Durango - Use fo Towing

[bhammer]

Anyone have a Durango they use for towing?

I currently have a CX-9 and it struggles the whole way and has a difficult time even at easy grade ramps. If you have a Durango, I'd be interested in the weight of your boat and how it does and if you ahve 4X2 or 4X4. I have been thinking of 4X4 with the larger Hemi and gear ratio for towing. My boat is 3410# full of fuel and most gear.

Okay, for those that will lookup my current tow vehic.. Yes, I am at the very edge of the limit.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

My sister had a Durango that they towed the pontoon boat with.
She and her husband said it was a terrible tow vehicle.It had enough power but did not handle well at all.Then it started having transmission problems which Durangos are known for.
They sold it and bought a Dodge Ram and are very happy.

 

[tysonnathan]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

i havent heard good things about the durangos... how about a chevy tahoe of ford expedition... good reports from both of those.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

Aha, a CX-9, a nice vehicle, but I kinda thought those need more cubic inches for towing. How about a Chevy Trailblazer? they have a beefy dual cam 6, or the later ones even a V8, but still a nice midsize SUV, that can deliver good gas milage, and tow quite a payload set up properly.

 

[cpubud]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

i have a 2003 durango 4x4. i pull my 24 ft cruizer right at 6000 lbs with no problem at all . i also use a weight dist. hitch.

 

[codertimt]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

I have a 2001 4x2 w/4.7, so it's a bit smaller than the new models. My boat is a Glastron GT 185 w/4.3...right around 3000lbs. I don't have any issues at all...at least not once I got the boat moved up a couple of inches from where the factory had it on the trailer...but that's not the tow vehicles fault.

I wouldn't mind a little extra power, it's fine for most roads. But a decent grade will put in second gear pretty quick...of course that is going to be true with any small V8. Travels down the interstate in OD with no issues or gear hunting by the transmission... This is all a moot point though as it shouldn't be as much of an issue with the 5.7.

Overall it handles the weight of the boat pretty nicely...I haven't noticed it getting pushed around at all. Before I adjusted the trailer and the boat would start fishtailing at around 65mph, it never felt dangerous or like the "tail was wagging the dog". I just had to let off the gas and it would straighten out fine. After the adjustment it's straight as an arrow at interstate speeds... It stops the boat fine...obviously the trailer has brakes to help out too... It stops my bass boat which doesn't have brakes(~1800lbs) fine too...

I launch on decent concrete ramps and haven't had any issues getting it out of the water. The ramp I use the most is pretty shallow and the back tires are well in the water on retrieval and it pulls out fine.... But like I said, they are decent ramps...

So, basically it works fine for me...and that is the older model which weighs about 1000lbs less...

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

I have 99, 4x4, 5.9 and tow 7400 lbs all the time. I upgraded the brakes, shocks and tires and run a WD hitch. It works great. I have 117,000 hard miles on it and the entire drivetrain is original, unmolested, and well maintained.

 

[109jb]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

I had a 1990 short bed 6-cyl Dakota (I know, not a Durango, and an older one but very similar). It towed my little boat (16ft Starcraft) fine, but what I wanted to mention is that the fuel economy was dismal. To put it in perspective, my 2003 GMC diesel gets better mileage towing my boat (18 mpg) than the Dakota got empty (17 mpg).

 

[bhammer]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

Thanks guys. Don't want a Tahoe as they don't have the navigation and the wife "has to have one" to get back and forth to the store.

We have an Aspen demo car right now trying it out. It is a more styled than the durango but has many of the same major components. It feels that it rides smoother but that could just be me. We are going to try to tow on Saturday.

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

Gee I guess that I am glad to have a little ole Explorer to pull my 24 ft pontoon around.

 

[tysonnathan]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

I think the new ford Flex is pretty cool.. sits a little lower to the ground than most suvs. i think its considered a crossover, but it gets 17mpg city/24mpg hwy and tows 4500 lbs..

http://www.fordvehicles.com/crossovers/flex/

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

I used a '98 durango to pull my boat with. Was fine but would have been better with a dist. hitch. My parents bought it off me to pull a 24' camper trailer with and they said it was a dream until a side gust of wind hit. The steering is a little loose on the older ones but it definitely has the power (mine was a 5.9L 360). Not a bad vehicle but there most likely is better.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

I think the new ford Flex is pretty cool.. sits a little lower to the ground than most suvs. i think its considered a crossover, but it gets 17mpg city/24mpg hwy and tows 4500 lbs..

http://www.fordvehicles.com/crossovers/flex/

That's a FWD or AWD and won't cut it at some of the ramps we use. Looks like a nice vehic though.

 

[JeffSmith]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

Haven't tried it yet, but my girlfriend has a 99 Durango, 4x4, 318. I am not looking forward to towing with it. It's a Dodge for starters, so my first instinct is to drive it off a cliff. Dodge has had a lot of problems with the Duragos, Dakotas, and 1/2 ton trucks... Until I get my license back, I am stuck with her towing my boat around for me!

 

[chdabren]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

Haven't tried it yet, but my girlfriend has a 99 Durango, 4x4, 318. I am not looking forward to towing with it. It's a Dodge for starters, so my first instinct is to drive it off a cliff. Dodge has had a lot of problems with the Duragos, Dakotas, and 1/2 ton trucks... Until I get my license back, I am stuck with her towing my boat around for me!

Lost ur license? Were u towing illegal?lol

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Durango - Use fo Towing

Durango work alright but the mileage is horrible on them. I've used most every midsize SUV and personally like the Explorer/Mountaineer V8 the best. The ride smooth (Independent rear suspension) have a 7000+ tow rating and with personal experiance, get the best fuel economy. I've owned a 4.2L I-6 trail blazer and now a Mountaineer 4.6L V8 and a buddy has a 4.7L Durango. Highway I get 21-22mpg @ 75mph his durango gets 18mpg. Towing our 16ft boats I get 17mpg @ 60mph he gets 14mpg. The trailblazer was pretty close to my mountaineer for fuel economy but lacked good "grunt" to get a trailer moving (even though has more HP than my mountaineer)