Towing with V6 Durango?

[Hakesauras]

Anyone have experience towing with the V6 Dodge Durango? Our camper's GVWR is 4800lbs, Durango can tow 6200.

I know the numbers work, just curious if anyone has towed similar numbers with the V6 and wished they had the V8?

[pgandw]

I can't speak directly to your situation. I have found when towing an assortment of trailer with various V6 vehicles over the years (1993 Ford Explorer, 1992 Plymouth Voyager, 1999 Ford minivan, 2008 Hyundai Entourage (minivan)) that frontal area of the trailer was more important than weight to the towing experience. I have come to avoid towing full height TT and utility trailers that stick up above the roof line of the tow vehicle.

It just takes too much power to tow a barn door at highway speeds. If the V6 has sufficient power and torque, it won't be in top gear (2K RPM) at 70-75mph, especially into a headwind or a even a relatively gentle hill. If it doesn't bother you to have the engine up at 3500-4500RPM to generate the torque and power needed, then all is pretty good - except for how often you have to stop for gas. OTOH, if hearing the engine wind for good periods of time bothers you, you won't be happy with the tow combination.

just my experiences
Fred W
2019 Flagstaff T21TBHW A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time

[BehindBars]

Describe your camper and it’s dimensions.

I agree on the above. Even if you are OK on weight, frontal area of the camper is a deciding factor. I can easily tow a 4000 pound boat and trailer with a V6 tow vehicle, but a 3000 pound box trailer or travel trailer presents a lot more drag.

[Cost4133]

ive towed my camper with a wk2 grand cherokee (same platform at durango) similar weights. the v6 was ok the v8 was significantly better. The v6 liked to rev but i never felt like i didnt have the power to get it done. My camper crossed the scales at 5300 loaded.

[Jason1Pa]

One you figure all of your cargo and people in the tow vehicle and camper your probably going to be maxed out easy. You'd be surprised how weight adds up fast. Like some others said the resistance from the wind is a big factor. The V6 in my opinion is going to be working a little too hard especially for long hot summer trips. Not only will gas mileage suffer but more importantly heat will build up in your transmission and engine.
I have a F350 dually with diesel motor. I have several equipment trailers,dump trailers,etc. Hands down my camper will give me the worse mileage out of all of them due to wind resistance.

[Tiguan Tow r]

Another consideration is:
1/ how frequently will I tow
2/ how far will I tow
3/ how fast will I tow.

Providing you’re ok travelling 60-65 mph while towing and if towing is a week/weekend here and there and distance is less than 3 or 4 hours from home the V6 should feel more than adequate.

[mike.t]

I'm with most others, it can be done, but at what price? Stress on the vehicle, horrible MPGs.You won't be towing on the plains most of the time. Whatever you decide it's important to remember to enjoy RVing, not stressing over your TV.

[dwa1000]

Originally Posted by Hakesauras

Anyone have experience towing with the V6 Dodge Durango? Our camper's GVWR is 4800lbs, Durango can tow 6200.

I know the numbers work, just curious if anyone has towed similar numbers with the V6 and wished they had the V8?

Yes I towed with the v8 model.the suspension is too soft. Always had sway issues. Please check your tires. I did it for 4 years. Then we bought a F250.

[IvoryHemi]

What is the frontal area of the camper?

V6 is limited to 40 sq-ft
V8 is rated up to 60 sq-ft

Also, you’ll want to put new tires on the Durango with stiffer sidewalls. At a minimum get XL load range to help stability

[PenJoe]

We tow a 19' center counsel aluminum boat, motor, trailer, and equipment that weighs in at over 3500 lbs. with a 2012 Jeep Liberty using tow mode. The Jeep has 23K original miles. The V-6 displacement is 3.7L. The Jeep is lighter than the Durango with a V-6 3.6L. The frontal area of the boat might be about 75% of a TT. I can tow that at 55-65 MPH. Am I comfortable doing it? No. The most I have towed that combination is 20 miles round trip.I consider it under powered.

I tow the same boat with a Silverado 1500, 5.3 V-8 with HD tow package. The comparison is that the Liberty will tow it and the Silverado will tow it very well. It seems that with the Liberty, the boat trailer is the tail wagging the dog. With the Silverado, the dog is wagging the tail.

[{Tpc}]

I feel like wheelbase might be more of a concern? Just be prepared to move on from the durango if it doesn't feel right.

[OldJarHead]

Payload will be the one that you may exceed. It appears your payload is 1380#. This includes passengers, pets, fuel, general stuff, WD hitch, and tongue weight. If your tongue weight is say, 750#, then that only leaves 630# for everything else.

[IvoryHemi]

Originally Posted by {Tpc}

I feel like wheelbase might be more of a concern? Just be prepared to move on from the durango if it doesn't feel right.

Durango’s wheelbase is longer than a (pre-2021) Tahoe, should be just fine with a 24’ TT

[sjohnstoncpa]

We tried towing a 22' MicroLite with a Durango. It would pull it but if the wind picked up at all, the trailer became more prone to sway. I switched to a 1500 Silverado and the difference was very noticeable. My advice is to skip the Durango and go straight to a 1/2 ton truck.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by OldJarHead

Payload will be the one that you may exceed. It appears your payload is 1380#. This includes passengers, pets, fuel, general stuff, WD hitch, and tongue weight. If your tongue weight is say, 750#, then that only leaves 630# for everything else.

It also has to include the driver's weight(since payload rating states "Occupants, not passengers". And it's LOADED tongue weight, not dry tongue weight. 13% of the trailer's GVWR is used for a loaded tongue weight estimate, which means around 624lbs of tongue weight.

Jarhead, where did you get the 1380lbs number since the OP didn't post it?

[IvoryHemi]

Originally Posted by bikendan

It also has to include the driver's weight(since payload rating states "Occupants, not passengers". And it's LOADED tongue weight, not dry tongue weight. 13% of the trailer's GVWR is used for a loaded tongue weight estimate, which means around 624lbs of tongue weight.

Jarhead, where did you get the 1380lbs number since the OP didn't post it?

620 lbs TW is the listed tow limit. So he’s ok there too

1,390 lbs is what FCA lists for the 3.6 Citadel. Which actually seems correct given it’s 6,500 lbs GVWR - 5,100 lb curb weight

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by IvoryHemi

620 lbs TW is the listed tow limit. So he’s ok there too

1,390 lbs is what FCA lists for the 3.6 Citadel. Which actually seems correct given it’s 6,500 lbs GVWR - 5,100 lb curb weight

That doesn't mean that is the actual sticker payload capacity, as equipped from the factory.

[mike.t]

Curious as to TW, load capacity, gvrw, ect ect. Does this come from the Gov. telling auto manufactures you must disclose this to consumers for safety reasons? A way for insurance companies to get out of paying on a policy? NTSB trying to keep people safe from overloading a vehicle? Stopping Honda Civic owners from towing a 35' trailer?

[IvoryHemi]

Originally Posted by bikendan

That doesn't mean that is the actual sticker payload capacity, as equipped from the factory.

Durango payload stickers are notoriously inaccurate. They are not “as equipped from the factory” like other vehicles. FCA puts the same weight sticker on them all, regardless of options.

[markb422]

Where do you plan to go with it? I towed a 4000 lb trailer for years with a 2001
Asto van with 4.3L v6. When it was new I installed the biggest trans cooler I could find. It would pull that trailer all day around the state of Michigan (flat). But I would have never tried to take it out west or even trough the Smokies.