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Dodge Dakota Crew Cab - II
This topic is a continuation of Topic 772....
Dodge Dakota Crew Cab. Please continue these
discussions here.
Front Porch Philosopher
SUV, Pickups, & Aftermarket and Accessories Host
Dodge Dakota Crew Cab. Please continue these
discussions here.
Front Porch Philosopher
SUV, Pickups, & Aftermarket and Accessories Host
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auto 4x2 loaded to be built and delivered to my local dealer. i called d/c customer service and traced it along its rail route just like many of you had and it got to dallas the last sunday of feb. now it sat in dallas for a week waiting for the transport to pick it up and was finally delivered to my dealer on the next monday. when i got to the dealer to pick up my truck the dealer took me out to the vehicle and pointed out the reason it took so long to get to his dealership.....turns out dallas had a hail storm on the previous thursday and the truck sat there another 2 days until the adjuster could come look at all of the damage. it was then released to the dealer as "minor damage to be handled under warantee". the dealer had to point out the hail dents to me as they were so small i wouldn't have seen them for a long time on my own. now the dillema, do i allow the dealer to repair the dings with his paintless dent repair guy or make him reorder my truck or make him discount it further and live with the minor damage. i ended up letting him repair the damage and i dont' think anyone could possibly ever tell it was damaged at all. i just couldn't bear waiting another 6 weeks for a new one to be built.
what would you guys have done? does anyone have any experience with the paintless dent removal?does the paint eventually come off where the repair was done? have i made a mistake? i hope not because the truck is everything i hoped for a real pleasure to drive and is getting 14.5 mpg according to the computer. i still haven't had to fill up (only 249 miles on it so far).
talk to me folks
Did'nt you say you saw a wire harness w/ plugs hanging on each side near the fog light mounting location? This has got to be the wiring for the fog lights. I don't know specifically about a Chrysler, but my last Ford Ranger was this same way. I did not order the fog light option, but I installed them myself. I used the factory wiring that was "hanging" on each side near the fog light location. I just went out and crawled under my Quad. On the passenger side the fog light wire comes out from between the frame rail and the plastic catch pan/shrowd under the radiator. I pulled the plastic loom open and the wires inside are blue w/ black stripe, and solid pink. I think...I am color blind..but that is a close guess!! If those wires are there, then I would look in the fuse panel under the HOOD to see if there is a spot to put in a relay for the fog lights. Mine is in relay location #1 in the fuse box right next to the battery. Let me know if you hanve any more questions...I check this daily (normally)
Jason
i have a 2000 dakota quad, 4.7, auto, 4x2, 3.92 rear, towing package and just basically loaded.
i traveled from the mississippi gulf coast to just 40 miles east of kansas city missouri which was 850 miles one way. i ran 70 mph the whole trip out of overdrive, and the rpm was 3500rpm. i pulled a 1200lb 6x12 uhaul trailer up there empty, and i averaged 10mpg, the return trip was with an additional 1000lbs in the trailer and still averaged 10mpg, i dont think the weight really matters to the truck, i think it is more the wind drag, my boat is more aerodynamic and it weighs 4900lbs and i average about 10 mpg with it also, i think once you lock out that overdrive its just gonna hang in the 10mpg range if your rpm's are in the 3500rpm range.
well i hope this helps any body thats interested in trips and towing.
robert
p.s. i know someone will ask why i didnt just rent a trailer in missouri, well it costs 125.00 to rent local for 4 days, it costs 250.00 to rent one way, so i figured in estimated fuel costs and i decided it would be cheaper to pull it with me than rent it there.
Bookitty
thanks '
slr
I ordered mine from Kernersville Dodge, and the
Salesmans name was Dave Fierle...The service was
excellent....My wife and i set up an appointment to test drive one and when we got there on
Saturday...he had one with dealer tag on it. We
talked for a while and tossed me the keys and said
"have a good time"...I couldnt belive i didnt have
to have a "Choufer"...After a 45min drive through
the backroads, we came back where he gave me a
price that no-one in a 100mile radius could
touch(only negotiated for 10 minutes because i was
armed with EDMUND's info). email me at
gchadsmith@cs.com and ill be happy to email you the agreement with a cost breakdown...I'd sure drive 4 hours or so to Kernersville from western NC to same a few hundred bucks..I was lucky...I work in K-Ville 5 minutes from the dealership...
***Side note---I looked at an A.R.E Lo-Pro
lockable Fiberglass Tonue($695 installed but the
guy told me it was negotiable) today and am almost
95% sure i will order one this weekend... Anyone
have any experience with this particular
top....This top only sticks up around 1/2" or less
over the rails and does not lap over the rear of
the tailgate.... Looked really sweet...Only concern is that a weatherstip must be applied to the top of the bed-rails and tailgate..
