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Yikes
Dodge Dakota
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2/01/2005
21:22:32
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 Subject: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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I know many people have ranted and raved about the 2005 dakota, however I have to blow off some steam. I see the new design as the "beginning" of the end of the truck as we "used" to know it. The 4x4 rides the same height as the 2wd version, the whole front end hands down so freakin' low that off-roading would be very destructive to the truck, the interior does not speak "truck" at all, the whole thing looks more like a toy than a tool used to haul loads and do work that trucks are supposed to do! I'm sure all truck makers will eventually follow suit as new rules and regs take effect, and we will no longer have access to a "real" truck!
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Trest
Dodge Dakota
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2/01/2005
21:28:51
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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The current appeals of truck is leading more and more away from the working man. So you will see designs lean away too. Look at the colorado its a blatent street truck. The dakota leans that way to, its supply and demmand.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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2/01/2005
22:01:08
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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Got a 2004 Dak QC rental while my 92 Dak was in the shop. All I can say is that it felt like driving a tall luxury sedan with no trunk lid. The bed is only 5'3" long, it was isolated from all road feel, useless as a truck. A Tonka toy.
It had a 4.7L V-8 and the 5-speed auto. It had less power than my V-6 and got worse gas mileage.
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Dragon
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2005
08:38:51
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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And I feel the exact opposite about my '02 Quad Cab 4x4.
There is a significant amount of road noise and vibration transmitted to the driver. I am aware of every little ripple I drive over.
I agree they should have gone with a 6' or longer bed, even if it made the truck "over" long for the soccer moms. Some of us know how to drive larger vehicles and would have appreciated the storage area.
I get around the lack of bed space by adding a trailer hitch and using a steel-deck 5x8 trailer for larger loads.
THe other difference with mine is the 5.9L V-8. Though it sucks gas, it's got a LOT of power. When I'm pulling friends out of snowbanks, the truck moves like there's nothing behind me. It's great!
I agree the '05 is no longer a truck, though. With the lack of ground clearance, compounded by the IFS, it's not really worth having if you are looking for a "working-man's" truck.
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matt
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2005
14:42:27
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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I laugh every time I read these messeges.Ground clearence!Please 95% of the 4x4's on the road never go off road.I bet only 1%have ever even been in 4lo.My 97 dakota had a 61/2 foot bed and 1400 pound payload. my 05 dakota has a 61/2 bed and a1700 pound payload.the gross combind on the 97 was 10500lbs. the gross combined on the 05 is 11,700 pounds. Now I know the 05 wieghs more . even still factering the truck weighs more looks like the new dak's can still do the same amount of work as the old ones.These trucks are consider light duty. If you did any real heavy duty work we would be having a discusion on how to spec your new Peterbuilt. Then you would be whinning about just spending 100,000 dollars on a truck that you will never use,because you never needed a "real truck "in the first place.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2005
18:11:19
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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"Ground clearence!Please 95% of the 4x4's on the road never go off road."
Obviously, you haven't driven in my city, where dirt roads would be smoother. In the big storm we had, on the way home I saw 7 cars pulled over on a 1/2 mile stretch with blowouts from the deep potholes. I got by with just a few bumps. Clearance matters on-road.
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deaver
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2005
18:37:31
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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i'm one of the 1%, by the way where did u get these stats.
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scott1981
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2005
18:49:16
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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i also use my truck offroad on a regular basis. I think the 05 model would be fine if dodge would offer some sort of offroad package with a electrnic rear locker, 33" tires standard and a higher stance suspension. If i had to buy another truck today i would probably get the nissan frontier. They have kept the clearance up, although its not great, and also added a rear locker option. Dodge knows most truck buyers tow and haul occasionally and want a good ride. That is why the new dakota was designed the way it was and why it will sell plenty. Hopefully dodge will realize they are loosing sales for people who actually wish to use 4x4 for what its made for and will take actions to fix it
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ptschett
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2005
19:11:52
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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Is the old 4x2 Dakota "not a truck" because it had less clearance than the 4x4? Where do you draw the line? Half an inch more than the 05 has? 2 inches? Is a Hummer H1 "not a truck" since it has independent suspension on both axles? Should the Baja racers using IFS go swap in a straight axle? The 05's top towing rating is about a thousand pounds higher than what I recall Gen III's having -- couldn't someone say from that datum that a Gen III must not be a truck? Where does it stop?
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Lemmers
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2005
20:19:19
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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Let's see...
A fully boxed frame vs. the old Gen III "bed
shaker" frame (although the flexi-frame helps
with off road articulation...)
