Re: [A/S] Dodge to pull 31ft Sovereign

["Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer" <geraldj@xxxxxxxx>]

My friend Dave Ashby drove a 1/2 ton Dodge with 318 cubic inch engine
and automatic transmission (extended cab, long bed). His manual said
8100 pounds towing capacity no matter what the rear axle ratio.

He bought a Sierra 28' and when he picked it up, had a tail wind and
breezed home at 65 mph. He was pleased. The trailer was supposedly just
under 8000 pounds (dry, empty...). His first trip out he found he was
driving into a 25 mph quartering wind and when he got to a long upgrade
out of an Iowa river valley (Des Moines River on US 30 just west of
Boone) he was down to 2nd gear in the automatic transmission and
crawling up the hill. I suggested he should weigh the loaded trailer
(since his wife immediately loaded cast iron dutch oven and griddle and
huge frying pan for family gatherings) but he never did. So he traded
the truck in on a 3/4 ton 4x4 extended cap, long bed, with a V-10. Now
he has enough horsepower, but gets only 7 mpg loaded or empty, at 55 or
75 mph.

With sway bars, his wife did succeed in getting the rig unstable on a
cross continental trip so demanded a 5th wheel for better stability with
a couple bump outs for more room. The new fifth wheel Sierra arrived
last month and hasn't made any trips other than the one home from the
dealer. I hear rumbles about buying a 3/4 ton diesel for better fuel
mileage. I'm glad he's rolling in cash!

The automatic tranmission has about a 3:1 low gear in most. The torque
converter will provide as much as an additional 2:1 gear down giving
something like 6:1 overall for starting the load. That appears to be
what the load ratings are based on, starting on an upgrade. My previous
Ford had a manual transmission with a 6.5:1 low gear and was rated (even
the dealers who wanted to sell an automatic transmission admitted it) at
the same towing capacity as an automatic because the transmission
provided the same gear ratio as the automatic transmission and torque
converter. That T-18 transmission can not be bought new these days, so
my current Ford 1/2 ton with five speed now has a 4.10 rear axle that
makes it move my Caravel nicely, but that's only probably 3500 pounds
loaded.

You might be able to convince a attorney that the difference between the
brochure and the manual mislead you and caused you to spend money to
your detriment. Whether you can convince a jury when the defense offers
up other manuals that you could have read beyond the brochure is another
matter.

Gerald J.