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Comments
marellano
--These are examples ONLY (do NOT let your wife see this list - my e:mail address is subject to change, instantly!)-- Sooooo,
DaQuadders (or whatever our name is)
FAQS
Powertrains
Engines
Trannies
Rear ends
4X4 specialty area
Dealer issues
Good
Bad
Sue-ees!
Maintenance
General
TSB's
Fit / finish
Perf. mods that work (yours) or don't (mine)
Odd 'thingies' specific to Quad (our finds)
Other(s)
Site links
including links, short descriptions and
maybe a shortcut 'path' to the Quad stuff
Pix
Owner's trucks
Our dogs (even the deceased ones)
Our kids
Babes (mmmm, I meant as in 'kids' of course)
Beaters (our first or favorite cars), etc.
Bikes
Boats
Favorite area drives, maps
Hobby stuff
Scars & wounds
Wive(s)
Note: #4-11 are alphabetical (pol. correct)
Personal area (attached to above)
Lies
Damned lies
Statistics
Etc.
Yada, yada, yada
Just sort of fits with the other stuff - whatever that may be... :-P And, of course the above is just to stimulate the ol noggin a bit.
96g11 I hope to get a k&n before our trip next month. I would also like to install a flomaster muffler but am receiving some resistance on the home front. My wife remembers how I used to talk about my 70' Chevelle with headers and straight pipes. She's afraid I'll wake up everybody.
I'm sure it can't be any worse than bike every morning.
I’ve been thinking about getting the fold-a-cover, but haven’t found one to look at. I’ll be needing to remove the cover frequently and don’t want to go with a soft cover. How easy is it to remove? (Folded up it will probably take too much bed space.)
is 70-75. At 55 you have a lot of kick left, but at
70 not much kick left you still have accelartion.
I have drove a Nissan truck 4cyl. for 15 yrs. the
3.9L seems to have 3x the power of the Nissan.
Bobemoto, The cover takes up about 18 inches of bed behind the cab when folded up. You can remove
the cover with a 5/16 nut driver in about two min.
there are two mounting blocks on the first hinged
section behind the cab that attach to the side of
the bed that have to come off.
gsx750f, I paid $620 for my cover from the dealer
i purchased the truck from and it comes with the
3yr. 36,000 mile warranty. I did install myself
and did put one pop rivet in the end of each rail.
Sounds like you got a good deal on your cover.
Now the bad news. While on my way to work today, I got struck from behind by a Mustang, car not horse. Dakota damage, 2" round area on bumper is scuffed up and bumper is bowed in about an 1" in the middle. New bumper and I'm done. Mustang damage, front bumper slight damage, grill and right side lights gone, hood folded in half like cardboard, radiator history. In other words, totaled. Thankful for those high bumpers on the those 4x4's. I know it could have been much worse but it sucks anyway.
http://www.donmar.com/
They have one. I do not think it has a defroster. I guess you could add an electric "hot air" blower from JC Whitney?
Good Luck.
handling group on the 4x2. I bought mine from my dodge dealer and installed them myself. They are
real easy to put on. They come pre-painted the color you order. Every thing you need to put them
on comes with the flares. I think I paid about $230.
4x2 Sport or SLT as Standard. You can purchase
them through the parts dept. I paid $255.00,
wasn't as lucky as g...86. Takes about an hour
to put all 4 on. All you need is a 1/4 drive
ratchet and a #12 torx bit. Holes are pre-drilled
on the truck.
later renegade69
What size tires/wheels come with the T/H group on a 4x2 sport or slt?
My honest opine on the reasons for delays is a combination of restriction for various specific parts and just plain luck.
I finally got good news today - dealer called and I'm officially D1, build date of 5/11 and ship date of 5/16. My order date was 2/10.
qc 4x4 4.7 5sp ls tow skids t&h antilock
I HAD THE BED SPRAYED W/ARMA COATING SIMILAR TO RHINO, I WILL DO IT AGAIN WHEN I GET A QUAD. IT WAS 350. WITH LIFETIME WARRANTY.
TONNEAU COVER- I HAVE A GAYLORD 1PC FIBERGLASS, I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH WATER LEAK'S FROM WASHING OR RAIN. I HAD IT PAINTED TO MATCH WAS $850.00, WITH A LITTLE CARE I CAN HAVE IT OFF BY MYSELF IN 15 MIN. ( I'M 5'7") I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
SORRY FOR GOING ON I LOVE MY DAKOTA AND HAVE ENJOYED READY THE INFORMATION FROM EVERYONE!!!!
