Dodge Durango Build Sheet: Seating, Drivetrain, Towing and Equipment Groups
A Dodge Durango build sheet answers the practical questions about one specific truck: how many seats it has and how the second row is laid out, whether it is rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, which engine it carries, whether factory trailer-tow equipment was installed, and which option groups were added. On the 2011-and-later Durango those details vary widely, even between two trucks wearing the same trim badge. Enter the 17-character VIN in the VIN lookup; when a factory equipment record is available, it lists the installed equipment as sales codes with descriptions. A basic decode of the VIN gives you the model year, plant, engine and sometimes the drive type, but not the seating layout, tow hardware or packages.
Which Durango you have
| Model years | Construction | Engines |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–2003 | Body-on-frame, based on the Dakota pickup; rear-wheel or four-wheel drive | 3.9L V6, 4.7L V8, 5.2L V8, 5.9L V8 |
| 2004–2009 | Larger body-on-frame design; a hybrid version was offered for 2009 | 3.7L V6, 4.7L V8, 5.7L HEMI V8 |
| 2011 on | Unibody, related to the Jeep Grand Cherokee of the same era; built in Detroit | 3.6L Pentastar V6, 5.7L HEMI V8, 6.4L HEMI V8 (SRT 392, from 2018), supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 (SRT Hellcat, 2021 and again from 2023) |
There was no 2010 Durango. Older trucks are generally less likely to return a factory record than recent ones, but the decode still identifies the year, plant and engine.
Seating: how many seats, and how the second row is set up
Most third-generation Durangos have three rows, though some, such as certain base SXT trucks, were built with two rows and five seats. On a three-row truck, the second row decides the count. A three-passenger bench makes it a seven-seater; two captain's chairs make it a six-seater with a walkway to the third row. Listings do not always get this right, and seats can be swapped after the sale, so confirm it on the record before you plan carpools around it.
Seating lines are usually easy to spot. Here is how the site's sales code navigator lists three relevant codes. Code meanings can vary by model and year, so go by the description on your own record.
| Code | Navigator description |
|---|---|
| CFF | Second-row, 60/40 Fold-and-Tumble three-passenger bench |
| CFU | Second-row, Fold-and-Tumble Captain's Chairs; includes second-row, seat-mounted inboard armrests |
| CUM | Second-row mini floor console with cup holders and storage; also includes a floor mat for the third row |
The record also shows seat material and heated or ventilated seating when it was installed, which helps when a listing photo shows only the front row.
Rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive
V6 and HEMI Durangos were sold in both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive form, while the SRT models are all-wheel drive. The difference affects winter traction and fuel use, and a checkbox in a used listing is not proof. The decode sometimes reports drive type; the build record confirms it through the installed driveline equipment. The earlier body-on-frame Durangos used four-wheel-drive systems that differ from the later all-wheel drive, so compare like with like when reading an older truck's record.
Towing: what the record shows and what it does not
The Durango's reputation as a tow vehicle rests mostly on the HEMI and SRT versions, but engine size alone does not make a truck tow-ready. Factory towing capability depends on the combination of engine, drivetrain, axle ratio and installed tow equipment such as the receiver hitch, trailer wiring and related cooling. The build record shows which of those were installed at the factory, when they are listed. It does not state a tow rating; published ratings come from Dodge's specifications for that model year and configuration and from the owner's manual.
A hitch on the bumper is not the same thing as a factory tow package. If the record shows no tow equipment but the truck has a well-used receiver, someone may have towed without the factory hardware. Dodge Towing Package by VIN separates installed equipment from published ratings in more detail, and Dodge Axle Ratio by VIN covers the gearing line that often travels with tow equipment.
Trims and equipment groups
Trim names changed over the third generation. Earlier years used names such as Express, Crew and Limited; later lineups were built around SXT, GT, R/T, Citadel and the SRT models, though not every name was offered every year. Within each trim, option groups do most of the separating:
- Appearance groups such as Blacktop, which add dark wheels and trim. When a record is available, it separates a factory package from aftermarket wraps and paint.
- Plus and technology groups, which bundle upgraded interiors, convenience features and driver-assistance systems that changed from year to year.
- Family equipment such as rear-seat entertainment, sunroofs and multi-zone climate control.
- SRT content — performance seats, brakes and drivetrain equipment that should all be present on a genuine SRT 392 or Hellcat.
Fleet and police Durangos, including the Pursuit model, also turn up on the used market. They are usually lightly optioned or carry heavy-duty equipment, and the record often shows that however the ad is written.