Is there anyone that has a dodge durango or know someone with one?Iam buying one next week and i would like to know how are they for towing.If you have one what do you tow.It will be a 98 with a V-8 in it.

 

I have a Dakota with a 4.7 V-8. I tow 2 400ex's and it does just fine. I guess you will be getting the bigger sized engine. The rear end sags a little but not bad. Gas mileage is not to bad either.

Hope this helps.

DWT

 

What are you looking to tow? I know a guy who tows a 18' Coyota toy box. Dry, with a 400ex he's about 500lbs overweight. I think he's got the 5.2L. 4x4.

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I had a 99 Durango 318. It towed OK, but the gas mileage sucked during towing. The 360 can stay in a higher gear more often, and is not struggling near as much.

Also, the 318, like the V6, has a flaw. Dodge did a silent recall on the V6 but the 318 was lasting through warranty most of the time, so they ignored it.

The intake manifold develops a small air leak under it, into the block. This fouls the oil, causing the pump intake to clog. I found out the hard way....engine seized. The extended warranty cited sludge as no oil changes done, even though I faxed them reciepts for oil changes every 3k miles without fail. Stonewalled. (Read as: Autonation warranties are scams)

The 360 does not have this issue. The engines in the Ram trucks that have a 318 do not develop the problem either. Slightly different seals due to a different cam, a mechanic told me. Dosen't make sense quite, but I see no complaints from 318 Ram owners while Durango and Dakota complaints are all over.

This has gone to class action in many states, waiting for it to come to my state so I can join in.

 

cheapass do you still have your durango?Iam thinking of getting one but alot of bad thing being said about them.How did your durango work for you besides your engines?My 97 ram engines just went last month.

 

We have a 2000 Durango with the 360, and we love it. The only problem we've had, was the ball joint issue all the 2000's had. Other than that it's been great.
It's great for hauling all the kids around, and even gets her up to hunting camp and back when I'm already up there. Gas mileage is "ok". Could be better though.
As far as power, it should easily pull a trailer with as many as I'd say 3 to 4 quads on it. The problem with it would be suspension and brakes. It's kind of light, and I don't think the brakes are up to the task of more than 2 quads and a trailer.
I haven't used it for hauling toys yet however, so maybe somebody else would have more hands-on experience with it. I have the powerstroke for pulling and hauling, so hers just gets used for bussin' the kids around.
We like the Durango a lot though. Good little all around family rig.

 

I loved it otherwise. I often wished I had the 360, but mainly for vanity reasons... I'd get out accelerated when I wanted to pass a ********. It towed fine, but gas mileage went way south while pulling a heavy load.
It was very stable in the pull, and went over El Raton pass with a 2200lb load without a problem. And, knowing about the oil crud problem, a regular engine flush would have prevented failure. Run a can of Berryman B-12 in the crankcase with each oil change and it isn't an issue. I didnm't because it was under warranty, and warranty companies are notorious for denying coverage due to the darnest things like that.

 

My wife bought a new 04 Durango back in June. It has the Hemi in it and no problems so far. The only thing we have hauled is a flatbed with a couple of quads on it. Plenty easy for it. Still has no problem getting around a slow mover even with the trailer. I say my wife bought it cause she drives it every day. Did you end up getting the 98?

 

rhaskins i did not get it yet.I should get one 1 or 2 weeks from now.I would like to go up in the years like 99 or00 but i cant afford it.