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Dodge Dakota - Club Cab
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Comments
Thanks for the help
krish
NH
Here is one 'taste' of what is available
ALL TRUCK CENTER
I think I'm safe in saying that most of the owners here prefer the 4.7L to any other engine. It seems to be the best of both worlds. It is a totally new design (3 yrs. old) that gives better MPG than the 3.9L V-6 (15 yr. old surgery on a 35 yr. old design), nearly the power and tow rating as the 5.9L (35 yr old design). The 4.7L is a relativly inexpensive upgrade at,I belive, $570 invoice. Your towing needs are easily within the ratings of either engine, though I would encourage you to make sure you get the Heavy Duty Service pkg. and the factory's Trailer Tow pkg. to better prepare your rig for the added strain.
Bookitty
Any truth to these rumors?
I don't do any towing.
The good news is: I regularly use it to haul 1000 lbs of dirt and gravel. Recently, I accidentally overloaded with about 2500 pounds of concrete brick once and the truck didn't like it but got home and has had no after affects.
More bad news: Within a year of owning it, the gas gauge went bad. Truck died with 1/4 of tank showing (at night, bad neighborhood). Took the dealer 5 days to figure out the problem and fix it.
Got recall notice in the mail for bad brakes. At about the same time my catalytic converter went bad (lots of noise, sounds like a diesel). Recall notice said it would take 1/2 day to fix. Called dealer to make appointment, they said it would take all day because they were busy and to fix the catalytic converter. The dealer had it for three days. They didn't order the recall parts, they didn't order the new catalytic converter, and they managed to lose my keys. My catalytic converter is still busted, it is supposedly back-ordered. They were supposed to call me when it gets in. Its been a month, I would call them to complain, but I hate dealing with the buffoons. 5 star service?
I was thinking about buying another Chrysler Corp. vehicle for my wife because, overall, I like the truck. But the service is so lousy I don't think so.
I'm planning on buying a Dakota 4X4 CC with 4.7 V-8 (at the recommendation of this group) with manual tranny. I live in RI, where we sometimes get snow, and I have a public service job where I have to get to work, and it is 25 miles each way, thus the 4X4. My questions are about whether or not I should order 3.55 axle and/or limited slip differential. I assume the 3.55 axle is lower gearing, and I'm not sure I'll need that with 4 wheel drive. I will rarely tow more than a motorcyle or two, or help with the occasional request to help someone move this or that. I will do a fair amount of city driving, and wonder if I should get HD service group. Any advice will be appreciated.
Bookitty
Cordially, Bikenut
2nddak
Note: Unless there is some kind of delay due to a "Christmas break" shutdown the factory, 6 weeks for a Dakota order is a very high (safe) estimate by your dealer. Most of the recent Dakota purchases reported in these forums have been 3 - 4 weeks from order to delivery. My own Quad Cab order in October took 25 days.
Bottom line: Get signed up at your state Farm Bureau as soon as possible, even if you are still "shopping".
Skyler
You can find them in your phone book and call. They should be able to give you the States main office and then you can call them and sign up by credit card so you won't have a mail delay.
Also, if your truck comes in a bit before the 30 days, if you can take it, wait it out before you accept delivery. I was lucky, mine came in at 28 days, so I just took delivery 2 days later.
Good luck, 2nddak
harleyart
Bookitty
My experience with the Farm Bureau discount is posted in the Dakota FAQ forum.
Here's a link to it: >
This reply to my post may also be useful to you: >
Sincerely,
James A. Balsdon II
Bookitty
Pinging (More precisley...Pre-ignition) has been reported when the intake plenum gasket is leaking. This causes the engine to run LEAN which causes pinging.Pre-ignition is also caused by a carbon build-up in the combustion-chambers. The carbon "glows" red-hot and ignights the FA mixture before the plug fires. (again... Pre-ignition)
There have been reports of treating the engine with some kind of "Dodge Engine Decarbonizer" which is a liquid that is put into the intake and spark-plug holes and allowed to "soak".
It is NEVER a good idea to turn your steering mechanism hard to the 'stops' This should solve this "problem" (Just do not do it)
Lets not forget that an engine is MOST EFFICENT when it is running on the verge of pinging. Yours is just running TOO LEAN or TOO HOT. (Assuming the timing is correct.) ccasional pinging clumbing a hill on a hot day is normal
I want to order the radio with the cd changer controls but dont want to take up any space
in the extended cab area.
truck wouldn't start, he has full power but truck would not turn over at all, after a short
time he went out to try again, same thing, just for fun tried one more time, turned over and
started like nothing was wrong. Has anyone seen this?
Check your drain line. The AC runs all of the time on the 2000's and this could result in plenty of water.
http://www.moparchat.com/ubb/Forum46/HTML/000385.html
I have decided to purchase a ST Club Cab, 5 speed manual transmission, 4.7L V6 engine, power windows, cruise, AC. Does anyone out there have one similar? If so have you been pleased with it?
Also, anyone, I will be driving a combination of city/hiway , mostly city. I don't plan on towing anything at this time, but I keep my vehicles for 10+ years so who knows. My questions are: should I get the heavy duty engine cooling or a tow package? Does the tow package cut down on the mileage? (Stupid woman question I know). My concerns are performance and relatively good gas mileage. Any comments or suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.
answers amongst this learned group of people. Good luck, and have a happy and healthy new year.
Bookitty
Bookitty
The benefits of a limited slip diff is that instead of power just going to one wheel, the engine power is routed thru a "clutch pack" in the differential allowing power to be routed to whichever wheel has better traction. This is useful not only in offroading or snow, but in general driving or rain. Pick-up trucks are notorious for being light in the back end, and this helps diminish (not eliminate) the "fish tailing" that can be common with trucks in inclemate weather.
My advice for dealing with the sales staff is to go in confidnte, with your prices figure out ahead of time. Do not play the "monthly payment" game but look at the amount over (or under) invoice (which you already have from Edmunds). Then subtract the rebates.(Dodge=$1000,FB=$500). Also keep in mind, you do not have to finance thru the dealer, you own bank/credit union may offer the same or better rate. Remember, YOU are in charge of this transaction of the salesperson makes you uncomfortable, leave. It's that easy. These days there are enough options for buying a car that we as cosumers do not have to put up with the tricks of the old days. One last thing, keep the negotiations for the new car seperate from your trade in until the end to prevent the salesperson from playing games that way.