CAN I ADD A TRAILER TOW PACKAGE FROM DEALER THAT IS AS GOOD AS THE TRAILER TOW PACKAGE THAT COMES FROM THE DODGE FACTORY?

True, The dealer would use genuine Mopar/ Chrysler parts, and do it to factory specifications. It won't be cheap, but will be quality

Might be False, many trailer tow packages have higher output alternator, larger radiator, different rear gear, larger battery and other items. Since I am not up to speed with Dodge I don't have information on every item that is included with a trailer tow package, but the dealership in my opinion is full of crapola. They are not about to install all the necessary items.

Also adding dealer installed items will not change the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating and the combined vehicle gross weight ratings found on the door or door post. It is possible that you would be over the legal towing weight with the dealer installed trailer tow package. Being overweight may have legal consequences if you were involved in an accident and someone's attorney found out. My advise to you is to purchase a vehicle that is equipped correctly for your intended purpose.

Called around and was told from the dealers that they could install the tow bar but the rear load leveling suspension would have to have been installed at the factory. Bob you were right, would not come as a package as stated on the window sticker.

Sometime even wiring, suspension, brakes and even computer programming is involved. Factory is the best way.

I stand corrected. Makes sense.

I fully believe the dealership can add some parts to increase the towing ability, but to make it the same as the factory towing package? They are blowing smoke up someone's rear end.

It seems doubtful. We bought a 2016 Durango Limited specifically to tow our 5,300lb travel trailer. The first question I asked the salesman during the test drive was what the tow rating was, without hesitation he said "6,200lbs" later we learned that's only with a factory equipped tow package, without it it's 3,500lbs. I've found many others with the same problem. The dealer - Port City Chrysler Dodge in Portsmouth NH refuses to do anything about it. I'm a disabled person and I used all my savings as did my Fiance to escape the cold NH winters as advised by our Dr.'s. Our plan has been ruined due to misrepresentation of towing capacity - we'll have to find a way to buy another. NEVER buy from Port City - they've hung up on us and never returned calls, a lawsuit is a must if we can pay for one.

there is a lot more to the trailer package than just adding a hitch. The wiring ssytem includes trailering, the readiator capacity is more, the battery cold cranking amps is larger, the vehicle will have a cooler to the transmission, the gear ratio to the rear ens is different. also, my vehicle has a lower gear (transmission) thats included in the shifter, for towing only. I would not but a vehicle that you are planning on towing something heavy reguraly without the factory installed package.

The factory so called heavy duty cooling radiator only holds a half quart of coolant more. Alternator and battery are more powerful by a not so important amount. Gears are the same unless you go v8. Load leveling air bags are available got them and trans cooler had factory but replaced with slightly larger.

All very informative, guys. I am looking at a Durango GT but it has no towing package on it. Dealer said they could install one. Have I got a surprise question or two for them when I talk to them today. Thanks!

Give em hell!

We were lied to as well in terms of what it can tow. Every dealer we talked too said 6200 no problem. One even told me on a GT that didn't have a tow package that we could probably add one cheaper than if we tried to have the dealer do it. Neither way would have increased the capacity to 6200. Dodge should be more truthful about their "towing capacity". Even the salesman I talked to about it after we purchased and found out it doesn't tow more than 3500 said they're told the 6200 lbs number with no caveat. Nice of them to deceive people since the majority of Durango's I've seen do not have a factory installed tow package.

I have since talked to Arrigo Dodge Service Department in WPB. they were very truthful in saying under no circumstance can I pull my two-horse bumper pull trailer with a Durango, no matter what the package. And he also said there are brakes and air shock upgrades you MUST HAVE in order to displace the weight should I want to pull my boat. But advised a slick boat ramp and a steep angle will ruin my day no matter what. the Durango can pull a jet ski. That's it. Either these salesmen are uninformed or lying. Spread the word!

FYI - From my research the factory tow package on the Dodge Durango Limited (2014- 2018) is this: (from a window sticker online). Trailer Tow Group IV $995 Heavy Duty Engine Cooling Class IV Receiver Hitch 7 and 4 Pin Wiring Harness Rear Load Leveling Suspension Full Size Spare Tire Steel Spare Wheel The load leveling suspension in the Durango is via the shock (not active, shock has to cycle several times to level), same as the Grand Cherokee, so not a hard or expensive upgrade... In theory the dealer could install the same towing package, but, as previously stated, the vehicle capacity plate will not be changed, leaving you with the same 3500 lb tow rating and potential liability issues if anything ever happened (since everyone follows there capacity ratings to the "T")..

