Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Dodge Dakota experience

I recently upgraded from a tent to a 16 foot bumper pull camper, and now need to upgrade my 4cyl Tacoma to be able to tow the camper up and down the mountain passes around here.

The original plan was a Silverado or f150, but I keep seeing screaming deals on Dakotas in the area. The ones I'm looking at are 2005-2009, 4.7 v8 automatics with 80-100 miles.

I've had plenty of both halftons and compact trucks over the years, and don't have a problem with compacts, even prefer them for most things other than cruising down the highway.

Anyone have one of these pickups and can provide the good/bad? Pretty dependable drive train that should last to 200k?

I notice some (all?) Of them are AWD with a manual override. How's that work?

Can you put chains on the front? That's one thing that's drove me crazy about my Toyota.

Thanks guys.

Just my opinion, but I would go full sized 1/2 ton or better to pull a TT, especially lots of miles or in the mountains. If they are that cheap there may be a reason.

Had a 2000 Durango with the same 4.7L engine. OK, put about 95K on it, but nothing special. Looked at and test drove the 2005 Dakotas when I decided to switch to a pickup - bought a Tundra!! I think you'll be very disappointed in the fit/finish/build quality of the Dakotas from that time period after owning a Toyota.
Dodge/Ram owners - just my opinion - please be polite.

My brother had an early 2000 something Dakota with that engine in it. He didn't care for it and didn't keep it long.

How much does the trailer weigh? The 4.0 liter Tacoma's are rated to tow 6500 lbs with the tow package and lots of Tacoma owners pull some pretty heavy stuff.

Don't assume a 1/2 ton is going to be a lot better. A typical 1/2 ton is only rated for 7000-7500 lbs, many of the 6 cyl 1/2 tons are only rated for 3500 or so. You can find them rated for 10,000 or sightly more if properly equipped, but most are not. Check carefully before buying a used 1/2 ton. You may not be any better off than a Tacoma.

The trailer's very light, only 2700 dry. Just too much for my 4cyl though by the time a weighost it down for a hunting trip.

A 4.0 tacoma would be perfect, but unfortunately they're resale value here is just mind boggling. To get into any of the 4.0s I'm looking at 14k+, and that's with a pile of miles. They're just not in my budget for this purchase.

If I got a 1/2 ton it would be with a v8, so would have more than enough towing capacity.

Dakotas don't have a very good reputation for quality. My wife had a '98 when we got married. We got a mouse nest in the heater box and it cost $400 in labor to remove it. They had to remove everything under the dash to get at it. Seems that they heater core was the 1st thing installed instead of the last as it should have been. A heater core is something you need access to.

We hated the mirrors. They badly blocked sideways vision.
It had a V-8 but still only had a 5000lb towing capacity. Stopping a trailer is as important as pulling it and I prefer a heavier truck for that.

You can do better.

I had a '93 with the 3.9 6cyl, 5spd, from about 50k to 140k and 5 years, when it was hit from behind and totaled. I replaced the clutch and front brakes in that time. It towed my tent trailer just fine here in Colorado. It was a bit slow going over high passes, but, so what?

A friend has a '98 he bought new, with the 5.2 v8 and auto trans. He now has about 290k on it. He had to rebuild the tranny at about 260k. A/C compressor and fuel pump just before that.

There is no way I would buy a used Taco, the resale, earned or not, is unreal.

For 1/2 the price, or less, you get the Dakota.

i would not buy any dodge truck from 2005-2009 with a 4.7. i owned a '05 1500 and it was the biggest POS i have ever owned. theres a reason those years are a screaming deal. mine was a screaming deal and after a while i was the one doing the screaming.

I had a Dakota with the 4.7 and it was not a good truck. It was a 2000, and from what I understand the 2005+ model year trucks weren't as good as the earlier ones, which says a lot.

My truck always had something wrong...the transmission felt like it was slipping, the ball joints had to be replaced, mpg was worse than a full size and the dang thing had more squeaks and rattles than any other vehicle I've ever had.

It had two things going for it...the size was perfect for off road on narrow trails and with the right tires it was pretty good where there were no roads.

I'd avoid the Dakota.

I had a 2002 Dakota, pulled a few light hunting trailers with it, did fine. I bought it new; basic maintenance got it to 270,000 miles without a hitch. Not a problem. Then a drunk plowed into it parked on the street. I sold it to a farmer for his grandson. Its still on the road.

Buyer beware. Buy a Toyota.

Purchased a new Dakota V8 4x4 in December 2003 so far I have only gotten 298,000 miles out of it with very few issues.

The 4.7 V8 runs great but I would want one of the later years for towing since they bumped up the HP after 2004.

At 140K, my 2003 Dakota has only required new brakes, shocks, ball joints around 70K, new wiper motors, a re-sealed winshield, a couple of electrical callbacks, rebuilt rear end @ 21K, rear axle bearings @ 40K, new cam sensor, Rebuilt transmission at 80K, and finally a new rear end at 130K when the old one literally exploded.


A real sweetheart.

Replaced it with a 2014 Tacoma - a far, far superior machine.

I had a 2000 quad cab V-8 4x4 that I drove until 2009. I put 320,000 miles on it and only replaced the power steering pump, brakes and shocks. It did not burn any oil when I traded for my current truck. I pulled a flatbed trailer with my 40hp tractor, a trailer with 3 ATVs or a small jap truck or a 2 horse trailer with that truck without a problem in the hills of southern Oklahoma.

I now own a 2008 in the same configuration. The current truck gets a bit better mileage, but doesn't seem to have as much low end torque. However, it has 150,000 miles and is still running strong. I use it much the same as the other truck.

I did own a 1992 Dakota v-6 that was a complete POS.

Perry

I also had a quad cab 4x4, 2000 model with the V8, manual transmission. Pulled every day with it from 3500 lbs to 8000 lbs (Bobcat and flatbed trailer). I loved that truck for hunting and comfort, mine was rock solid, a really nice truck. BUT, it didn't like towing 8000 lbs, imagine that! I sold it at 180,000 miles and bought a Cummins 3/4 ton for better towing.

It was a very capable little truck and I have no complaints.

The Title "Dodge Dakota Experience" reminded me of a little off topic humor about a Dodge Dakota. My oldest Daughter and Son in law went camping and slept in the back of a Dakota. She ended up pregnant with twin boys from that camping trip. The Twins almost got named "Dodge" and "Dakota". lol

Friend of mine also has twins resulting from a camping trip. He says he will never sleep in a tent again for the rest of his days.

I've never yet seen a kid caused by a tent that wouldn't have been equally caused by a motor home.

Had one, it sucked, won't make that mistake again... get a toyota, chevy or ford and be done with it, if you want a dodge get a diesel.