Rockwood Roo 21SS - Tow Vehicle

[Kcskitek]

I am in the process of downgrading my Tow Vehicle from an '08 GMC Yukon Denali rated at 8100# towing max to a Toyota 4Runner w/4.7liter V-8 rated at 7,000# capacity. I am also looking to upsize from a PUP to a HTT 21SS Roo. The dry weight is about 4,300# and 1,200# carrying capacity, but the hitch weight is relatively high at just under 600#. The 23SS has a much lower tongue weight at 435#. Will I be okay pulling the 21SS with a WDH with the 4Runner? Trying to figure out what the maximum tongue weight is. All that shows up is the maximum towing load of 7,000#'s. Also, does anyone know if the factory tow packages on the 4Runner's have transmission coolers. How do I tell if they are factory hitches? Thanks!

[Wizfisher]

I agree with CKNSLS. The Dakota is a small truck and a 21 foot travel trailer will be too much for the Dakota.
We have a Durango and while most hybrids are within the weight limits, I wouldn't feel safe towing a full size trailer with it.

Good luck.

[CKNSLS]

Rickkessler54 wrote:
I have a 04 dodge Dakota V6 3.7 with the towing package. I will be using a WDH and the sticker on the door jam reads no more than 1600 lbs. of passegers and cargo combined. Trailer weight is 3320 lbs. We will be doing short local trips. Am I going to be able to pull this 21 ft. Shamrock? We are ready to buy tomorrow.

It will not be a pleasant towing experience if the numbers even say you can do it.

[bikendan]

we need the model of Dakota(there's 6 of them), 2x4 or 4x4, the cab size, the bed size and which transmission.

OR you can go to Dodge's towing guide and do it yourself:

Dodge Towing Guide

as to the trailer, that 3320 number is without water, battery and cargo.
so, adding all of that, the trailer's actual loaded weight could easily be around 4000lbs.
IMHO, i wouldn't tow a full-height trailer with such a small v-6 but that's me and i live near lots of mountain.
for local trips, the numbers will be close but possible. but without knowing more info on the Dakota, can't really say.

by the way, there were two 21' models in 2004, the 21 and the 21S.
which one is yours? i'm assuming the 21S has a slideout.

[Rickkessler54]

I have a 04 dodge Dakota V6 3.7 with the towing package. I will be using a WDH and the sticker on the door jam reads no more than 1600 lbs. of passegers and cargo combined. Trailer weight is 3320 lbs. We will be doing short local trips. Am I going to be able to pull this 21 ft. Shamrock? We are ready to buy tomorrow.

[Rickkessler54]

ok, I have a 3.7 V6 with factory towing package. The sticker on door jam says passengers and cargo not over 1602 lbs. Weight of camper is 3320 from the sticker inside cabinet of camper. We are getting ready to pull the trigger on buying this camper and I am worried about not even being able to pull the thing. Please help me with my concerns. Thanks

[bikendan]

Rickkessler54 wrote:
My wife and I are in the process of purchasing a 04 21 ft.Shamrock. This will be our first camper and we do not know a lot about this. I am concerned about pulling it with my 04 Dakota. We are going to use the WDH and the camper weight is 3320 lbs.Do you think I will alright with this? We will be doing local trips.

where did you get the 3320 number? from the white sticker inside one of the cabinets? or from somewhere else?
and yes, need more info about your Dakota.

[CKNSLS]

Rickkessler54 wrote:
My wife and I are in the process of purchasing a 04 21 ft.Shamrock. This will be our first camper and we do not know a lot about this. I am concerned about pulling it with my 04 Dakota. We are going to use the WDH and the camper weight is 3320 lbs.Do you think I will alright with this? We will be doing local trips.

WE need more info. What motor do you have? What does the yellow sicker say inside your driver's door jamb?

Have you looked inside your owner's manual?

[Rickkessler54]

My wife and I are in the process of purchasing a 04 21 ft.Shamrock. This will be our first camper and we do not know a lot about this. I am concerned about pulling it with my 04 Dakota. We are going to use the WDH and the camper weight is 3320 lbs.Do you think I will alright with this? We will be doing local trips.

[Jetta03]

Sounds like you have plenty of capacity to tow the 21ss. Expect it to weigh around 5000 at the axles, not including tongue weight, ready to camp. We tow ours with F150 and use weight distribution which makes a big difference in steering and stability of the truck vs not. So with the suv I'd think weight distribution is a must as well.