We just bought a Dodge Durango about a month ago in Millbury, Massachusetts from Herb Chambers. Based on all the information I had seen online about how great the standard model can tow we decided that this was 100% the car to get. We have a large family so the seating was great and being that camping is our life we were buying this car with the end game of getting a bigger camper. After about a month we had picked out our camper. As instructed we were in the process of putting on a hitch and trying to get the wiring done in preparation for it. We had the hitch installed by U-Haul and then when we asked Dodge about getting the wiring harness attached, they were reluctant to help us at all. Then all of a sudden as we are doing research on doing the work ourselves we came across that the 6,200 total tow capacity is not even the correct information on our vehicle. I find out we are at 3,500 tow capacity which is not what we would have agreed to. This is the exact amount we were upgrading from. We did not even have to buy a new car. We were doing this for the sole purpose of camping. The only way we were able to see this info was to access the VIN information on Mopar with the owner’s manual after signing the lease agreement. Now because we lease the vehicle there is nothing that can be done. The dealership is not answering our calls and we are stuck with this vehicle for three years. Now we cannot camp. It is just very upsetting. I wish the information that people see online was more clear. We would never be in the situation now. It completely breaks my heart. We are not made of money and now we have lost our camping for the next three years. At no point when we were buying this car did we hear that there was a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. We even talked about it during the buy about how we were so excited about the 6,200 pound tow rating. Just not right at all. I feel completely blindsided by all of this. In part I blame Dodge as a big company they should think about how to present this information online. It is extremely misleading to consumers like me. Their website says our engine has a maximum tow capacity of 6,200 lbs. What it does not say is you have to have the factory installed tow package included when you purchase the vehicle and you cannot add it yourself as I was lead to believe. Anywhere you look online it reads 6,200 tow capacity for the smaller V6. Even the towing guide that the RV shops have stated that 6,200 figure. There is no version in there that shows that 3,500. I have a multitude of screen shots. I would hate for other people to have their camping dreams crushed the same way that they were for my family. We work so hard and this is all we wanted. We don’t go on expensive vacations. We camp. We are not even able to tow our existing camper because the service department won’t touch our wiring. Following up after 3 days of trying to reach our sales representative my husband went straight down to the dealership. Every time he called they would say she was busy and he would leave a message. She had to talk to him at this point. Well they first off tried to show my husband a paper that had the tow capacity on it. He had never seen this paper before and it was definitely nothing he had signed. They offered us another vehicle and a buyout offer, but they wanted 2K up front and to raise our lease payments $150 more a month and to add a year. I understand we would need to get out of a lease to make this right and there are costs involved, but is it fair for us to have to pay all that? I think the dealer should be making this right for us, but instead it would be about 6k out of our pocket. We only put a little over 1400 miles on our car and they told us that the value of the car depreciated to 25K from what we started off at which was 38,325 a month prior. How is that even a thing. It is not like we were throwing the car back at them and walking away. We were willing to start another lease with what we actually thought we were getting into. And for the record the car is great. Love it. It is the strictly the towing that we are having this issue with. One last thing that really has nothing to do with the real big problem, but my car did not have floor mats in it when we picked it up. I asked them a week later for them because the vehicle sticker said they come with. Service was supposed to order and give them to us at some point, but that never happened. I did not push the issue because I went and bought some online, but still just little things like that are not good business.

Our dealer said it has to be done by the factory. Nothing we can do. I was so blindsided by this and still trying to collect my emotions on it. My husband is handy and will do the wiring, but we will only be able to tow our small camper if it works. We had big plans we can no longer do :-(

I would never purchase a vehicle that didnt have factory installed options. Most people are not aware what trailering package means. Its not just adding a trailer hitch and off you go. the cooling sysytem is different capacity...the transmission is a different tranny...the battery has a higher output, the rear suspension is different. Buy wht you want...do not add on.

run away from this dealer as fast as you can...that is NOT true.

