Did Dakota towing change for 2004?

Nothing on file says the published maximum changed for 2004. That is not the same as proof that it stayed the same.

Which configuration hits the maximum?

The 6,600 lb conventional maximum is printed for the 4.7L V8 (M5), Regular Cab, 6.5' Box bed, 2WD, 3.92 axle, SLT.

What tongue weight should I plan for a 2004 Dakota?

At the cited 6,600 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 660 lb of tongue weight. This is not a recommended percentage or a measurement; follow your trailer and vehicle instructions and measure the actual load. That load counts against payload and the rear axle rating.

Index · Dodge · Dakota

2004 Dodge Dakota

The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2004 Dodge Dakota is 6,600 lb, the top of 93 rows transcribed from Dodge’s 2004 Dodge Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload (Body Builder Guide). That row is printed for the 4.7L V8 (M5), Regular Cab, 6.5' Box bed, 2WD, 3.92 axle, SLT. Most configurations are rated lower: 92 of the 93 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2004 are below 6,600 lb. Across 93 manufacturer chart rows for 2004, ratings run conventional 3,650 lb to 6,600 lb; the engine, cab, axle ratio and package on your truck decide its number.

conventional4.7L V8 (M5), Regular Cab, 6.5' Box bed, 2WD, 3.92 axle, SLT.6,600 lb

The build table for 2004 is not transcribed. This page will not multiply trims, cabs, and engines into trucks the order guide did not list.

Hitch	Cited maximum	Configuration	Source grade
Conventional	6,600 lb	4.7L V8 (M5), Regular Cab, 6.5' Box bed, 2WD, 3.92 axle, SLT.	OEM chart

Highest rows among 93 transcribed chart configurations. Most trucks of this model year are rated lower; find your exact configuration in the table below.

Source: Dodge, 2004 Dodge Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload (Body Builder Guide), 2004 Dodge Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload (Body Builder Guide) tables (all pages). Ram/Dodge Body Builder guide weight & trailer-tow chart (rambodybuilder.com). Chart notes define Max Trailer = GCWR - curb weight - 150 lb driver allowance, rounded to nearest 50 lb.

Spec sheet

6 of 25 fields cited; 1 estimate. Field index

Cited fields may cover selected trims or only part of a measurement. Read the configuration and source beside each value; a cited field does not mean every version is researched.

Towing

Conventional maximum: 6,600 lb. 4.7L V8 (M5), Regular Cab, 6.5' Box bed, 2WD, 3.92 axle, SLT.Dodge source
Gooseneck maximum: Not transcribed for this model year.
Fifth-wheel maximum: Not transcribed for this model year.
Tongue or pin load: 660 lb tongue at the 6,600 lb conventional maximum. Illustration at 10 percent conventional and 15 percent in-bed, not a measured load or recommendation. Follow the trailer and vehicle instructions; actual load may be higher.Estimate
Weight distribution: Not transcribed for this model year.
Trailer frontal area: Not transcribed for this model year.

Weights

Payload: Not transcribed for this model year.
GCWR: 8,000–10,500 lb across 79 chart rows that print a GCWR (each row's GCWR is in the chart table and explorer)Dodge source
GVWR: Not transcribed for this model year.
Front GAWR: Not transcribed for this model year.
Rear GAWR: Not transcribed for this model year.
Curb weight: Not transcribed for this model year.

Body

Wheelbase: Not transcribed for this model year.
Bed length: 6.5' BoxDodge source
Bed width and depth: Not transcribed for this model year.
Cab-to-axle: Not transcribed for this model year.
Overall length, width, height: Not transcribed for this model year.
Ground clearance and angles: Not transcribed for this model year.
Fifth-wheel clearance: Not transcribed for this model year.

Power

Engine, horsepower, torque: Not transcribed for this model year.
Transmission: Not transcribed for this model year.
Fuel type and tank: Not transcribed for this model year.
Drivetrain: 2WD, 4WDDodge source
Axle ratio: 3.92, 3.55Dodge source
Tow package: SLT; Sport; BaseDodge source

Bed, tongue weight, and wheelbase

The trailer rating is one limit. The bed has to fit the load, the tongue or pin has to fit in payload, and the wheelbase is the column the chart uses.

An illustrative 10 percent of the 6,600 lb conventional maximum is 660 lb of tongue weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.

Bed capacity · Tongue and pin weight · Wheelbase · GCWR, GVWR, and GAWR. Wheelbase is not transcribed for this year. See the spec sheet for the sourced GCWR and its configuration.

Estimate payload margin and bed volume · How these limits work together

Generation

Second generation

2004 is year 8 of this generation (1997–2004). Dodge's midsize pickup, between the compact trucks and the Ram.

2004 towing by engine

Lowest to highest printed rating for each engine across 93 transcribed chart rows. A missing hitch means the chart did not print one for that engine, not that it is zero.

