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00:28:44 - 12/20/2024
General Dakota Board
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Dubya
Dodge Dakota
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8/12/2005
10:21:42
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 Subject: 04 pros & cons
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Message:
04 RC, 4WD, 3.7L, 5SPD, 3.92 LSD, TOW PKG
IST YEAR, 12500 MI
PROS &CONS
RANCHO 9000's - worth every cent, choose the ride you want
HELWIG REAR ANTI SWAY BAR - direct bolt-on, less sway when towing, wonder how much Dodge saved by not putting it on in the first place, afterall, the mounts are there on the axle
5 SPD - creep when necessary over the rough stuff, bent the shift lever about 40 degrees to put the knob where it belongs
3.7L - plenty of pep, towing a 17ft alum boat - well, once in the power band I haven't held up any traffic, run with the best of them in 4th, mpg - 17 to 19 a/c on or off, towing or not
A/C - takes about 5-10 minutes of driving to really cool down, my 98 Sonoma will freeze you instantly, the Dodge takes a bit of patience and/or perspiration, floorboard has been dry for the past 3 months? - guess the a/c drain cured itself
SEATS - simply a cruel joke, backache within 15 minutes of driving, needless to say there is practically no adjustment (afterall, it's a RC, re-thinking why I didn't buy the Canyon)
STEREO - don't know, I turned it off at the stealership the day I drove off the lot (09-07-04), haven't had it on since. Why any vehicle even comes with a cassette, I will never know. That s@#t went out with stack heeled shoes years ago.
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR LIGHT - nothing like frying your eyeballs in the middle of the night, thank God for electrical tape!
BRAKES - adequate but mushy, anyone upgraded to stainless braided lines?
BED - first time I strapped down a bike, the front caved into the cab, hauled many a bike in the Sonoma since '98 and still straight as it was when new, by the way - the Dodge was a cinch to bend back away from the cab - guess that tells the story
DRAWTITE WINDOW VISORS - they just slip right in, no tape, and they stay in place - great product
SPLASH GUARDS - they may look tacky, but they save the paint
FACTORY BED LINER - think it's a must, the dealer told me it would take an hour or so to get it in place, I showed them that 3 swift kicks works just as well
WHY DID I BUY IT IN THE FIRST PLACE? - well, it's the 4th one I have owned since '89, just love the Dakota
Has anyone replaced the seats with some aftermarket choice that one could recommend? I haven't the time to go chasing throuh junk yards for something else. Is there a lockout hub conversion for the front axle out there anywhere?
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Breadman
GenIII
8/13/2005
07:59:24
| RE: 04 pros & cons
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Message:
I agree with you on the seats. They could easily
be 2 inches wider and the doors would still close. Can't drive more than a 100 miles without getting out to wake up the left leg. Had a rhino sprayed in at about 5000 miles and it keeps the cargo from sliding around. Milage is bad around town (11.5) but on a recent trip I got just over 20. Go figure. Ordered it from the factory in late 03' with 4.7, 5spd man, 3.55 LS rear, Trailer tow pkg and HD susp and cooling.
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jjj
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2005
09:57:03
| RE: 04 pros & cons
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Message:
I haven't used aftermarket seats BUT the seats that come with the center console option are much more comfortable on trips IMO.
jeff
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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8/14/2005
08:23:56
|  RE: 04 pros & cons
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Message:
I'm puzzled but then again my better half says I
always have been.. Anyway, I *thought* it was
the 05's with the cheaper seats? I looked at 05's
at stealerships and didn't like what I seen. Did
DC cheapen up the seats in 04 then carried it to
the 05's?
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calikota
Dodge Dakota
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8/14/2005
20:16:56
| RE: 04 pros & cons
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Message:
The only prob I have with the seats is that the head rest isn't funtional at all. If I were to use it I would have to drive around like a cholo with my head all the way back.
All in all I'm pretty pleased with my 04 3.7 kota.
So far
Rhino lined
Tow hooks
Custom Skid plates
Thunderform and new system all around
Tow hitch Hidden hitch(no trailer wiring yet)
Cranked torsion bars
Tint
Cool back pack like seat covers
After market fogs(mine didn't come with them)
Planning on steal front bumper, a lift(hopefully a suspension lift if they ever make one), tires once they wear out, roof rack and cai.
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choochoo
Dodge Dakota
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8/18/2005
13:38:59
| RE: 04 pros & cons
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Message:
"Headrest" is the incorrect term for the top of the seat. Passengers use them for resting their head on, but the real reason for them was developed by the safety teams to reduce neck injuries caused by whiplash in a crash. They are not really intended to be pillows, although I like to use it to unkink my neck during a long drive.
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calikota
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2005
13:49:26
| RE: 04 pros & cons
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Message:
Yeah, its nice to have a "headrest" when your stuck in traffic for long periods of time as well.
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