04 Durango V8 pull a 20' enclosed?

[0100]

Can the 04 Durango V8 335hp/370 lb-tq (345/375 in the truck so probably an easy ecu flash?) pull a 20' enclosed trailer? Dodge says 8900 lbs.

Small car ITA CRX BTW.

[Richy Gonzalez]

I have the same question but for a 01 Ford Supercrew. Has anyone?

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Richy Gonzalez
GB Racing - #24 ITA CRX
LAMIN-X Protective Films

[badal]

I think it is more likely the trailer will push the Dodge.
I just upgraded from a Tahoe to a Suburban for my 20'.

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"Bad" Al Bell
ITC #3 Datsun 510
DC Region MARRS Series

[whenry]

The Durango has about the same wheelbase as the Tahoe/Expedition but a better motor(not sure about the trans). I would think that with the right tires and hitch, it would be a good tow vehicle. I havent seen all the specs but check to make sure that the tires are rated for more than "P". You might have to run the smaller, less cool tire package since I'll bet that there are few 20" heavy duty tires. YMMV depending on the type of tow that you will regularly face ie all interstate, across town, etc. I towed for 5 yrs using two different 5.4 Expeditions and only had a complaint about the 17" tire package; I ended up replacing the stock stuff with Michelin Pilots to get a stiffer sidewall.
I looked at Supercrew's until I realized that they had a significantly lower tow rating than other F-150's. I dont know if that holds true for the new series.

[ITA240]

Richie,
Before you can tow anything that big, you would have to put the springs back under that thing to pick it back up off the ground. )

You going to Sebring in February? See ya buddy

Jim

[x-ring]

I'd say it depends on the trailer. My trailer, also 20', is a Wells Cargo, known as one of the heavier makes, and weighs around 3200 empty.

Without going the full aluminum route (big $), I think you can find something lighter on the market. OTOH, I've never heard of a Wells with a cracked frame. Since I tow with a PS F350 I figured the extra weight was a good trade off for the durability. Plus, I got a smokin' deal on my (used) rig.

Ty

[Tom Donnelly]

I towed a 20' Pace Shadow with a Tahoe for
3 years. I wouldn't wish that on anybody.
A friend lost a trailer, race car and Tahoe with the same setup.

You can do it, but something Suburban sized or a F250/2500 would lead to less white
knuckle driving. Helper springs and a load leveling/anti-sway hitch helps.

Its not so much the horsepower as it is the wheelbase (leverage) and the spring/shock setup on SUV's. They really aren't tow vehicles. Neither are the F150/1500 class trucks. Anything with a half-ton rating (F250/2500) will tow comfortably in the 20' to 24' range. After that its time for a dually.

The new Durango looks cool though. Do they have a Durango 2500?
Tom

[eh_tony!!!]

I'm thinking the new Durango would not be bad... here's my thinking.

Similar weight, wheelbase, track, and oa length to a Tahoe. Looks lower (I always thought the Tahoe was top-heavy).

Plus, it has a coil spring rear with watts linkage and rear sway bar. With some air shocks it may not be dangerous.

However, if the Tahoe owners on the board say that is a deathtrap, then I defer to them.

[zracer22]

A good friend had his Tahoe/20' trailer and racecar flip last summer on his way home from the track. He tried to miss a car that pulled out in front of him and the trailer took over control as soon as he turned the wheel.

I tow my 20' with a Toyota Tundra 4x4 long bed. I love it and have had zero problems. It's all about wheel base. The longer the better. Also, a weight distributing hitch and sway control are "must haves"

[0100]

Originally posted by eh_tony!!!:


Plus, it has a coil spring rear with watts linkage and rear sway bar. With some air shocks it may not be dangerous.

That's what I was thinking. If I get air shocks, load leveling hitch, and good tires do you guys think pulling a 20' enclosed is safe? It has a good motor and good rear suspension, the problem looks to be the wheelbase though.

[Scott Malbon]

The Durango is built on the Dakota chassis and is not well suited for pulling a 20' enclosed trailer ... no matter what the Dodge marketing hype says. My Durango (98) has weak brakes and a friend has burned 2 transmissions in his Durango trying to pull an enclosed trailer.

Scott

[This message has been edited by Scott Malbon (edited January 20, 2004).]