Engine	Conventional	Chart rows
4.7L V8 (M5)	4,600–6,600 lb	22
4.7L V8 (A5)	4,550–6,500 lb	22
3.7L V6 (A4)	4,800–5,300 lb	23
3.7L V6 (M5)	3,650–4,850 lb	26

Highest-rated configurations

Trailer	Engine	Cab / bed	Drive	Axle / package	GCWR	Evidence
6,600 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (M5)	Regular Cab, 6.5' Box	2WD	3.92 · SLT^{note 1}	—	PDF page 1, "Model Lineup", section "Dakota 4x2 Reg. Cab SLT AN1H61 - 6.5' Box", row 4.7L V8 (M5) axle 3.92
6,550 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (M5)	Regular Cab, 6.5' Box	2WD	3.92 · SLT^{note 2}	—	PDF page 1, "Model Lineup", section "Dakota 4x2 Reg. Cab SLT AN1H61 - 6.5' Box", row 4.7L V8 (M5) axle 3.92
6,550 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (M5)	Regular Cab, 6.5' Box	2WD	3.92 · Sport^{note 3}	—	PDF page 1, "Model Lineup", section "Dakota Reg. Cab 4x2 Sport AN1M61 - 6.5' Box", row 4.7L V8 (M5) axle 3.92
6,550 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (M5)	Regular Cab, 6.5' Box	2WD	3.92 · Sport^{note 4}	—	PDF page 1, "Model Lineup", section "Dakota Reg. Cab 4x2 Sport AN1M61 - 6.5' Box", row 4.7L V8 (M5) axle 3.92
6,500 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (A5)	Regular Cab, 6.5' Box	2WD	3.92 · SLT^{note 1}	—	PDF page 1, "Model Lineup", section "Dakota 4x2 Reg. Cab SLT AN1H61 - 6.5' Box", row 4.7L V8 (A5) axle 3.92
6,500 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (A5)	Regular Cab, 6.5' Box	2WD	3.92 · SLT^{note 2}	—	PDF page 1, "Model Lineup", section "Dakota 4x2 Reg. Cab SLT AN1H61 - 6.5' Box", row 4.7L V8 (A5) axle 3.92
6,500 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (A5)	Regular Cab, 6.5' Box	2WD	3.92 · Sport^{note 3}	—	PDF page 1, "Model Lineup", section "Dakota Reg. Cab 4x2 Sport AN1M61 - 6.5' Box", row 4.7L V8 (A5) axle 3.92
6,450 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (A5)	Regular Cab, 6.5' Box	2WD	3.92 · Sport^{note 4}	—	PDF page 1, "Model Lineup", section "Dakota Reg. Cab 4x2 Sport AN1M61 - 6.5' Box", row 4.7L V8 (A5) axle 3.92
6,450 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (M5)	Club Cab, 6.5' Box	2WD	3.92 · SLT^{note 5}	10,500 lb	PDF page 2, "Model Lineup", section "Dakota Club Cab 4x2 SLT AN1H31 - 6.5' Box", row 4.7L V8 (M5) axle 3.92
6,400 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (A5)	Club Cab, 6.5' Box	2WD	3.92 · SLT^{note 5}	10,500 lb	PDF page 2, "Model Lineup", section "Dakota Club Cab 4x2 SLT AN1H31 - 6.5' Box", row 4.7L V8 (A5) axle 3.92
6,300 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (M5)	Regular Cab, 6.5' Box	4WD	3.92 · SLT^{note 6}	—	PDF page 1, "Model Lineup", section "Dakota 4x4 Reg. Cab SLT AN5H61 - 6.5' Box", row 4.7L V8 (M5) axle 3.92
6,300 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (M5)	Regular Cab, 6.5' Box	4WD	3.92 · SLT^{note 7}	—	PDF page 1, "Model Lineup", section "Dakota 4x4 Reg. Cab SLT AN5H61 - 6.5' Box", row 4.7L V8 (M5) axle 3.92

GVWR 5000 lbs. Body code AN1H61. GCWR cell not cleanly extractable; omitted.
GVWR 5900 lbs. Body code AN1H61. GCWR cell not cleanly extractable; omitted.
GVWR 5000 lbs. Body code AN1M61. GCWR cell not cleanly extractable; omitted.
GVWR 5900 lbs. Body code AN1M61. GCWR cell not cleanly extractable; omitted.
GVWR 5350 lbs. Body code AN1H31.
GVWR 5400 lbs. Body code AN5H61. GCWR cell not cleanly extractable; omitted.
GVWR 5900 lbs. Body code AN5H61. GCWR cell not cleanly extractable; omitted.

Chart source: Dodge, 2004 Dodge Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload (Body Builder Guide). The evidence column gives each row’s page and table.

Find your exact configuration (93 rows) →Download 2004 rows as CSV ↓

What changes the number

Engine and transmission
Cab, bed, and wheelbase
Two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive
Axle ratio and tow package
Conventional hitch versus fifth-wheel versus gooseneck
People, options, and cargo, which spend payload the chart assumed was empty

Questions

How much can a 2004 Dodge Dakota tow?: The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2004 Dodge Dakota is 6,600 lb, the top of 93 rows transcribed from Dodge’s 2004 Dodge Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload (Body Builder Guide). That row is printed for the 4.7L V8 (M5), Regular Cab, 6.5' Box bed, 2WD, 3.92 axle, SLT. Most configurations are rated lower: 92 of the 93 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2004 are below 6,600 lb.
Did Dakota towing change for 2004?: Nothing on file says the published maximum changed for 2004. That is not the same as proof that it stayed the same.
Which configuration hits the maximum?: The 6,600 lb conventional maximum is printed for the 4.7L V8 (M5), Regular Cab, 6.5' Box bed, 2WD, 3.92 axle, SLT.
What tongue weight should I plan for a 2004 Dakota?: At the cited 6,600 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 660 lb of tongue weight. This is not a recommended percentage or a measurement; follow your trailer and vehicle instructions and measure the actual load. That load counts against payload and the rear axle rating.

Compare with

Compare the 2004 Dakota with any truck and year →

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