiring to accept brake controller (though you could do that yourself), and the tranny cooler (though many folks are getting additional cooling).

Couldn't all of those items above be added later fairly easily? With a boat, no need for a brake controller since most, if not all, will be surge brakes. The hitch is a given, the tranny cooler can be put on for $50 to $100. I'd add a tranny gauge for ~$150. The biggest factor IMO in this case (besides what SG lists above) will be the 3.55 gears. If it's new tire time, you could go with a lower profile tire and get the equivalent of a better gear ratio.

Just a side note for WD hitches and a boat. Most surge brakes don't work together with WD hitches. Double check that your coupler/actuator and WD gear are compatible.

Another tip is to look on the rear diff pumpkin for a tag on one of the bolts that'll tell you the gear ratio -- unless someone hasn't left it off during servicing.

Gregb, what size boat and trailer? Single or dual axle? If you have the boat specs that can help too.

Here's some good boat trailering reading: http://www.trailerboats.com/output.cfm?id=1199251

This link below shows you're OK to 4400 lbs. You go to 5700 just by getting 3.92 gears. This is assuming 4WD vs 2WD. The database doesn't say anything about trailer tow package. I really don't know if a tranny cooler or radiator is the same size with or without the package. The alternator or surge brake doesn't matter with a small boat IMO

http://www.trailerboats.com/towrati...ndex.cfm?action=search&yr=2003&make=Dodge&model=Durango&min_tlimit=&max_tlimit=

Small boat trailers weigh ~1000 lbs, then the dry boat, then gas, then toys, then people, finally, food and drink. It also depends on where you'll be towing, how far, and what type of terrain.

Yes all of the items and even better than original can be added
My truck came from DC with 3:55 gears and the tow pkg It towed just fine with stock size tires.
Give us some real world info on the boat(length, weight etc)
Steve
DOC Pres

 

[gregb]

Thanks for the replies thus far.

Boat, tandem axle trailer (electric disc brakes on both axles) and boat fuel add up to approximately 5,000lbs.

Based on the link below (I have the 4.7L, V-8, 4WD, 3.55 ratio & tranny cooler) it looks like I'm over the limit. But if I go with a lower profile tire will it get me a higher ratio/higher tow capacity?

http://www.trailerboats.com/towrati...ndex.cfm?action=search&yr=2003&make=Dodge&model=Durango&min_tlimit=&max_tlimit=

 

[FSTDANGO3]

I'd personally look into different gears for the D as The lower profile will be ok to gain you gear when towing but otherwise Harm you during most of your driving.
Also you should verify your factory options as you may have a tranny cooler of some sort But without the Tow Pkg there's no heavy duty cooling
Better Safe than Sorry!
Steve
DOC Pres

 

[MWeed]

Going to a lower profile tire might help in the gearing area but may loose in the overall ability to safely tow. Lower aspect ratio tires may not have the weight handling ability needed. Check the load rating of the tires you're looking at before you buy.

 

[Grease is the Word]

Thanks for the replies thus far.

Boat, tandem axle trailer (electric disc brakes on both axles) and boat fuel add up to approximately 5,000lbs.

Based on the link below (I have the 4.7L, V-8, 4WD, 3.55 ratio & tranny cooler) it looks like I'm over the limit. But if I go with a lower profile tire will it get me a higher ratio/higher tow capacity?

http://www.trailerboats.com/towrati...ndex.cfm?action=search&yr=2003&make=Dodge&model=Durango&min_tlimit=&max_tlimit=

IMO, that's really pushing it for the 4.7 with 3.55. I have the 5.9 with 3.92 and tow a boat trailer combo wet @ 4200 lbs. I'd ask to see what the gear swap would be. Are you 2WD or 4?

 

[MadTownD]

I have a 4.7L, 3.55 gears with factory tow package and I pulled around a single axle enclosed trailer (no trailer brakes) weighing in at about 3,000 pounds for 3+ years with absolutely NO problems.

I have an occasion also towed my brother's ski boat weighing in at about 4,000 pounds (boat and trailer with surge brakes) and had no problems at all either.

The D tows like a champ!

 

[FSTDANGO3]

With the tow Pkg I agree there should be no problems at all
Steve
DOC Pres

 

[thomsonc]

Great information- learned a lot from this post.

I was thinking about towing a "small" trailer fall of 2008 from Alaska on down and have been trying to research as much as I could. Our Durango was originally a corporate lease, so I'm curious as to how they configured ours when they bought it. My guess is they probably bought it off the lot.

 

[thomsonc]

By the way, what's the most common size ball to put on the towing hitch? When I went to take a look at them, there were six different sizes one could select from.