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00:54:31 - 12/20/2024
Raised / Lifted Dakotas
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RollingMammal
Dodge Dakota
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11/15/2002
23:17:51
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 Subject: Looking to get a Dak, a few questions:
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Hey all . . . this seems to be the place to come for all things Dak so maybe you can answer a few of my questions. I just bought my first truck (first vehicle actually) in late August. Last weekend my friend and I were caravaning and he kind of forgot to stop when I stopped at a stop sign, so the back of my super clean '94 Toyota 4x4 22re Std Cab is . . . well, um toast.
Anywho . . . I am now in the market for another truck as soon as the insurance pays up. I was thinking perhaps an upgrade aka a Dakota might be nice.
First Question: I'm probably going to try and find a '97 V8 (Possibly will settle for V6) def 5spd and def 4x4 preferably extended cab. Anyway, what should I look for when checking out trucks? Any common problems I should check for? I've heard problems with ball joints but am still not clear on exactly why or how the problem occurs.
Second: How do these trucks perform offroad? I don't do anything super hard core but will be doing a bit more than fire roads. I know any V6 or V8 Dak will out-perform my Toyota in the power dept but how about articulation? I assume a bit more ground clearance (bigger tires) is necessary. Is it worthwhile to go with a suspension lift for the added articulation? Or . . . does the suspension do pretty well stock - requiring only a body lift in order to fit larger tires? I'd like 33's but 32's will probably do pretty well in most situations. Can I fit 32's under a 3" body lift with no rubbing? Also what is the width of the stock rim? I'd like to go 10.5 or wider.
Last: How is maintenance on the V8 and V6? Is the V8 pretty easy to work on or is there a lot of computer diagnosis and whatnot? In 97 only the 4.7L V8 was available right? Thanks much for any info.
-Dave-
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Dan Gruber
GenIII
11/16/2002
03:55:24
|  RE: Looking to get a Dak, a few questions:
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Daks are overall good trucks. I'm on my second one...my first was a 94 RC V6 5 speed 2WD. My current truck is more than capable enough for me off road, but I don't go rock crawling. Although mine has held up pretty well so far, as with almost any vehicle there are things to watch for.
1. You hit a common problem when you mentioned ball joints. When Dodge designed the suspension, the bean-counters specified cheap sealed ball joints. Not a huge issue in my opinion because they can be replaced with better ones for not much money. Mine are okay with about 43,000 miles on them.
2. Brakes. The front discs are prone to warp, especially if you drive even moderately hard. Although mine are still fine, others have had problems. Again, they are relatively easy and cheap to replace with better ones. And rear drums can warp as well...mine were starting to warp at about 30,000 miles. I had them machined and have had no problems since then. I'm still on the original pads.
3. Belly pan gaskets. If you're looking at a 97, it would have either the 3.9 V6 or the 5.2 V8 (4.7 was introduced in 2000). They have a tendency to blow belly pan gaskets. They can be replaced, only to blow again. If this happens, you'll notice pinging and you'll be able to see oil in the intake manifold if you look down into it. If replacing the gasket, a picture perfect installation is crucial. A permanent fix can be found in using the M1 intake manifold, which has no belly pan gasket (I think that's for the V8's only)...don't know how much those are since I've got the 4.7 which doesn't have this problem.
4. AC drip line can clog and get water into the cab. Hasn't happened to me yet, but I understand that it is a hassle to fix, but not expensive. You'll know this is happening if your passenger side carpet is inexplicably wet.
That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Nothing too bad, but a few relatively minor common problems. Neither of my Dakotas has ever left me stranded, which is more than I can say for any of the other vehicles I've owned.
Dan
2000 CC SLT 4.7 4X4 Auto 3.92 LSD
3 inch Performance Accesories lift & 32 inch BFG MT KM's
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RollingMammal
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/16/2002
14:00:07
| RE: Looking to get a Dak, a few questions:
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Cool, thanks for the info . . .
Approximately how many miles is too many? Of course I will try to find a truck with low miles but is 100K+ getting pretty old? My Toyota had 120K and it was still running like a champ. What is the average life span of a well cared for Dakota? Thanks
-Dave-
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arthur
Dodge Dakota
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11/17/2002
00:03:57
| RE: Looking to get a Dak, a few questions:
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Ok, i know a pretty good deal about 4X4s, so i think i can give you a good idea of what to look for.
Dakotas are great trucks for towing and being work trucks, but they lack for off-roading. The average dakotas weights about 500-800 lbs more than a ranger or tacoma. Here's what you want to look for...
A Tacoma with the TRD suspension would be a great choice. They have the best articulation of any 4X4 truck with IFS and some come with the electric rear locker. They have 3.93 gearing all around and a potent V6 engine for the trucks weight. The axles in the trucks are great axles for the little trucks and they have tons of aftermarket backing. They are also among the only trucks that can get 13" of travel when a suspension lift is installed. Only downfall is they are a little on the expensive side and they are very small inside.
If you want something inbetween the tacoma and the dakotas the Ranger is a great truck. The 96-98 rangers have a great rear axle choice coming with a 8.8" rear and they have a very potent V6 engine also. They come with 4.10 gears when you get the off-road package as well, and a LSD rear axle. The power to weight ratio of the trucks are a little worse than the dakotas with the V8, but with 700 pounds free, the trucks out-perform the daks in the off-road section.
But don't get me wrong, daks are great trucks, and they do off-road well, just not like the competition.
If you want a solid front axle, the toyota with the solid front axle is an 85 or older truck. The rangers in 1993 when the body style switched over to the newer one still had a solid axle in the front too.
Anyways, if you want my opinion on dakotas, get one with the newer body style and the V8, not the V6. If you can stay as far away from the V6 as possible, the better. You will like the truck more if you really look for one that has all the options you could want, don't settle for less.
2002 SXT Dak CC 4X4 3.9LV6 3.92LSD
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