Help Selecting Load Distribution/Sway Control
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 438

New camper (to me) that weights about 4200 lbs causes my Dakota to sag pretty bad in the back. Anyone know of or use a load equalizer that isn't too expensive (say under $250) that would work well.
#3
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019

IMHO that is a pretty heavy trailer to be hooking up to a Dakota without taxing the engine/transmission. If you haven't done so already, the first thing I would do is go talk to a dealer to see if the vehicle is strong enough to even tow something like that without ruining it even if you can find a decent setup to level it out. I have a Silverado 4x4 shortbed and just started towing a 19' tandem axle trailer 2 years ago that weighs a little more than what you mentioned when it's loaded and it even takes that bigger truck down a little bit, but not enough that I needed to add sway bars or an equalizer. I'm guessing that your Dakota isn't a big enough vehicle to be pulling what you bought, but I may be off base!
Last edited by Topgun 3006; 03-31-2015 at 05:35 PM. Reason: Spelling
#5

Unless you can find a used one somewhere you're not going to get away cheap for load levelers and sway control. And I would definitely not tow a trailer that size without them. And, depending on your model that is pushing the limits of your Dakota.
See this: http://www.new-cars.com/2004/dodge/d...er-towing.html
You can change the year but you can see the towing range varies considerably.
See this: http://www.new-cars.com/2004/dodge/d...er-towing.html
You can change the year but you can see the towing range varies considerably.