Trailer Hitch Recommendations Wanted - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  Trailer Hitch Recommendations Wanted

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Trailer Hitch Recommendations Wanted

themclos posted 06-21-2009 08:50 PM ET (US)
I just purchased a low mileage 2008 Dodge Durango with the 5.7L Hemi engine and a 3.55 axle ratio. The Durango has a towing capacity of 7200 pounds with this configuration.
I need to install a hitch. Does anybody have any recommendations or opinions regarding these 2?
http://www.etrailer.com/pc-H~75162.htm?vehicleid=20085350
[url[http://www.etrailer.com/pc-H~13296.htm?vehicleid=2008208243[/url]
I hope to be towing a 22 Outrage or mid 90's 21 Outrage (if I am successful in my search), and I occassionally tow a 3000 pound trailer when camping with the Boy Scouts.
Thanks in advance.
Dan
TransAm posted 06-21-2009 09:40 PM ET (US)
I would consider a class IV hitch. When all is said and done, a 22' Whaler, Motor, Fuel, Gear and Trailer may exceed the 5,000 lb class III rating.
22' Classic - 2,100 lbs
Motor - 500 lbs (est.)
Fuel - 300 lbs
gear - 300 lbs
Tandem Trailer - 1,600 lbs (est.)
Total - 4,800 lbs
That's pretty close a Class III limit. If your fuel tank is full, your right at the limit.
themclos posted 06-22-2009 08:11 AM ET (US)
TransAm,
That's a good point. I will take a look at class IV hitches.
Dan
Wasatch Whaler posted 06-22-2009 09:03 AM ET (US)
I did a quick search for a class IV and my impression is that to get close to the vehicle's towing capacity you'll have to use a weight ditributing hitch.
That's going to add at least a couple hundred bucks to the cost. You will also need (I'm assuming the Durango doesn't have one) a brake controller if your trailer has electric brakes.
I purchased a Tekonsha P3 for my F-350. I highly recommend it. You'll have to wire the brake controller into the vehicle and I suggest you purchase the vehicle specific wiring kit for an easier installation.
One last consideration is an auxiliary transmission cooler. One of the biggest enemies of an automatic transmission is heat, and towing with an automatic generates lots of heat. The additional cooling capacity will lower the fluids temperature.
Good Luck!
Chuck Tribolet posted 06-22-2009 08:50 PM ET (US)
IIRC, Class III only goes up to 5000 pounds.
In that weight range, you NEED brakes on the trailer.
Put your boat and trailer on a scale. If the boat+trailer
weight is anywhere near 5000 pounds, get a weight distributing
hitch. The only exception I can see is if you live a couple
of miles from the ramp on city streets.
If you have an automatic transmission, your NEED a cooler.

