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Comments
LIKE
"What does the lower body-side molding look like. Not a truck on the lot with it, and the salesperson couldn't find a single picture of it."
Anyways, I told this salesperson that I had been researching the Quad cab on the internet, and had just a couple of questions. He answered them and then asked if I wanted a price. I told him point blank "I already know what I am going to pay for this truck." Much to my surprise, the next words out of his mouth were "I can't sell it to you for less then invoice." I said "OK" (calmly), he then asked if I qualified for any discounts. I told him that I belong to the local Farm Bureau. He said "OK." I told him I would call him in a week or two and we would place my order. I was in and out in 15 minutes.
Thanks to Edmunds and everyone here for the back ground knowledge.
smtango1, at the risk of being unhelpful, read the various topics on Dakota here at Edmunds. If you have any specific questions we would all love to help. However your question at the moment is rather general, I don't want to write paragraphs and paragraphs that won't help you.
My question is re: the 4 wheel Anti-lock brake option (BGK $421.) I will be pulling a bulky (8' x 21') but relatively light pontoon boat from time to time (approx 3,000# but could go 3,500# loaded). My trailer does not have brakes of it's own.
I am very interested in hearing anyone,s comments on the 4 wheel anti-lock brakes or on towing in general with a Dakota.
1. I would like to have as high a mileage I can get without sacrificing towing capacity. What would the truck's towing capacity be with a standard 3.55 axle ratio and what would be the mileage if I were to upgrade it to the 3.92 axle ratio? I haven't been able to find this info anywhere in the literature or on the web.
2. What is the seat back angle of the rear seat. Is it 18 degrees as in the Ford F-150 SuperCrew? My family won't go near a rear seat that reminds them of "rear seats" in my 1991 Toyota extended cab.
CC
Bookitty
Bookitty
I always thought, hey I'm good enough. I can stop
in any situation. That was until last Tuesday.
Traveling home in the stupid Seattle traffic in my
2000 Dakota Quad, one minute the traffic was moving
smoothly, the next the car in front of me was
completely stopped. I slammed on the brakes and
distinctly heard the antilock chattering toward the
end of the stop. I missed the car in front by 3'.
I barely had time to thank God for the $400 I had
spent when three more cars slammed me from the
rear. They did not enjoy the benefits of antilock
brakes. For the record I walked away with a
slightly twisted bumper and slight paint scratch.
Probably two of the other three vehicles will be
totaled. I firmly believe the anti-lock brakes
saved me a new face-lift for my truck and I hope
the little Fiesta in front of me is thankful.
Least I be accused of following too closely, I'll
say circumstances including a city bus trying to
merge into me made the situation inevitable.
One thing I've noticed in my Maxima with 4 wheel
disk brakes and high performance tires, is that if
I lock the wheels, it takes a relatively long time
for the wheels to spin back up again. I'd hate to
know how long it takes those 31X10.5 tires.
Anti-lock can hold the wheels at the point where
they leave tread marks, but don't slide. I'd buy
anti-lock again in a heartbeat.
-Curt
Bookitty
Hello,
Thank you for your inquiry. Those will be available within the next two
weeks. You can purchase our products at [www.deflectors4less.com]
Looks like grey, beige and black are the regular Dakota colors. There is something from Bryndana Industries that colors vinyl (abs plastic, etc.) in a 'dye-like' substance. Available at Walmart... will be using it (in black for me - other colors avail.) to color my Rubbermaid 46 qt. size 'Actionpacker' that I made into a (velcroed to the bedliner) lockable 'toolbox' in my Quad. I want the thing to match my truck. Let ya'll know if it comes out decent (or not).
Bookitty
I also wanted a 4X4, but... I drive 25,000 miles a year, and plan on putting 200K on this truck. With the extra cost for the 4X4, the reduced gas mileage, and the cost of replacing 4 wheel drive parts by 200K. I figure that 4 wheel drive would cost me $7,000+ extra. Yes it snows here, but I can borrow my Dad's 4X4 if I really need it.
I lived in Michigan's U.P. for 5 years. The average snow fall is 250+"/year (347" one year). I had a '77 E-150 - 2 wheel drive. I found that ground clearance and weight on the rear wheels was all I needed to drive on the road. Offroad - I drive someone else's truck.
