[Roy]

I am a locate away from purchasing an RT. But, for some reason, dealers apparently don't think that owners want both of those options on a car. I can find plenty of one or the other, but not BOTH. This is driving me nuts. Looks like the factory crossbars are installed through the roof so not easy to add aftermarket. The aftermarket ones sit so far forward that they make using a cargo box pretty useless since it almost sits over the hood.

OK fine, I can add the tow package. Then I did some reading on what all comes with the tow package- mainly the load level shocks and extra cooling and figured there goes that plan. Even if I don't tow heavy with this vehicle, the shocks will help payload if we have a full car plus cargo.

So I have 4 options now

1. Buy without the roof rails and continue to rent a minivan for our yearly trip
2. Buy without trailer/tow and add it, but sacrifice the benefits like load level and additional cooling
3. Build exactly what I want and wait 8 weeks. Dodge may be offering more or less back in 2 months.
4. Wait another month to see if one pops up how I want it, gamble incentives are better than the $1000 dodge is offering currently.

Any input? Main reason for wanting the rails is to use the cargo box on our yearly 3500 mile trip to FL. Usually we rent a minivan for $1,000 for 2 weeks. Could look into a hitch box but I don't think we will get as much luggage in as the rooftop box. Seems odd that a SUV would be ordered without a $500 option making it so much more versatile.

 

[Peteh2833]

Roy, I have some info on the roof rails. When I ordered my DDSRT at the end of February, the order wasn't accepted by the factory with the Cargo Plus Package (Roof Rails). We had to remove them from the order to get it to be accepted. We found out that they are short on parts for the roof rails and that it is only available to fleet orders currently. I was told by the factory that if I wanted that option I would have to wait a month or 2 for the parts to be available. I decided not to wait that long.

 

[jfire72]

Not sure how or why, but I've heard if it doesn't have the tow package from the factory, you lose towing capacity. Like 3000lbs worth of it. I don't understand why adding it after the fact makes a difference, but is something I've seen posted here before.

Have you tried searching further away from your location, or even looking out of state? I don't think I've ever seen the combo myself, but I've never really looked. Your best bet if you can't find both together would be to order one. At least then you can get it in the color, seating arrangement, and whatever else the way you want it. A two month wait is not bad, and should be delivered in time for summer vacation if that's when your needing it.

Edit:

We have one of those hitch boxes you speak of. We got a cargo bag to stuff everything in, and that obviously sits in the trailer rack. It came in really handy for our camping trip last year, stuffed it to the gills, and fit almost everything including our tent and 120 quart cooler.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[jfire72]

LOL, just found this that explains the tow capacity.

http://www.dodgedurango.net/forums/showthread.php?p=663569

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[craigffb]

1. When I bought my truck every one we looked at had the tow package. Might just be where you're looking.
2. If my truck had the roof rails on it I probably wouldn't have bought it, because they are ugly and take away from the sporty look of the truck. The fact you can get a Durango without the roof rails to me is one of the upsides of the truck it's self.

This of course is just my $.02

 

[Roy]

OK, so maybe I was off a little. I took some of the packages off (blacktop) and more popped up. I think the BT package totally makes the RT, so getting without it I would be pretty bummed. Quite a few in Black with options we want, but we want any color but black. Or, they are spec'd out to the gills and @ 58K MSRP.

 

[craigffb]

Negotiate the price of the exact truck you want and let the dealer find it. Either they will find you one or it doesn't exist at the moment and you'll have to order. They way I look at it if you're gonna spend this much money on a truck.....get the exact one you want. I wouldn't settle, it's just to much money.

 

[MikeD1]

I searched a 200 mile radius for the combo I wanted & it was hard to find. A large majority of dealers were ordering the friggen captains chairs (a deal breaker for me) on all their R/T's and a lot had the sunroof, the tow pkg was only being ordered on a small % and the roof rails were even more scarce. In the end, I decided to just wait for the '18's to open for ordering (I really wanted the SRT hood/front + the T-shifter anyway) and get the exact one I wanted. I wouldn't worry about the rebate being less in 8 weeks, if anything it will be more as you will be closing in on the end of the model year.

 

[Roy]

Anyone have any thoughts on rebates next month or 2? Jeep is offering $4000 on their vehicles currently. I can't believe Dodge is only offering 1K, however they are priced cheaper from the start. Problem with Jeep is to get the "blackout package" you need to get a low tier or high tier. Not an option on the middle Limited model. Low Tier doesn't have tow and cloth inserts. High Tier has everything and prices it more than I want to spend.

Closest vehicle I found was 400 miles away. I don't mind driving to get it or towing both ways. I emailed the dealer for giggles. Local dealer could not locate one within their area of whatever they search (300 miles?). I was dead set against the captain chairs on the durango but have since changed my mind and now want them. They are great for road trips because you can stash coolers and stuff between them. Plus they make getting out from the back seat easier. All the minivans we rent for long tips have captains and I think back to how difficult it would be without them.

