Did Dakota towing change for 2008?

Compare the cited 2008 figures on this page with the 2007 record. They are stored separately.

What tongue weight should I plan for a 2008 Dakota?

At the cited 7,200 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 720 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

2008 Dodge Dakota

The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2008 Dodge Dakota is 7,200 lb, the top of 66 rows transcribed from Dodge’s 2008 Dodge Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload (Body Builder Guide). That row is printed for the 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5), Extended Cab, Short Bed bed, 2WD, 3.92 axle, SLT. Most configurations are rated lower: 65 of the 66 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2008 are below 7,200 lb. Across 66 manufacturer chart rows for 2008, ratings run conventional 3,200 lb to 7,200 lb; the engine, cab, axle ratio and package on your truck decide its number.

conventional4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5), Extended Cab, Short Bed bed, 2WD, 3.92 axle, SLT.7,200 lb

The build table for 2008 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	7,200 lb	4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5), Extended Cab, Short Bed bed, 2WD, 3.92 axle, SLT.	OEM chart

Highest rows among 66 transcribed chart configurations. Most trucks of this model year are rated lower; find your exact configuration in the table below.

Source: Dodge, 2008 Dodge Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload (Body Builder Guide), 2008 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: 7,200 lb. 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5), Extended Cab, Short Bed 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: 720 lb tongue at the 7,200 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: 7,700–11,700 lb across 66 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: Short BedDodge 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, 3.55, 3.21Dodge source
Tow package: SLT; Sport; TRX; Laramie; ST; SXTDodge 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 7,200 lb conventional maximum is 720 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

Change from 2007

Conventional: 7,100 lb in 2007, 7,200 lb in 2008 (+100 lb).

Generation

Third generation

2008 is year 4 of this generation (2005–2011). Redesigned Dakota. Sold as the Ram Dakota for its final 2011 model year.

2008 towing by engine

Lowest to highest printed rating for each engine across 66 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 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5)	5,600–7,200 lb	30
3.7L V6 (EKG) / 42RLE 4sp AUTO w/VLP (DGV) (A4)	4,400–4,950 lb	20
3.7L V6 (EKG) / Getrag 6 sp MANU (DEJ) (M6)	3,200–4,150 lb	16

Highest-rated configurations

Trailer	Engine	Cab / bed	Drive	Axle / package	GCWR	Evidence
7,200 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5)	Extended Cab, Short Bed	2WD	3.92 · SLT^{note 1}	11,700 lb	PDF page 1, "2008 Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload", section "DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB 2WD SHORT BED SLT ND 1H33", row 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5) axle 3.92
7,150 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5)	Crew Cab, Short Bed	2WD	3.92 · Sport^{note 2}	11,700 lb	PDF page 2, "2008 Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload", section "DAKOTA CREW CAB 2WD SHORT BED SPORT ND 1S33", row 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5) axle 3.92
7,100 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5)	Extended Cab, Short Bed	2WD	3.92 · TRX^{note 3}	11,700 lb	PDF page 1, "2008 Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload", section "DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB 2WD SHORT BED TRX ND 1X33", row 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5) axle 3.92
7,100 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5)	Extended Cab, Short Bed	2WD	3.92 · Laramie^{note 4}	11,700 lb	PDF page 2, "2008 Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload", section "DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB LARAMIE 2WD SHORT BED ND 1P33", row 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5) axle 3.92
7,050 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5)	Crew Cab, Short Bed	2WD	3.92 · SLT^{note 5}	11,700 lb	PDF page 2, "2008 Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload", section "DAKOTA CREW CAB 2WD SHORT BED SLT ND 1H84", row 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5) axle 3.92
7,050 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5)	Crew Cab, Short Bed	2WD	3.92 · Sport^{note 6}	11,700 lb	PDF page 2, "2008 Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload", section "DAKOTA CREW CAB 2WD SHORT BED SPORT ND 1S84", row 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5) axle 3.92
7,000 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5)	Crew Cab, Short Bed	2WD	3.92 · TRX^{note 7}	11,700 lb	PDF page 2, "2008 Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload", section "DAKOTA CREW CAB 2WD SHORT BED TRX ND 1X84", row 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5) axle 3.92
7,000 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5)	Crew Cab, Short Bed	2WD	3.92 · Laramie^{note 8}	11,700 lb	PDF page 2, "2008 Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload", section "DAKOTA CREW CAB LARAMIE 2WD SHORT BED ND 1P84", row 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5) axle 3.92
7,000 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5)	Extended Cab, Short Bed	4WD	3.92 · SLT^{note 9}	11,700 lb	PDF page 3, "2008 Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload", section "DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB 4WD SHORT BED SLT ND 5H33", row 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5) axle 3.92
6,950 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5)	Extended Cab, Short Bed	4WD	3.92 · Sport^{note 10}	11,700 lb	PDF page 4, "2008 Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload", section "DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB SPORT 4WD SHORT BED ND 5S33", row 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5) axle 3.92
6,850 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5)	Extended Cab, Short Bed	4WD	3.92 · TRX^{note 11}	11,700 lb	PDF page 3, "2008 Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload", section "DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB 4WD SHORT BED TRX ND 5X33", row 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5) axle 3.92
6,850 lb Conventional	4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5)	Crew Cab, Short Bed	4WD	3.92 · SLT^{note 12}	11,700 lb	PDF page 4, "2008 Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload", section "DAKOTA CREW CAB 4WD SHORT BED SLT ND 5H84", row 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5) axle 3.92

GVWR 6,010 lbs. Body code ND1H33.
GVWR 6,010 lbs. Body code ND1S33.
GVWR 6,010 lbs. Body code ND1X33.
GVWR 6,010 lbs. Body code ND1P33.
GVWR 6,010 lbs. Body code ND1H84.
GVWR 6,010 lbs. Body code ND1S84.
GVWR 6,010 lbs. Body code ND1X84.
GVWR 6,010 lbs. Body code ND1P84.
GVWR 6,010 lbs. Body code ND5H33.
GVWR 6,010 lbs. Body code ND5S33.
GVWR 6,010 lbs. Body code ND5X33.
GVWR 6,010 lbs. Body code ND5H84.

Chart source: Dodge, 2008 Dodge Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload (Body Builder Guide). The evidence column gives each row’s page and table.

Find your exact configuration (66 rows) →Download 2008 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 2008 Dodge Dakota tow?: The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2008 Dodge Dakota is 7,200 lb, the top of 66 rows transcribed from Dodge’s 2008 Dodge Dakota Base Weights/GCW/Payload (Body Builder Guide). That row is printed for the 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5), Extended Cab, Short Bed bed, 2WD, 3.92 axle, SLT. Most configurations are rated lower: 65 of the 66 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2008 are below 7,200 lb.
Did Dakota towing change for 2008?: Compare the cited 2008 figures on this page with the 2007 record. They are stored separately.
Which configuration hits the maximum?: The 7,200 lb conventional maximum is printed for the 4.7L V8 (EVE) / 545RFE 5sp AUTO (DGQ) (A5), Extended Cab, Short Bed bed, 2WD, 3.92 axle, SLT.
What tongue weight should I plan for a 2008 Dakota?: At the cited 7,200 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 720 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 2008 Dakota with any truck and year →

2006 · 2007 · 2009 · 2010 · All Dakota years