5th wheel towing with 2007 Dakota quad cab

"Hank6169" <hslosson.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:99ad71ef-ae2a-45d2-bb65-34a7695f88b5@s37g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> When I purchased my 2007 Dakota quad cab I was assured by the
> dealership that it was ample to tow my short & light 5th wheel
> camper. I'm now being told by a number of RV supplers that they don't
> make a 5th wheel hitch for that year Dakota because of a design issue
> with the bed. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
> Thanks.

i tow lots of trailers and campers. in my experience most fifth wheel
campers are actually pretty big. my question is what size camper do you
have and does it have slide outs etc. my next question is what engine and
transmission package does your truck have?

i own two dakota's and i wouldn't even consider towing any camper over 18
ft. with them. in fact that would only be in an emergency and no more than
far enough to get the camper across town. the crux is not whether or not the
truck will pull the camper but will it stop it or keep it stable in a big
cross wind. i have seen a good cross wind flip more than one camper that
was tied to 3/4 ton and bigger trucks.
michael
 >> Stay informed about: 5th wheel towing with 2007 Dakota quad cab 

On Tue, 8 Apr 2008 21:02:29 -0700, "FMB" <fmb.RemoveThis@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>"Hank6169" <hslosson.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:99ad71ef-ae2a-45d2-bb65-34a7695f88b5@s37g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>> When I purchased my 2007 Dakota quad cab I was assured by the
>> dealership that it was ample to tow my short & light 5th wheel
>> camper. I'm now being told by a number of RV supplers that they don't
>> make a 5th wheel hitch for that year Dakota because of a design issue
>> with the bed. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>> Thanks.
>
>What short & light 5th wheel do (did) you intend to tow?
>
>FMB
>(North Mexico)
>
>
>** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

For the OP...

Did you get that in writing from the dealer? <bg>

As FMB says, what (make and model) trailer are you thinking?

Though I'm not recommending this:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/Dodge-Dakota-Fifth-Wheel-Hitch/200728540-600002335.jcw

shows what may work for you.

(Personally, I don't think a Dakota is up to the task of pulling a 5th
wheel trailer...)
 >> Stay informed about: 5th wheel towing with 2007 Dakota quad cab 

On Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:03:23 -0400, PeterD <peter2.DeleteThis@hipson.net> wrote:


>
>For the OP...
>
>Did you get that in writing from the dealer? <bg>


I hear that!
We have a 2001 Dakota with 4.7, auto & 3:55 gears...
When we were shopping for a travel trailer, several dealers "looked up" our
truck and said that the max tow weight was 6,400 pounds..

We ordered a 4,800 (dry) pound trailer and thought we were good to go...
A bunch of folks here said "you're going to tow with a Dakota?" and one referred
me to Trailer life magazine's web site for their towing guide..

Yep.. our truck does have a 6,400# max weight, IF it had a 4:10 rear end!
In the stock setup, it's 5,200#, minus cargo and people, of course..

The next issue was that it would be "the tail wagging the dog"...
Even if it could pull the trailer, could it stop it safely or handle it in wind,
etc.?

We decided that we liked the Dak too much to tear it up doing the job of a
bigger truck and found a good deal on a 99 Ram with the 5.9 gas engine.. A truck
that was built to tow.. YMWV
>
>As FMB says, what (make and model) trailer are you thinking?
>
>Though I'm not recommending this:
>
>http://www.jcwhitney.com/Dodge-Dakota-Fifth-Wheel-Hitch/200728540-600002335.jcw
>
>shows what may work for you.
>
>(Personally, I don't think a Dakota is up to the task of pulling a 5th
>wheel trailer...)


mac

Please remove [dot]splinters before emailing
 >> Stay informed about: 5th wheel towing with 2007 Dakota quad cab 