I HAVE 49,000 MILES ON A TRUCK I SPECIAL ORDERED FEB/98, REC 3/98. WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO ORDER A QUAD TOO!!!
KEEP ON TRUCKEN
if I'm wrong let me know!!!!!
Admittedly, the "Detroit market" is NOT representative of all regions across the country. In fact, as I develop sales and service training programs for all of the "big three," we're very careful to contact dealers outside the local market (usually in places such as Indianapolis and Kansas City).
It distresses me that the further from Detroit you are, the greater the liklihood of long waits. I ordered the Quad 5.9 Sport with all options except steering wheel radio controls on April 3. It's scheduled to go on the line early next week, and shipped out on April 26. I haven't checked back with DC since early iin the seek, but it appears that there are no restrictions and everything is "go."
As for market positioning, my personal feeling is that Dodge has a good "niche" with the Quad. It's a remarkable vehicle in that you've got something that's easily "garageable," yet can be had with the "guts" of a full-size.
Regarding dealer allocations, you're right! It's not entirely fair. While the "big three" here in Detroit will NEVER admit it, allocations of fast-moving, high-gross vehicles are aften influenced by the individual dealer's willingness to "jump through the factory hoops." That is, "If you can get 10 more Intrepids over the curb this month, I'll give you five more Quads."
The "car business" is changing dramatically. The factory is gaining more and more control over dealer franchises, and the principle of allocation is based on bottom-line for the big boys.
I know that's not a comforting response to your post, but it's REAL.
While I can see that the full fiberglass units are more "fashionable," I have neither the time nor inclination to lift off one of those monsters simply so that I can run down to the greenhouse and pick up a few trees!
Thanks again!
Fixed Coverage is the ability of a dealership Parts/Service operation to cover dealership expenses for all but VEHICLE-RELATED expenses (i.e., the physical building, lights, heat, etc. for the ENTIRE dealership). The national average is about 75% coverage, though 80% is the benchmark.
The Service Department performs work in three basic areas:
1. Warranty Work -- Reimbursed by the factory on a standardized "time/rate" (i.e., "You'd better get this job done at our rate unless you want the cost to come out of your own pocket!)
2. Internal Work -- Primarily reconditioning of used vehicles for resale.
3. Customer-Pay Work -- The sale of parts and service that is not covered by the factory and profits come out of the customer's pocket.
That said, let's talk about those "buzzes, clunks and ticking" you experience during the warranty period.
They're NOT listed as reimbursible under standard time/rate maintenance and repair procedures by the factory. HOWEVER, the dealership should have a pre-determined "discretionary" amount from the factory to cover "customer satisfaction" issues.
In other words, if your dealer REALLY cares about you as a customer, and REALLY wants to sell you another truck in another 3-5 years, he'll dip into that fund or dip into his own pocket to assure your satisfaction.
My suggestion on what problems you might be experiencing is to sidestep the Service Manager and ask to speak with the Dealer Principal. Explain the situation, be very frank about your feelings, and about your expectations of the product.
If your dealer is a good one, and if he values repeat business, he'll respond.
Nuff said... Good luck!!!
Thanks to all and keep posting.
You're absolutely RIGHT on the 4WD answer! It's very clear that you have a solid technical background! Once I thought about it, there was perfect sense behind the fact that "4WD" is in fact "3WD" unless the truck is equipped with LSD.
What convinced me of that truth even more was "practical application." Before I took delivery of the Ram, I had a Chevy S-10 4WD with LSD. As we were building our home here north of Detroit, the snows were heavy, but that little truck managed it no problem.
Then, I had this "big bad Ram." We had a paltry 8 inches of snow on the ground with mud underneath... I needed to pull the truck around the house and back to the barn... Threw it into "4-high" and it couldn't do the job! Stuck, and VERY disappointed with the performance!
Shifted to "4-low" and managed to get the truck unstuck... But it was certainly an eye-opener on the value of LSD. It's not just something that helps prevent tire-squeals while pulling out on the highway in 2WD... It's the difference between "4WD" and "True 4WD."
You're absolutely RIGHT on the 4WD answer! It's very clear that you have a solid technical background! Once I thought about it, there was perfect sense behind the fact that "4WD" is in fact "3WD" unless the truck is equipped with LSD.
What convinced me of that truth even more was "practical application." Before I took delivery of the Ram, I had a Chevy S-10 4WD with LSD. As we were building our home here north of Detroit, the snows were heavy, but that little truck managed it no problem.
