DD TowRig Questions

bonecrusher

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2007
Location
Indian Trail, NC
Quick story for those who don't want the full on boring one.

Nov I got in a head on collision
Jan I needed to get back to work
Jan I bought a 2007 Quad cab Dodge Dakota 4.7 V8 Magnum

Now I'm wondering if this thing will tow my jeep on a tow dolly or maybe a flat tow?
Or what kind of trailer I can get to put a jeep on?


Dodge says this thing will tow 7500pds with 4.10 gears.

So should I bother getting a trailer or just dolly it if I absolutely need to?

any suggestions?
 
What kind of jeep? How much does it weigh?
 
1992 YJ complete stock

Im towing it down from PA where it has been in storage.

after a lift and tires would I be hitting the weight limit?

I'm pretty sure I would need a trailer as 37" tires on a tow dolly don't make for a good combo. So with a trailer and a jeep would there be ANY chance to keep it under 7000 pounds?
 
A quick google search says a factory 92 YJ is approx 3,000#s. My guess would be a trailer would be in the neighborhood of 2,000#'s. So as for tow rating you are probably within the recommended weight. Now you must think about do you need trailer brakes, probably; a load leveling hitch, maybe.
 
You also need to consider how much your planning on towing it, if your going through mountains or staying on the flat land. Consider the stain that is going to be put on your motor and transmission during the tow. Just some things that may want to consider.
 
hmm ok

so load leveler hitch
trailer 2k pds trailer brakes
jeep 3k pds after upgrades maybe 5k so still under the load rating

any thoughts on airbag systems to help with the towing?
do they really help?

and there would be some driving through the mountains to get to the trails.
 
My 88YJ loaded for the trail (it's the white one with the tan hard top in the snow that is in the banner at the page occasionally) weighs in at about 3700#. My 16' trailer is almost 2200#. Total 5900#'s. How much does your Dakota weigh? trailer brakes are good, but when the tail starts wagging the dog, it all tends to end badly. It's not about can it pull it, but can it stop the train and control it all.
 
I've had a similar vehicle and setup, granted with a bit older Dakota. A trailer with trailer brakes is the way to go. Also, I'd recommend installing a transmission temp gauge, and possibly a transmission cooler. Start with the gauge and you'll be able to see if the cooler is necessary.

For me, the tranny died with 50k on the odometer. I was towing at the limit (6500lb or so) of my model year. The 4.7L had plenty of power, but I figure I was cooking my transmission but didn't know because I couldn't monitor the temperature. The idiot light that turns on when the transmission is too hot never turned on. Also, change the tranny oil on a regular basis.
 
NC MOG Thanks for the heads up.
I have a tow package which includes an integrated tranny cooler but I think now I'll add the tranny temp gauge as a precaution.
 
FYI, mine had that too. Not trying to scare you, but it wasn't the best experience. The temp gauge will at least let you know when you need to back off and when you need to just pull over and let things cool down.
 
I dont know if you can get these for your dakota, but I installed a 3 piece add-a-leaf on the back of my frontier and it only squats an inch and a quarter when I hook it to a horse trailer. The horse trailer is HEAVY, with the axles in the very back because the horses stand in the back. That puts a lot of weight on the hitch. It raised the back of my truck about 2.5" over stock though. My brother has a crew cab dakota and we recently put a 1 piece add a leaf kit on his and it only raised the truck about an inch. Hammerhead 4x4 makes it (ebay store name) and they claim it adds 1000 lbs of load carrying capacity.
 
Ok Ive seen alot of stuff on here about weighted tags.

If I am towing from PA to NC once to get my jeep down here do I need weighted tags? even if it is just for one trip?
 
bonecrusher said:
Ok Ive seen alot of stuff on here about weighted tags.
If I am towing from PA to NC once to get my jeep down here do I need weighted tags? even if it is just for one trip?
Click to expand...

Yes, by law you have to have the weighted tag. When I upgraded to the weighted tag I was given a credit towards my new tag. I suspect you can turn the weighted tag in when you're done and get some cash back when you switch to back to the non-weighted tag.
 
Go to their website and look it up. I'm betting a weighted tag is cheaper than a one-way rental.
 
Just looked up some more info on weighted tags. Private/regular tags are good up to 7,000 lbs. That includes the tow rig, trailer and the load. If you are keeping it at 7,000 lbs then you'll be fine on standard tags. However, I would think you'd be over 7k.

Here's all the motor vehicle laws: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/statutes/StatutesTOC.pl?Chapter=0020


EDIT: Fixed original typo, I said 9k and I meant 7k.

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-63.html

20-63(b) "The plate issued for vehicles licensed for 7,000 pounds through 26,000 pounds must bear the word "weighted"."
 
ok so I would need the weighted tag

If Im stubborn and stupid and bullheaded enough to flat tow the jeep down the mountains of 81.

should I say a prayer and write out a will
or are there things to do to make it safer?


P.S. - I'm trying to do this as cheap as possible without killing myself or anyone else.
 
Flat towing the jeep will not be as bad as a trailer would be, Due less weight.

We flat towed a CJ from Asheville to Charlotte with a two door 96 explorer V6 AUTO, And you could hardly tell it was back there.

I tow with a 99 Expedition 5.4L and a 16' Hudson Trailer, I have a TJ that weighs 4k~, I have dual axle brakes on the trailer, and if I am not careful it will push me around (paying attention and braking early). Oh and SUVs don't have to have weighed tags.

Another thing to consider is fuel, Not sure how the Dakota will do on Fuel Mileage, my Rig gets an AVG of 9 MPG when towing. Might consider that when deciding to rent or buy a trailer.

Just some thoughts
 
You might even consider posting in the transport/hauling section. There may be someone willing to haul it for you at a reasonable price.
 
it would be too much work for them at the PA end CLTDBA

They would have to extract the vehicle from my cousins garage where it has been buried for the past 2 years. After that they would have to empty the jeep of all of his belongings including 10 years worth of starbucks cups and mcdonalds wrappers.
 
bonecrusher said:
it would be too much work for them at the PA end CLTDBA
They would have to extract the vehicle from my cousins garage where it has been buried for the past 2 years. After that they would have to empty the jeep of all of his belongings including 10 years worth of starbucks cups and mcdonalds wrappers.
Click to expand...

You would do that work, They would just haul the jeep.

For Example,

You ride with the hauler up to PA, Then send him to Lunch or dinner or what not while you clean/extract the jeep. He returns you and him load it up and head for NC.
 
You might just want to put boards on the windows and condemn that jeep! lmao!

But seriously, what Burrellsjeep said is true.
 
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