New Towed Vehicle 2025 Dodge Durango R/T AWD

paulwadley

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2018
Messages
2,682
Location
Anaheim Hills
We traded in our 2014 Ford Flex that we had been flat towing for the last couple of years for a brand new 2025 Dodge Durango R/T AWD Blacktop Edition with the 5.7 Hemi. It has the 2 speed transfer case and as per Dodge it can be flat towed. I checked the system to be sure the transfer case switches everything to neutral when flat towing and everything works properly. I next have to buy and install the new Blue Ox base plate and install my Demco Stay N Play Duo braking system. We went with this vehicle since it can seat up to 7 passengers. Our Ford Flex could seat 6 passengers. It is still under my towing weight limit. I was originally looking at the Chevrolet Traverse or Tahoe. The Traverse can not be flat towed and the Tahoe was too heavy.

Paul
 
The all wheel drive model is 5313 pounds which is what I have now. It has to have the 2 speed transfer case in order to be flat towed.

Paul
 
Tx Paul
Nice ride(y) We had a Jeep Commander built on the same chassis as the Durango which was over 5000 lbs as well. Loved that SUV but IMHO it was too close to the limit to tow with a Class A gasser, so we swapped it for a Cherokee.
Enjoy that Dodge!
 
I tow a 23 chevy trailblazer and am using the RV Shadow braking system . Installed 20 months ago all of a sudden my battery dies 20 months old . Mechanic stating who ever hooked up the Shadow hacked it . And its constantly drawing power .Even when not being used . Are all these braking system this complicated? Batterys aren't cheap these days
 
I tow a 23 chevy trailblazer and am using the RV Shadow braking system . Installed 20 months ago all of a sudden my battery dies 20 months old . Mechanic stating who ever hooked up the Shadow hacked it . And its constantly drawing power .Even when not being used . Are all these braking system this complicated? Batterys aren't cheap these days
None of them are complicated for people who follow instructions. Obviously, your installer did not as you say it was "hacked".

You might want to have your lighting installation checked as well.
 
Thats camping world for ya . They installed a solenoid that wasnt even part of the system . Know i gotta go deal with them
 
Did you have a charge line installed so that when you are towing, the motor home's charging system sends a charge to your towed vehicle?

Paul
 
I tow a 23 chevy trailblazer and am using the RV Shadow braking system . Installed 20 months ago all of a sudden my battery dies 20 months old . Mechanic stating who ever hooked up the Shadow hacked it . And its constantly drawing power .Even when not being used . Are all these braking system this complicated? Batterys aren't cheap these days
I have a shadow brake in my Cherokee that has been a problem. The 12V wire that goes to the RV and the "battery charger" wire to the battery are connected in the box. As a result, the shadow box draws power from the car battery. In my case, it also powered my brake light override relay which caused the Jeep to not start. RVi was no help! I ended up putting a switch between the jeep battery and the Shadow box.
 
I just ordered my new Blue Ox base plate and tail light wire kit for the 2025 Dodge Durango R/T AWD. I also ordered a battery charge line so that everything gets installed at one time. I already have the tabs, safety cables, emergency brake release cable and the Blue Ox Alpha 2 tow bar from my last vehicle. Now I just have to remove the Demco Stay N Play Duo under the hood compressor, controller and brake pedal connector from my old car to be instaled on the Dodge Durango. I also ordered the Demco Stay N Play re-install kit.

Paul
 
Thats camping world for ya . They installed a solenoid that wasnt even part of the system . Know i gotta go deal with them

No i did not had to install battery disconnect cause have to put it in neutral to tow .
So the RViBrake shadow system has to be connected directly to your battery if you have to disconnect the battery when the vehicle is being towed (as is the case with your Trailblazer). The "extra solenoid" is probably used to disconnect the battery from the vehicle while it is being towed. I have one in my Colorado.

The RViBrake shadow also includes battery charging when the vehicle is being towed. They require this to be connected for the system to work properly.

So the issue may be that the RViBrake Shadow system is always on, even when not being towed, and even when the vehicle is parked. This "should" not be a problem as the idle current draw from the system should be just a few milliamps, which won't drain your battery unless parked for months.

So unless the "new" mechanic actually tested the parasitic draw on your battery and determined it to be excessive AND was being caused by the RViBrake system he may just be telling you that is the problem due to ignorance of the braking system.

