I dunno, call it blasphemy, but if I had an R/T, I wouldn't tow anythin!
I mean, the lowered rear suspension doesn't lend itself to towing
anyway... Dodge should sell the R/T witha roll pan and tell consumers
that it is not meant for towing. IMHO, it's like bying a camaro or stang
to tow with. Anyway, go Jack!!
-mike d.
88, 6er, LE, 3.55, Slush-o-matic, headers, blowmaster, TekStyle Tonneau,
and more.
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Pit/1133 <or>
http://members.xoom.com/dakotaperf
miggitymike@juno.com
"It's not a 'little V6', it's just cylindrically challenged"
- ooV6
On Tue, 11 May 1999 09:51:57 -0400 HEMI@charter.net writes:
>
>
>Well , after being depressed about the whole R/T towing issue again
>last
>night ,I sent my e-mail to the DC Execs a total of ten times in a row
>last
>night (hehe) and I finally shook someone a little .
>
>Just enough to get a response , even though it doesn't say much .
>
>
>
>
>>Delivered-To: charter-HEMI@charter.net
>>From: ca17@daimlerchrysler.com
>>X-Lotus-FromDomain: CHRYSLER
>>To: "W. Jack Hilton III" <HEMI@charter.net>
>>Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 09:05:34 -0400
>>Subject: Re: DERATING OF TOWING CAPACITY OF THE DAKOTA R/T
>>
>>Mr. Hilton:
>>
>>I understand your concerns and I can appreciate your message once --
>even
>>twice... but to send it dozens of times really accomplishes nothing.
>I have
>>forwarded it to the appropriate people, and I think you will find you
>WILL
>get a
>>response is a reasonable amount of time!
>>
>>Good Luck!
>>
>>Chris
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>"W. Jack Hilton III" <HEMI@charter.net> on 05/10/99 10:13:42 PM
>>
>>
>>
>> To: dms19@daimlerchrysler.com, an8@daimlerchrysler.com,
>> rmm8@daimlerchrysler.com, nm7@daimlerchrysler.com,
>> ca17@daimlerchrysler.com, mg42@daimlerchrysler.com,
>> bcm1@daimlerchrysler.com,
>> jlc17@daimlerchrysler.com,
>> mar24@daimlerchrysler.com, dte@daimlerchrysler.com,
>> rsd2@daimlerchrysler.com, mw68@daimlerchrysler.com,
>> mkc2@daimlerchrysler.com, mfa@daimlerchrysler.com,
>> djc29an8@daimlerchrysler.com
>>
>> cc:
>>
>>
>>
>> Subject: DERATING OF TOWING CAPACITY OF THE DAKOTA R/T
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>This email concerns the derating of the towing capacity of the 1998
>>Dakota R/T's.
>> I'm sending it to the above multiple recipients due to this problem
>>affecting the departments of: Advertising (FALSE AND MISLEADING
>>ADVERTISING), Media and Public Relations (again FALSE ADVERTISING AND
>BAD
>>PUBLIC RELATIONS), and Legal (This appears to have "CLASS ACTION
>LAWSUIT"
>>written all over it). I will also keep remailing this to all above
>parties
>>until I receive a satisfactory response, which I believe is due me as
>a
>>customer. I also may have to email this to the German headquarters
>to see
>>if they know what type of company they merged with. I realize that
>you
>>could filter out my continual emails, but I would hope that someone
>could
>>respond in a satisfactory manner before it gets to this point.
>>
>>Problem Statement:
>>
>>The 1999 Dodge Dakota R/T is now rated for towing at a maximum of
>2000lbs,
>>the 1998 Dakota R/T (like mine) was rated when sold rated
>>for 6700 lbs. I have heard that a letter will be sent out to owners
>of
>>Dakota R/Ts derating their towing capacity to 2000 lbs, and also
>that
>>owners with the towing package option will be refunded the $300 price
>of
>>this option since it is useless for this downrated capacity.
>>
>>I called customer service number and they confirmed that Dodge Dakota
>R/T
>>owners will be mailed a letter explaining the derating of the towing
>. They
>>also said that a mistake was made in the advertising and the
>literature. I
>>would call this a BIG MISTAKE. The Dakota advertisement on TV shows
>a
>>Dakota R/T going around a merry-go-round
>>while saying "put away the toys". If the Dakota R/T cannot tow more
>than
>>2000lbs, IT IS A TOY and should not be used in this advertisement.