[0100]

That's what the 7/70 is for.

I don't know what else to get I need something my wife can drive everyday. We can both have a nice car. Mine is the race car(I drive a junk box to work $400) and hers is the SUV which I am hoping to use as double duty to tow my race car. This is the biggest I think she will be able to handle as it is she thinks the durango is too big.

What other choices do I have. The pathfinder armana is nice longer wheelbase but it is bigger than the Durango.

Damn if I could afford it I would get a F350 SD with dualies but that is not going to happen.

What about I add to the list of tires, air shocks, load leveling hitch a 20' featherlight.

I know it's bank but it's much cheaper than buying another vehicle, if it will make towing a 20' possible.

BTW how much do those 20' weight and how much do they cost(around)? talking about the featherlights.

And are there any other quality aluminum trailers?

Is there any disadvantages to going with an aluminum trailer?

Thanks again guys lot's of good info.




[This message has been edited by 0100 (edited January 20, 2004).]

[JohnRW]

Major 'reset' here...this may not be the message you wanted to hear, but it's an important one:

What if you don't go the 'enclosed trailer route ? Based on another post on the this site, it seems you're new at this. Why jump in that deep (enclosed trailer), when an open would probably meet your needs, reduce the expense and minimize the 'excitement' when towing ?

Most of us started out racing with an open trailer, or a tow dolly, or (!!!!!!) driving our race cars to the track. Once we figured out that we wanted to keep at this sport, and wanted more 'stuff' at the track, we started looking at bigger 'stuff', like enclosed trailers and diesel duallies and Freightliner Toterhomes and 48' Featherlite stackers pulled by a Kenworth...but that took a bunch of years to get us there.

My general rule: Tow vehicle & trailer can NEVER cost more than the race car. OK...you need a daily driver for the wife, so we'll cut you some slack, but you shouldn't be towing a $5-10k race car with a $40k rig...something about that is just WEIRD.

I didn't make the jump into enclosed trailers until I had a race car with no roof and no windows. It was mostly to keep from having a wet ass at the track. Big investment to keep from getting a pruned butt, huh ? I still have my open trailer, and still go to a couple of races every year with it. Why ? It reminds me that I don't NEED all the crap I load in the big trailer, and reminds me of my racing roots. Nobody NEEDS an enclosed trailer...it's just a WANT. That WANT ratchets everything else up...until you're way upside down with a $40K tow vehicle and trailer pulling a $3-5 ITB car.

Start small. You may hate racing. It's easier to sell a small pile of racing stuff than it is to sell a big pile of racing stuff.

Time to re-prioritize. Do you need it ?

In another thread, you asked about all sorts of stuff to bring to the track. Not trying to be harsh here, but you're rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Focus on the race car and the race car DRIVER. If you're still learning, you won't (or shouldn't...) have time for anything else. Forget the wide screen TV. Forget the dishwasher. Forget the hot tub. You won't have time for any of that crap anyway.

[Quickshoe]

Not sure how much lighter the featherlite trailers are but a nothing fancy 20' x 102" is going to set you back +/- $9K.

What's the wheelbase difference between a '03 Yukon non XL and a 04 Durango? My best friend tows a 20'x102" Interstate West with a Line-X'd floor and ITS Rx7 behind the Yukon. With tools and spares the trialer weight is about 7500#. It was quite an eyeful folowing her on the tow home from Vegas. Apparently scared her enough that she went out and bought a 1000# load equalizer hitch and sway controller, says it was "much better"...still not a relaxing cruise, but at least she wasn't white knuckling it and causing all around her to have heart palpatations.

[0100]

