Hi everyone,We just bought a Durango that comes with a 5.7 l v8 hemi and a towing package that can tow 7200lbs.We are looking at buying our first trailer and the one we are looking at weights 5300 dry. Once you load water and everything you need will it be possible for me to tow it with my Durango?ThanksHere is an example of the TT I was looking at:http://www.parkrv.ca/rv-new/KINGSPORT/2019-KINGSPORT-Ultra+Lite+275BH-02f85ecc0a0e08bd1ddbcd92fccc4682.htm EDIT:Here is some more info on my Duragno. The payload for the vehicle is 1300lbs, and the towing package I have is : TRAILER TOW GROUP IV • 4- and 7-pin wiring harness• Class IV hitch receiver • Full-size spare tire (compact spare tire on SRT®)• Heavy-duty engine cooling • Rear load-levelling suspension

My vote is you can do it but it won't be comfortable. A quick rule of thumb is @ 80% of listed towing capacity to not be a white knuckle drive. That is 5760 lbs. Loaded I would guess you will be at about 6300 lbs. If only short trips on fairly flat ground it will probably be fine. Just remember, there is a difference between " i can tow it" and "it is a comfortable tow". If it is an uncomfortable tow, you will probably end up not using it much. My F 150 is rated to tow 8500, I am only towing about 4500. It tows like a dream. Could I go heavier, yes, but I will keep it to about 7000 or less GVWR. You should get a LOT of responses to this from "you need a dually" to "You can go way over the limits if no one is looking". You were smarter than most to have asked in the first place. Qudos. YMMV

The number that will limit your towing is the payload rating of the Durango. Look at the loading sticker on the door frame. It will say "weight of passengers and cargo not to exceed xxxx lb". Cargo includes the tongue weight of the trailer, which is around 13% of LOADED (not dry) trailer weight. Tongue weight plus passengers and cargo in the Durango, plus 100 lb for the WD hitch cannot be more than the payload rating. You will exceed this limit long before you get to 7200 lb of trailer weight.The Durango is a unibody SUV, meant as a people mover with the ability to haul a boat to the lake or a utility trailer to the lumberyard. A heavy, high-sided TT is going to strain its capabilities.

Getting the popcorn....be back in a bit for the show.

Question about towing capacity for a 2019 dodge Durango rt

32 Replies

toedtoes
Explorer III
May 08, 2019
Maybe it's completely empty inside.
treyster
Explorer
May 08, 2019
This looks like yikes.
fdwt994
Explorer
Mar 31, 2019
OleManOleCan wrote:
Big difference in moving a trailer and towing a trailer.
Your truck isn't rated to tow much weight. BTDT.
My first tow vehicle was marginal at best, then I towed my camper
to the Smoky Mt's. Going north from Chattanooga, I started up the Mt.
going 65. I was going less than 20 when I got to the top...
People were passing me blowing their horns and shooting us a Bird.
I came home from that trip and went shopping for a Heavy Duty truck.
Lesson learned.
I bought a 3/4 ton and got used to parking 'Out where the big fish swim'.
It ain't crowded out there...

My advice is use enough truck.

I've towed on that route. It definitely reminds you to have enough truck for the job.
TurnThePage
Explorer
Mar 28, 2019
OleManOleCan wrote:
Big difference in moving a trailer and towing a trailer.
Your truck isn't rated to tow much weight. BTDT.
My first tow vehicle was marginal at best, then I towed my camper
to the Smoky Mt's. Going north from Chattanooga, I started up the Mt.
going 65. I was going less than 20 when I got to the top...
People were passing me blowing their horns and shooting us a Bird.
I came home from that trip and went shopping for a Heavy Duty truck.
Lesson learned.
I bought a 3/4 ton and got used to parking 'Out where the big fish swim'.
It ain't crowded out there...

My advice is use enough truck.
Why were you only going 20? Sounds like you were under powered. The vehicle in question here will have way more power than it will ever need.
OleManOleCan
Explorer
Mar 28, 2019
Big difference in moving a trailer and towing a trailer.
Your truck isn't rated to tow much weight. BTDT.
My first tow vehicle was marginal at best, then I towed my camper
to the Smoky Mt's. Going north from Chattanooga, I started up the Mt.
going 65. I was going less than 20 when I got to the top...
People were passing me blowing their horns and shooting us a Bird.
I came home from that trip and went shopping for a Heavy Duty truck.
Lesson learned.
I bought a 3/4 ton and got used to parking 'Out where the big fish swim'.
It ain't crowded out there...

My advice is use enough truck.
OBX-GL
Explorer
Mar 27, 2019
TurnThePage wrote:
toedtoes wrote:
drsteve wrote:
OBX-GL wrote:
SidecarFlip wrote:
Your downfall will be the monocoque chassis / body, aka: Unibody. Durango's are soccer mom SUV's not tow vehicles, plus they have marginal transmissions.

Good luck, you'll need it.

Your opinion is not accurate

Looks pretty accurate to me... Care to elaborate?

The early Durangos (up to 2009) were not unibody construction. For the 2020 model they are going back to the frame on body. So, it depends on the model year as to whether it is a soccer mom's SUV.
And not only that, their current transmission is top notch. World class in fact.

Sorry, should have checked back sooner.
My response was not to the fact supplied (unibody) but the opinions or colour included. The OP owns the vehicle. Calling it soccer mom, transmission marginal, with requirement of luck is insulting and unproductive IMO.

Regulators, SAE, and manufacture testing, achieved factual sticker #'s. IMO more reliable than an opinion. The same 8 spd is used in the RAM, a suitable tow vehicle by most standards. Not all unibodies are created equal. This gen Durango (2011) is no longer leading edge. At the time it could be argued it was. High % advanced steels, advanced welds, producing torsional stiffness significantly greater than its counterparts, including Mercedes GL.

Nobody is claiming it is a purpose built tow vehicle.
No vehicle should be purposed to tow at its limit.
TurnThePage
Explorer
Mar 24, 2019
toedtoes wrote:
drsteve wrote:
OBX-GL wrote:
SidecarFlip wrote:
Your downfall will be the monocoque chassis / body, aka: Unibody. Durango's are soccer mom SUV's not tow vehicles, plus they have marginal transmissions.

Good luck, you'll need it.

Your opinion is not accurate

Looks pretty accurate to me... Care to elaborate?

The early Durangos (up to 2009) were not unibody construction. For the 2020 model they are going back to the frame on body. So, it depends on the model year as to whether it is a soccer mom's SUV.
And not only that, their current transmission is top notch. World class in fact.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Mar 24, 2019
stevemorris wrote:
we had a Dakota for several years, a 4500 lb trailer was marginal for it
the Dakota is very similar to a Durango and 4500 lb was too much for comfort

I think it depends on the year and model. My Dad's Duango, which was several years newer than mine, was able to tow 4500lbs easily. With mine, I wouldn't tow that much.
fdwt994
Explorer
Mar 24, 2019
In addition to the payload restrictions, I'd also be concerned about the short wheelbase of a Durango. Granted, this camper is not super long, but I know what it feels like to have "the tail wagging the dog" and I"m pretty sure, WD / Anti-sway or not, that'll happen in this setup. "Tow ratings" and "tow packages" are the least concern. Good luck.
stevemorris
Explorer
Mar 24, 2019
we had a Dakota for several years, a 4500 lb trailer was marginal for it
the Dakota is very similar to a Durango and 4500 lb was too much for comfort