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Comments
Gas mileage -- Best observed gas mileage was 17.5 mpg with 5 in the cab and a full cargo load under the gullwing tonneau. Oddly enough, this came over a period of 2 days during our drive from Santa Fe, NM to Taos, NM, to Ratton, NM which was mostly stop and/or slow going on 2 lane mountain roads with plenty of passing, with A/C on, O/D off, tranny often in 2nd gear, @ elevations of over 9000 ft., and various site seeing trips from the Rio Grande Gorge to the Taos Ski Valley etc. There was no question about the 5.9L's ability to pass cars, trucks, and even motorcycles at will while driving up the mountains. BTW, although the AWD system tended to understeer a little in the corners, it was very reassuring to have AWD, esp. as I drove over some roads with a little sand or gravel on them. Just my $0.02 (no flames please!).
Worse observed gas mileage was around 14.5 mpg. This was with a large bag overhead in the Yakima rack I installed driving @ a steady 75+mph. When I took the bag off and stuck it inside my bed extender, my gas mileage increased to 16.5 mpg. Something to think about for those of you who may be thinking about putting large bags overhead on a long drive. The Yakima rack itself (with "basketcase" and fairing), probably reduced the gas mileage by .5 - 1 mpg (my best guess b/c gas mileage didn't significantly improve on my return drive to TX when I had the rack off).
Operating Temp - While driving from Flagstaff, AZ to Los Angeles, CA., the ambient temp was at 106+F. When undergoing a long climb with a/c on w/full load in cab and bed @ 75-80 mph, the engine temp rose to about 230 or slightly more. This surprised me somewhat b/c I have a 180 degree T-stat instead of the stock 195. Temps dropped at or below 210 when the road levelled out. Running the engine stock instead of with the Jet Stage II chip made no difference. However, on the return trip I added a bottle of Water Wetter to the radiator which seemed to help, as my engine temp never climbed above 210 during the same types of conditions.
Pinging - I've had some pinging problems in the past, even when running the engine stock (except for the Mopar Cold Air Induction system) and with 89 - 93 octane. After changing the plugs to Autolite copper core 3923's gapped @ 0.045", this seemed to alleviate the problem in town. But on the trip, I noticed the pinging when flooring the gas from low rpms. So upon the suggestion of a knowledgeable DML'er I hooked up with while in So. Cal (who has a heavily modified 5.9L QC), I bought another set of 3923's ($9.00) and gapped them @ 0.040". This seemed to solve the problem.
Power and Style -- the 5.9 has so much torque that even though my QC was loaded down, when I hit 3000 rpm's, the engine started torquing and I pulled away from everything anywhere I wanted (flats, mountains, 9000 ft elevation). As for styling, I received several comments from people I met @ gas stations and restaurants throughout NM, AZ, CA, and, of course, TX, on how nice the QC looked and questions about how it performed etc. Yes, we QC'ers drive one nice looking, high performance, vehicle!!
(gsu1)Open the hood and reach behind the headlamp. You are working 'blind' and cannot see what you are doing. If you think removing the quartz envelope is a challenge, just wait until you are attempting to INSTALL it. As I recall, one of them is more challenging than the other. I have the manual xmission so there is no xmission control computer at the front-right corner. (My air horns and compressor reside there;-)
(txqc2000)My bulb was not a PIAA, BOSCH, nor even a SYLVANIA. I have seen all of these very good brands burn out during -30f degree usage. If a quartz-envelope, halogen-gas-bulb, cannot maintain operating temperature, the redeposition process will cease to continue and the filament will burn out..
That said.... Physics tells us that more light comes from higher wattage. This is more power thus more heat. Neither PIAA nor anyone else can change this.
My conclusions, based on facts and experience, tell me that I can spend my money and time on something more than a barely perceptible difference in light output.
It's fairly light, i would guess about 30-40 Lbs.
I started our rainy season the day I picked to install it. It seems to be fairly watertight, just a few trickles. Need to install some additional weather stripping.
The things I don't like about it is the plastic hardware that it suppplied with. I made some of my own latches out of alum. Installation not bad, just need to take your time with layout, the rest falls in place.Not the most secure cover, but it trims out really nice. The cover is well thought out, just needs hardware improvements.
Yes, I looked at fold-a-cover. What I did'nt like about it was the open tracks on the sides,but this was on a store display. I think this is the same cover that Dodge supplies.
