Anyone hauling a TT with a Dodge Dakota?

[MookieKat]

If so, what are you hauling and how happy are you with the set-up?

Thanks!

[aluminum_flyer]

We have just upgraded to a more comfortable truck (2011 RAM 1500) but we pulled our KZ RV CL164 Coyote Lite (16ft box & 22ft overall length) with the Dakota for a few years (big trips too).

The only thing we did not like and the main reason to upgrade was cabin space on long trips with a large dog in the back (club cab).

Here is our specs:

1999 Dodge Dakota CC
3.55 Rear End
318 V8 Engine w/ 5 SPD Manual Tranny

2010 KZ RV CL164 Coyote Lite Trailer
2920 lbs Empty
3500 lbs Gross

The only time we had a little difficulty was in high head winds. That really killed the MPG (about 😎 and caused us to drive in 3rd or 4th gear. But those were 40+ MPH winds in our face. Mind you the Dakota has 3.55 gears and towing gears would do better. The new RAM 1500 has 3.92 gears.

Usual MPG in the Dakota (towing) was about 9-10 MPG. Now I get 11-14 depending on speed with the newer truck.

I wouldn't want to haul anything much heavier with that truck for great distances. It would just make life miserable. The truck can tow higher (believe 6500 lbs) but would only do that is perfect conditions and level ground.

I always take 50% of the tow ratings to make a comfortable tow experience.

[Father_of_Three]

I own a 1999 Dakota 5.2L V8 3.55 and used to tow a 21 foot camper that weighed right at 4500 lbs loaded up (verified by a cat scale). My combined weight was around 9400 lbs (I don't recall the exact number but again this was a cat scale weight). I pulled that camper anywhere from the mountains of NC up around the Grandfather Mountain area all the way to the beach and all areas in between. Yes I was craving more power when pulling the mountain grades but overall it did a pretty good job. I did have both my front brakes overheat due to sticking calipers but other than that I had no real issues. My biggest obstacle was my family size. I had three children with one in a baby seat sitting between my wife and I so we needed more room.

I purchased my X which has tons of room and pulled that trailer like it truly was not there. I have now upgraded my camper which was my ultimate goal when buying the X. Funny thing is I actually pull the same grade going to Grandfater Mountain that I pulled with my Dakota and smaller camper but at a slower speed. At first I thought it was a power thing but have quickly realized my X has lots of pulling power. It made me realize the Dakota wasn't really that bad of a towing machine. As long as you watch your weights I think you will be fine.

[kodiakcanuck]

kodiakcanuck wrote:
I have a friend who tows a 24ft 2004 Terry TT with his crew cab 2wd TRX V8 Dakota. My guess is the trailer weighs between 5000 - 6000 lbs, 2 kids and 2 adults in the truck. He keeps up pretty good with my Hemi Ram :W

He has an Equal-lizer hitch which I would recommend...

Sorry double post..

[kodiakcanuck]

I have a friend who tows a 24ft 2004 Terry TT with his crew cab 2wd TRX V8 Dakota. 2 kids and 2 adults in the truck. He keeps up pretty good with my Hemi Ram :W

He has an Equal-lizer hitch which I would recommend...

[MookieKat]

boosTT wrote:
Not going to be happy. Time for a new truck soon anyway with that high of miles. Buy the trailer to match the new truck or you'll regret being in a small trailer.

Yep! It's beginning to look that way!

We are 255 lbs. together and a 10 lb cat. We plan to travel light. Most of weight will be cooking equipment and food and drinks. Two cruiser bikes, a guitar, some camera equipment (1 camera and 2 lenses and tripod). No other rec gear.

[boosTT]

Not going to be happy. Time for a new truck soon anyway with that high of miles. Buy the trailer to match the new truck or you'll regret being in a small trailer.

[star_2008]

Think of towing 5200lbs Kodiak 241rbsl with a Dakota crew cab v8

[MitchF150]

Very similar to my F150 in that it's a 1997 and has 250,000 miles on it..

I've got a GVWR of #6250 and a 'tow rating' of #7700..

With that being said, when I hitch up my #5000 TT and load up the bed for a weekend camp out, I'm over the trucks GVWR by a few hundred pounds... Some say this is bad, others say it's not so bad... You will need to determine what your limit is going to be.. 😉

So, even thou I have an F150 with a nice 'tow rating', in the real world, I'm maxed out with just a #5000 TT...

You will have to be careful of trying to compare the trailers 'dry weight' to the trucks 'tow rating' because you will run out of payload long before you come close to that tow rating when it's all said and done...

To be honest, I don't read all that many folks towing with their Dakotas.. If they do, they are pretty small trailers or even pop ups..

Can you tow a full size TT with your Dakota? Sure... You will just have to check your weights and know that a travel trailer is different from a boat trailer and the trucks 'tow rating' does not specify what kind of trailer that 'tow rating' is for... 😉

Good luck!

Mitch

[dodge_guy]

The Dakota of that year has the same driveline as the 1500 Dodge pickups. with the difference being the springs and the front wheel bearings. what gear ratio do you have, should be a sticker in the glove box. probably 3.55. the 5.2 with the right (3.90) gearing will do respectfully. the only factor here is the high mileage. has it been maintained well? and things will be on their way out. gotta weigh the pluses and minuses.

Good luck!

[rfryer]

MookieKat wrote:
I basically wondered about what others were doing with the Dakota, but this is what we own:

1998 Dodge Dakota 5.2L V8 318 club cab with factory installed towing package. It has 230,000 miles on it. GVWR is 5,320 lbs. Manual says with a class 4 hitch, it will tow GTW of 7,100 lb.

Ideally you’d load up the Dakota with everything and everybody you would on a trip. Then weigh it at a truck stop or similar and subtract that weight from the 5.320#. The remainder is the max payload you have for a TT tongue weight and you’ll run out of that before you ever reach the 7100#. Then you don’t want to be too close to max or you will not enjoy towing it, most especially if you get in any mountains.

[MookieKat]

I basically wondered about what others were doing with the Dakota, but this is what we own:

1998 Dodge Dakota 5.2L V8 318 club cab with factory installed towing package. It has 230,000 miles on it. GVWR is 5,320 lbs. Manual says with a class 4 hitch, it will tow GTW of 7,100 lb.

[MitchF150]

Been following your posts and you are asking some very specific questions and that's great!

For this one however, you are going to have to provide some more info on your truck..

Year, drive train components, payload, "tow rating", tow package equipped or not..

In general, the Dakota is a compact truck and will have less capabilities than any of the "1/2 ton" trucks out there..

I've got a #5000, 22' travel trailer and I tow it with a 16 year old F150. It does very well with it, but I wouldn't want to tow much more or with a smaller truck..

It does have a walk around queen bed up front. Full width rear bath and a small dinette/kitchen in the middle. We have since converted the dinette to a single bench to make more room for the 2 of us and we don't miss the dinette at all.

Good luck with your quest and I hope you are able to make it all work!

Mitch