The reason I am going with an enclosed right off the bat is mainly for my wife. She is going to be at the track with me and if she's not happy I'm not happy. Do you think I care about the tv, laptop(with online access), stereo, or a shelter when it rains. Well maybe the shelter. I am going to be wrenching or whatever. I choose to go with the enclosed after reading posts on this board and others, on how much better they felt the enclosed was over the open. The negatives being more of a pain in the ass to pull. That is why I posted this question. If an 04 durango with the hemi, load leveling hitch, nice tires, and air shocks wont pull a 20' enclosed featherlight safely. Then it's back to the drawing board. I want to do this right the first time. Buy an open then sell it down the road you lose money to upgrade to an enclosed when you could have just went to the enclosed in the first place. Why did you buy an enclosed? At 27 I have only done shifter carts and love them just too dangerous. I know I am going to love full size wheel to wheel racing. That's why I'm going full out. These questions may sound like the cart before the horse coming from a newbie but when I show up for my very first event I want to be prepared just as much as the 30 year SCCA vet. I don't like doing things half ass. What else do you want me to post about? If you check the NER forum down the bottom I posted questions about rating the NER tracks from best to worst so it can help me decide what tracks I can go to. Now I can make informed decision. Info right from SCCA vets. It's 30 below zero up here in the NER at least last week it was I couldn't work on the car if I wanted to, that's why I posted these questions so I could get the info on the other half of racing "towing". Time to prioritize. Dude you don't know me. I just dropped 3 gees on a skip barber 3 day race school. Will be at LRP in April. That is why I posted the question last week on places to stay at LRP. I Could have just attended the NHIS double SCCA school to get my lic. but I wanted to do this right the first time. 3K gone in three days kinda alot of dough for someone who doesn't know if he will like racing.

Sorry about my rant. If someone know's how much a featherlight 20' weights please post.

Thanks.

[0100]

------------------------Yukon----Pathfinder
Exterior length--------(198.9")---(206.9")
Exterior body width----(78.9")----(78.8")
Exterior height--------(76.5")----(78.7")
Wheelbase------------(116.0")---(123.2")


-----------------------Yukon------Durango
Exterior length--------(198.9")---(200.8")
Exterior body width----(78.9")----(76.0")
Exterior height--------(76.5")----(74.3")
Wheelbase------------(116.0")---(119.2")

-------------------------Suburban
Exterior length-----------(219.3")
Exterior body width-------(79.8")
Exterior height-----------(76.5")
Wheelbase--------------(130.0")

-------------------------Expedition
Exterior length-----------(205.8")
Exterior body width-------(78.7")
Exterior height-----------(77.4")
Wheelbase--------------(119.0")

Durango 335/370 or possible 345/375
Pathfinder 305/385
Yukon/Suburban 325/365
Expedition 260/350


Nissan rates the pathfinder at 9100 lbs pulling. Look at the wheelbase 123.2" 7.2" longer than the yukon. I never really looked at the WB on these vehicles was more concerned about overall size since my little wife will be driving it, but maybe this is the answer. I was looking more at hp figures but damn I am kinda liking it. 305 hp not bad 40 less than the durango but 385 tq. 9100! What do you guys think about this pulling a 20' enclosed. Do you think it is much better option or just about the same as the durango? Because the durango can be had for much cheaper so if it's not that much of a difference, I think I'd rather save the money and go with the durango.

The pathfinder is built on a welded steel full-length boxed ladder frame shared with the Titan. The durango all they say is it is an all-new hydroformed frame for added stiffness. "The Dodge Durango is all-new from the ground up with a fully hydroformed frame and chassis that is unique to Durango," said Frank Klegon, Vice President - Truck Product Team.



[This message has been edited by 0100 (edited January 21, 2004).]

[7racing]

Originally posted by 0100:
It's 30 below zero up here in the NER at least last week it was I couldn't work on the car if I wanted to.
<snip>
If someone know's how much a featherlight 20' weights please post.

It sounds like you are from New England. If you have a Pit Talk near you, open it up and find the ad for Perfection Motorsports (802-434-2239) in Richmond, VT. Pete Mumford is the guy you want to talk to. He will give you all the info, and then sell you the trailer that will best fit your needs (if you decide to purchase through him). Reasonable costs, too.

Good luck with whatever you do.

Jeremy

[0100]

I did see there ad with the PACE trailer. Thanks Jeremy I will definitly give him a call.

[JohnRW]

Originally posted by 0100:
Sorry about my rant.
Thanks.

Not shooting at ya, Bud...just making sure that you've asked yourself all the important questions. Sounds like you're on your way...just remember - the trip to the track is waaay more dangerous than the time on the track itself. Don't skimp on tow vehicles.

[0100]

I think I just got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. I really do want to here everyones advice. It is very helpful, even if it's telling me the Durango won't pull as much as a semi. Wish it could.