Dixie:
I once had a '95 that treated me real well. Use 2x6's for that bed, they won't shift around like 2x4's.
I was especially happy with the 7/70 warranty. I was in for a routine oil change at 67,000 miles, waiting in the business center, when the service manager came to me. He said, "We changed your transmission fluid last time and it's all burnt up. We better get you a new transmission". Eight weeks later, when I was up to 72,000 miles or so, they swapped my tranny free.
The only problem I had, which was common to early Dakotas, was that the brakes wore out fast. I think the truck's capacity was too heavy for the brakes and they got overworked. Newer ones have larger wheels for that reason, I think.
Get the V-8. You won't get good mileage, but it won't shift in & out of overdrive on every little incline like the V-6 I had did.
It was my first Dodge, and now I'm on my fourth. Still happy.
Best regards,
Sourmash