PROBLEM FIXED! Had the same problem when we bought our 2011 Durango with a V6. It was advertised with the tow package and I asked the salesman multiple times to make sure it was the actual tow package not just an added hitch. He pulled the accessory codes on the car and it registered as having a tow package, due to the install of the Mopar hitch and wiring harness. Once i got it home ( out of state) I started checking the actual parts and realized that it did not, in-fact, have the tow package but just a hitch and wiring added by a dealer. I talked with Dodge, my radiator shop, and several hitch shops. What I concluded was: 1) at least in the 2011 Express AWD with the Pentastar V6, there is no additional transmission cooler with the tow package - the A/C condenser is attached to radiator and cools the fluid. 2) there is a heavy duty radiator with the tow package so I had that changed out, 3) unless you are pulling a BIG trailer with a lot of lights and power needs, the regular alternator is more than most vehicles and more than sufficient, 4) the tow package comes with self -leveling shocks that activate when the back-end starts bouncing (Nivomat) - I spoke to a truck shop in town that carries Airlift air bags and had them installed within the rear coil springs 5) the package also includes a full sized spare. My solution - 1) Switched out the radiator for a heavy duty, 2) Put Airbags in the rear coils, 3) Got a full - size tire for the spare: Total modifications = $660.00.( not including the tire) I have a 5000LB 22 foot boat and trailer combo that I have pulled for 4 seasons. The engine and transmission have never run hot, I watch the gauges and shift when I need to to avoid lugging the engine ; I have NEVER had a problem pulling up the steepest boat ramp (AWD) - and have never had trouble towing at highway speeds. With that being said - this is the midwest, so our summer temps are high 80's to mid 90's. May not work as well where it's hotter, but I have not had one issue! To add to that - I never fill the air bags - the vehicle doesn't squat when I drop the hitch on - so have never had an issue, perhaps it helps just having them in there to eliminate some of the bounce- I think it actually rides better without air in them! We bought the car used with $51K and now has over 128K miles. Your experience may be different, but every mechanic, radiator shop, and towing shop, agreed that the set-up SHOULD work - and it has! Our roads are pretty flat, but i just down shift and take it easy when coming across an incline. As far as the dealer - the salesmen told me there was nothing they could do. I went to the GM and pointed out that the Lemon laws in their state prohibited false or misleading advertising; that when I asked multiple times to confirm that it had the actually tow package - they mislead me when they said it did - it doesn't matter that it was an honest mistake - and it was - they still are on the hook to remedy it. I reminded them that it only cost $36 to file a claim against them in small claims court and it was a guaranteed loss. He asked me how much I needed - I had the estimates for parts and labor at $660.00 - he sent me a check! I hope this helps someone with a very frustrating situation as we only bought the vehicle for this one reason! NONE of the dealerships seem to understand this issue, and if it has had a hitch installed, then they have to enter the codes to make the wiring work ( so I was told) , which causes it to show up as the tow package! Good Luck!

I just bought a 19 durango rt. We measured the specs compared to the one with the factory installed hitch. They installed the class iv hitch and the wiring harness. But now I cannot install a trailer brake controller because the connector is not the same as the previous years. The dealer has had the car for 3 weeks and still no resolution. They said they can swap the car out. But the car will be appeased as used because it has been titled. So I’m in a bad place. If I had just waited until a 19 with the towing package came in I wouldn’t be going through this mess. Buyer beware.

https://store.mopar.com/accessories/2019-dodge-durango- carriers_cargo_hauling_accessories-hitches_towing/trailer_brake_control_82213173AB.html

Why dodge Durango won't go. They only have abs in the rear stupid.

this looks like the same issue many are having with the Durango. how can I tell if f my 2013 sxt has the tow package? It has the factory hitch integrated in the bumper, with wiring connectors 2 (7 pin and the boat type 4 pin) and a full sized spare tire. I'm not sure about the harness though or radiator size or alternator ratings. I'm about to tow a 21ft rv weighing dry at 2850. But even camping as light as possible (no water in tank) I'm educated guessing around 4000 lbs. I am using a reese distribution hitch which I have seen on some vehicles increase tow capacity by 250 to 500 lbs. Still, not what I wanted or was expecting...

