Re: Towing and Gas Mileage

From: rjacew (rjacew@sbcglobal.net)
Date: Tue Aug 19 2003 - 13:30:08 EDT


 
I tow a small 15 ft. bass boat with no problems w/ 99 cc 5.2 & fac. tow pkg.
I would be looking at Air Springs if your Dak sags...
http://www.macsspring.com/website/firestone.htm
 
-------Original Message-------
 
From: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
Date: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 11:14:57
To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
Subject: DML: Towing and Gas Mileage
 
Michael Maskalans said:

> I know mine (98 CC 318 4x4 3.55) has performed admirably. for heavy
> loads (I wouldn't put your sailboat in that category), I'd really
> prefer to have the 3.92s, and the 'soft' rear springs could use some
> help when tongue weight is high (roadmaster? air bags? weight
> distributing setup? overload springs?). I rarely tow anything wide,
> but auxiliary mirrors are certainly a must with something more than
> about 7'.
 
What would you consider a heavy load for your truck? According to my owners
manual my truck has a tow capacity of 5,700#.
 
I've thought about putting some heavier springs on my truck. I don't know
what
you guys consider high tongue weight, but my current trailer is probably
somewhere in the vacinity of 350#-550#.
 
I hadn't thought about auxiliary mirrors, but that's definitely something to
consider. The trailer I'm towing now is definitely wider than the truck.
 
A couple of pictures of the trailer hooked up to my Dakota:
 
http://intranet.quigley.com/gallery/view_photo
php?set_albumName=loadmaster&id=aac
http://intranet.quigley.com/gallery/view_photo
php?set_albumName=loadmaster&id=aad
 
Anyone know of any auxiliary mirrors that work well with our trucks?
 
> if you're looking to mod your truck, keep in mind that a loud exhaust
> will start to drone more than it normally would when overdrive is off
> and revs are high. also, if you do duals out the back, it'll reflect
> off the trailer and be far louder. watch going for too much flow, too,
> otherwise you'll knock out the all-important low end torque. I've also
> been impressed with the towing performance mode that my SuperChips PCM
> programmer gives me, but they don't have anything out for the new
> engines (3.7/4.7/Hemi) yet.
 
I really don't know what I would consider doing to my truck, yet. I've never
been much of a "car person". I'm here to learn!
 
> there are certainly people here with a lot more Dak-based towing
> experience than I, so I'll let them fill in the massive blanks I've
> left.
 
I appreciate you taking the time to pass along the information you have...
 
Michael
01 QC 4.7L 4x4
.



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