All you guys/gals that have your Quad
now.....Enjoy and keep posting the things you
like/dislike....
Hey quadder, how's the CD changer? Did you get the Dodge one or something else? I ordered the special stereo and CD changer when I ordered my truck and I hope it sounds good. I had to turn in my Eddie Bauer Explorer last week and my dealer gave me a Plymouth Breeze to drive until my quad gets in and it has a radio with no CD or cassette but the sound is probably better than the Mach sound system that was in my Explorer.
Has anyone else at your dealer ordered and gotten their Quad? My is like yours: 4.7, 4x4, 5 sp, SLT, 4 wheel ABS (only thing I'd consider out of the normal). Seems to me that the dealer lost the order, doesn't have a high enough allocation to receive regular shipments of Quads, or something else.
You've been waiting too long, simple as that.
As for you guys that have been waiting months,I agree with SPIKE50. I have to believe that there is more to the story than your dealer is willing to share with you... If i were you guys, i would call and raise cain with anyone and everyone that i could get a hold of that was associated with Dodge....You should be getting something(i.e Ext Warranty, etc.) for your patients...
Bookitty
Naaahhh! No way!
Way? :-O
Bookitty
will keep watching and supporting this site.
slr
CB
TX.
cowtownkid
Thanks
that my Quad had arrived. Went to the dealership
tonight (my wife drove me there) and did all of the
paperwork. Went to delivery, only to discover that
it was equipped with 3.92 ratio differentials.
Refused the truck, salesman came over and showed me
that the order manager had changed the ratio
because you cannot get the 3.55 with 4.7 and 5
speed with towing. Problem is, that no one informed
me and I have been waiting since 12/24/99. They
were rather casual about the whole thing, but I was
very upset, since no one bothered to call or
inform me. They said that they could order me
another truck, but that was all they could do. Now
I'm wondering if the combination of 4X4, 4.7, 5
speed, and tow is available with 3.55.
Unfortunately, it was 9:45 PM and the manager was
not there. Please respond by post if you have the
same combination and a 3.55. I can call D/C
tomorrow, but right now I am crushed. Perhaps
themacguy's prophecy is accurate.
Bookitty
Bookitty
I thought maybe it was like 'positraction,' so that if one wheel starts to spin on ice the power will be delivered to the wheel that isn't spinning.
However, a salesman told me no, that's not it. He said it's some unspecified thing that you need only if you pull a big trailer every day. I suspect he's wrong, but who can tell me for sure?
Also, if you have 4WD, is there any benefit to having anti-spin?
I heard a lot a couple of months ago about the 3.55 / 5 speed not being available with the 4.7, but I have never seen anything official. I believe that the reason is that the torque was just too much - but to me that makes more sense with the auto than the standard.
I agree that the main problem here is that you weren't informed about what was going on - unforgiveable in my mind. I have the 3.92 / 5 speed and am delighted with it, but that was because it was what I wanted. I think that you are stuck with the 3.92 if you want standard, but you should certainly get as much from the dealer as possible for their wholly unacceptable handling of it.
On another note.....
It must be that time again, it seems like only days ago that I regurgitated anti-spin for the quadrillionth time, so here is quadrillion (or maybe clubrillion) and one.
Anti-spin, or limited slip does a similar job to 4wd, but it works left to right rather than front to back.
The differential has a clutch in it that forces the wheels on both side of the truck to turn. So, in an open diff if the right hand rear wheel is spinning on ice you are going nowhere; in a limited slip application the left hand wheel is forced to rotate once for every x number of times that the right hand wheel rotates. That way you still get some traction.
Now, as to whether you need it in a 4x4, well some say no, but I say most definitely. I would never, ever, consider buying a truck without it - and I do some fairly serious offroading.
Bookitty
i asked for the 3.55 with limited slip.....
what do you say guys?
slr
and I really did not want the 3.92. I could get an
attorney, but that is not practical. While it is
against my principal to re-order, I have done so,
and they have promised to push through the order.
Principal is an expensive hobby, and I really don't
have the time to wade into battle. It was an
honest mistake, but my mother always told me that I
would have to pay for my mistakes; She never
mentioned that I would have to pay for Reedman
Dodge's mistakes as well. You're a great bunch.
Bookitty (Quadwaiter)
Hey: everyone that ordered and has received their truck: My sticker has a box on it, top on middle of the page and it says, "This vehicle was especially built for (my name)" and my name is there. I took my sticker and had it lamenated just for that reason. Is everyone else's like that too or did anyone notice? just curious.
