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treed
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2005
08:28:30
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 Subject: Potential new Dakota owner
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This is my first post. I have an opportunity to trade my 2000 S-10, 4 cylinder, automatic for a 1998 Dodge Dakota Sport, V-6, automatic. Both have basically the same mileage showing on the odometer, but the Dakota has a fairly obivious dent on the passenger door that goes into the bed. It does have some nice after market rims on it. The rest of the truck looks good, except for a small dent behind the drivers door. I would say my S-10 is worth more, being newer and without body damage, like the Dakota. But I pull a 6 x 12 trailer with two lawn tractors on it to mow grass at various locations, i.e. mom's, church, etc. The S-10 is at it's limits when pulling this load, and I'm thinking the Dakota would be a better at doing this. What are the things to look for in 98 Dakatos? There is a noise in the front end which I'm thinking is a stablizer bar bushings going bad. Is this a problem with Dakotas? Anything else to look for. Thanks.
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stay away
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2005
08:33:21
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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Stay Away..........Stay far far away.........I can't wait to get rid of my PROBLEM DAKOTA>
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Justin
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2005
09:26:47
|  RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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Gee "Stay Away" that's a little harsh. How many miles on it? if it is over 75 then pretty soon the timing chain will need to be replaced which is a few hundred bucks. honestly it will handle the tractors better than your S10, but i would reccomend getting a full size truck or a V8 dakota. of course that also costs more too. anyway good luck.
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mccamp
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2005
09:51:25
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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If you dont have a problem with your 2000 S-10, then don't trade it for an older model dakota v6 that has dents. I would just keep your s-10. Unless you are actually interested in mowing as an actual job, or you need to haul things more than just couple miles I would keep it. I know that 4cyl. s-10s are underpowered with an automatic but they are good trucks for lite work. They are low enough you should be able to buy inexpensive ramps and just put your mowers in the bed? It is a lot easier to haul than tow. If you really are just looking for more power and you dont want a 4 cyl. then keep looking and find a straight body v6 s10 or v6/v8 dakota. Realize that the way someone treats the outside of the vehicle can be a good indicator as to how they run the vehicle and if it has dents on both sides, that represents two separate incidents....
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treed
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2005
10:28:28
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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Thanks for the responses, guys. As for towing versus hauling, I have to tow a trailer because I have to take 2 lawn tractors, plus 2 push mowers with me. I mow the church lot, without compensation, and my mom is too old to mow her grass, and I wouldn't want her to anyways. I also mow my brother in laws as well as my brothers. The trailer also makes it easier and safer to load. My longest trek is about 50 miles round trip. I'm probably not going to trade but will keep looking for either a V6 or a V8 Dakota. I saw one, a 2003 or 2004 model, at a dealer that looks good. It has a V6, but with a 5-speed manual. Any thoughts on how well the manual vs. an auto does with a load?
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S-10
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2005
11:07:06
|  RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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I had a 1996 S-10 before I got my 2001 Dodge and I wish I would have kept it. The Dodge has been ok, but gas mileage is bad and I've had more problems. The 2.2 OHV four in the S-10 is a very good engine. Trade in time is coming in the next couple years and I will more than likely get a 4 cyl. Colorado.
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01DakSLT
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2005
11:35:13
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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I bought my 01 4.7L Dakota with 30K on the odometer in '03 and have put 56k on it since then. Only three things I had to do were:
Upper ball joints which were free due to the extension of the warranty for those by Dodge.
Rotors.
Blower motor resistor which cost $11.96 (including tax) from the dealer. About 30 minutes to install.
My gas mileage is approximately 18 per gallon with about 70 percent of that being highway. I used Synblend 5W30 which I change religiously and don't beat it at all. I am very happy with this truck, of course, this is my experience only. Before I bought this truck, I called the person who owned it before (it was a trade in) and they were sorry they traded it. They got a V-6 GMC SUV and it didn't have nearly the power he needed for towing his boat. I got lucky. He kept it garaged and washed it once a week according to his wife and had all the maintenance records. It was his baby and now it's mine.
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Super bee
GenI
12/15/2005
12:05:22
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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i have a 5.2 dakota, and its every bit as powerful as my 01 ram, the ram being a full size extended cab vs a regular cab short box dakota, the weight difference is im guessing to be about 1000lbs, makes a big difference
the Ram will still tow more but the dakota has it in the fun to drive column
its not as big and bulky and jsut as much power
id still go with a v8 dakota vs a full size for towing infrequently
unless you plan on towing 5000lbs on a regular basis, the extra bulk of the full size is nice to have when towing heavy loads
1990 sport RC SB, 1995 318drivetrain, 3.92 gears (came with truck) 95 dash/steering wheel, hearthrob exhaust, headers, cutout after y-pipe, necessary electric fan add-a-leafs, 30x9.5 mud tires, cranked T-bars, AR 39 15x8 rims, grill guard, roll bars
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Kowalski
GenIII
12/15/2005
15:47:40
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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Hold out for an 8.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Aj
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2005
16:04:43
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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My dakota has been very good to me, I bought it at around 25,000 miles and it's around 70,000 now. So far I've only had to change out a very old belt, the water pump went bad, and 2 sensor's on the tranny had to be replaced. both cost me about $20 at the dealership and were extremely easy to replace myself, and I'm not the most experience of mechanics, but I can hold my own. Gas mileage sucks but it's a fun ride. Oh and I appreciate the tip on the timing chain, but it's gonna be in storage for a year while I'm in Korea so I'll just worry about that when I come back.
99 dak 3.9 V6 Auto flowmaster exhaust
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modain
GenIII
12/15/2005
16:57:11
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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Treed, my $.02 is that the 5 speed manual is better suited for towing serious loads because...
