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Crusher_33's avatar
Crusher_33
Explorer
Mar 02, 2014

How big can I tow?

I have been searching but cannot find anything and with it being Sunday I cannot call the car dealer or Rv dealer. I have an opportunity to buy a 32 foot camper but do not know what my vehicle is capable of towing. I have a 2005 Dodge Durango with 4 wheel drive and the 5.7 Hemi. If anyone could help me to determine if my vehicle could tow a 32 foot camper and if not, how big would be the maximum I could pull? Thanks in advance.
  • You can do it, but would not be enjoyable. Had a 2008 Durango, before buying my 2012 X-lite (32' 5400lb dry)I did all the math. On paper it looked good, on the highway was a miserable experience. Turned out physics was not on my side. The wheelbase was too short and too narrow. 1st trip out was very windy and the trailer had total control over the Durango.

    Traded the Durango in on a F150, totally different experience.
  • I towed for years with my Durango with the smaller 5.3 and my camper is 26' with a GVWR of 4800lbs. Had plenty of power to pull which most Durangos can pull a lot of weight but you have to keep in mind they are a smaller mid size SUV. The longer the TT the more wind area you have. I can say that the bigger full frame of my Avalanche is much more stable while towing. It comes down to CAN YOU or SHOULD YOU.
  • I would not even touch it with your Durango. Trade that Durango in on a new Ram 2500 Diesel.. Hook on and roll out.
  • It's 116" wheelbase is far too short for towing a trailer that long.
  • If you want specific answers to your question we need your Durango's max payload, GVWR and actual curb weight. Towing capacity does not reflect what you can tow in a travel trailer. You will run out of payload way before you get anywhere near that towing capacity. Attempting to tow a 32' TT with the short wheelbase of a Durango is another problem. Without the specific numbers I mentioned I suspect you will be limited to a trailer of no more than 5,000# GVWR and you may rest assured it will be nowhere near 32'. Good luck.

    :C
  • Really? That small? Not what I was expecting to hear. It has an 8900 pound towing capacity according to my owners manual.
  • therink wrote:
    No. I wouldn't tow anything more that 22' and maybe 4500 lbs loaded with that Durango.


    I agree. 32 feet camper is way to much for that short wheel base on the Durango and it just ain't up to much more than a smaller camper, in my humble opinion, which is worth just about what you paid for it.
  • No. I wouldn't tow anything more that 22' and maybe 4500 lbs loaded with that Durango.

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