[Buckeye ATC]

I own a 2014 Durango SXT AWD V6 with factory towing package. Absolutely love everything about the vehicle. I currently use it to tow a 3000 lb pop up camper, and it does great. I even got 20mpg while towing it on a two day trip to Boston a few weeks ago. Absolutely no issues.

Anyway, I'm currently looking to upgrade to a small hybrid camper, 20-24' in length, around 3800 dry, and around 5000 totally loaded. All the trailers I'm looking at fall well within the limits of the manual, including GVWC, tongue weight, total camper weight, etc etc. I picked the Durango over many other vehicles because of the tow capacity vs. fuel economy.

So anyway, my concern is that little column in the book that I knew nothing about until after I bought the vehicle, the frontal area limit. For the V6 it shows 40sq ft. What exactly does this mean? The RV salesmen, naturally, said a. No idea what that is b. Don't worry about it c. That's only the area of the trailer exposed above and around the actual vehicle.

If the frontal area limit is really 40 sq ft for the trailer itself, I don't think anything outside a pop up will fall within the guidelines. I'm a "by the book" kind of person and I'm very hesitant to spend big money on a trailer that my D can't pull safely. I will not be upgrading the vehicle either. Just not happening. I feel like I should be able to get by with lots of campers that meet all the other requirements other than that "frontal area".

So, what say you? What's the deal with the frontal area?

In case anyone is curious, the trailers I'm considering are: Jayco X18D, Coachmen 21TQX, or Forest River Surveyor 224t. Thanks very much for your help. The last thing I want to do is cause harm to my Durango. It's too good a vehicle to risk!

 

[Citadel Brian]

5x8 is 40 sqft, which isn't much bigger then the Durango itself. I know your a by the book guy, but the frontal area isn't something I would worry too much about. The length of the trailer is going to be more problematic with wind and passing trucks. Will the front area "slow" you down if it's too big? Yes, it will. But if your with in the tow limit, and you are I wouldn't worry.

 

[Nav]

It will not affect your D's towing ability, but it WILL affect your gas mileage significantly because of the air the trailer has to push out of the way.

 

[Chase300]

The question I would want to ask is are they talking sq. footage that is exposed to the wind?
IE, outside the D's silhouette?
That would make more sense as the D is already punching a hole through the air.
Anything outside that is going to catch the wind and cause drag.

So I bet you measure what is sticking outside the D's silhouette to get the true frontal area of what is being towed.

 

[Nav]

It is true that the D is "breaking wind", but frontal area measurement is based on the total surface area as the total area creates wind resistance.

 

[Chase300]

True, but so does the shape.
Tow a squared off box shape vs something smooth and rounded or pointy like most boats.
The box is going to have way more resistance being pulled with the same sq. ft. than an aero shape.

I would think this really becomes more of an issue when towing near the limits, but I would consider a trailer shape that has some aero design into it like Airstreams.
Isn't that their claim to fame?

 

[Citadel Brian]

I was thinking about this the other day. When FCA came up with this rule, were they only thinking about the front area only, or how if the front area is over X amount, that that translates into a trailer with sides that are very large and are susceptible to bad cross winds and or tractor trailers. Better example, think of towing a 22ft pop up camper, not much of an issue as it is a very low profile. Same trailer now in the up position has a greater frontal and side area that is going to more of a "handful" when towing. Just some thoughts as I was driving the other day

 

[Nav]

You're right about towing near the limits. The shape and size of trailer frontage has a greater impact on gas mileage. At one time I went from a 5000 lb trailer to a 2000 lb trailer expecting a significant change in MPG. Got the same MPG because they both had the same frontage square feet.

 

[Elwood011]

Keep an eye on the weight restrictions for the just the Durango as well. You can only put 1200 lbs on/in the Durango(should say on your door), and that includes hitch weight. So 500 lbs hitch weight for a 5000 lb trailer leaves only 700 for passengers and gear. If you are just driving with 2 people that isn't an issue. But 5 or more could be.