Hi Steve -
According to Ron's post, a 3.9L with a 3.55 rear end ratio in a Club Cab 4x4
gives you 8,000 lb. capacity, but that is GCVWR (gross combined vehicle
weight rating) which includes the truck, passengers, cargo, fluids, etc. If
you figure on the truck weighing between 3700-4000 lbs. (check your door
jamb sticker), that'd leave you somewhere around a 4000-4300# towing
capacity. I'm not sure if they used the under hood option sticker in 1988
but that is where my rear end ratio is listed. Sometimes you can also call
your dealer and get the specs on your truck as delivered from the factory.
As far as the aftermarket hitches go, I put a Class III Draw-Tite
receiver-style hitch on my '96 Club Cab 4x4. It cost me just over $200.00
with the receiver, wiring harness which plugs into the truck's wiring (no
cutting necessary), tow bar w/ball, heavy-duty flasher, and installation.
IMO you're better off going with a name brand hitch, but you may hear
different from others on the list. Good luck.
Ciao!
Ned Vogler | ----------------------------
Network Administrator | _ _ _ _ _ _
Rockville General Hospital | |_` |_` _ |_| |_| |_ |_| |_`
(nvogler@rghosp.chime.org) | ,_| | | | |_ |\ ,_|
'96 Dakota SLT V8 5-sp 4x4 Club Cab |
'84 Nighthawk 650 '85 Honda XR-350R | ----------------------------
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From: Steve Gepford
To: dakota
Subject: Tow hitches
Date: Monday, May 13, 1996 11:29AM
I am going to bring up an old topic here that has been pretty much already
discussed but now I am interested in getting a different hitch.
I currently have the bumper hitch rated at 2,000lbs. I want to go with a
frame mounted hitch w/the receiver block type.
An article from Ron Salzl pointed out that a class lll type hitch was rated
for 5,000lbs and that a 3.9 engine w/3.55 rear end was good for 8,000lbs. I
am assuming that he was referring to the capacities of 4WD vehicles.
My Dakota is a lowly "88" 2WD 3.9 engine and I don't know what the "rear"
gear ratio is.
I have priced two hitches, one was a "Valley" @ $160.65 the other was a
"Quality F" @ $79.60, both were rated for 5,000lbs. and both companies
claimed that they would not interfere with my spare tire assembly.
Does anyone have any advise to offer me at this point? I would rather go
with the cheaper one, but you know the old saying, (you get what you pay
for). I have not done any serious research nor have I ventured beyond a
phone call to the outlet distributer's that offer these, so I really don't
know what they look like or how they compare.
Any help or advise would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Satellite Steve
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