Towing with a 2002 Durango

[Red63440]

I have a 2002 Durango with the 4.7/automatic with overdrive and need to pick up a car in two weeks. I am considering renting a U-Haul trailer for the 375 mile trip. What are your thoughts on how the Durango will do??? The car weighs about 3220 lbs.

 

[72Satellite440]

I think you are over thinking how much the durango can tow-
As long as there isn't any bad weather you will be fine

 

[Red63440]

I will be heading for Ajax....

 

[howiedodat]

I used a Uhaul car trailer to to my 68 Sat from Long Island NY to Delaware with my 2005 Grand Cherokee 5.7. Towing Capacity on the Jeep was 7500. The trailer weighs 2000, so add the cars weight for the gross. The trailers are pretty nice, I like the surge brake set up. You didnt say what you were picking up. My Sat was a few feet too long and over hung a few feet past the trailer. You WILL use plenty of fuel. Good luck !!

 

[Red63440]

I am picking up a Texas bodied 63 Dodge 440...

 

[72Satellite440]

That must be a nice solid body- Congrats- and take a few pics for us of your journey

 

[wedge5]

It will tow. Check the towing instructions for you Durango. I believe you have to turn off the Over Drive when towing and you have to put in the HD flasher fuse.

 

[Red63440]

I have been towing a 21' bass boat for the past 3 years with no problems and its pretty heavy, probably close to 3200 with the trailer. I just have never towed a car on a trailer.

 

[72Satellite440]

I checked and according to the manual with the 4.7 these are the max towing capacities
3.55 axel ratio 4350lbs trailer weight
3.92 axel ratio 5650lbs trailer weight

It should be fine ...just take it slow and ratchet strap all 4 corners of the car- e brake and all

 

[340Arrow]

trailer

I towed my 62 Fury with my Ram, it has a 4.7 and 3.55 gears. The brakes are a must. It handled the trailer nicely. Gas mileage really wasn't all that bad. The only thing to watch out for is tounge weight. The Ram is lowered and I have to use an equallizer hitch to keep it off the bump stop. So check your stops.

 

[Meep-Meep]

I have a 2002 Durango with the 4.7 and 3.55's and I tow with it. It does just fine towing my 76 Tahiti jet boat or a 1900 lb trailer with a mid size car on it. Probably the heaviest thing I towed was a 71 F250 and a 70 Chevy truck but those were short distance moves. OD off through the mountains and up hill in second. Very recently I got back from a 500 mile trip towing a heavy B body. Make sure you have functioning trailer brakes!

 

[Meep-Meep]

Oh, and I have a U-Haul story. When I had my 66 F250 I called U-Haul to rent a trailer to tow a 69 RR and they denied it!! They said the F250 was too light to tow that car. Then I called back and said I have an 02 Durango and they liked that, even though the Durango is not a 3/4 ton!

 

[Red63440]

According to U-Haul the trailer has surge brakes...

 

[Red63440]

This is what I am going up to get....

 

[YY1]

Nice car!

I haul my 66 Coronet with big block around the county while I'm restoring it.

I have a car "dolly" and tow with my Dak 5.9 3:91.

I do get up to 50-60 MPH, and generally leave the O/D off, unless I am on a streych of long rod between lights. Then I turn it on when I'm up to speed and in 3rd. I turn it off in anticipation of a stop, so I get trans braking.

I've done this about a dozen times with that car and my brothers 66 Sat,

 

[plymouth67]

I have an 01 Dakota with 4.7 and towed my car home from about 4hrs. away it did great! Always tow with overdrive off I used to work in a tranny shop and the num 1 killer of trannys is heat. Most o.d. trannys only have 3 clutches in the o.d. pack and thats not strong enough to pull a load down the road without smokin the overdrive clutches.

 

[Roadcuda]

I have also used U-Haul to rent a trailer and a pickup when I picked up my '65 Formula "S". The route I took had a lot of hills and the trailer brakes worked real well. The only thing with the trailer is that while they use straps to hold the front tires down, and worked well, they only provided a small chain to hold the rear of the car down. I brought an extra set of straps to secure it better.

 

[yellowdartdave]

I tow my 73 340 Dart Sport with my 98 Dakota R/T.
You should have no real problem, just remember to lock out the overdrive on hills.
Of course, I have a 15 hp and 50lbs of torque advantage and also wheelbase advantage.

And yes, I trusted it to haul my boss's wife's 9k mile SL.

 

[Red63440]

I will take my time so I get home in one piece. I would hate to wait all these years just to end up with a basket full of damaged parts....

 

[Meep-Meep]

You'll be fine if you follow some basic rules. Just remember to not back the car on the trailer because that will not be good weight distribution. What I do is roll the car on the trailer and watch for the rear of my Durango to noticeably drop a couple of inches, but I have a flat bed trailer and no set place to put the wheels like a U-Haul. Your tongue weight should be about 10% of the total trailer weight. Too much as well as too little is not good. And like everyone says here, don't lug it in OD. Nothing wrong with 3-4000 RPM in second to get up a hill but keep an eye on the temp.