1996 Dodge Dakota towing ability?

[pattief]

My husband has a 1996 Dodge Dakota Sport( old, but it only has 55,00 miles ) V6 Magnum 3.5 axel ratio. GVWR 5,540..GAWR front axel 3166lb. rear 3,000 lb. No factory installed tow package, but can tow 2,000 lbs. from bumper. Would be just my hubby and myself ( no more than 300lb. total weight..suitcase and some firewood in truck ( rare occasion daughter @ 105 lbs. with us)
Tried to get tow capacity from dealer usin VIN #, but computer won't go back that far.
Saw a Sprindale 189FL that would be perfect for us
GDW 3780
carrying capacity 2180
hitch 460
GVWR
Questioning if this is too much TT for this truck????
Thanks..this forum is great!

[pattief]

My husband has a 1996 Dodge Dakota Sport( old, but it only has 55,00 miles ) V6 Magnum 3.5 axel ratio. GVWR 5,540..GAWR front axel 3166lb. rear 3,000 lb. No factory installed tow package, but can tow 2,000 lbs. from bumper. Would be just my hubby and myself ( no more than 300lb. total weight..suitcase and some firewood in truck ( rare occasion daughter @ 105 lbs. with us)
Tried to get tow capacity from dealer usin VIN #, but computer won't go back that far.
Saw a Sprindale 189FL that would be perfect for us
GDW 3780
carrying capacity 2180
hitch 460
GVWR
Questioning if this is too much TT for this truck????
Thanks..this forum is great!

[CD]

pattief
Welcome to the forum. You will get a lot of good advice & opinions here. Here's mine.
If I understand your nos. right, it looks like a bad match. Adding the dry weight and the carrying cap. of the TT, you have almost 6K. You said you can tow 2K. Years back I towed a 17' TT (that weighed abouut 2/3 what you are looking at) W/1/2T Ford. It had a (big six) 300cc engine. It pulled good on the level but going uphill it wouldn't keep up to speed. When I got a 3/4T it handled much better. You don't want to find out you don't have enough TV while doing 60 going down the highway and something happens right in front of you.
Do you have LT tires on your Dakota?
Good Luck

[pattief]

No, I don't we have Lt tires on the truck.
I forgot to add that the Dakota is a Club cab and we would be ading a class IV hitch.If this makes a difference.
The manual states that you can tow up to 7100lbs. with a class IV hitch and the right equipment.
I'm eager to upgrade to a TT from our pop-up, but don't want to have to upgrade a tow vehicle too.
Thanks for your help.

[CD]

pattief
We need more info. Since you don't have the GCVR we need to know the base weight of the PU (standard cab, no 4X4, no extras). Then we need to know actual weight with everything you may carry. Get the difference between these numbers and subtract from the 7100 and you will have your towing capacity.
What length is the TT you are looking at? I was assuming 18/19' from the model number, but that is a lot of weight for that small TT.
I personally would not want to tow that much weight with a 1/2T. I know it is being done, but I saw on TV this week a bunch of kids pulling a Boeing 737 with 2 ropes. I don't think it will be a plesant experience.
Not having LT tires takes away from stability.
You should use the GVWR when concidering what your rig will weigh. The people that weigh RVs say 60/70% are at or over their GVWR.

[retired_ranger]

pattie,

I am going through issues myself with towability of my truck (1 ton dodge dually) and my 11k 5th wheel that the RV dealer swore "NO problem, you can tow anything you want on the lot". First trip out on the road I knew he was a flat out liar. I looked for you tow info and could only find 97
Dakota (2WD) Club Cab 3.9 V-6 5,200
Hope it helps

[pattief]

thanks for all the advice..Everyone is so helpful. Having some mechanical issues with the Dakota truck lately so maybe it's time to move on up to a bigger and better truck in the near future. I'd feel much better knowing that we weren't towing near capacity.
Again thanks to all .....