"PeterD" <peter2 RemoveThis @hipson.net> wrote in message
news:r6fpv3lstdh4jmcfhdh9ic2n7sr0tfiahl@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 8 Apr 2008 21:02:29 -0700, "FMB" <fmb RemoveThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>>"Hank6169" <hslosson RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:99ad71ef-ae2a-45d2-bb65-34a7695f88b5@s37g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>>> When I purchased my 2007 Dakota quad cab I was assured by the
>>> dealership that it was ample to tow my short & light 5th wheel
>>> camper. I'm now being told by a number of RV supplers that they don't
>>> make a 5th wheel hitch for that year Dakota because of a design issue
>>> with the bed. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>>> Thanks.
>>
>>What short & light 5th wheel do (did) you intend to tow?
>>
>>FMB
>>(North Mexico)
>>
>>
>>** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
>
> For the OP...
>
> Did you get that in writing from the dealer? <bg>
>
> As FMB says, what (make and model) trailer are you thinking?
>
> Though I'm not recommending this:
>
> http://www.jcwhitney.com/Dodge-Dakota-Fifth-Wheel-Hitch/200728540-600002335.jcw
>
> shows what may work for you.
>
> (Personally, I don't think a Dakota is up to the task of pulling a 5th
> wheel trailer...)

The hell with pulling a fiver. I'd be more concerned with stopping it.
 >> Stay informed about: 5th wheel towing with 2007 Dakota quad cab 

On Apr 8, 7:30 pm, Hank6169 <hslos... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> When I purchased my 2007 Dakota quad cab I was assured by the
> dealership that it was ample to tow my short & light 5th wheel
> camper.  I'm now being told by a number of RV supplers that they don't
> make a 5th wheel hitch for that year Dakota because of a design issue
> with the bed.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.
> Thanks.
The truck is a 318 with an auto, The trailer is 19' with a dry weight
of 4800lbs. Not as small as I was thinking.
 >> Stay informed about: 5th wheel towing with 2007 Dakota quad cab 

"nunya" <nunya DeleteThis @nunya.net> wrote in message
news:Sc2Lj.33559$rC6.7129@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
>
> "Hank6169" <hslosson DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:99ad71ef-ae2a-45d2-bb65-34a7695f88b5@s37g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>> When I purchased my 2007 Dakota quad cab I was assured by the
>> dealership that it was ample to tow my short & light 5th wheel
>> camper. I'm now being told by a number of RV supplers that they don't
>> make a 5th wheel hitch for that year Dakota because of a design issue
>> with the bed. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>> Thanks.
>
> i tow lots of trailers and campers. in my experience most fifth wheel
> campers are actually pretty big. my question is what size camper do you
> have and does it have slide outs etc. my next question is what engine and
> transmission package does your truck have?
>
> i own two dakota's and i wouldn't even consider towing any camper over 18
> ft. with them. in fact that would only be in an emergency and no more
> than far enough to get the camper across town. the crux is not whether or
> not the truck will pull the camper but will it stop it or keep it stable
> in a big cross wind. i have seen a good cross wind flip more than one
> camper that was tied to 3/4 ton and bigger trucks.


I was pulling a trailer on my 2500 hitting speeds of 90 on I-10. I later
broke down and had my brother-in-law come and get the trailer in his '05
Surburban. He would hit 65 and the trailer would start swaying very badly.


> michael
>
 >> Stay informed about: 5th wheel towing with 2007 Dakota quad cab 

On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:30:37 -0700, Hank6169 wrote:

> When I purchased my 2007 Dakota quad cab I was assured by the dealership
> that it was ample to tow my short & light 5th wheel camper. I'm now
> being told by a number of RV supplers that they don't make a 5th wheel
> hitch for that year Dakota because of a design issue with the bed. Any
> thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

There is no way i personally would consider pulling a 5th with a dakota.
IMHO a good 3/4 ton is the MINIMUM for this job.

--
Chris
 >> Stay informed about: 5th wheel towing with 2007 Dakota quad cab