If you are going to do ANY towing with a Dodge of that era, get a handshaker!!!!!!!! If is says P RNDL on the dash RUN!!!!
I had a 2000 Durango with the 5.9 V8 and auto transmission that I pulled a smaller Travel Trailer with ~4000lbs. The trailer was well within the factory limits for towing. It had a tow package with a transmission cooler, hitch and wiring from the factory. The 5.9 had plenty of power to pull with, but it took less than a season and a half to kill the transmission. $1400 later and I was back on the road. Fortunately, it failed when we had gotten back from a trip to Central Kentucky. I was taking the camper back to where I stored it and it wouldn't shift out of second. Dropped it off, drove back home and took it in and the clutches had come apart.....
One thing to remember with a Dodge, they are known for POWER not FUEL ECONOMY. My Durango was 4x4, with the 360 5.9L V8 and auto transmission on an empty mixed commute (I drive ~30 one way to work, most is at 55+ with both ends being in town) was 12-13MPG if I was lucky..... towing it dropped to single digits...... My worst trip was coming back from a mini-rally. It was in Northeast Indiana and I live in Central Indiana (Near Indianapolis). I was running late, and was hot-footing it back home on Sunday Evening.... I filled up in Angola, Indiana and headed South on I-69. I was in 3rd gear (OD OFF) and bucking a pretty good head wind (15-20 MPH sustained) and was running 65-70 MPH on the way back (normally the truck was more comfortable at 55-60, and I usually stayed off the Interstates (Just personal preference with this rig). I drove South on I-69 to my exit at State Road 9 in the Anderson, Indiana area. As I got close to Anderson, the gas light came on for low fuel (~1/8 tank). So I got gas when I exited. The traveled distance? 126 MILES!!!!!!!! It had a 25 gallon tank........ so I'll let you do the math...... it still depresses me to this day........
Just to compare, same trailer, Excursion listed below..... Towing on the Interstates at posted speed (didn't hesitate to tow on the Interstate with the Excursion) with the air on and the cruise set I would get 12-15 TOWING..... I've gotten 20+ empty on a long Interstate trip..........