>I
>>bought an R/T with the understanding that it would be able to be used
>as a
>>"truck" , as well as a show piece and a rocket . Now after being
>subjected
>>to FALSE AND MISLEADING
>>advertisements, literature, and statements, I find out that the R/T
>is not
>>what was
>>advertisedand that it is NOT what was sold to me . If I knew that the
>R/T
>>was just a toy, I would not have bought it !!!!!!!!
>>
>>I was told that this only affected Dakota R/T owners who had
>purchased the
>>factory installed Towing Group and that there may be a refund of the
>cost
>>of the Towing Group package for those owners only ! if you think you
>can
>>"buy off" owners with the trailer package for $300, you're WRONG!
>You had
>>better increase that amount MANY times, like about 10 times, and make
>it
>>> > available to ALL owners !Why would this only be available to
>owners who
>>have a fcatory installed Towing Group ? The towing group consists of
>a
>>frame mounted hitch ,a snap-in wiring harness for trailer lights ,
>and a
>>heavy duty flasher . All of these components are available from the
>>aftermarket , or I could even order them from Mopar and have the
>dealer
>>install them ! I don't *have* to have the factory installed Towing
>Group to
>>be able to take advantage of the maximum tow rating !
>>Considering the small number of Dakota R/T owners that this will
>affect , a
>>settlement would be cheaper than going to court, and think
>>of all the negative publicity generated if all of America finds out
>that
>>the new DaimlerChrysler makes false claims and has misleading ads;
>and even
>>more that they don't care about the customer after the sale , so long
>as
>>they get their money .
>>
>>1) This problem will decrease our resale value; what are you going
>to
>>do about that??????????
>>2)I have a 16 foot ski-boat that I wish to tow , as well as the fact
>that I
>>was planning on towing a car trailer to Florida in the next few weeks
>.
>>If I want to tow a trailer greater than 2000 lbs, what do you
>>recommend?????? Trade in my R/T and take a big loss and buy a new
>>truck???????????? Or is there another solution available????????
>>3) I want to know what the technical reasons were for making this
>change.
>>Why was the towing capacity derated, but the load carrying capacity
>stayed
>>the same???? Customer service checked with their sources and
>couldn't
>>answer this question to my sataisfaction, can anybody answer
>this?????? Or
>>do the customers not deserve a satisfactory answer??????
>>4) I ended up leasing my vehicle JUST so I could get into it , there
>was no
>>other way at the time . How in the hell do I get out of my lease even
>if
>>you decide to buy this non-truck back ?
>>
>>Sorry if I sound upset, BUT I AM . I could go on for hours about the
>fact
>>that I have *ONLY* owned Mopars since I was able to drive at the age
>of 15
>>and that I have *NEVER* wanted to own anything else , nor have I
>owned
>>anything else . I could also go on forever about how I have been
>seriously
>>disappointed by the service department at the dealer where I
>purchased the
>>truck as well as the management that takes a "...tough luck , we have
>our
>>money , now go away!" attitude , but I will not subject you to that
>now.
>>By the way, I am only 26 years old , and I have a great earning
>potential
>>over the course of my life in the field I am in , and I have plans
>to
>>purchase many vehicles for myself , my future wife , and any children
>or
>>grandchildren I may have , not to mention the fact that I paid a
>*PREMIUM*
>>for the 1998 Dodge Dakota R/T since they were so rare!! What type
>of
>>influence do you think this problem and its resolution will have on
>my
>>decison on what to buy myself in the future i nthe way of automobiles
>?
>>The very least I expect is for DaimlerChrysler to stand behind its
>>products, admit their mistake, and adequately compensate the
>affected
>>parties; is this too much to ask????
>>
>>
>>I THINK NOT !
>>
>>Please do something to save my faith in ALL Mopars , past , present ,
>*AND*
>>future !
>>
>>Do this to some schmuck who has owned SAABs all his life , BUT NOT ME
>!!
>>
>>I have always been Mopar's BIGGEST fan !!
>>
>>EVEN BACK IN THE DARK DAYS WHEN MY PARENTS BOUGHT A 1981 DODGE ARIES
>K !!!
>>
>>
>>
>>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
>>
>>W . Jack Hilton III
>>
>>HEMI@charter.net
>>
>>ICQ#: 32611901
>>
>>AOL Instant Messanger: DwnSth69
>>
>>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>----------------------------------------------
>
>Jack Hilton III
>
>Black 1998 Dodge Dakota R/T Club Cab
>
>Charter Pipeline......the Next Wave.....
>
>HEMI@charter.net
>
>http://webpages.charter.net/hemi/jbd1.html
>
>----------------------------------------------
>
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