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ZenDak
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2003
10:53:06
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 Subject: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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I'll be heading to Georgia for Thanksgiving from Austin TX. 1000 mile trip. I'm getting a sweet '65 Fairlane and bring back.
My truck is an '01 4.7 w/3.55 open - 80k miles on it.
My question is should I wait till I get back to swap my gears to a 4.10 lsd unit? I'm thinking in terms of gas mileage. I know 4.10's will help in towing, but I'm not sure what would be better for this 2000 mile trip.
Am I correct to assume that the 4.10 will probably yield close to the same mpg since my truck won't be struggling so much to pull that car on a flat trailer?
Thinking of getting my gears done in about a week or so.
Thanks,
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Rob454
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2003
11:03:44
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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Ive towed my work trailer ( about 2000 LB) all the way up to Redding and down to san diego and I have 3 55 gears. If youre moving to a taller tire the 4.10s will help you get power back. If youre sticking to same size you have now the 4.10s will give you better bottom end power than 3.55s but rev the engine higher on the freeway. I can tell you that I had 35s on my old GMC and I installed 4 10 gears.
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cool
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2003
11:16:50
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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I've towed my 21' camper, dry weight 3500#, all the way around Lake Michigan with the same set up. We had a weeks worth of gear with us and the truck pulled it with no problem. Also averaged about 11mpg while towing.
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2003
16:47:49
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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That's the same milage I get towing 24.5' fifth wheel camper with the 3.55s. Just did a transmission service, seemed like old fluid was in pretty good shape, didn't seem overworked.
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slopehead
Dodge Dakota
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11/15/2003
05:44:43
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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been pullin trailers for many years, some cars had a 3.08, in a 74 charger w/318 2 barrel,auto and pulled 4200# for over 1200 miles with no trouble, to save the drivetrain just go easy on the gas pedal. trying to take off fast with a load does more damage to the tranny/ujoints, and differential then a racing start with no load. so start from a stop just like a fully loaded semi and you should have no trouble.
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ZenDak
Dodge Dakota
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11/17/2003
07:58:43
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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Cool - thanks for the info. I feel a little more confident now. I've pulled some heavy stuff, but only short, in town, distances. Thinking I'll wait to put the gears in,,,afriad gas mileage would kill me w/4.10's.
Thanks,
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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11/17/2003
12:45:20
|  RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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Everythings Zen....
Just thought I'd mention the no brainer, use either 4th gear, or no overdrive, with the 3.55's, and you should be fine. (forgot which tranny you had)
Todd Bouton
HOuston/Galveston
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ZenDak
Dodge Dakota
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11/17/2003
15:13:59
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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everything will be Zen when I sell my options and get those gears.....
I thought if it was just straight highway driving that I could run with the overdrive on. I take it that would still be taxing on the tranny? It's a 4.7.
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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11/17/2003
16:34:29
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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Although many seem to recomend against it, I use the OD towing on the highway. It only seems to catch fourth towing on a flat or downhill when you're pulling a heavier load, so I don't think that's taxing the tranny too badly. Time will tell.
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Wal
Dodge Dakota
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11/18/2003
00:14:11
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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Seems like cheap insurance to at least add a trans cooler before you go.
Just my $0.02 :-)
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ZenDak
Dodge Dakota
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11/18/2003
11:29:53
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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where can I find some info/pricing on tranny coolers for that transmission?
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rockgod
Dodge Dakota
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11/18/2003
13:14:57
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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Hey Zen...I live in Austin also. Where are you thinking of getting the gears installed if you are not doing it yourself?
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ZenDak
Dodge Dakota
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11/18/2003
15:02:44
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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rockgod - I'm not sure to be honest w/you. There was a guy in San Antonio who was going to do for like $150,,,or so assuming I supply all the parts. I'm looking for a good place in Austin - I'm checking out a guy who does F-bodies,,but all the estimates I'm getting are about $250,,figure that's about the going rate around here.
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99Dak5.2L4x4
Dodge Dakota
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11/19/2003
10:44:16
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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I live in Austin TX too and I had the guys at Austin Drive Drain install some gears on a mustang for me and it cost close to $500 bucks parts included and they give a 6 month warranty. They are on the feeder road under 183 at that last street right before you go under IH35.
Bill
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ZenDak
Dodge Dakota
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11/19/2003
11:05:16
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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Thanks Bill! - I work right up the road from them on Mopac. Did that $500 also include a new diff.?,,I imagine not,,but that sounds about right for Gears and an install. I may give them a ring sometime. I'm thinking I may wait till I get back from Georgia to do it. I've decided to wait on bringing the Failane back to a later date. Thanks everyone!,
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rockgod
Dodge Dakota
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11/19/2003
20:30:15
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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Wow! Lots of guys from Austin here. I've seen Austin Drive Train. They're in the old Bekins Moving & Storage building. I used to work there back in the mesozoic era. I spent this perfect fall day with breakfast at Kerbey Lane, golf at Jimmy Clay and supper at Chuy's. Man, what a great day!!!
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
11/19/2003
22:14:39
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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Last weekend when I towed to the dunes I had my trailer with Quads, all my luggage plus the added bonus of a bed full of FIREWOOD!
I ran half of the way there with the OD off just to be safe but got a LOW 9.7 MPG!!!
On the way back, and minus the firewood, I decided to leave the OD on and let the computer manage it. These new tranny controls appear to be intelligent to NOT shift back and forth in and out of OD like old OD units did.
When I ran the OD on the way home the MPG went back up plus it seemed to just fall back to 4th gear rather than to 3rd like when you shut off the OD manually. Mine has the tow package so it has the tranny cooler factory installed.
I think from now on I'll keep my OD on unless I'm going up some very long and steep hills.
BTW, this 4.7 pig can pull them hills. A customer today had a new RAM 1500 Hemi in his driveway so i asked about it. He said he traded in his V10 for it and said they were rated at the same HP and Torque. He said his Hemi is very disappointing when it couldn't do the saem job as the V10 did. He also has a RAM 1500 with a 4.7 that his wife was gone with. He said it seemed to pull almost as well as the new Hemi.
Go figure.
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jb
Dodge Dakota
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11/20/2003
13:17:22
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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I tow a 19' bassboat all over the place with my dak. The boat loaded full of gear and fuel on the trailer comes in at just under 4k. I have the 4.7l, qc, 3.55 gears auto 4x4. it wots great with the od off and gets better milage because its not shifting all the time. I tow mainly in the mountians of nh, vt and maine.
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rockgod
Dodge Dakota
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11/21/2003
22:36:51
| RE: Tow w/3.55's long dist.?
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Zen, when I ordered my hidden hitch front receiver from Spillar's custon hitches today they had good things to say about Austin Drive train. Just another piece of the puzzle. Hope it helps.
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