Received my Quad last Thursday and already have 550 miles on it! I have been driving the s**t out of it and loving every minute of it. This thing will absolutely hual some royal a**. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL truck too.
Jeff
three of four time a day, worse than a woman and her soaps. Bookitty this screw-up on your Quad is cause for war. If my truck comes in mess up I will buy something that day from some one else.
I ordered 02-01-2000 and have a 04-02-2000 build date.
cowtownkid
The "TRAC-LOC" differential is Dodges 'brand name' for a LSD (Limited Slip Differential) GM calls their LSD "Positraction". It is all the same, just some clutch-packs within the differential case to better distribute the torque-split between the wheels.
Absolutly NOTHING to do with weight pulling capabilities.
I have the shift-on-the-fly 4X4 with 3.55 LSD rear end. When in 4WDlock I effectivly have 3-wheel-drive (2rears and one front). Without the LSD rear end, 4WDlock would only give me one rear and one front wheel driven. I LEARNED to drive in a 4WD and have driven in snow for over 20 seasons.
The LSD is a GOOD thing with the shift-on-the-fly 4WD.
DO NOT consider the LSD with the so-called 'full time' 4WD. It forces one front tire to spin in low-traction conditions causing loss of steering control.
With the 4.7L and 5SP manual xmission, the LSD is MANDANTORY when ordering. Both the dealers computer and my own research comfirmed this.
KnK
I ordered a new Dakota from dodge on 1/28/00. I have been calling once a week for an building update. I found that the truck shipped two weeks ago on a CSX rail car. The shipping time should have been 17 hours however when I called CSX with the rail car # they didn't know where the train was, so after three day's of this I found out the name of the CEO for CSX and also a VP. I sent an E-Mail to them letting them know what was going on and also cc'ed the chairman of the board for Dodge, needless to say I call back within an hour and the truck will be delivered on 3/19 and someone from dodge will be there for me to sign the papers and pick up the truck (dealers are usually closed on Sundays so I am very pleased). I hope this help someone out there!
Long time waiting
I ordered a new Dakota from dodge on 1/28/00. I have been calling once a week for an building update. I found that the truck shipped two weeks ago on a CSX rail car. The shipping time should have been 17 hours however when I called CSX with the rail car # they didn't know where the train was, so after three day's of this I found out the name of the CEO for CSX and also a VP. I sent an E-Mail to them letting them know what was going on and also cc'ed the chairman of the board for Dodge, needless to say I call back within an hour and the truck will be delivered on 3/19 and someone from dodge will be there for me to sign the papers and pick up the truck (dealers are usually closed on Sundays so I am very pleased). I hope this help someone out there!
Long time waiting
ya think?
cowtownkid
I 've averaged 17.05 over 4790 miles with the 3:55 and a veryyyyy soft foot (mostly rural roads). To be exact, I used 274.265 gallons at a cost of $337.51- and I haven't towed a thing. The wife complains that I spend to much on gas. She just doesn't understand that I love driving my new Quad- even if it is a gas hog!
Bookitty
Anyway here is what we got:
4x2
SLT --- Power everything
4.7L
Auto
Limited Slip
I am really impressed with the acceleration and the overall ride of the vehicle but I do have a couple of complaints...
1) For 20 some odd thousand dollars one would think that the fit and finish would be first rate. However, the driver side door sticks out about 1/4 at the top-back edge (before the rear passenger door). But the bottom of the door is flush?
2) The right rear tire sticks out the fender well about two inches while the left one is almost flush (the truck has the tire and handling package). The truck also has a slight pull to the right. I wonder if this is related?
I will be calling the dealership monday to get these issues looked at. Has anyone else seen these problems?
#-(
rjoder:
DO NOT DRIVE THAT TRUCK
It may be a minor problem, it may be something very, very serious. You need to get someone from the dealer who knows something about them to take a look at it right now. And get them to bring a tow truck, because if that thing needs work it isn't safe to drive. The door problem, and the speedy turn around make me very suspicious about the history of that truck so far. Get it checked out, straightaway.
On another matter,
bpeebles - don't understand why the front wheel spins with full time 4wd and lsd - how does that happen?
Anyhow, the dealership has been very polite (is that because I haven't filled out my questionnaire yet? Hmmm...) and professional. The last time I spoke to the service manager he stated that the truck was up on the lift and things 'didn't look right.' (No S#$t!) He also said it might be a week or two before new parts come in because of the high demand for quad cab :-( I think I should get something out of this, instead of a headache.
I would have never noticed this problem if I haden't followed my wife in our other car the other day....