So you may have just got a bad OEM battery, or
You may indeed have an installation problem, or
Your RViBrake system may have an issue and actually be drawing too much idle current.
 
We traded in our 2014 Ford Flex that we had been flat towing for the last couple of years for a brand new 2025 Dodge Durango R/T AWD Blacktop Edition with the 5.7 Hemi. It has the 2 speed transfer case and as per Dodge it can be flat towed. I checked the system to be sure the transfer case switches everything to neutral when flat towing and everything works properly. I next have to buy and install the new Blue Ox base plate and install my Demco Stay N Play Duo braking system. We went with this vehicle since it can seat up to 7 passengers. Our Ford Flex could seat 6 passengers. It is still under my towing weight limit. I was originally looking at the Chevrolet Traverse or Tahoe. The Traverse can not be flat towed and the Tahoe was too heavy.

Paul
Good luck with that,I had the same exact vehicle but it was a 2023.Bought it brand new with intentions of towing it behind our diesel pusher.Besides hacking up the front grill and spoiler for baseplate install,could not find anybody to do the job under 10k.Got a jeep gladiator instead for our tow vehicle.
 
I have a quote from yesterday for the labor to install everything. It is $1750. I just supply the parts to the shop. It is a dealership(independent Dodge/Chrysler) that specializes in custom work. I am getting a 2nd quote on Friday from my Dodge dealership where I bought the Durango.

Paul
 
$1750K for labor for a qualified tech at a Dodge dealer sounds about right.
You can probably find someone to do it cheaper.
But I wouldn't want a GOOBER at a Camping World taking the clip off the front of my brandy new car. I would go with the Dodge Boys.
 
I just got the Durango back from the shop that installed the Blue Ox base plate, battery charge line, tail light/diodes and re-installed my Demco Stay N Play Duo braking system. It looks great. The shop did a perfect job. They do customizations to cars and it is also a Chrysler/Dodge dealership with high end cars other than Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep/Ram. It took them a full two days for all of the work. I supplied all of the parts needed plus I was able to help guide them on a few issues they were having with the install. This was the first time they had the opportunity to do this type of installation.
2025 Dodge Durango Flat Tow.jpeg
 
Looks a lot cleaner than my old TJ! Blue Ox didn't make the twist connects for the TJ style... which shortens and helps hide things.

I installed a charge line, but also ran the power for my InvisiBrake through a firewall mounted toggle disconnect switch.

We did an overnight where I left the Jeep connected and I forgot to unhook the 7-way and turn off that disconnect. Woke up to a dead Jeep battery. Learn from the school of hard knocks and dead batteries...🥴
 
Paul,
Why do you have the components you do?

I can do;
Best
Or
Cheapest
Or
Most expensive.

I prefer best as I'm sure you do.
It'll be towing a two speed transfer case in neutral with the trans in park, using a 24.1(24.1's are way underweight)

I'd like some brake system that doesn't need removed to operate the vehicle.
Some of them look to be the size of direct tv dishes.
 
I went with the Blue Ox Alpha 2 tow bar and the Blue Ox base plate. I too wanted a brake system that is mounted on the vehicle and I don't have to set it up each time so I went with the Demco Stay N Play Duo brake system. It uses a compressor that you mount under the hood which controls an actuator attached to the vehicle's brake pedal. The motor home brakes send a signal to the unit as well as the inertia of stopping to activate the vehicle's brakes. There is also a safety brake away that will activate the brakes in the event the towed vehicle becomes loose from being towed. I had this system on my prior towed vehicle. When I sold the vehicle, the system was removed so I could install it on my current vehicle. Demco has a re-install kit to allow you to reuse the major components of the system to help reduce the cost. The blue ox base plate cost me under $650, blue ox tail light with diodes $65, Demco re-install kit $50, new battery charge line kit $35 and then I had a shop do the installation for $1750 using my old Demco compressor, brake actuator and the system control unit. The Demco system stays attached to the vehicle and you just turn it off with a simple toggle switch. ETrailer has the Demco System listed at under $1200 brand new.

Paul
 

Attachments

  • Demco Durango.jpeg
    Demco Durango.jpeg
    624.4 KB · Views: 2

New posts

Try RV LIFE Pro Free for 7 Days

  • New Ad-Free experience on this RV LIFE Community.
  • Plan the best RV Safe travel with RV LIFE Trip Wizard.
  • Navigate with our RV Safe GPS mobile app.
  • and much more...
Try RV LIFE Pro Today
Back
Top