I just leased a 2019 Durango RT and I absolutely need to tow heavy stuff. I looked long and hard trying to find one with the factory trailer package. They are hard to come by and most dealers I spoke with offered to bolt on a hitch. Some were more ignorant than others as I explained I needed the factory. Well I finally found what I was looking for and it is even more intergrated than I expected. There is a brake controller mounted in the dash and its function slaved to the brake pedal. Gain is adjustable. Set up for multiple trailers in the menues. However no instructions anywhere to be found on how to enable it and set it up correctly. I think I have it right but I'm not 100% sure. And yes with the V8 it has 7200 lb tow rating.

Hi, Steve. If you are towing anything heavy with the Durango, you have the wrong vehicle. I found out I had a friend who works for Dodge - head of service at one of the dealerships. The salesmen have no clue what a towing package entails. they will tell you ANYTHING. My inside man told me under no circumstances should I tow my horse trailer with the Durango, no matter how beefed up it is. They do not have a towing package equivalent to the 2500 HD, which I own, which is set up for hauling. Suspension, brakes, gears, transmission, radiator with a transmission cooler, and on and on and on. Be careful! Now, about that brake controller, I have some expertise in that. You should set it up with your trailer empty, and watch your rearview mirror when you brake. If the tires lock up, adjust it. You have too much brake. And if if it's like mine, there is a little lever on it. You can manually brake your trailer if you need by pushing that lever over with your finger. Remember, with a heavy load, it's not the pulling you need to worry about, it's the stopping.

Steve Unless you see the brake controller on the right side of the dash below the steering wheel. You cannot hook up a brake controller. I bought a 19 RT Durango and the dealer told me they could hook on up in the service department. They were able to get a class IV hitch installed but for some reason on the 19 R/T they left out the wiring harness for a aftermarket controller or even a factory one. I had to fight with them for 3 months. Finally they swapped my Durango out for one with factory towing. I called everyone. I actually spoke to a dodge engineer and he told me it wasn’t possible. The only thing that saved me was they put towing package in my we owe paperwork. Good luck. I just wanted to save you some headache. People with different model years have the connector But the 19 R/T does not.

I just went back and read some of these posts. I hope we all learned a valuable lesson. How can you tell when a car salesman is lying? His lips are moving.

Steve if you do have that controller in the dash. All you have to do is plug in the brake connector at the hitch and it automatically picks up the trailer and you can adjust the gain.

Yes I have the OE brake controller already mounted in the dash to the right and just below the steering wheel. The % of electric brake applied to the trailer shows on the instrument cluster and the amount increases as you press the brake peddle harder. The gain buttons allow the amount of electric braking applied in this manner to be raised or lowered. Once the correct level is found the setting can be saved for that trailer. I struggled with finding the 'switch' to tell the car when I am towing. It is there and accessed from the steering wheel buttons, just not very clear.

Yep, same issue with my 2018 GT. Dealer I bought it from stated the tow capacity at 6200 lbs, all I had to do was install the hitch. Unfortunately I don't have anything in writing to fight back. For an 18, the factory tow package is: HD oil cooler, self leveling rear shocks, slightly larger brake rotors, and the hitch and wiring. On the V6, that is. They went away from the larger alternator a few years back I was told. The HD cooling is in reality a transmission cooler, I believe, not a larger radiator. I installed a trans cooler, Air lift 1000 bags in the rear shocks, and added a high performance brake set up (new vented/slotted rotors and ceramic pads) and the factory hitch and wiring. I don't tow a lot, but I've towed 4800 lbs without any issues. And yes, the "plate" on the side leads to a tow capacity of 3500 and that won't be changed, but that doesn't mean the vehicle is not capable of much more. And yes, the GVW issue in an accident could come up but that is a risk I'm willing to take. In reality the HD cooling has nothing to do with tow capacity, it has to do with reliability. The self leveling shocks are not really there to increase the tow capacity, it would take heavy duty rear springs to do that. The leveling is just to keep the rear end from squatting, and the air bags I have to just that. The only real thing helping with tow capacity is the brakes, and the place I bought mine sell them just for that purpose, better towing and stopping performance. So I'm not worried. Dodge is really screwing people over with the non-sense, I wish a few people who've been screwed would file a class action lawsuit against them. This "sales code" stuff is BS as well, I don't think I'll ever buy a Dodge again because of this crap.

