[warriorbob]

Did a small road trip today of around 150 miles
Picked up my new 18 ft car hauler and towed it home
Towed absolutely perfect, only noise was from the trailer, Nitro had more then More then enough power to pull the triler (weight 1500 lbs) and averaged 19.2 MPG on the way back with the triler about 70% highway 30% city
Cant wait to get the car on the trailer and see how the R/T does with 4500 lbs on the back

 

[AirJunky]

The Dodge website is a good place to start.
It's basically 5000 lbs if you have the tow package & a weight distribution equalizer.

 

[Jonrs]

Just wanted to give some feed back to the towing capacity of the Nitro.
I used mine to pull a steel 2 horse trailer with 2 1000+ pound horses this weekend. The Nitro seemed to have NO trouble pulling and didn't sag down in the back much at all. The only issue noticed was the stopping distance required qreatly increased. So braking distance needs to be kept in mind while towing a heavy load.

 

[AirJunky]

I hope you meant 2100 lbs......

I've towed my ATV trailer (about 2200 lbs loaded) & a pontoon boat (about 2500 lbs) & not had much problem for the most part. But pulling up a mountain pass or even a good sized hill is not done easily with the Nitro. It will gear down & want to turn some RPMs to maintain speed. With that in mind I don't know how anyone could possibly tow 5000 lbs with this thing. I just don't think it's possible on anything but flat ground.

 

[Jonrs]

Air,
I am guessing the total weight with the 2 horses (1100 lbs each) and the trailer (1300 lbs) would be about 3500 lbs. I didn't really have to many big hills to cover, just normal Texas highway roads...fairly flat around here. I was just sorta surprised that I didn't feel more strain from the R/T.

 

[diamondrmp]

A few weeks ago I towed my bike in an enclosed trailer 400 miles from Northern California to Los Angeles. I think the weight of the trailer and my bike was 2500lbs. The Nitro performed flawless even going through Grants pass. I stuck it on cruise at 60mph and no problem through the pass.

 

[leecrump]

Im trying to get a SLT with the towing package. The dealer wants to slap a receiver on the back end and tell me "All done". When I ask about the "Power Steering Cooler" & "Heavy Duty Engine Cooling" described under the "Trailer Tow Group" on the build you own section at dodge.com I'm told by parts that these items don't exist or are not necessary. Live chat directed me to the Mopar website. Nothing listed there!

Can anybody tell me if the "Power Steering Cooler" & "Heavy Duty Engine Cooling" are actual parts or a product purely of Dodge markiting dept. Please provide part #s if available.

 

[whamisrick]

The power steering cooler and heavy duty engine cooling are real. The difference is a clutch fan on the engine as well as a electric fan. The power steering pump has a cooler on it also. I had a 07 Liberty (same drive train) No tow package. I was going to slap a hitch on it and they told me this would be a problem unless I got the heavy duty cooling. Got a 07 Nitro in exchange under the Lemon law because of trouble with the Liberty tranny. The Nitro has a towing package and it is much different than one without. Your dealer is full of crap. go to a different dealer.

 

[jdb1937]

Wow, a beautiful black combination you have there! take care. J.D.

 

[bhwolf]

isn't the nitro only rated for 3500 with the tow kit?

 

[warriorbob]

isn't the nitro only rated for 3500 with the tow kit?

R/T is rated at 5,000 Lbs with the correct hitch (i have the weight distributing hitch and sway control and electric brakes)

towed several times with it both city and highway and have not had one problem
has more then enough power to take off with and keep up easily with traffic, handles excellent and stops with no problems at all

 

[bhwolf]

Beautiful.....my wife and I have a 10' flatbed for dirtbikes and quads...should be no problem then eh?? ( we haven't gotten our R/T yet....just getting prepped )

 

[xpoc454]

Hmm, I have a SXT with towing package. It came with the car used. I assume it is rated at 3500?
Anyone know if this will let me pull an old car on a tow dolly?

thanks

 

[SeattleJoe]

Hmm, I have a SXT with towing package. It came with the car used. I assume it is rated at 3500?
Anyone know if this will let me pull an old car on a tow dolly?

It should be able to pull a car on a dolly if the car isn't a big one. The dolly shouldn't be more than 500# (I'm guessing here).

What's the approx weight of the car to be towed?

 

[xpoc454]

I dont have any thing in mind currently but it would be an old car. Most likely 70s chevy novas.

 

[SeattleJoe]

I dont have any thing in mind currently but it would be an old car. Most likely 70s chevy novas.

You'd want to confirm the weight of the car and of the dolly ... also, confirm the rating for the hitch assembly.

I'd think a Nova on a tow dolly would weigh in under 3500#.

 

[county23]

Trailer Hitches

So, I just got a '07 Nitro and plan to put a trailer hitch on,
Priced the wiring harness and hitch thru my local dealer..
OUCH! But here's the biggest question for anyone who has added the hitch,
The Parts guy and the Service Manager confirmed that once trailer lights harness is installed they need to connect a computer to the wiring harness and tell a module that there is now a trailer hitch installed, the service manager said that the lights (brake, tail & turns (it will work without doing that, but I should let them "activate" the Trailer feature in the module..
Has anyone here done this?

 

[Nitro mom]

I am looking for a hitch receiver to go on my 08 Nitro. I do not have the tow package. I don't need a really heavy duty one. All I plan to use it for is a cargo platform. Is there a certain brand that fits better than the rest? Also, I don't want to have to buy a new bumper. I recently had to replace mine due to my Nitro being backed into in a parking lot and it was quite expensive. Is there a hitch receiver out there that will allow me to keep my current bumper? Any help is greatly appreciated. I am really new at accersory buying and need some guidance. Thanks so much! Happy Trails!!!

 

[johnnylightning]

Need Help With Trailer Wiring

Hi, I have a 2008 Nitro SLT, it came from the factory with the trailer towing package installed. I have used it without any trouble towing a small utility trailer with a 4 pin connector. The trailer towing package came with a adapter to go from the larger 7 pin plug to a 4 wire plug and that all worked fine. Now I have ordered a 6 x 14 enclosed trailer that is going to require trailer brakes. What do I have to do or get to make this all work since I'll need to install an electric brake controller under the dash? Thanks, John

 

[rickaren]

Hi, I have a 2008 Nitro SLT, it came from the factory with the trailer towing package installed. I have used it without any trouble towing a small utility trailer with a 4 pin connector. The trailer towing package came with a adapter to go from the larger 7 pin plug to a 4 wire plug and that all worked fine. Now I have ordered a 6 x 14 enclosed trailer that is going to require trailer brakes. What do I have to do or get to make this all work since I'll need to install an electric brake controller under the dash? Thanks, John

Hi John and Welcome!

Don't know if I can help but I had a unit like that when I pulled a race car around years ago with electric brakes. I believe all that comes with the package I had, even had a battery operated 6V "break-away" that activated if the trailer came loose from the hitch (pull-pin and battery was mounted on the trailer tongue) and would lock-up the electric brakes on the trailer. Never used it as such thank god but great please-of-mind add-on. I also had the under dash manual controller too. Does your Owner's Manual have anything about this? If not wouldn't you have to buy this add on with parts and instructions? I know some of the Dodge Ram's comes with this from the factory. Does the newer Nitros, too? If not any add-on Kit (do an "On-Line" search) should have everything you need unless you have to purchase a battery for the highly recommended "Break-away" unit. If you purchased your trailer new they will have it, or any trailer shop. Good Luck. Hope this helps some. Let us know what you do.

Here is one Link: 2008 Dodge Nitro Brake Controller search with the Hitch Hunter ™ by etrailer.com (800) 298-8924