Thanks for your response. I'll be pulling a 25' Shadowcruiser fifth-wheel
trailer (www.shadowcruiser.com) which can weigh up to 5,800 lbs fully
loaded. I just like to plan ahead to make sure I'm doing the right thing.
Like you said, the 5-speed gives me greater versatility, in addition to
other advantages (less problem with potentially causing the cooling system
to overheat, etc.). I guess I'll have no problem with the "low" first gear
and a 3.90 rear.
----------
> From: Sam Parthemer <samp@cts.com>
> To: dakota@ait.fredonia.edu
> Subject: Towing and such
> Date: Sunday, August 17, 1997 1:26 PM
>
>
>
> ----------
> > From: Dick Campagna <campagna@nothinbut.net>
> > To: dakota@ait.fredonia.edu
> > Subject: Re: Finally got my headers
> > Date: Sunday, August 17, 1997 10:20 AM
> >
> > I test-drove a '97 Dak V8/5-spd yesterday and first gear was so "low"
> that
> > it would be impractical to start out in first unless you're on a hill,
> > really loaded, or pulling a load. I don't know what rear it had, but I
> > will order a 3.90 rear in my '98. With your 3.55 rear, do you
ordinarily
> > start out in first? Or is your first gear real low, too?
>
>
> I have 3.90 gearing, and 5 speed on my '95 club cab dakota (slt).
> If you had a 4.10 rearend (not available OEM) then you could start out
> in 2nd gear, and not worry about putting wear/tear on your clutch. With
my
> setup I can start in 2nd, but only if I am barely moving. From a dead
> stop,
> 1st is the way to go. Yes, you'll be shifting to 2nd in 2 seconds, but
> that's
> the way it is. When pulling a load from a dead stop, it will get you
going
> with much less fan-fair than a ford/chevy pulling the same load with a
> 5 spd.
>
> 1st works great too, when in traffic... you can idle through 1st
> and not sit on the brake, nor on the gas... Just above idle seems to be
> perfect for the bumper-bumper stuff we get here in San Diego.
>
> Towing is nice, as you have a wider selection of gears to pull
> on hills, and you can put your foot into it and not worry about an
unwanted
> downshift that an automatic will bring. I pull my friend's 4500# boat
(jet
> boat,
> low profile--not too much wind resistance), and on the climb through our
> local mountains, I can get some serious pulling speed in 4th gear (and
> keep my foot planted, and make the grade--with my previous automatic
> dakota, it would downshift from 3rd (D) to 2nd in a heartbeat, and make
> the quick upshift back to 3rd, then 2nd...etc..)
>
> Drive an auto, then a 5 speed.. You'll probably like the 5 speed better
> (since you've driven one already, and you are comfortable with a 5 speed
to
> begin with).
>
> Sam '95 SLT
>
>
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