It's probably the 5th gear usage that is getting you. 5th is an overdrive
ratio and is not designed for heavy loads. Some vehicles only offer the
automatic with their tow package option for this reason. If you have an
automatic you should turn the overdrive switch off when towing. Good luck
with your new tranny. Dave
At 09:05 AM 1/3/97 -0500, Moise N. Solomon wrote:
>I am the owner of a '96 4x4 V8 extended cab 5-speed, sure grip 3.55 rear end
>Dakota with 25,000 miles. Overall, I am very happy with the truck, but I have
>had a few warrantee problems.
>
>At around 8,000 miles, I had the transmission (NV-3500) throw-out bearing
>replaced due to hard shifting, clutch vibration, and noise. Well, as it
>turned out, the service department at my local dealer used the wrong gear
>lube. Instead of the required Mopar lube for the NV-3500, they used another
>synthetic lube. I didn't worry too much about this since they assured me that
>is what they normally use and it's more expensive than the Mopar recommend
>lube.
>
>At around 18,000 miles, I was experiencing hard shifting, and the transmission
>would sometimes pop out of 4th gear when going up hills. Well, I changed the
>lube with recommended lube and it seem to clear up all the symptoms, except
>the old lube and drain and fill plug magnets were full of metal shavings!
>
>Last weekend, (at 25,000 miles) my rear brakes started binding so I left the
>truck at the dealer with a note describing the brake problem, as well as, a
>noise coming from the transmission and intermittent vehicle vibrations that
>had developed. Anyway, the dealer is doing the right thing and replacing the
>transmission with a new unit. Turns out there was extensive wear and
>(thankfully) the most cost effective repair was to replace the unit under
>warrantee. He hasn't addressed the brake problem yet, but I think it is
>related to the anti-lock brakes.
>
>I tow a 3500lb sailboat extensively. Although, I don't think that the towing
>has anything to do with the demise of the transmission, I want to avoid
>damaging the new unit. The truck is rated for significantly more than
>3500lbs, but there is a lot of windage since the boat sits about 11 ft above
>the road. The Dakota has towed from Connecticut to Burlington VT, South
>Carolina, Annapolis Maryland, as well as numerous trips of around 100 miles in
>New England. I typically tow in either 4th or 5th gear at speeds of 55 up to
>75 MPH depending on traffic conditions.
>
>I want to avoid damaging the new transmission. My previous tow vehicle was a
>Dodge RAM Van (318,automatic) which I got rid of right as it started having
>transmission trouble (60,000 miles). I knew that the automatic in this Van
>was prone to problems, so I traded in on the Dakota.
>
>Does anyone have experience with towing heavy trailers with a 5-speed Dakota?
>Do you typically tow in 4th or 5th gear? Anyone have a similar transmission
>problem?
>
>Moise Solomon
>msolomon@mitre.org
>
>
>
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