Then, I had this "big bad Ram." We had a paltry 8 inches of snow on the ground with mud underneath... I needed to pull the truck around the house and back to the barn... Threw it into "4-high" and it couldn't do the job! Stuck, and VERY disappointed with the performance!
Shifted to "4-low" and managed to get the truck unstuck... But it was certainly an eye-opener on the value of LSD. It's not just something that helps prevent tire-squeals while pulling out on the highway in 2WD... It's the difference between "4WD" and "True 4WD."
light to dimly illuminate the trays from under the dash instead of having to turn on the overhead map light? am i being too picky?
I love this truck. I am learning how to drive it. It weighs more and is bigger than previous Nissan PU and trusty Cherokee so it is not quite as nimble. But oh the purr of that 4.7 and the cadillac ride. And it is still a truck. :>)
You are correct on all points about LSD being the VERY BEST INVESTMENT on a rear-wheel-drive truck.
(2WD or 4WD)
One correction on your statement:
Once I thought about it, there was
perfect sense behind the fact that "4WD" is in fact "3WD" unless the truck is equipped with LSD.
Actually, when in 4WDlock you have "2WD" (1front + 1rear)... Add LSD to the rear and you get "3WD" (1front + 2rears)
At NO time do the fronts get 'locked' together because this would create a situation that is impossable to steer.
A 1980 Ford LTD pulled out in front of me, I did not have time to stop. Hit LTD at rear wheels, bent the whole back of the car on a 20 degree angle. Destroyed my front bumper and left head light, damaged my left front fender hood and grill. Truck still drivable drove back home to Alabama. No one was injured luckly.
because this would create a situation that is
impossable to steer."
Are you sure about that? I have an '84 Chevy K10 and the front wheels definitely lock together. When you turn sharply in that mode the inside front tire skips - it definitely is harder to steer on dry pavement but having two wheels pulling in the front make that truck unstoppable in mud or snow. Once one of my hubs broke and the truck was no better in snow and mud than it was in 2(1 - no lsd)WD.
I don't think 4wd would work on a pickup if one of the front wheels slipped.
-Joe Jackson
I hope they see fit to include one in a year long test. But shoot, 90 days and they'd all have one parked in their driveways: guaranteed. Even though mine (and probably the majority of owners - though not in the topics) is a 2WD, I feel quite sure the more they drive the Quad, the more impressed they'd be... and understand us, 'daquadders.'
Thank you Edmunds for the test (Dodge probably used bookitty's 'allocation' for the test truck), Liz Kim for a 'spot on' review; Scott Jacobs and Karl Brauer for some great photos. We'll convert ya'll yet... O:-)
I really don't see why you couldn't use your own wiring, relay and then buy the switch for the dash. One note, use the ground wire off the old dash switch. It will save you some time in the long run.
Not to hammer the point... But there's another "savings factor" with LSD... TIRE WEAR.
On the old S-10 with LSD, the original tires went 50,000 miles before replacement. On the Ram without LSD, they went 35,000. A lot of "scrubbing" goes on when you're dry pavement and making a left or a right turn!
For what it's worth, I TOO have enjoyed the commeraderie that exists in this Town Hall section. Perhaps that's because WE ALL know that the QC is a truly UNIQUE piece.
About 18 months ago I was developing some training for Dodge... I knew the 4-year-old Ram was going to need replacement in about a year... At that time, the Dakota X-cab didn't even feature a third door.
Knowing that the Dakota was SURELY losing market share to Chevy/GMC compacts (and others) for that very reason, I assumed and asked whether Dodge would be breaking a third-door X-cab for the '99 model year... The answer, quite disappointingly, was "NO... Check again in 2000."
Well... I must say that Dodge did its homework well, and pulled a rabbit out of the hat with the Quad! Regarless of what glitches might exist in first-year builds, I must say that the R&D people at Chrysler are VERY perceptive of what buyers want and need!
Pardon my diatribe (hey! I'm a writer by trade!)... But I recall years ago, crossing the Detroit River to Canada, where Lee Iacocca unveiled the first "minivan." Chrysler, in effect, had created a "new market."
To a certain extent, I believe it's done the same with the Quad. No other manufacturer offers a "midsize" truck with such a range of power options. These guys are smart!
I am overseas so am unable to visit a dealer right now, so maybe you folks can help again... In the book they show a molded running board on one page but on a club cab. Is it available for the Quad and if so, how does it compare to an aftermarket step bar?
Also, any news on changes/additions to 2001 models?
I'm thinking of getting a Dakota Quad, and noticed
some discussion of automatic transmission problems. What problems and can they be worked around?