is there a tow hitch for the new durango, my sister and her husband just got a new durango slt this weekend, and the salesman said there wasnt a tow hitch out for the new durango, this true?
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NYCHemi
07-05-2004, 09:31 PM
There is a tow hook that goes into the Hitch reciver which is an option with the Tow Package... The regular tow ball I purchased at my local Truck accessory store. Hope this helps.
NYCHemi
2004 D. Ltd
05RamtoughHEMI
07-05-2004, 09:33 PM
hmm, im talking about the reciever hitch itself, they said there not one yet, are they full of bs?
NYCHemi
07-05-2004, 09:50 PM
hmm, im talking about the reciever hitch itself, they said there not one yet, are they full of bs?
OK... well I have a reciver in mine, when I ordered the Tow packakag
firepipe
07-23-2004, 10:28 AM
I also have a towing question...Im probably posting this in the wrong place, but...I have a 2004 ST V6 model....without the trailer tow package. Should I go to the Dodge dealer and have THEM install it, or just get a third-party tow "package"?
Obviously, Im not going to be draggin a WHOLE lot of weight, Im thinking maybe a pair of Jet-Ski's. The V6 should be able to handle THAT right? I think I read 3700lbs "properly equiped"....
wrwoods
07-29-2004, 04:55 PM
Just had one installed by the local Ranch Hand shop. Try the following web site:
They make a Class III hitch that bolts to the frame with a round cross-member. My spare tire just touches the cross-member, but should lower with no problems.
Hope this helps.
Bill
jtanwanteng
07-29-2004, 11:55 PM
my durango came with a tow package. includes the tranny cooler, bigger battery(i think) and a class 3 hitch with both the 7 and 4 pin wiring harnesses. this is standard with the tow package from the dodge factory. I'm not really much of a tower, but i do rent uhauls occasionally; they sold me a ball and mount that lets me tow trailers.
If the dealer is telling you that the durango doesn't come with a tow package, he is totally bsing you and trying to sell something in his inventory that doesn't have it.
jaypz2sweet
07-30-2004, 11:27 AM
Here's a shot of my tow hitch. This is what you mean right!?!
Jay P
lvd2340
07-30-2004, 12:18 PM
There is a tow hitch available from Dodge although it has been on backorder. They should be releasing some in the next week or so by the looks of it. These are the part#'s
My wife's D has the Hitch as shown by jaypz2sweet.
We bought the 2" receiver (with a 2" drop, not sure what I should have gotten) and a 1 7/8" ball from the local U-Haul center. Also bought a Receiver Lock from them so the Receiver cannot be removed without a key. All came out to like $55 total.
Guyjj
08-05-2004, 01:40 AM
For the height of the Durango receiver, a six to eight inch drop would probably be best.
Casper42
08-06-2004, 10:33 AM
Really? A co-worker of mine said you want the hitch ball to be about 19" from the ground. Said thats standard trailer height.
Guyjj
08-10-2004, 11:45 AM
For my Travel Trailer I have a receiver with about a 5 inch drop, for my utility trailer I use a 6.5 inch drop and that could have been an inch or two longer.
ShifterPilot200
08-10-2004, 04:43 PM
The first one they tried to put on mine was the Valley - but it only did 5000lbs. I ordered a new DrawTite and it does up to 9000lbs with WD. It's much better and the same price - looks better too!
The picture is incorrect (it is actually like the one that is pictured in this thread): http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=s-1547&bool=AND&category=drawtite_combo_makemodel&maxhits=10&keywords=2004&keywords_2=Dodge+Durango&GO=GO%21
g2rango
08-20-2004, 03:43 PM
Hidden Hitch makes a class III hitch for the new Durango - PN 87562. I just got mine yesterday. $129 including shipping, from a guy on Ebay.
ssstw1
03-09-2005, 02:21 PM
For those of you that have installed your own hitch kit, any comments/tips? It looks like the hitch from Hidden Hitch and Draw-tite are the same hitch kit (available on eBay for about $100). Install seems simple enough - u-bolts over the frame member, and drill a couple holes for through bolts.
It does not seem that it is worth the extra $100 or more for the mopar branded hitch...
Comments?
Thanks.
PDLittle
03-09-2005, 11:39 PM
I used the hidden hitch from the guy on ebay and I had to drill 1/2" holes, 4 of them, and it was easy -- if I had had a sharp bit, it would have been real easy.
I highly recommend the wiring harness from the dealer unless you are an electrical/electronic expert. There are a couple of long threads on trailer wiring that are worth reading.
ssstw1
03-10-2005, 07:37 AM
Thanks for the info. Follow up question - where is the wiring harness connection point located on the vehicle? I am assuming there is a connector already in place somewhere...?
biged6464
03-10-2005, 11:28 AM
hit up www.etrailer.com for all your towing needs...great site, great pricing, people, etc...
PDLittle
03-10-2005, 08:28 PM
This looks like the best deal I've seen at the reference biged6464 gave above:
You could install this in about an hour. One thing you could do for the "Hot wire" that is supposed to go all the way to the battery -- it could be splice into the 12 volt accessory (cigeratte lighter) connection in the rear of the Durango. If you only pull a trailer occationally, you could actually use a cig. lighter plug to connect to the 12volt source.
That outlet comes from the factory with a 20 amp fuse on all the time (without the key on). You can reconfigure it to go off with the key. You probably would want continious power for trailer lights, just in case you were stranded on the side of the road and need to use the hazzard lights to work without the ignition on.
This link shows three hitches available for the 2004 2005 durango. I just had the middle listed hitch installed on my Hemi. ALthough its construction seems to be the same as the Draw-Tite above, you'll note the weight ratings are slightly higher.
Now, for what it's worth, here's my opinion. I wanted a light weight, unobtrusive receiver hitch. A frame muonted hitch, as I have used before seemed unnecessarily heavy for the same tow rating as the frame rail mounted hitch that I got. I was unpleasantly surprised that the receiver extends 3-4 inches beyond the bumper, and the shiny u-bolt hardware is exposed and visible. It doesn't look integrated at all. I may dab some black paint on them and let it go.
Big3
03-15-2005, 09:51 PM
The drop should be calculated based on the height of the trailer tongue and not how high the hitch is from the ground. I tow a small trailer sometimes and I need a full 8" drop. Other times I need only a 6" drop when I tow a larger trailer with larger diam wheels. Yoiu have to make the tongue at a height so the trailer is level. I bought an adjustable height class III hitch at Walmart. It can be adjusted by a bolt on the top.
ssstw1
03-16-2005, 06:17 AM
For what it is worth, I just had a hitch installed yesterday, and went through the same question with the installer. They install so the top of the ball is 18.5 inches off the ground. That is apparently the "standard" install height. The result was a 4" drop hitch for 04 Durango (17" wheels).
I do however agree, and expect I will need to buy a new hitch for certain trailers. As previously stated, you want the trailer level, and for a heavy trailer, if the tounge is too low, it will increase the hitch weight inappropriately high.
RickWess
03-16-2005, 08:32 AM
It all comes down to what you tow. A 6" drop keeps my utility trailer as well as my boat trailer level. Both have 12" wheels.
