Posted 2007-12-27 9:33 PM (#2203) Subject: Durango for towing/how is handling?
Posts: 7
Sorry if this wrong forum-anyway-We are thinking about buying an 04 Durango(5.7 hemi-3:55 gear) for hauling a 2600lb(when empty) 12 foot horse trailer.The trailer currently hauls beautifully with no weight distrubution hitch with a 99 Dodge 1500. We wanted to upgrade to the durango for various reasons. However, we got the durango home on evaluation and hitched the EMPTY trailer to it, and drove it around and up and down hills and on the highway-the durango didn't seem to handle the little trailer very well at all. It bumped up and down(very smooth road), shimmied and in general made the durango bouncy and it seemed at times like the trailer was in control of the durango, almost pushing it. Will this improve with heavier springs/weight distribution hitch or something? Or it is it hopeless? The durango is 500 lbs heavier overall by itself than the 99 1500-shouldn't it be able to handle this little trailer without bobbing and weaving and vibrating? AS I siad, the trailer is a dream to haul otherwise with the truck- you don't know it is back there. Any suggestions/experiences? thanks!
Posted 2008-02-18 12:50 PM (#2228 - in reply to #2203) Subject: RE: Durango for towing/how is handling?
Posts: 30
Location: Denver CO
I've towed with the Hemi Durango, thought it did well. But it will need a good weight distributing hitch becauses of the rear coil springs. I think they started in 04, older Durango's had leaf springs which did better. But the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 willl also have rear oil springs and will need a good WDH.