[CKNSLS]

I towed a same weight/same length combo for 5 years with a 4Runner Sport and the same year as you. I had an Equalizer hitch.

That is probably why my towing experience was different than yours.

That 109.5" wheel base is the limitation on the vehicle. That 4.7 V8 however is one sweet motor!

The best highway mpg I EVER achievd was 21mpg-but 20mpg hwy. was the norm.

[PAThwacker]

I tow a 3400 dry/5000lb gvw bh hybrid with a k2500 sub(8600gvw/7600 towing)
Loaded ready to camp gross combined weight: 11,720lbs
TT axles 3700lbs
The truck handled the other 8000LBS!

[captaingort]

I tow a 2012 Flagstaff KS25 "Microlite" with my 2005 4Runner SR5 4WD V8. 74,000 on the clock. This 25' TT weighs approx 4500# dry and 5500# all up...verified on truck scale. TT's tongue weight is 700#, verified by scale. I carry 2 bikes on TT's rear bumper. Per owner's manual, the 4Runner is rated for 7000# with a 700# tongue weight. The 4Runner's factory class 4 hitch has a sticker on it stating 7300# tow and 1095# tongue weight capacity when used with WD hitch. I use a Hensley Arrow hitch. When hitched and WD bars adjusted, the 4Runner sits level. I've added a Hayden trans cooler in series with the OEM cooler. Otherwise, the TV is all stock. I run syn oil in everything. Based on all this, here's my experience, towing in all kinds of conditions: Tows very well, tracks flawlessly under all normal conditions. Performs well on twisty mountain roads, too. The 4Runner pulled the Tehachapi Grapevine, I-80 to Lake Tahoe, and the Oregon 1-5 passes at max legal speed, accomplished by manual gear selection using 3rd and sometimes 2nd when speed falls towards 50 mph. All temps remained normal with outside air at 90-95 degrees and A/C on. Towing at 55-60 mph, I average 10 mpg =/- 2 mpg. Have seen it drop to 8 mpg on long hills and headwinds. Biggest issue I've encountered was fighting a 30-40 MPH gale headwind heading up I-5 in California between Sacramento and Redding...I could barely hold 55 mph in 4th gear on flat land. But that was the only time and everybody was moaning about it at the roadside rests. I never use 5th gear, only use CC on long, FLAT stretches. The remarkable Hensley Arrow hitch positively solved the crosswind / semitruck passing "twitch" I saw with my prior EAZ-Lift simple WD hitch with two friction sway dampers in use. I HIGHLY recommend the Hensley on this shortish wheelbase 4Runner! I use the same gears going downhill as going up and watch my speed carefully. No brake issues noted. Prodigy brake controller. Clamp-on mirror extensions. Yes, I'd like to have a Gen2 Sequoia 5.7, but the tough little 4Runner is getting job done and the extra $15k I'd have to lay out for even a 2008 used Sequoia is savings in my pocket. Plus the 4Runner is nimble, gets 22 MPG when not towing, and fits in my carport with the trailer behind it. Note that it is just my wife and I traveling...no kids. So the 4Runner is pretty much empty inside...thus, it works for us.

[rahulke]

Chuck is right about the Roo 23SS weighing more than the Jayco 23B, in fact probably about 1,000 lbs more. My whole point was that I've been impressed with the quality and performance of the vehicle. It's too bad Toyota no longer puts a V8 in the 4Runner. When I'm ready for another vehicle, I'll probably look at the Tundra. Kcskitek, I hope you enjoy your ride. Also, I have to say, I've been really impressed with the folks who are posting on this forum. Hope you all have a great camping season!

[Jayco25E]

manganos wrote:
I'll chime in. I've always had Dodge diesels and 28-30' Jayco's. The exception was the 2006 GMC VortecMax with the 6.0 (2wd). They all pulled excellent!. I have since sold my real trucks and traded my Jayco 28BHS in for a 2013 Roo 21SS. I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota parked here at the house and figured it would tow it just fine considering the low weight. WRONG. While it didn't sway etc I just don't have the power to pull the RV on anything but flat ground and out of overdrive. This is with the 4.7 V8. I am going to buy an 03-05 Suburban 2500 with the 8.1L next week ..... 😉

Dodge killed the Dakota and Durango when they went from the 5.2 that is in my 99 Durango to the 4.7. A lot of folks complained about the 4.7 being a dog at towing. Never had an issue with my 5.2 towing my Jayco 25E