I have a chance to buy a 1994 Dakota Clubcab 4x4 with a 318 V8 and 92,000 miles from a guy who is moving to TX. He is asking $5,300, but hasn't had any serious offers, so I'm thinking of offering him $4,000, which is about where the Blue Book shows for a good private purchase. The truck looks to be in excellent condition and comes with a good color-matched topper and the original factory rims. It has a well worn set of 31x10.5/R15 Goodyear Wranglers on it, so it will need new tires and an alignment that will run around $600. It has a clean CARFAX, but shows a dent by the right tail-light that was poorly repaired, but not a big deal for a hunting truck. It shows a 3.90 gear ratio, so it should haul a Dakota sized load OK.

If I do buy it, do you think that I should replace the 31x10.5s or put the factory wheels on it with 235/75R15s. There is probably a $200+/- difference in cost of a set of 4 tires and I haven't owned a truck with this size tire before.

What do you Dodge guys think? Go or No Go?

Jeff

Go with the 31's the 3.90 rear will compensate and the 31's are a lot wider. Both are a popular size so the prices won't be too bad the 31's will cost a little more. For a good highway and good off road tire look for either a BFG All Terrain KO or Cooper Discovorer ATR or Discovorer LT. The LT is being discontinued but their are still a lot of them floating around. If you want a high tracktion but still cheap then a serios off-road tire look at the Cooper STT's they are brand new