Towing Capacity of a 2003 Dodge Dakota with 4.7L V8 Engine

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Question:

Could you help identify the products I may need if I get a trailer with electric brakes too? I know Ill need a different harness and a "box" in the cab.

asked by: Tom

0

Expert Reply:

The white tag inside the driver's door jamb of your 2003 Dodge Dakota does not list the gross trailer weight (GTW). However, it does list the gross combined weight rating (GCWR) and the gross vehicle weight (GVW) which if you subtract the GVWR from the GCWR will give you the GTW.

In order to tow a trailer with your Dakota you are going to need a trailer hitch, wiring harness, and ball mount/hitch ball. For the trailer hitch I recommend the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part # C13280 which is a direct fit and has a concealed crosstube for a clean look. Then for the wiring harness I recommend the Hopkins Plug-In Simple Vehicle Wiring Harness part # HM42205 as long as you do not have more than one tail light per side on the trailer. If you do have more than one tail light per side on the trailer then you will want to use the Hopkins Tail Light Converter Kit part # HM48895 instead.

For a ball mount/hitch ball the Ball Mount Kit part # 989900 should work well for you though you will need to verify the rise/drop of either ball mount is correct using the attached help article. I have attached an install video of the hitch for you as well.

expert reply by: Conner L

0

Tom

7/2/2018

Could you help identify the products I may need if I get a trailer with electric brakes too? I know Ill need a different harness and a "box" in the cab.

Reply

Conner L.

7/2/2018

Absolutely! In addition to either of the above Hopkin's 4-way wiring harnesses you are also going to need a 4 to 7-way adapter. For this, I recommend the Universal Installation Kit part # ETBC7 which comes with everything you need to install a brake controller (7-way, wires, circuit breakers) with an existing 4-way in place. The 7-way that comes with the kit also maintains a 4-way trailer connection point. Then for a brake controller I recommend the Tekonsha Primus IQ Trailer Brake Controller part # TK90160. This is a proportional brake controller that senses the braking pressure applied in the tow vehicle and exerts that same force to the trailer. It has built-in integrated safeguards to protect both the trailer's and vehicle's wiring in addition to containing a continuous diagnostic check process. I have attached a sample install video which you may find useful as well.

Reply

Answer 1

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 2

Normally a bumper is rated at about 3500 lbs towing capacity. It is usually stamped somewhere on the bumper or possibly on a sticker. A frame mounted hitch is going to have more capacity for towing due to how it is installed. Also, most trailers will…

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Answer 3

I looked up the towing capacity of the rear step bumper on a 2004 Dodge Dakota in the owner's manual for you and it can handle up to 2,000 lbs. If you need to tow a heavier trailer then you will need to use a frame mounted trailer hitch like the…

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Answer 4

Yes, you can install a Reese Fifth Wheel Installation Kit for the 2002 Dakota by Dodge, part #RP30035, into your 2002 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab. I attached installation instructions below for you to check out also, as well as a video of this product…

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Answer 5

For your quad cab 2004 Dodge Dakota with 4 wheel drive and 4.7 liter V8 the towing capacity would be 6,100 lbs. The GCWR for your truck would be right at 10,500 lbs. This rating is the total weight of the truck and trailer combined.

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Answer 6

The etrailer hitch #e53AR does fit your 1993 Dodge Dakota that has the ball hole built into the bumper. We had chance to install it on a similar Dakota and it worked just fine.

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Answer 7

The Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part #C13280 for 1987 - 2004 Dodge Dakota includes grade 8 hardware bolts. It is a 2" receiver with a concealed cross tube so the only portion of the hitch that is visible once installed is the receiver portion. I…

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Answer 8

With the Draw-Tite QSP Trailer Hitch Silencer and Cover #63080 fitting loose on your Hitch #e53AR the only way to make it fit would be to add material on the hitch. This device is specifically designed for Draw-Tite receivers and it is not always…

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Answer 9

For your 1997 Dodge Dakota Sport, I recommend the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2 inch #C13280. This is a square tube design that will easily bolt on to your truck. It has a nice gloss black powder coat finish over a…

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Answer 10

To replace the factory hitch on your 2010 Ford F-150 I recommend using the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class IV - 2" #C14002, which will give you a strong Class IV hitch with a 2" receiver. This will bolt on in the same spot…

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Answer 11

If you remove your factory trailer hitch on your 2011 Ford F-150, you can use the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver #C14002. That hitch is rated for up to 10K without weight distribution or up to 12K with weight distribution, which means you are most…

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Towing Capacity of a 2003 Dodge Dakota with 4.7L V8 Engine

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