I plan on modifying the latching system later. I'll post when thats done.I will be using a tailgate lock with this cover.
But was wondering what if any changes are coming for 2002??
Car / Truck News didn't really know of any major changes, has anyone heard of anything.
Dealer said he can take orders for 2002 after June 18th, and would know more then.
Might wait until 2002's roll around, but if they are still deleting items, who knows.
THANKS!
Driving a 2000 quad with 5sp / 3.55 / 4.7
Worst milage was on 1st leg of trip out. Only got around 16.2 mpg. because of heavy acceleration, slow/fast crowded roads, etc. 75 - 85 mph.
2nd leg of trip, some city/stop & go, and some hiway with some time on the ranch in 4wd (3-5 miles in deep sand) avg 17.1 mpg
trip home @ 65 - 80 mph, even flow of traffic, did not use cruise control (my quad gets better fuel milage when I don't use the cruise control) averaged 18.3 mpg!
Mods to accomplish this: using Amsoil 0w-30 synthetic oil & an Amsoil re-usable hi-flow air filter. Also installed a bypass oil filter system that allowed me to: 1: Move the oil filter to a more accessible location & 2: added 2 qts to the oil capacity for a total of 8 qts. Really helped keep the heat down during middle of the day driving in Hot SW Texas!
I now have 33,645 on my Quad. It is coming up for it's 1st birthday on June 17th!
The quad is still running strong and I am very pleased with it so far . . . .
Preston Sparks
aka: Cowtown Aggie
'00 Quadcab SLT+ Garnet Red 4x4 (AWD) 5.9L 46RE 3.55 LSD. For list of modifications to my QC, see my profile:
http://www.twistedbits.net/WWWProfile/dakota/Vof5jrNb0pR1M/
For pictures of my QC & Accessories: http://www.geocities.com/txqc2000
One of the cheapest truck mail order places I've found happens to be here in Dallas. The place is called Earl Owen Co. 800-527-2006. The good things about them are that they've been in business for many, many years, and their prices are almost always cheaper than retail. In fact, I've seen auto dealers and auto accessory stores from the area buy their truck merchandise from Earl Owen b/c they are the area distributor for various lines of products. The bad thing is that Earl Owen does so much business that if you have any technical questions, they are unlikely to spend the time with you to answer them. They also don't stock the WAAG Sportster grill, the PIAA brackets, or other specialty stuff like that. You'd have to special order the parts, which could take some time to get.
I've personally bought all my PIAA lights etc. from a 4x4 outfit in So. California called Dirty Parts 310-390-9086. I've been doing business with Larry, the owner, since the early 90's when he installed grill guards, lights, etc. on 2 previous 4x4 vehicles I owned when I lived in LA. If you read 4x4 type magazines, you've probably seen his handiwork on various featured 4x4's (anywhere from bullet-proof 4x4's to big-foot type vehicles). He also tests prototype products for PIAA and other companies (Borla, Gibson, etc.) especially since most of these aftermarket companies are located in So. California. In other words, he knows his stuff. BTW, you and Mopar67 would probably really appreciate Larry's latest project truck I saw during my recent trip to CA -- a supercharged Toyota Landcruiser that has no less than 12-14 PIAA lights neatly integrated into the vehicle and a whole host of technical and performance goodies too numerous to mention!! Larry's prices are not as cheap as Earl Owen's, but they're not as high as retail either, depending on the item. And no, I don't work for him or get any type of commission. If you read my DML profile, you know that I DO like to promote stores and/or people who take pride in their work and know their stuff cold, and Larry is definitely one of the few I know of who fit in this category.
Bottom line, I'd definitely buy the WAAG Sportster grill from Larry b/c 1) he'll know exactly which part you're referring to -- you'll have to explain it several times, as I did, to Earl Owen; and 2) Larry told me that he's friends with the owner of WAAG and gets 2 truck loads of stuff from them per day -- so he can probably get the part pretty quick for you. If you talk with Larry and there are any doubts as to what you're looking for (unlikely), just tell him you want something similar to Sean's Garnet Red 4x4 Quadcab that has all the bugs splattered on the grill and radiator. He'll know exactly what you're talking about.
Thanks, and still waiting for my 2001 QC 4x4,4.7L,auto.
Tom.