Just bought a 2019 Durango with the Citadel package minus the receiver and brake controller. We decided to have the factory receiver with the cover and the “ factory integrated brake controller installed” since we are wanting to get back into camping and decide to purchase a camper. What a joke! A three hour job turned into an 11 day event! When I finally went to pick up my Durango the receiver looked great but I was told that they couldn’t use the Mopar integrated controller so they just installed a standard third party controller. I am not happy especially since we were assured by our salesman that it would be no problem installing the factory parts which is one of the reasons we went ahead with the purchase in the first place. They even said they had to take it to another vendor to get the Draw Tight controller to work. I really like my Durango but not lying dealerships!

I am in the market for a 2019 R/T, how can I be sure the tow package on the used vehicle was actually factory installed? In the factory? I think I read something about using a Vin # on a website maybe?? 'Original Sticker' says hitch, but doesn't use the words tow package. Does a tow package come with a trailer brake controller installed?

Guru8ms7v Ask your dealership for a build sheet using your vehicles vin#. Be sure you tell them you want an actual build sheet not the window sticker. The build sheet will have every option that is built into the vehicle not just the most standard options listed on the window sticker. That build sheet once you have it will list these options on it somewhere if it is truly equipped wth tow pkg from the factory. 1. Self leveling/ HD suspension, 2. HD engine cooling, 3. Full size spare tire, 4. Trailer sway damping. Those are just some of the main things to look for in the factory tow pkg there are probably other things ie. brake pkg, bigger alternator, bigger battery, but those other things listed above will be a tail tell sign that it has an actual tow pkg from the factory not just an added on hitch by the dealer. Hope that helps

I would also add if the hitch was added separately the build sheet should show that in the special equipment section provided they entered it after doin the install.

Guru8ms7v, add your vin to the URL below and it will pull the window sticker, the towing package will be under the options. https://www.ramtrucks.com/hostc/getWindowStic kerPdf.do?vin=

I bought a 2018 Durango in February of this year and thought it also had the tow package. It did not. I was able to source all of the needed parts( wiring harness, brake controller, class IV hitch, and bezel) on Mymoparparts.com and having the local dealer install them. I was also concerned about other parts that would allow me to two larger loads. So I looked up another used 2018 Durango with a tow package and found that the only things listed on the sticker with the tow package were the items I sourced. Now here is the kicker for others facing this situation. I have the Durango SRT model. So I am guessing everything is bigger on it (i.e.; radiator, transcooler, etc). Factory towing capacity on the SRT model is 8700lbs. My current plans only has me going to 60% of that capacity. I hope this was helpful for someone. Oh, as an FYI, I saved almost $300. getting the parts myself verse getting from the parts department at my dealer.

We have a 2011 V6 Durango Crew, and it does NOT have the tow package - yet we tow a 3,000 lb Camper trailer. Been towing like this for over 5 years now, and with normal routine maintenance, our 145,000 mile Durango has not skipped a beat. Sure, you're going to revv up the engine to around 5,ooo-6,ooo rpm, for some steep grades on the highway for short bursts, but it's do-able. Would I like a V8 better? Of course, but, the V6 is fine if you're mostly in rolling hills and flats. Wouldn't want this setup for the mountains anyway. If you're pulling a lighter trailer, not having the factory tow package is not a problem.

Alright guys i do have a 2014 SXT Rally RWD i am planing on buying me a 4800lb travel trailer can i tow it ? I am not sure i have the towing package if i log into the mopar site it tells me dealer installed tow group IV and group IV trailer hitch. My build sheet shows Standart duty cooling but also shows rear load leveling suspension and trailer sway damping the only thing i am missing here i guess is the heavy duty cooling. What do you think ?

Yep, I said that I can only buy the vehicle with the 6,500 tow package. I said it over and over--group IV tow package. I was told it did and even given a page saying that the class IV tow hitch was factory installed and part of the car. Come to find out--they installed the hitch and it doesn't have the tow package. I bought this car specifically to pull my trailer and I stated it many times. So now with a 3500lb limit not sure where to go from here. It was the Dan O'Brien CDJR in Methuen MA. They basically lied to me and took advantage of me.