Do you pull a good size trailer with your Dak? I just bought a 25' Shadow
Cruiser fifth-wheel trailer, which has a GVWR of 5,800 pounds. See
www.shadowcruiser.com for photos of this aerodynamic/7' wide trailer which
should be a good match for the '98 Dak SLT/ext cab/V8/5-speed/3.90 rear/HD
everything I plan to buy. If '98 specs are the same as '97 specs, the Dak
is rated to pull a 6,400 pound trailer, so I should be OK (I'm aware of
GCWR, etc.). I drove a '97 Dak V8/5-speed yesterday and was pleased that
first gear was so "low," even though the truck probably didn't have a 3.90
rear! This "lowness" is advantageous when pulling a trailer and should
lead to increased clutch life. Some have suggested that I get an automatic
tranny, instead, but (1) I hate automatic transmissions (I'm an old sports
car racer); (2) I've had great success in towing my previous trailers
(albeit smaller) with stick shift; and, (3) I hate the possibility of
overheating complications often experienced when trailer pulling with an
automatic. Of course, if I was willing to get an automatic, I could look
into the trailer-pulling capabilities of the new-for-'98 Dak R/T 5.9L
(which will probably be restricted because of the "sport" suspension).
Please share your experiences and thoughts with me. Thanks. (P.S. - I
know that a Ram 5.9L would be a better tow vehicle, but my wife and I like
smaller vehicles.)
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