2014 Dodge Durango w/Hemi (365 HP) and Passport 2650BH?

2008Wildcat wrote:
A friend of mine tows their 2650 with a 2009 Nissan Pathfinder and it does well.

We did add rear airbags, and he uses a Blue Ox Sway Pro hitch.

The 2009 is mechanically the same as the 2005 Pathfinder I had. The 2005 Pathfinder was a TERRIBLE tow vehicle. The suspension was much to soft, bottoming out and porpoising terrible on every none smooth area on the road. Suspension was so weak it sagged terribly, looking like it was riding a wheely! Oh, this was only towing a smaller pop up. Would never EVER try towing any type of travel trailer or hybrid with this, without a major suspension upgrade. The wheelbase is very short on these Pathfinders as well making them sway prone for longer trailers. I wouldn't tow a long lightweight trailer without a very high end hitch/sway system. Not the friction based sway control systems.

Sagging Pathfinder with Pop Up


Plus the integrated hitch on the Pathfinder is rated only for 600 lbs with the V6 or 700 lbs with the V8. Both are rated to low to tow the heavier hitch weight of a travel trailer safely.

On top of that, despite the high torque rating, the engine offers no low rpm torque worth a darn. The engine offers little torque where you need it for towing, despite the hopeful 4000 rpm rating. I upgraded to a Ford Sport Trac that offered only 9 more lbs of torque at the same rpms yet down in the low rpms it had plenty of torque where the Pathfinder's 4.0L felt anemic. Once again, pulling a pop up.

When I upgraded to the V8 Ford Sport Trac, it pulled the same pop up like nothing was there. The Pathfinder was controlled by that same pop up.

Sport Trac suspension didn't even drop from the pop up's hitch weight.


That Passport 2650BH is the about the same weight and size as my Jay Flight 26BH. I would never EVER pull my trailer with a short wheel based SUV and would make sure you have enough torque (not just Horsepower) to keep the trailer moving in high winds and on hills. My 5.0L with 360 Hp and 380 ft lbs of torque pulls my trailer effortlessly in all situations so towing with less power could be done.

The main factor is having enough truck to tow it. I use a Reese Strait-line hitch system which is their best anti-sway system. It locks the trailer and truck as one, but with strong side winds, the wind still pushes the rig around, but as ONE. So having enough truck is definitely a consideration.

If I pulled more, I would surely put some LT tires on. You have to go with the lower load ratings as most standard wheels will not hold up to the higher tire pressures that are required for the higher capacity LT tires.

A friend of mine tows their 2650 with a 2009 Nissan Pathfinder and it does well.

We did add rear airbags, and he uses a Blue Ox Sway Pro hitch.

Dottie5 wrote:
We have a 2014 Dodge Durango AWD V8Hemi and tow a Keystone 28bh. Dh researched it extensively and with that TT we were well within our tongue weight and towing capacity. We did by an anti-sway bar and weight distribution hitch. We towed it back from Oklahoma where we bought it and if you know anything about Oklahoma and wind - well we got a good idea of how it tows in 35mph cross winds. I little bumpy but never felt unsafe of as if we were going to lose it. When the winds died down, it towed straight as an arrow.

We'll be taking it out in May to Moab through the Colorado mtn passes. So that should be another test.

What kind of weight distributing hitch are you using? Thanks!

Power wise, we didn't have a problem with our 2014 Durango. First trip was over Raton Pass in Colorado and it drove up without any indication of strain. We were more concerned about length off the TT and sway. Which we did with the 35mph cross winds. But when the winds settled down, there was really no problem at all.

I pulled the Passport 2910 with a 4.6 f150 with a 3.55 rear. Not fun at all. It was fine flat and we only camped an hour a way. The trailer was 5500 dry and the truck was rated at 6900 lbs. I was literally at my limit. I bought a 6.7 Diesel 250 6 months later. You'll be close to your limit with that set up. I'd take it really slow.

Trailer Life did a review of the Dodge Durango and the Shadow Cruiser 28QBS. This is the camper I have been looking at. I recently purchased a 11 Durango, and currently tow a 24' hybrid. The durango is very capable of towing the Passport. The new Durango's have mechanical load leveling installed on the trailer packages. We just replaced out 05 durango, and the 11 is worlds ahead of the older one. Both Duragno's have the Hemi.

http://www.trailerlife.com/reviews/trailer-reviews/dodge-durango-and-cruiser-rv-shadow-cruiser/

Shorteelaw wrote:
What do you mean extend your payload?

Hahahahaha! The following is what many people think rear suspension aids (air bags, Timbrens, add-a-leaf, etc).

Another option instead of air bags is the Super Spring. I had them on my 98 Durango with the 360 CI and it worked great. It added 2000 lbs capacity to the vehicle

Rig sits absolutely level with no WDH

A WDH restores weight that is lost when you add weight behind the rear axle like dropping a trailer tongue on a receiver ball. Losing weight on the front axle decreases steering control and stability. Increasing rear spring rate does not restore any weight to the front axle. And things look level so it doesn't appear overloaded. This is why I say things like rear suspension aids mask overloaded situations and complicated WDH adjustment.

What about rear brakes, axles, bearings, bushings, bolts, tires, wheels, etc?

cdar wrote:

APT wrote:
Air bags/air suspension at best complicate WDH adjustment. I can't think of any reason why a half ton or smaller SUV would need it.

My experience with the full sized 08 Durango has been soft suspension and horrible OEM shocks.

I upgraded the shocks which helped dramatically. Adding air bags just helps stiffen the rear end for when I pull but are not necessary for everyday driving. It doesn't affect my WDH and I don't use the bags to "extend" my payload or axle capacities as I'm within my weight MAXs.

What do you mean extend your payload?

Another option instead of air bags is the Super Spring. I had them on my 98 Durango with the 360 CI and it worked great. It added 2000 lbs capacity to the vehicle. I now have them on my 2006 F150 w/6.5' bed. Rig sits absolutely level with no WDH. Cost around $450 installed. Provides added stabilization and helps prevent sway along with the Reese sway control bar. Well worth it twice for me.

APT wrote:
Air bags/air suspension at best complicate WDH adjustment. I can't think of any reason why a half ton or smaller SUV would need it.

My experience with the full sized 08 Durango has been soft suspension and horrible OEM shocks.

I upgraded the shocks which helped dramatically. Adding air bags just helps stiffen the rear end for when I pull but are not necessary for everyday driving. It doesn't affect my WDH and I don't use the bags to "extend" my payload or axle capacities as I'm within my weight MAXs.