I also want to thank all those that have posted here, its made my choices alot easier to make and I'm more cofedent now that I've made the right ones.
my 00 Quad went in for routine annual eval and 24,000 mile look see.found the brakes to be 50-70% worn,but no warped rotors.The releasing like noise i complained about in the front end was explained to me as a result of the drive train moving as i engage first gear...."all DAK'S do it" OK maybe they're right...i'll watch it.
had the rear end fluid changed....cost$58.00 !!!!
does that sound right to any of you guys?they charged me $14.85 per qt.for the replacement fluid.3 in total....than 8.81 for some special fluid for a lsd .
it seemed high to me...they were very courteous trying to justify the charges nd of course they have you by the short hairs....
all for now,
stephen
Getting an ARE CH model cap installed this weekend.
Hopefully the "correct" bedrug will arrive early next week. The first one they sent was for a short box and not for the Quad cab.
Bob
To this person, I have an updated response re: your question on where to possibly mount tow hooks, and I'll include pictures of the proposed mounting location where I think it could work. Please e-mail me again. My apologies to everyone else for this vague post.
Black - Badge - Dakota, front door
Black - Badge - 4x4, Tailgate
Black - Badge - Sport, Frt Door
Black - Badge - Dodge, Tailgate
Should I be looking for any more than these?
It doesn't say anything about having a V8 or any other badges so I guess they're not going to be there.
Jim H
To bobs5:
Nyahh, nyahh. I got the correct Bedrug today. Bernd's supplier had a bunch of orders screwed up. I guess he eats the extra shipping charges.
Had an Advance cover installed last week and like it also but have a few questions that other Advance owners may be able to help with. Our biggest problem is the locks. Sometimes the locks will not turn - almost like we are using the wrong key. Both front and rear locks do the same thing with both of the keys we were given. This has happened several times - all when the cover has been in the sun and is very warm - and has never happened when the cover was not in the sun. We've tried pushing down on the cover while turning the key, or pushing in on the tailgate - that works sometimes but is not reliable. Any suggestions?
Does anyone else find the "safety catch" on the front of the cover to be less than desirable? Ours has to be manually moved out of the way every time the rear panel is opened or it catches the back rubber seal.
Last question - the rear seal ends before it goes under the opening latch on the left side of the truck. Is that normal?
Again, thanks for all the info on this great truck. It fills all our needs in a vehicle and is loads of fun to drive too!
I also have a couple of pictures of the area I propose to mount some tow hooks. I may have to consult with Ayrow before proceeding, as he did such a nice job on his '01 QC.
'00 Quadcab SLT+ Garnet Red 4x4 (AWD) 5.9L 46RE 3.55 LSD. For list of modifications to my QC, see my profile:
http://www.twistedbits.net/WWWProfile/dakota/Vof5jrNb0pR1M/
For pictures of my QC & Accessories: http://www.geocities.com/txqc2000
I have 01 QC built week of 5/21 delivered 6/1. As you have indicated, it did not come with the discontinued badges and hood insulation. I don't care about the badges as I think it looks beter without them.
I have read the posts discussing the insulation and corrosion and protecting the paint or not. Is there any consensus whether this item provides useful functionality or not?
The infamous console light: I have one under the dash lighting the forward part of the console (in front of the cup holders). There is not one inside the console (box). The owners manual does refer to one inside.
Does anyone know if one inside is supposed to be there or if it was discontinued too? I asked the dealer, but didn't get much help to clarify. I have a Sport 4WD with bucket seats.
Thanks.
1. BIGGEST COMPLAINT: Some knuckle-head thought that the seats were too comfortable, so they shortened them and did away with a useful head-rest. Problem solved; they're no longer too comfortable.
2. To some people (my wife being the only one with a real vote), the new interior looks cheaper than the previous. I don't agree, but we'll see how the black holds up.
3. One good cup holder beside the gear shift is far better than two bad ones located precisely in line with 2nd and 4th gear.
4. Although it doesn't snap your head back, the sound and performance of the 4.7 more than makes up for the giant sucking sound that I think I hear in the region of the gas tank every time I step on the gas.
5. What's the deal with the fold away mirrors? I worry about my wife catching one (I'd never do such a thing) as she backs out of the garage, but when they're folded forward, they still stick out as far as when they're in their normal position; that's not gonna help unless SHE can stop within 6 inches.
6. The tire/handling/quad-cab package looks a lot better and bigger than my previous rig.
7. Did I mention how good the 4.7 sounds?
8. Why'd they get cheap on the hood insulation? I sure hope the paint holds up. As far as the sound reduction, the 01 is at least as quiet if not quieter than my 97. HEY, I should have pealed the insulation out of my 97 before the trade!