The 45RFE is essintially a 3 speed auto with two overdrive gears. 1) 3.00:1, 2) 1.67:1 or 1.50:1, 3) 1.00:1, 4) .75:1, 5) .69:1
The NV3500 is a true 5 speed (one overdrive) with a better range of ratios to use for putting the power to the wheels: 1) 4.01:1, 2) 2.32:1, 3) 1.40:1, 4)1.00:1, 5) .73:1
Sometimes I long for another gear between my 3rd and 4th. Only having three (equally spaced) gear ratios in the 45RFE seems a little unsuited for me.
GraphiteDak should chime in to shed some light on his experience. I could be all wrong, but then I have not towed my toyhauler with my Durango yet.
=========================================
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, loads o'fun...
2001 Patriot Blue Durango SLT, 4.7L, 45RFE, Superchips 3715, 3.55 Open (for now)
1999 Forrest Green Dakota RC Sport, 2.5L, NV1500, 3.55 Open
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
12/15/2005
17:13:47
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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01DakSLT said "...It was his baby and now it's mine. "
Right on brother!
Like Modain said, the manual DOES have closer gear ratios being a 5 speed, I assyme it has 3 under drive ratios, 4th being a 1:1 and 5th being OD.
I LOVE the 5-45RFE as far as AUTO's go hands down. But it does only have two underdrive ratios, 3rd being 1:1, 4th rarely used, and 5th. There IS a alternate 2nd gear ratio for passing. But that is NOT used sequencially during upshifts.
Get the V8 no matter WHAT V8 it is (5.2/5.9/4.7), it will be a rocket compared to that S-10 4 banger auto :)
BTW. 4.56 gears and a V8 is very fun to drive :)
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mccamp
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2005
18:00:40
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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I agree with all statements above and I have a quad cab with a 4.7, so I cant say not to get a v8. The question becomes what your priorities really are. Are you willing to spend $5k+ and trade in your truck, do you want to trade straight up for something, do you care about gas mileage, etc. Like I said, mine is a 4 door with an astro topper, contractor quality roof rack, bedslide that extends the bed out to be 8 ft., etc. and sometimes I still dont have enough room, so I use my trailer as well.... I could have gotten an f250 or quadcab ram, but I wanted to be able to park in my garage. But to answer your question... if you were to be towing often I would get a 6cyl with the 5spd, and an automatic with a V8, not that the 5spd is bad with a V8, it just isnt as necessary as with the 6 cyl. when towing.
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Kowalski
GenIII
12/15/2005
19:17:24
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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Yeah, the 45RFE works fine towing with the 4.7. I've never found the gear spacing to be a problem towing 5000 lbs or more on steep hills; just let it rev when it wants to - 4.7 makes nice power when allowed to rev. I'll tow my camper going with guys with v10s and diesels; none of them have been able to pull from me.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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toolfan
GenIII
12/15/2005
20:12:50
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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like guys are say get the v8! the engines and the trucks in general are very reliable. the v6 will probably tow your trailer fine but the v8 will get better gas mileage doing it. if your can try and get the 4.7 only offered 00-05ect! that engine gets great gas mileage and according to these guys it has better power than the 5.2! the v6 3.9 and the v8 5.2/5.9 are all very similar and are some of the best motors out there! try and get the manual cause they ten to be more reliable than the auto.
the v8= tons of fun while getting the job done!!
the v6= getting the job done with little fun!
Sorry posted signature on 12/12 - 12/13/2005 that messed up FIREFOX screens! It worked ok in Internet Explorer. I'M SORRY!! Sincerely TOOLFAN
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Dune_Op1
Dodge Dakota
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12/16/2005
02:43:18
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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I don't see anything in there about the 3.7L in the 04 Daks. It hurts to be left out. I feel so alone. Are they crap or something. If so let me down gently. I know they're in the Jeeps too.
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MadMason
Dodge Dakota
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12/16/2005
02:57:37
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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Just another idea but have you thought of doing an engine swap? keep you s-10 and just swap in a v6 or better a v8, then you'll get the job done and can keep truck
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Jae
Dodge Dakota
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12/16/2005
03:48:45
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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I have a 04 3.7 qc 2wd and i brought it with 6 miles on it now i have 24,000 miles on it and i wouldnt trade it for anything.
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treed
Dodge Dakota
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12/16/2005
07:29:05
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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Great responses, guys. Interesting info on the automatic vs. the manual, good food for thought. As for changing out my 4 cylinder for a 4.3, I have serious reservations about my S10s transmission, but that's another story. I almost completely talked myself out of this Dakata, but I'm seriously considering pursuing the other one I've mentioned, the '03 with V6 and 5-speed manual. It will cost me some extra money and my S10, but I might be better off in the long run. It has low miles and the price is extremely attractive. But, I would like to have a Quad cab with the 4.7, so if I don't act now, I will definitely will something next spring or summer. Mileage is somewhat important, but the main thing is not to harm anything when I'm towing and have enough power to keep up with traffic. Thanks, again, guys.
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csmith
Dodge Dakota
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12/16/2005
12:31:09
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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I won't tell you what to buy, but all I will say is, I went from an S-10 to a Dakota and I wish I never would have. I'll never own another one. Just my opinion
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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12/16/2005
20:46:07
| RE: Potential new Dakota owner
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Usually, these people that have 'sour grapes' about their dak, are one's that did not order new exactly what they wanted, and often bought someone elses problem, 2nd hand.
Get the 4.7. period. And the 5 speed(the real one), period.
My dak has been very good to me. ~90K miles.
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