It seemed that riding in the back seat would be comfortable. Don't know about real long trips (over an hour). Anyone have experience with adults riding in the backseat of your quads for extended periods of time?
Chad
Just when you thought you were through with bragging about the new 4.7 in the dakota. Motor Trend did a review on the new quad cab and clocked the 0-60 in 7.4 seconds. After viewing this figure I thought it was a misprint so I emailed my concern to the editor and he wrote back saying that is was not a misprint. I was totally amazed. This is one fast truck!
Check out the review:
http://www.motortrend.com/jan00/dakota_quadcab/dakota_quadcab_f.html
Bookitty
Poolman57
People keep talking in those discussions about overall wheelbase of vehicle (length) vs. length of what you are towing (21ft pontoon boat - 25ft wi trailer in my case), & overall Gross wt. of vehicle vs. overall Gross wt. of what you are towing (3500 - 4000 lbs for boat, trailer, & misc loaded)
Also, I have read discssions involving tounge weight, wind resistance (a lot on a pontoon), etc.
I have even heard on a discussion regarding a different brand of "full size" truck that an auto tranny is preferable to a manual for towing as towing is hard on the clutch. Do I really want an auto tranny rather than manual?
(By the way, I was perceiving that the "very low" first gear on the Dakota Quad would be a plus to pulling the boat out of the lake up the ramp - Am I right there?)
Once again - I plan to tow an approx 3000 lb pontoon boat (relatively light but high wind resistance going down the hwy) with a 2wd 4.7 Quad 5 speed manual, with tow package, HD service group etc.
Should I go for the 5.9 with auto tranny? Auto tranny's worry me with Dodge's alleged track record with those. (though my beloved would prefer an auto)
Your advice/opinions/comments are greatly appreciated. (esp. from those with actual Dakota towing experience)
In any case, I can't keep pulling it around with my 94 3. litre auto Dodge Caravan - which has otherwise been an outstanding vehicle - despite a poor shifting auto tranny.
Thanks
Andy
I believe that a manual xmission is better for towing. It could only be "hard on the clutch" if not shifted properly. But from this perspective it would also be "hard on the brakes" too if the load was not considered during towing.
Many that use the big Dodge's with the Cummins turbodiesel for towing have found the automatic xmission a weak link in an otherwise great package. I know of one pulling a bulldozer on a triple-axle trailer which would slip terribly up a long hill. This automatic xmission just kept getting worse and worse. This was replaced with another dodge turbodesel with a manual xmission.
It really depends on several factors including.
- How often you tow
- Terrain you will be traversing
- How well you can handle a clutch
If one considers the internal workings of both the automatic and the manual xmission, the choice is obvious if you can handle a clutch. The wear on the clutch only occurs while getting the load moving in first gear. After that there is no wear on the clutch if shifted properly. Do not rev the engine... just get the load moving and clutch engaged before accelerating.So far I love the truck. I have had some minor hard shifts from second to third, but nothing major. I also have what to me sounds like a rear end "whine" during deceleration. Has anyone else had this?
One nice thing about this truck is the power! I just came out of a 1999 Chevy Crew Cab with 5.7 V8 and it was a slug. This Dakota would eat its lunch!
Another question I have is, what is the best way to care for a black truck? This is my first one of this color and I would like suggestions to keeping it looking great!
Thanks
Bookitty
Bookitty
And you know the price will be 3-5% higher in '01. May be offset by some rebates then, but I somehow doubt it. Although they might have a tan interior next year (Solar yellow ext. back?). Current price difference is about $2k invoice, $2.2k msrp. Get em while they're hot.
and left the factory on Jan 25th. If it wasn't for those first 12 weeks of being 'on restriction', these things would show up pretty fast.
this site has been very helpful in my making informed decisions in this process. keep up the great work
for my 2000 dakota quad with the full towing
package (6100lbs and a class 4 reciever hitch),
surprise surprise, uhaul was checking my reciever
to make sure my truck could haul the load and the
reciver is rated for 3500lbs, uhaul said it is a
class 2 reciever (oops!), the dealer and dc
customer svc both said i should have a class 4 on
the truck. any one else with the tow package option
ahc checked there hitch rating? mine is a sticker
on the 87 pin connector box, the sticker is between
the box and the drawbar. somebody look and let me
know please.
thanks,
robert