To hide or Not

[SleepeR/T]

I am looking at adding a hidden hitch on my truck with a steel roll pan. Anyone run into any problems with one of these? Will I have to relocate my spare? Here's a link at what I am looking at. Thanks,

http://www.autotrucktoys.com/dodge_dakota/Street-Scene-Dodge-Dakota-Hidden-Hitch-System-97-04-P24673C7205.aspx

[99BlackMagic]

I recommend that you don't add a hitch at all. If you do, then you'd just be tempted to tow something with it...

...not something these factory lowered R/T's are meant for. If you are reading that you have a 6500 lb tow rating, then please check out some of the following links:

http://webpages.charter.net/hemi/98RT.html

http://www.trailerlife.com/towratings/tr00_chrys-dodge.cfm

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/revnppub/B152928.DOC

Of course, others have had no problems:

http://www.dakota-durango.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1280022

[TurboBlew]

what are you towing?

Id keep it hidden and relocate the spare into the bed since you have a topper.

[SleepeR/T]

Damn it! I had never heard that before about our trucks. That is some B.S. I don't tow anything regularly. It is nice to have the option because I have an old mustang I tow every now and then on a car trailer. My f...... subaru has a tow rating close to 2k lbs. Is it only the 98,99 model years? I've taken the topper off, I think I might sell my topper and find a tonneau cover. Hell if I can't use my truck as a truck.... Don't get me wrong I love it.

2,000lb tow rating is freakin lame.

[TurboBlew]

You can tow more with it. Personally if you're towing a load like that you can switch to 15 or 16" rims with tires that have a greater load capacity and put an auxillary trans cooler on the truck and tow cars where ever.

I know Ive towed an enclosed trailer and a heavy open bed trailer with my old RT. Never had any problems.

[hskr]

Yeah, don't be mislead by the tow rating. Dodge just did that to cover thier asses because some people were tying to do more than they should have and were bottoming out the suspension and causing problems. Keep the tongue weight down and maybe add some helper springs and you will be just fine. I've got a hidden hitch behind my bumper and have towed a few smaller trailers with no problems.

[SleepeR/T]

Thanks for the good info. Guess I need to find some helper springs. I don't intend on towing heavy weights often, but I maybe moving sometime this late summer or fall and will be towing at least one car over 1,000mi.

[white00R/T129]

I have the same hidden hitch and have had no problems with it. Hooking up the chains from the trailer is kinda tricky b/c the spare is a little in the way but its still where its suppose to be. You just have to lower it out of the way at first and then put it back in place after. I tow a 16 foot single axle utility trailer with 2 450 sport fourwheelers (roughly 400lbs a piece) to the mx track once to twice a week. So combined 800lbs for the bikes and roughly 800 to 1000 for the trailer makes about 1600 to 1800lbs, and I kinda feel like the truck does fine under 50 but it takes a lot of gas to get it to go any faster. I have to say though that was when it was stock. Now that I'm putting the performance parts on it the truck it doesn't really struggle at all. :D

[BryanRT360]

I tow a 16 foot single axle utility trailer with 2 450 sport fourwheelers (roughly 400lbs a piece) to the mx track once to twice a week.


So you actually take the R/T off road :nono::jester:

[white00R/T129]

lol nah I just take my yfz offroad the r/t just gets them there

[slvr03dakrt]

well part of the reason I got a rollpan was an excuse not to tow anything. yep my truck is basically a car but i do put stuff in the bed ocasinally (hehe the nitrous tank)