How Much Can a Dodge Durango Tow (Proved!)

Do you know how much a Dodge Durango can tow? this is one of the questions our readers ask a lot. Well, we´ve got you covered.

Dodge is primarily known for its Hemi Engine, along with changing ownership so often that it’s difficult to ascertain who owns Dodge on any given weekday.

Dodge is also known for its exceptional power and both the Hemi and Pentastar engines are no exception.

So, how much can a Dodge Durango tow? Depending on the trim, the Dodge Durango can tow up to 8,700lbs. I’ve listed below the most common towing capacities of the Dodge Durango based on the available trims Which included:

• 3.6L Pentastar V6/293HP/260lb-ft Torque can tow up to 6,200lbs.
• 5.7L HEMI V8/360HP/390lb-ft Torque is the Dodge Durango R/T trim, and it can tow up to 7,400lbs.
• 6.4L HEMI SRT V8/475HP/470lb-ft Torque can tow the maximum 8,700lbs.
• 6.2L HEMI Supercharged V8 Hellcat Trim/710HP/645lb-ft Torque is still rated at 8,700lbs of towing capacity.

That’s not bad for what is essentially a third-row SUV. It can tow just about anything you could possibly want to unless you’re trying to pull a mobile home. 

The Dodge Durango comes in four different configurations, each with its own limit on towing capacity. Trailering packages come equipped with a Class IV trailer hitch, which is capable of taking on up to 10,000lbs. 

The Class IV hitch comes with any trailering package on any trim.

There’s no downgrade in hitch capability if you opt for one of the less-powerful trims.

What Are The Available Trims And Their Capabilities?

The Dodge Durango Comes in four different trims with four different engines to choose from. The smallest is the Pentastar V6 that pushes 293 horsepower.

• 3.6L Pentastar V6/293HP/260lb-ft Torque: The V6 is paired with an 8 – speed transmission and is capable of towing up to 6,200lbs.
• 5.7L HEMI V8/360HP/390lb-ft Torque: This is the Dodge Durango R/T trim and it is capable of towing up to 7,400lbs.
• 6.4L HEMI SRT V8/475HP/470lb-ft Torque: One of two monster engine variations in the Dodge Durango lineup, this trim is capable of towing the maximum 8,700lbs.
• 6.2L HEMI Supercharged V8 Hellcat Trim/710HP/645lb-ft Torque: This behemoth is the premium, cream-of-the-crop HEMI supercharged motor with a gigantic amount of horsepower. However, it is still rated at 8,700lbs of towing capacity.

While you get the lowest towing capacity with the Pentastar, it’s the one choice that has a somewhat decent gas economy with 19mpg driving through city traffic and 26mpg on the highway.

That’s not great, but the other three gobble gas at far more insane levels. 

The 5.7L HEMI is capable of towing 7,400lbs and while that’s not quite up to par with the 6.4L and 6.2L variations, it was probably to make room for the Dodge Durango Sport Mode, which modifies the throttle response and fast shifting.

The 6.4L is what you would assume would be the monster of the lineup, but it ends up being a close second to the 6.2L supercharged HEMI.

With this trim, you get the Dodge version of the Quadra-Trac Active-On-Demand 4WD which is impressive automation that’s especially useful for towing. 

Lastly, the 6.2L HEMI Supercharged V8 doesn’t need any special features to stand out in the crowd, although it comes with those too.

The 710HP and 645lb-ft of torque speak for themselves in terms of raw power and capabilities. Your gas mileage will suffer though.

Read also: Trailer Wiring Diagrams:19 Tips Towing Electrical Wiring Installation

What Does The Trailering Package Include?

As aforementioned, all trailering packages—regardless of the engine—come with a Class IV Receiver Hitch, which is capable of towing up to 10,000lbs.

If you went any higher than that, you would be discussing a Commercial Driver’s License. 

You also get the following features with the available trailering package:

• Electronic Stability Control
• All-Speed Traction Control
• Ready-Alert Braking
• Trailer Sway Control
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Rear Load Leveling Suspension
• Trailer Brake Control
• Full-Size Spare Tire (instead of those annoying donuts)

Automated Features

Electronic stability control is all software and it enables the onboard ECM/PCM to identify loss of traction and make the subtle corrections necessary to minimize it.

IT does this by reducing power to the tires, slowing the spin enough to enable the tire’s ability to grip the road.

All-speed traction controls work as a combination with electronic stability control. The difference is, all-speed traction control activates the braking system rather than reducing power to the wheels.

Ready-alert braking monitors the moment you come off of the throttle and onto the brake and assists in order to reduce the amount of time you reach the point where you are at maximum braking capacity.

Trailer sway control is a common feature in trailering packages and a necessary one as well.

It’s another innovative automated system that applies a subtle amount of pressure to the braking system whenever there is an inordinate amount of sway detected in the trailer. 

Read also: Trailer Lights: 33 Facts You Need To Consider (Explained)

Standard Features

The tire pressure monitoring system and the rear load-leveling suspension are self-descriptive. The tire pressure monitoring alerts you with a warning light in the cab while the rear load-leveling suspension adjusts to the amount of weight you’re towing. 

The trailer brake controls tie the braking system of the trailer into the Dodge Durangos electric braking system so that brakes are applied to the trailer as well.

They aren’t evenly distributed, however, as the trailer brakes are more of a sway control system rather than full-out brakes.

The full-size spare tire isn’t a “feature” per se, but it’s awfully nice that there’s finally a package where you get an actual spare tire rather than a donut.

If you’re expected to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on a vehicle, it should be expected that a standard spare comes with it. 

It goes without saying that the Dodge Durangos—regardless of the trim package that you decide to go with—comes absolutely loaded with safety enhancements and control features that not only revolve around the trailering package but also safety and reliability.

While many trailering packages in other makes and models come with a variety of their own, specific features, it’s rare to see this many that are standard with a trailering package.

Final Word

From V6 to V8 the Dodge Durangos have tremendous towing capabilities that are combined with a healthy amount of industry-leading hardware and software to accommodate just about any towing job you need to perform.

If you go with the Hellcat, you get the best of both worlds, towing capacity, and power on the open highway. 

The Dodge Durango is a pretty hefty towing machine and says whatever you want about the other features, as far as towing is concerned, the Durango goes above and beyond.

References

https://www.walkercdjrwv.com/dodge-durango-towing-capacity-hurricane-wv.html

https://moparinsiders.com/the-wait-is-over-meet-the-2021-dodge-durango-srt-hellcat/