Dodge Dakota V6 Towing Capacity : [2022 Updated ]

The Dodge Dakota V6 is one of the popular truck options in the US. Its powerful V6 engine, impressive reliability, and roomy interior make it a favorite for many.

This mid-size pick, however, is best known for its towing capabilities. It comes with two V6 engine variants, providing plenty of power for towing heavy loads or trailers.

What is the Dodge Dakota V6 Towing Capacity?

A Dodge Dakota equipped with a 3.7 V6 tows 4,600 to 5,300 lbs, while the 3.9 V6 variants can pull 4,650 to 6,200 lbs. The V8 variant is, however, stronger and can pull upward of 6,500 pounds.

The V6 is less expensive, but the V8 is more powerful.

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How to Measure the Towing Capacity

Towing capacity is measured in kWh, or kilowatts hours.

Let’s say that I wanted to pull a camper trailer with 9,000 lbs of weight on it. That’s 9,000 lbs x 60 minutes (or 1 hour) = 54,000 kWh.

Now let’s say that the trailer was 14 feet long and 7 feet wide. That’s 14 x 7, or 140 square feet. 140 ft2 / 54,000 kWh = 1.99, so the trailer’s towing capacity is 1.99.

The towing capacity is a rather important thing for purchasing a truck. Most modern-day trucks can pull a lot of weight, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they have the towing capacity to pull what you want to tow.

Some important factors to look for when you’re in the market for a truck are the towing capacity and the payload capacity.

Towing capacity is how much weight a vehicle can pull, whereas payload capacity is how much weight a vehicle can carry. It refers to how much weight you or the customer can comfortably haul around in practical terms.

How Many Pounds Can a Dodge Dakota Tow?

The Dakota V6 is available in three trim levels: the base model, the V6 Preferred, and the V6 Crew Cab.

All three trim levels share a similar 3.6L V6 engine that can generate 305Hp. However, the base and the V6 Preferred trims have a 6-speed manual transmission as standard. Conversely, the V6 Crew Cab trim utilizes a 6-speed auto transmission.

While the maximum limit for a V6 3.6L VDC is 10,000 pounds, the maximum limit for a V8 5.7L VDC is 12,000 pounds.

A V6 3.6L VDC can tow about 2.4 times what a V8 5.7L VDC can, so the V8 5.7L VDC is 1.2 times as capable as the V6 3.6L VDC. The V6 3.6L VDC can tow about 4.6 times more than the V6 2.7L VDC.

Dakota’s towing capacity is way higher and more reliable than its competitors.

Although the capacity is much lower on the V6 than on the V8 engine, the latter has amazing performance.

The base model is available with either two-wheel or four-wheel drive, but the V6 Preferred and Crew Cab models are only available with four-wheel drive. The towing capacities for each trim level are listed in the below table.

MODEL	Engine Size	Year	Wheel-drive
Dakota V6 Extended	3.6 L	2011	2WD	4,900
Dakota V6 Extended	3.6 L	2011	4WD	4,750
Dakota V6 Crew Cab	3.6 L	2011	2WD	4,800
Dakota V6 Crew Cab	3.6 L	2011	4WD	4,650

 

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Can Dodge Dakota Tow a Trailer?

The Dakota’s V6 engine is only rated at 180 horsepower-a little less than the V8 in the Ram and Silverado.

When used for towing, the V6 engine can tow around 6,000 pounds. However, Dakota’s V6 engine is rated slightly lower than the V8 engines in the Dodge Ram and Chevy Silverado. So while the Dakota can manage a trailer of around 6,000 pounds, the Ram and Silverado can pull heavier loads.

Several restrictions are involved in towing with a V6 engine. The manufacturer does not recommend towing a trailer with a V6 engine, and pulling will reduce your vehicle’s fuel economy.

Can Dodge Dakota Tow a Boat?

The Dakota V6 can tow a boat just fine. The heavier the boat you have to haul, the more critical a hitch height is. You want the boat to be low to the ground. If you need to tow something tall, you’ll need a different hitch, such as a ball mount.

The Dakota V6 is an excellent tractor, but it will be very taxing on the truck if you are towing heavy loads.

They’ve a little bit of ground clearance, but if you get a trailer that sits low, that cuts down on the ground clearance even more.

Knowing the max towing capacity of your truck and the tongue weight capacity of your hitch is important if you need to tow a boat or trailer.

Don’t overload your vehicle. Pay attention to the weight ratings for your vehicle and trailer.

Can Dodge Dakota Tow a Jet Ski

A Dakota 3.9L V6 can tow a little something extra if you do it right. The 3.9L V6 is a good engine and reliable, but it will not handle a 500 lb Jet Ski and a rider. Use the 2WD mode, activate the 4WD Locking Differential, and use a trailer with the proper tongue weight & wheelbase, and you will be fine. The Dakota is a perfect tow vehicle if you know what you are doing.

You can tow your jet skis and other watercraft behind your Dakota, as long as you have a robust V8 engine. The V6 engine is not powerful enough to pull a Jet Ski, although it may be able to tow lighter watercraft such as inflatable rafts. You will find that the V6 engine is underpowered for many of your needs, and the truck will have trouble towing heavy loads.

However, if you do it right and understand the adjustments you need to make, your Dakota V6 will do the job. Doing this right is more complicated because Dakota’s topper has to be modified to accept the tow bar, so it’s a bit of a hack job. But it’s doable.

Conclusion

Depending on overall weight, weather, and road conditions, the Dodge Dakota v6 towing capacity is around 4800-7000lb.

It’s an incredible choice for those interested in towing. The vehicle’s towing capacity ensures that you can haul anything you might have to.

The Dodge Dakota v6 has enough power to pull most SUVs and trucks while giving you excellent fuel economy. The Dodge Dakota v6 towing capacity is also high enough to tow a boat, camper, or large trailer.

This is a perfect option for drivers who want a powerful vehicle that can tow and want excellent fuel economy.

The 3.6 L Pentastar V6, with its 293 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque, also gets excellent gas mileage, delivering up to 22 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

The robust engine, coupled with the six-speed automatic transmission, makes the Dodge Dakota v6 an excellent truck for hauling equipment, including trailers and other large objects.