Camper?

[02dak4x4]

I have an '02 Dakota quad cab 4x4, and my wife and I have been seriously thinking about buying a camper. My only worry is that will the truck and 4.7 have the kahuna's to do it? I know a pop-up style camper would be no problem but we have been looking at the ultra light campers with the slide outs on either end. i think total tow length was around 22ft and around 3600lbs with a hitch weight of right under 400lbs. I do know that the sway bars that attach to the camper's tongue would help but I want to know realistically if my dream of RV ownership is too big with my Dakota? Also, will my manual transmission hurt or help the situation any?

[bogieboy]

My parents have pulled thier 25ft ultralight hybrid (hard side with the bunks on the ends) for 6 yrs now... In an 02 durango with the 4.7...no issues at all...

Only issue i see is getting used to clutching the tranny with the added weight... Other than that.... You may want to look into a heavy duty clutch....

[DakotaMike]

My 01 4.7 4x4 pulls my 18 foot car hauler trailer with my 91 cc on it with no problem. Your's will pull the camper fine. The fact that it's a 5 speed may help you get the load moving. 1st gear will be lower than an auto.
Mike

[02dak4x4]

Thanks a lot guys for the help. I love my truck a lot but here lately i was beginning to regret my purchase just because of the whole towing question. Also, is there any performance upgrades that would help the 4.7 get everything going?

[skitzo.d]

You can get an HO kit for it.

[tdmer]

A heavy duty clutch and lower gears will help the most. The manual shows the highest combined GVW with the 3.93 gears.

[hutichison321]

My camper is another dodge dakota!
but seriously I have had no issues pulling a double axle car hauler back when I was stock.... just make sure you have trailer brakes and deep gears and you're good to go.
gears gears gears!

[modain]

I pull this 20' toy hauler with my truck: 4.7L, manual tranny, 3.92 axle, 4x2. Dry weight it's listed at 4200#, when I have it loaded up for a trip it's a lot more than that. Never weighed this loaded rig, but I'd venture to say that it's over 6000# easily, probably close to 7000#. I use an Equil-I-Zer hitch with 1000# bars.

Loaded or empty this trailer takes pretty much the same effort to pull, the wind resistance is the same regardless of the weight, and I know it's behind me. Because of my modest mods and gearing I have plenty of power, but could always use more. It does struggle sometimes holding speed in 4th gear (load, gravity, incline, RPMs, etc.), but I have found I can keep it in 4th up a modest grade at 3000 RPM (~70MPH). Dropping into 3rd I can conquer anything hill I have pulled with gusto at about 4500 RPM (55-60 MPH).

I took a trip from CA to NC towing a car trailer. Total weight (truck and trailer with completely stuffed Jeep Cherokee) was 12,250#. Far less wind drag, much easier to tow.

[muddigger4x4]

i think it'd pull it no problem at all, might wanna look into a braking system though thats one thing i learned with my durango.... it'd pull damned near anything..stopping it was another story in itself

[norad848]

How have tou guys done as far as getting the motor hot. My Rango 4.7L, auto, with 3.55's gets up into the 220 range pulling roughly 3000lbs up slight grades. (If you're familiar with CenCAl, Kettleman hills.)

[Flat4Love]

+1 for Equalizer Hitch. Nothing like anti sway and weight distribution.

5.2L, 3.92G, LSD, Bags, Brake Controller, Wilwood BBK, Custom Tranny, Rear Sway Bar, Tranny Cooler, etc, etc. My 5000+lb Airstream and I have been at almost 13000ft! Just take it slow.

No personal experience with the 4.7