Higher tow and load ratings
All new coil over front end (finally)
Leaf spring hangers that don't hang 3" below
the frame (should help off road)
Safer due to the new front frame horns and
bumper design, as well as side canopy air
bags
Seats with adjustable headrests front and
back.
I think the '05 is clearly a step in the right
direction. That being said, I'm not nuts about
the front bumper that seems to stick way out,
but understand the potential safety benefits
from it.
To me, dodge kept the best parts of the Gen 3
(the power train) and improved the rest
As far as the styling, I'm really starting to like
the new angular lines as I've always thought
my '02 looked a little weak from the front.
I understand why the 4x4 guys that actually
take their rig off road are a little upset, but
lifting the new 'kota should be a snap with a
set of new coil-overs.
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scott1981
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2005
22:47:08
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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Lemmers,
Good post.
pstchett,
A h1 has lockers front and rear. The articulations completely sucks. The H1 was made to haul large amounts of cargo offroad and survive land mines while keeping occupants alive. Sorry but for my purpose they would not even come close to working.
also baja racers are 2wd, they dont need large amounts of articulation either just travel. they would never have travel like that with a driveshaft, so you cant really compare them to a 4wd anything.
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Who cares?
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2005
22:52:37
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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Look, you can either afford one or you can't.
Most of you min wage fud puckers can not.
Eat shlt and die.
The rest of you don't know shlt from shoe polish so eat shlt and die.
The rest of you can eat shlt and die.
Buy an 05 or drive an old busted ass ball joint poppin shlt box.
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ptschett
Dodge Dakota
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2/03/2005
00:58:42
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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scott1981, I was just trying to make a point to the "the 05's not really a truck because of X, Y, and Z" people :) A real off-road package would be a nice option with all the compact pickups seeming to have something a bit more meaningful than just throwing skidplates and towhooks on.
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scott1981
Dodge Dakota
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2/03/2005
11:02:06
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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ptschett,
I gotcha. I dont have a problem with the 05 models as most on here do. I hope by the time im up to buy another they have a little more ground clearance then i would give them a serious look
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see the light
Dodge Dakota
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2/03/2005
13:19:02
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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I have a toyota 4x4 pickup. great ground clearance. great truck. I never had any problems with it. Its 5 years old now and I never changed a part yet not even a tune-up. It even (still) has the same battery and original brakes.
I owned a dakota p/u it had nice v8 power but the rest of the truck was s hit.
see the light.....
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Jecht X
Dodge Dakota
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2/03/2005
13:54:41
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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I thought the purpose of a truck was to haul stuff that a person couldnt haul in a car. most people that has farm trucks arent 4x4. so just because a person doesnt take their trucks off road as you put it. doenst mean they wont use a truck for what it was intended for. I know my truck will prob never see any rugged terrain. but if I have to I know I can with my 03 QC 4x4. I dont like the total look of the 05 but it looks better than that colorado and it comes with a V8 unlike the colorado lol. I will prob keep my 03 for awhile as I still owe 5 more years on it lol.
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?
Dodge Dakota
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2/03/2005
15:18:16
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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So WHY didn't you get a RAM 4x4
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ptschett
Dodge Dakota
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2/03/2005
18:55:52
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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"see the light": go try towing 7000 lbs and let us know how well that Toy does. :)
ptschett
05 Dakota Laramie Club Cab 4x4 4.7L
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Matt Buckner
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2005
12:22:42
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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I had a 92 Dak 2wd LE ext.cab v-6 auto for 12 years.
When I let her go last year she had 198,000 miles with the ORIGINAL A/C still running cold!
That being said, I bought a new 04 Dak 2wd ext. cab Sport Plus w/ v-8 4.7 auto. I love this truck! I had wanted to switch to the "new" style since 97. The power is awesome and I love the lines of the body.
As a Dakota lover, however, I must say that I'll probably never buy another one. The latest re-style just doesn't sink in for me. I don't see the appeal. The truck looks "soft" somehow.
Yeah, yeah,...I've read all the numbers on it - doesn't matter to me.
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Trevor
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2005
21:24:54
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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"most people that has farm trucks arent 4x4"
A 2x4 wouldn't have gone the road this year in Manitoba, we got tractors with triples stuck this year.
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ID4x4
Dodge Dakota
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2/05/2005
00:55:06
| RE: 05 Dakota Rant Session
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Gotta agree with Matt, new style, is ass ugly, run your mouths about towing, that's it. Same powretrain, same engine, ugly ass body. And I mean UGLY, 05 must be a child of the chevy avalanche. I'll take my 01 rancho lifted 4.7 5-speed any day of the week. My next truck will be full size, probably a hemi ram wich already has a 6" lift available. I'll run my dak like a bat outta hell, but HOLY CRAP the gen 4 is UGLY
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