Dodge Dakota.

The hitch alone puts it almost at it's limit, right? :W

A Dodge Dakota, towing within it's limits was was quite competent. Not 15K though. I recall talking to a guy at a campground, years ago, who had a extended cab Dakota 4WD with the 318 (5.2 liter) 230 hp V8, AT.

He and his wife, had a 26 foot fifth wheel and had towed all down the east coast, across the west, up to Alaska (Alaskan Highway), down to California. No issues he said and the MPG wasn't bad.

In addition, by keeping things a reasonable size, he said that they were able to get by with one vehicle, the Dakota. He mentioned his wife didn't mind using the Dakota for a daily driver in the city, where he felt she would be intimidated using a one ton dually.

But the 26 footer was within his tow rating.

The newer ones have a payload between 13XX# and 18XX#. I'm pretty sure you can get a Hemi in it. If not I know the V6 has almost 300hp.

Was not new and no indications of Hemi.

Just because it has a 15k hitch doesn't meen he is using all 15k of it! Thete are a bunch of lite weight 5'ers out there.

transamz9 wrote:
The newer ones have a payload between 13XX# and 18XX#. I'm pretty sure you can get a Hemi in it. If not I know the V6 has almost 300hp.

Don't think Dodge makes the Dakota anymore, just the full size 1500, 2500, 3500. Then the Medium Duty trucks's the 4500/5500 series.

At one time ypu could get a Dakota with a 5.9(360). Saw one in Mitchal,S.D. several years ago at Cabelas. Older couple from Washington State out touring the country with a small fifth.

Yep, 5.9L with 3.90 gears would do almost anything you ask of it! had the same setup in a conv. van. they even put the 5.9L and 46RE with 4.10`s in the 3500 dually`s!

dodge guy wrote:
Yep, 5.9L with 3.90 gears would do almost anything you ask of it! had the same setup in a conv. van. they even put the 5.9L and 46RE with 4.10`s in the 3500 dually`s!

yes I know about the duallys. I still have Dads '83 cab & chassis sitting in a shed. He run it with an 11' utility box full of plumbing & electrical parts. Even pulled his ditching machine on an 18' trailer. Engine was a 4 barrel version with thermoquad carb.

I had the 2008 Dakota Crew with the 4.7L and towed my 7500LB trailer with no problem.

Great truck, but not produced anymore. They have a great resale value though and dealers can't keep them on thier lots. When I traded for the Bighorn, they gave me 16K for mine w/ 45,000 miles on it.