dodge dakota's?

[honda250xrider]

hey, i was wondering what you guys know about dakota's. I have a chance to get a 3.9 v6 or a 5.2 v8 and i was wondering what is your experiences with them etc. I have no idea to what the stats are on these. I was wondering if the v6 would feel a little sluggish pulling weight. I was wondering if anyone would know the gas mileage, HP, how much towing compacity they can handle if anyone has any help thanks alot.

[Woodsrider]

I had a 5.2 (318cid) '99 dakota before my toyota. I miss that truck every time I get in my toyota. If you're gonna get a Dakota, get the V8. I spec'd mine out with the 318, auto trans, and 3.96 rear end, heavyduty towing pac, and overload springs. GAVWR was 11,000, I got 18 on the highway and 16 back and forth to work. towing the '75 T/A on a tandam axle car trailer across the state I got 13-14mpg.

To sum it up, all the power of a full size truck, and you can still park it at the mall in one shot during the Christmas rush.

[Woodsrider]

Originally posted by NateLHonda
My dad has a 1999 Dakota SLT. Its a 3.9 V6 and it has 175hp. He likes it a lot and he never had any problems with it. Hes giving it to me for my birthday in a couple weeks.


heres a pic
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid85/p14dd0d94ed6f5a7427ccb60e0ac36c03/fac5a31e.jpg

Looks photoshopped to me:rolleyes:

[darrell43031]

i have a 2000 dakota with the v-6 and i love it. although it is a slight sluggish with alot of weight but nothing turning the overdrive off dosn't solve. i get 19 on the highway and like 13 in the city. and i can honestly say every stuck vehicle i've ever hooked onto i've pulled out with out much problem. but i would go with the v-8. you'll loose a little gas milage but it's worth it for the extra power:D

[zephead400ex]

My buddy ledofthezep has a 3.9 V6. I think it has enogh power, he pulls 2 quads on a trailer to the sand dunes and does just fine. He gets good gas mileage, 23-26 hwy and 19-21 town. It is a 5 speed though, so gas mileage is a little better than an auto. He used to have the big 360 in a bigger Dodge truck, power was not even a question, gas mileage is why he got rid of it.

peace

[Stevie-D]

they seem to be pretty decent trucks. im buying a 95 SLT 4x4, 5 speed, 3.9 off of my boss for 4 grand. a guy called today while i was away at a soccer game about buyin my 400ex, so if he buys it, i get the truck in like a week! that kicks arse!:devil:

[01TRX300EX]

I have a '92 Dakota with a 3.9L in it, its pretty decent, I get around 16mpg city, and I havent been on highway really except one time and I got 19mpg with the trailer hooked up, mine is also a 5 speed. It moves pretty well when there is nothing hooked to it, but our trailer does drag it down a lot.

[exatak199]

get a 318:D

[user101]

Originally posted by exatak199
get a 318:D

screw the 318 im puttin a 340 in mine. its a 92 v6 automatic right now. hopefully the 340 and an all new drivetrain will pep it up a bit.:devil:

[nightrider05]

Since my S10 was wrecked im driving a 1994 Dodge Dakota SLT..318 V8 Magnum, extended cab(plenty of room for the stereo system),leather seats,Mark III Conversion,fully loaded and im really liking it so far...Depending on how heavy I am on the gas it gets any where from 15-20 in town...My dad drives a newer Dakota with a V6 and he wishes that his had the V8 in it whenever it comes to pulling. I can get some pics up if anybody wants to see it. Jason

[zfire_28]

I never had a problem with my '96 dakota

[XANDADA]

Originally posted by soggyrider
I had a 5.2 (318cid) '99 dakota before my toyota. I miss that truck every time I get in my toyota. If you're gonna get a Dakota, get the V8. I spec'd mine out with the 318, auto trans, and 3.96 rear end, heavyduty towing pac, and overload springs. GAVWR was 11,000, I got 18 on the highway and 16 back and forth to work. towing the '75 T/A on a tandam axle car trailer across the state I got 13-14mpg.

To sum it up, all the power of a full size truck, and you can still park it at the mall in one shot during the Christmas rush.