Overall, I really like my 01 so far. I went with another dakota because my 97 was a great pickup and never had a single problem in 4 years/40,000 miles. The only reason I traded it was so that I could get a child safety seat safely in the back - you can't do that with the club cab. Oh, and thanks a lot Dodge! After 4 years of driving around with a V6 sticker on my truck, labeling me a wimpy truck driver, I finally get the V8 and they take the badge off a couple months before I buy.....
I would be more than happy to help if you need it. Just let me know.
Ayrow
They shipped the correct one this time?
Someone messed up the orders as the people who ordered the Quad cab version were sent the incorrect Bedrug. I guess the supplier will eat the shipping costs as Bernd did order the correct Bedrugs, but the supplier dropped the ball.
Have you installed it yet? How did it go.
The fedex tracking says it should arrive Monday 6/11. Probably arrive Tuesday 6/12, as I believe that fedex only has home delivery Tuesday to Saturday.
Bob
The only drawback is the tailgate cover. It doesn't have the thick foam on the back to fill in the ribs. This thing was well worth the cost.
Jim H
Well, After racking up a $13,000 repair bill after someone pulled out in front of me my insurance company decided to BUY my Red 2000 Quad 4x4 Sport 4.7L 5sp for $650 MORE than i paid for it including tax and tags a year ago when i factory ordered it... They apparently saw it my way after i laughed at their first offer and i threatened a lawsuit...
NOW, thanks to Dave Feirle at Kernersville Dodge in North Carolina (for the 2nd time in 1 year), i am now the proud owner of a Medium Bronze Pearl Coat SLT 4.7L with EVERY option including Full Time 4WD EXCEPT the 2-tone paint. They had this local one owner trade with only 10,000 miles for $21,500 (MSRP +\- $30,000)... I immediately purchased it and put a good size chunk of change in the bank.
After it was all said and done, My insurance company PAID me $650 to drive my Red Quad for 13 months!!!!!!!
I opted for another 2000 because i just liked the interior styling of the 2000 vs. the 2001. I had to make that same choice last year when i ordered whether to order a 2000 or wait 2 weeks and order a 2001. i like the more rounded, curvy look in the 2000 vs the square flat look in the 2001.. im not trying to knock any 01 owners but that was just a persional preference...
I bet i had a record here on the chat board for THE MOST QUADS under my command at the SAME TIME last weekend. I had 3 QUADS in my possesion, My 2000 Wrecked Quad, the 2001 Quad Rental, and the 2000 Quad i Purchased Friday!!!!
SO NOW IM BACK ON THE BOARD.......
I Do have one thing i would like to offer to someone on this board... I have an Alpine CDA-D852 1 1/2 DIN with dancing lights EQ (No kit required, fills the opening perfectly)with remote out of my wrecked Sport that would make a great upgrade for someone with a 2000 (wont work on a 01 because of the rounded corners on the factory opening) and the base cassette or cd changer...this will work with the 4-speaker radio's and NOT the 6-Speaker Infinity system. I have the original box, manual, etc and it is already wired with the dakota Pigtail so it will plug right in...If you want pics email me also
It sold for $399 a year ago and are now on Closeout for $299 at alpine retailers... Im asking $100 and an exchange of your Factory Unit, preferably a CD Player.... I could meet someone within a reasonable distance 1/2 way and install it for them in 5 minutes while they wait...
The only catch is that someone would have to be within driving distance of Winston Salem NC because i have to have a radio for the insurance co FRIDAY so if anyone is interrested email me at gchadsmith@cs.com or leave a voicemail on my mobile @ 336-681-8899 and we'll talk...
Anyway, its great to be back on the board....
CHAD
Winston-Salem NC
One should not need any knot-tying skills as was mentioned earlier. It took a little bit of research (btw, the dealer had no clue) but they are meant to have the existing strap or "teather" on the child seat thread through the loops to one of the rings behind one of the other seats.
Probably the most secure child seat fastening system I have ever used. My only complaint is that the shoulder belts do not ratchet-lock like most vehicles, requiring one to have to use the "H" clip found on most child seats.
If you guys would like pictures on how to use them, please let me know and I will gladly put them on my website.
Ayrow
http://www.ayrow.com/truck.html