 

[Chase300]

Use to be R/T's had the HD cooling standard and load leveling shocks...but don't know about the '18 model.
You can run the VIN and check to see if it has, then you just need to install the hitch and wiring.

Crazy to me the Hemi option doesn't include the hitch as standard equipment!!!

 

[Roy]

Use to be R/T's had the HD cooling standard and load leveling shocks...but don't know about the '18 model.
You can run the VIN and check to see if it has, then you just need to install the hitch and wiring.

Crazy to me the Hemi option doesn't include the hitch as standard equipment!!!

The GT and RT are both $995 to add tow. I would think that if all the GT needed was hitch and wiring it would be less than the same upgrade for the GT?

 

[someone236]

Roy, I had the same problem when I was looking for a Durango (end of the 17 MY), wanted RT, Tow and Roof Rails but no sun roof or DVD player. After working with multiple dealerships in different areas, discovered such a beast did not exist. My local dealership said that there were basically 2 options left. Buy a '17 that had everything but the roof rails and have a body shop put them on after I take delivery or order an '18. This was all before the confirmation of the 'new' front end on the '18. Not liking the idea of a body shop punching holes in the roof, I opted to order it just how I wanted it. It was a painful 6-8 weeks but was glad I did.
The body shop that I was talking to that was willing to do it said its not really that hard, but just a time consuming process for them. If you can afford to wait the few weeks than order it how you like it. The Dealership that I went to said that for the Durangos they will only keep 1 or 2 RT's and plan on keeping zero Durango SRT's on the lot since most of their buyers are willing to wait the 2 months to get it their way.

 

[Red Ram]

When I purchased my 2017 R/T last year, the majority of the trucks in the color I wanted in the radius I searched were either with Captain's Chairs and/or without the Tow package or the Tech Package all which were deal breakers for me. I ended up doing a factory order and waited the 5 weeks. I agree with a previous post that the roof rails take away from the sporty look of the R/T and since I didn't have a need for them, I passed on that option. Good luck on your continued search.

 

[Dr. Jim]

I guess the roof rails depend on what you are used to. Before SUVs, I had wagons with chrome luggage racks on top. Then a Cadillac Escalade and a Buick Rainier with roof rails. When my son graduated from college and got married the next day right on the college campus, we completely loaded up three vehicles to head back home. My son and his new wife-to-be had lived off campus in an apartment. There was so much stuff, including furniture, that I should have rented a truck. However, I was towing my small utility trailer behind the Escalade and figured that would be enough. Well, we completely filled the trailer and the Escalade allowing only room (barely) for just me as driver. I went and purchased two rooftop cargo carriers and attached them to the Escalade's roof rack. Those became completely filled as well. My point to this story is that I was glad to have a roof rack when I needed it. When I ordered my DDSRT, I wanted the roof rails. On the Billet silver color, it also adds a little black to the roof. Breaks up all that silver.

 

[vj123]

I can certainly understand how it feels. But some dealers offer the maximum incentive (pick the highest incentive available either during your order date or delivery date) even with the factory order. I would recommend placing the order with one such dealer.

But if you are buying one off the lot, i would pick one with Trailer tow package as it has the following addons. You can install some roof racks later.
7-and 4-Pin Wiring Harness
Class IV Receiver Hitch
Full Size Spare Tire
Heavy-Duty Engine Cooling
Rear Load Leveling Suspension

Most people might not prefer Roof rails from the factory due to looks or they might not need the additional space.

 

[Roy]

After some research about the tow package on the GT vs RT, it appears that the $999 on the RT nets you 3 items total. Tow hitch & bezel ($300 with paint), wiring ($50+$75 to program), full size spare ($50 if even). Total out of pocket for self install: $425 without the spare upgrade. The RT already come with the HD cooling, HD brakes, and load leveling shocks.

As a result, I decided to buy one locally with the options I wanted with intent to install the hitch myself. It saves me the frustration of waiting 8 weeks, plus there were rumors that the roof rails were delaying production. I located one and the dealer is picking it up today. We worked the numbers and they were cheaper by any other dealer by several thousand. I am not sure if next month Dodge will be offering more than a whole $1000 incentive, but I feel the vehicle as a good value at what they are giving it to me for so I can't sweat it. Hope to have it by Saturday assuming the dealers don't play games in finance and that the car is in good shape.

 

[guffeyp]

I had never bought a new vehicle before the Durango. I did a factory order due to wanting a specific combo. I think it's crazy people settle for what a dealer has when spending that kind of money.

 

[Roy]

I have bought and sold probably over 30 cars and I am 36. I factory ordered my truck exactly how I wanted it. Now I am kicking myself for leaving a couple options off that most on the lot had (like 5th wheel prep) because I felt I didn't need them. At the end of the day, it's just a car and your needs/wants change over time. If I can locate one with most all the options I want, I won't lose sleep. Especially in this case because Tow can be added for half of the factory price so it's actually cheaper in the long run.