Chuck

themclos posted 06-22-2009 09:20 PM ET (US)
I didn't mention before, but the Durango does not have the tow package, but it does have all the components that comprise the tow package, with the exception of the hitch and the wiring harness. So it has the Auxiliary Transmission Oil Cooler, the Heavy Duty Engine Cooling, and the Power Steering Coolerthe following. I confirmed this by requesting the build sheet from Dodge, and i visually confirmed all this as well.
I don't yet have a boat or trailer, but am looking at 22 Outrages. I hope to look at 2 this weekend. I will address the trailer when the time comes.
Wasatch, thanks for the recommendation for the Tekonsha P3. For this particular vehicle, according to my research, the specifications for class III and class IV hitches are the same - 6,000 lbs without weight distributing hitch and 9,000 with a weight distributing hitch. Given the maximum towing capactity of my Durango is 7200 lbs (and the most for any Durango is ~8,900 lbs), I should be in good shape to get a boat home.
Dan
deepwater posted 06-22-2009 09:27 PM ET (US)
Low mileage? Look at going synthetic at least in the trans and rear
towboater posted 06-22-2009 10:17 PM ET (US)
Im not sure whether hitch capacity or trailer brakes and controller are more important?
themclos posted 06-23-2009 08:44 AM ET (US)
Deepwater - thanks for the suggestion reagrding synthetic fluids. I will look into it. Do you have any specific recommendations? And what did you mean by "low mileage?"?
TowBoater - for the boats I am considering, brakes will be required in NJ. So, at some point, I will be dealing with brakes. I would consider brakes very important for my proposed application.
Dan
Buckda posted 06-23-2009 09:21 AM ET (US)
Just as a reference re: total capacity of the hitch you buy.
My 18' Outrage with twin E-TEC motors and a tandem axle trailer, when fully loaded with fuel and ice/gear for fishing weighs 4,300 lbs. This verified earlier this spring on a certified CAT Scale. I also had to weigh just the trailer to get a Michigan plate for the trailer; it weighs 1060 lbs and is a tandem axle, galvanized steel "C" channel trailer.
I believe with a loaded 22 you will be easily into the 5,000+ lb range when you add more fuel, more gear and more boat and more trailer to the mix.
Trailer brakes are a must.
Good luck in your search...
Dave
Sal A posted 06-23-2009 09:30 AM ET (US)
Good luck Dan!
I can't wait to see whatever combo you end up with.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Trailer Hitch Recommendations Wanted
themclos	posted 06-21-2009 08:50 PM ET (US) I just purchased a low mileage 2008 Dodge Durango with the 5.7L Hemi engine and a 3.55 axle ratio. The Durango has a towing capacity of 7200 pounds with this configuration. I need to install a hitch. Does anybody have any recommendations or opinions regarding these 2? http://www.etrailer.com/pc-H~75162.htm?vehicleid=20085350 [url[http://www.etrailer.com/pc-H~13296.htm?vehicleid=2008208243[/url] I hope to be towing a 22 Outrage or mid 90's 21 Outrage (if I am successful in my search), and I occassionally tow a 3000 pound trailer when camping with the Boy Scouts. Thanks in advance. Dan
TransAm	posted 06-21-2009 09:40 PM ET (US) I would consider a class IV hitch. When all is said and done, a 22' Whaler, Motor, Fuel, Gear and Trailer may exceed the 5,000 lb class III rating. 22' Classic - 2,100 lbs Motor - 500 lbs (est.) Fuel - 300 lbs gear - 300 lbs Tandem Trailer - 1,600 lbs (est.) Total - 4,800 lbs That's pretty close a Class III limit. If your fuel tank is full, your right at the limit.
themclos	posted 06-22-2009 08:11 AM ET (US) TransAm, That's a good point. I will take a look at class IV hitches. Dan
Wasatch Whaler	posted 06-22-2009 09:03 AM ET (US) I did a quick search for a class IV and my impression is that to get close to the vehicle's towing capacity you'll have to use a weight ditributing hitch. That's going to add at least a couple hundred bucks to the cost. You will also need (I'm assuming the Durango doesn't have one) a brake controller if your trailer has electric brakes. I purchased a Tekonsha P3 for my F-350. I highly recommend it. You'll have to wire the brake controller into the vehicle and I suggest you purchase the vehicle specific wiring kit for an easier installation. One last consideration is an auxiliary transmission cooler. One of the biggest enemies of an automatic transmission is heat, and towing with an automatic generates lots of heat. The additional cooling capacity will lower the fluids temperature. Good Luck!
Chuck Tribolet	posted 06-22-2009 08:50 PM ET (US) IIRC, Class III only goes up to 5000 pounds. In that weight range, you NEED brakes on the trailer. Put your boat and trailer on a scale. If the boat+trailer weight is anywhere near 5000 pounds, get a weight distributing hitch. The only exception I can see is if you live a couple of miles from the ramp on city streets. If you have an automatic transmission, your NEED a cooler. Chuck
themclos	posted 06-22-2009 09:20 PM ET (US) I didn't mention before, but the Durango does not have the tow package, but it does have all the components that comprise the tow package, with the exception of the hitch and the wiring harness. So it has the Auxiliary Transmission Oil Cooler, the Heavy Duty Engine Cooling, and the Power Steering Coolerthe following. I confirmed this by requesting the build sheet from Dodge, and i visually confirmed all this as well. I don't yet have a boat or trailer, but am looking at 22 Outrages. I hope to look at 2 this weekend. I will address the trailer when the time comes. Wasatch, thanks for the recommendation for the Tekonsha P3. For this particular vehicle, according to my research, the specifications for class III and class IV hitches are the same - 6,000 lbs without weight distributing hitch and 9,000 with a weight distributing hitch. Given the maximum towing capactity of my Durango is 7200 lbs (and the most for any Durango is ~8,900 lbs), I should be in good shape to get a boat home. Dan
deepwater	posted 06-22-2009 09:27 PM ET (US) Low mileage? Look at going synthetic at least in the trans and rear
towboater	posted 06-22-2009 10:17 PM ET (US) Im not sure whether hitch capacity or trailer brakes and controller are more important?
themclos	posted 06-23-2009 08:44 AM ET (US) Deepwater - thanks for the suggestion reagrding synthetic fluids. I will look into it. Do you have any specific recommendations? And what did you mean by "low mileage?"? TowBoater - for the boats I am considering, brakes will be required in NJ. So, at some point, I will be dealing with brakes. I would consider brakes very important for my proposed application. Dan
Buckda	posted 06-23-2009 09:21 AM ET (US) Just as a reference re: total capacity of the hitch you buy. My 18' Outrage with twin E-TEC motors and a tandem axle trailer, when fully loaded with fuel and ice/gear for fishing weighs 4,300 lbs. This verified earlier this spring on a certified CAT Scale. I also had to weigh just the trailer to get a Michigan plate for the trailer; it weighs 1060 lbs and is a tandem axle, galvanized steel "C" channel trailer. I believe with a loaded 22 you will be easily into the 5,000+ lb range when you add more fuel, more gear and more boat and more trailer to the mix. Trailer brakes are a must. Good luck in your search... Dave
Sal A	posted 06-23-2009 09:30 AM ET (US) Good luck Dan! I can't wait to see whatever combo you end up with.