Upgrading the crappy Goodyears will also help handling under load.
----- Original Message -----
From: <Tubamirbls@aol.com>
To: <dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net>
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 9:35 AM
Subject: Re: Dakota a half ton (was: DML: Gooseneck Hitch)
>
> Hi Adam
> I agree, it actually sounds proposterous! Unlike what I assume to be
> the majority of members of this List, I use my truck for work daily. Mine
> has the optional 2,000# factory GVW rating and trailer hitch. My trailer
> weighs only 550# empty and @ the tongue about 270#. When pulling around
> 2,500# combined trailer cargo and trailer weight and little or nothing in
the
> truck it drives as though there was a giant hand behind pushing strongly
> forward. If I add about 1,000# truck cargo it tends to handle better
except
> for stopping power. I never feel safe driving more than 50mph with loads
and
> loaded trailer and then keep several car length distance if possible from
the
> guy ahead of me.
> I've only had a full 2,000# load in the truck alone several times.
The
> body rubber suspension limit bumpers are about 3" off the rear axle and
the
> tailpipe may be even closer to the ground than 3". The rear suspension
> bottoms almost constantly over very minor road surfaces. Front seems to
take
> 2,000# very well. Incidentally, when hauling dirt, concrete chunks,
bricks,
> sand, etc., you reach a 2,000# load without filling the 6.5' cargo bed to
the
> side tops. So with products that have a high weight density you do not
fill
> the cubic capacity of the cargo box to reach maximum load capacity even
with
> the optional 2,000# pkg.
> At around 15k mi I replaced the factory shocks with Bilsteins and at
the
> same time both F&R stabilizer bars with Hotchkis mounted in poly bushings.
> These larger diameter bars made a tremendous improvement in overall safe
> handling for a loaded truck and especially with a trailer too. The
factory
> setup was too tame and the trailer tended to whip the truck like a dog
whose
> tail is too big for his body! This was especially noted when loads are
real
> ly heavy and the suspension is almost fully compressed.
>
> Cheers
>
> Paul Sahlin
>
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