I had exactly the same thing except a lower ratio rear end. Best darn auto I have ever owned. Wish I never got rid of it but I had no choice since I couldn't afford the payments anymore after buying a house. I got 17mpg highway & 13 city. Get the bigger engine, the 5.2 is great.....except at the pump.

[ledofthezep]

My buddy ledofthezep has a 3.9 V6. I think it has enogh power, he pulls 2 quads on a trailer to the sand dunes and does just fine. He gets good gas mileage, 23-26 hwy and 19-21 town. It is a 5 speed though, so gas mileage is a little better than an auto. He used to have the big 360 in a bigger Dodge truck, power was not even a question, gas mileage is why he got rid of it.

Word.:D I am happy with my truck, I bought it brand new, have a little over 20k on it now & haven't had a single problem with it yet. It has more power than my old '92 chevy SWB with the 4.3v6 too. Good little trucks & you can get damn good deals on them. I'm in over my head on mine--but that's another story.:rolleyes: If you don't pull really heavy loads you'll be just fine with the v6, and the gas mileage with the v6 compared to the v8 is about 8-10miles in difference, hwy & town. I went from spending $10-15 a day with my old big dodge with the 5.9 360 to about $15 a week with my dakota. So I can't complain...I miss the bigger truck though, this is my first small truck. I'm pondering putting a 3" suspension lift & 31's on it.:D

[JabberJaw]

I had a Dodge Ram Turbo Deisel, then Ford F150, and now a Dodge Dakota 5.2, I'd never go back to the previous 2.

[SlapNutz]

Originally posted by JabberJaw
I had a Dodge Ram Turbo Deisel, then Ford F150, and now a Dodge Dakota 5.2, I'd never go back to the previous 2.

:huh

Do all dodges come from the factory smoking or is it only after 20,000 miles??:confused:

[The440Exorcist]

None the above!:D Get the 5.2 V8...massive balls with that engine. plus over 300 pounds of torque.

[ledofthezep]

Do all dodges come from the factory smoking or is it only after 20,000 miles??

Mine hasn't started to smoke or give me any problems. I'll probably have them replace the clutch at around 69,000 before the 70,000 engine/drivetrain warranty runs out.:D

[01TRX300EX]

Well, I now know that they take wrecks really well, I just got into an accident last week in mine, t-boned a Town Car, and my truck looked fine on the outside, but it bent the frame so much that the driveshaft popped out of the motor. But no one was hurt, and I hit him doing about 50 mph, luckily I wasnt at fault (70 year old man pulled out in front of the car I hit, the guy spun sideways to avoid him, just so happens I was there) so I do get to get another vehicle if they total it (probably will being how old it is) so, I will be looking to get a Jeep Grand Cherokee, dont ask why I chose that, just like them, but I will miss the 'kota.

[jja125]

i have a 2001 quadcab w/ the v6. its a great truck so far i have like 40k miles on it, but the v6 sucks - get the v8 - i think the v8 is actually listed as getting better gas mileage than the v6 for the quadcabs. it doesn't totally suck, but its a dog when on steep hills or hauling my quad. i still don't trust it like i did my toyota though - that thing is still going at 200k+ miles w/ no probs.

[JabberJaw]

Originally posted by Rico
Do all dodges come from the factory smoking or is it only after 20,000 miles??:confused:

My tires smoked from the factory!

[stryker]

Just a little FYI for all you new to the Dodge Dakotas. Myself and my brother both own V8 Dodge Dakotas (99,02) and we both had the exact same problem with the front break calipers freezing up! (Mechanics have told us its a common problem) So be on the lookout if you have one and just have the rotors checked every so often for extra wear. It's better than having to have them (Rotors) and the calipers replaced as my brother and I both found out the hard way. :cool:

[01TRX300EX]

Originally posted by stryker
Just a little FYI for all you new to the Dodge Dakotas. Myself and my brother both own V8 Dodge Dakotas (99,02) and we both had the exact same problem with the front break calipers freezing up! (Mechanics have told us its a common problem) So be on the lookout if you have one and just have the rotors checked every so often for extra wear. It's better than having to have them (Rotors) and the calipers replaced as my brother and I both found out the hard way. :cool:

Come to think of it, mine did that a few times...