OT Dodge Dakota

Leroy · Aug 23, 2010

Tomorrow evening going to look at a 2000 Dodge Dakota extra cab 2 wheel drive truck with the 4.7 engine, 92K miles. I suppose it has the automatic transmission. Anything to look for on this particular model? He says it has the reciever hitch, how to tell if it has the trailer tow package or just the hitch. Anything good or bad? Want something to replace my 1970 GMC 1/2 ton pickup with the 307 and automatic and 1974 Chevy 1/2 ton with 350 and automatic. Would be my machinery hauling truck. Anybody know the size trailer it should handle?

MSD · Aug 23, 2010

I have one exactly like it. Bought it new and it has 75,000 miles on it now. I had one problem when new. It had a vibration at 55. Took it back and they ended up putting a new drive shaft in. Took care of it. The brake rotors like to warp. Had them taken care of at 16000 and again at 30000. They are doing the same thing again but have learned to live with it. The windows on the rear and passenger side door don't go down anymore. I get around 15-16 driving it around town or out on the road. I have gotten as high as 19 with it. I pulled a 3000 lb. trailer for a while with it. Trailer weighed at 3000. I hauled a 1010 from Texas to SD with it. I got 14 average going down and 11 on the way back. Truck seemed to handle the load just fine. I have good trailer brakes. I also have a 99 with the 3.9 and like it also but it doesn't have the power of the 4.7. They get about the same mileage.

Jon Hagen · Aug 23, 2010

I have a 2000 crewcab with the 4.7 and 5 spd manual, 4WD. Been trouble free for 60,000 miles.

They had the upper ball joint recall /replacement on the 4WD's and possibly 2WD.
Original upper ball joints are rivited to the A arms.
Replaced ball joints will be bolted in the A arms.

bradk · Aug 24, 2010

You'd be better off with a Dakota or a full size with a 318 or 360.

The 4.7's had more than their share of problems.VERY expensive engine to repair,almost always exceeding value of truck.

The auto trannies in that era had problems too.

ASEguy · Aug 24, 2010

I'm just not a fan of overhead cam timing chains. Course if I had my way everything would be gear to gear. Like Brad, I'd go with the 5.2 or the 5.9. The 5.9 should be similar in fuel economy (not good) but is a very dependable engine as is the 5.2. Upper ball joints were a poor design in my opinion. We did numerous ones when I worked at a Dodge dealer. Stay away from the 9.25 light duty differential. It's got a bigger cover and the axle tube narrows 2-3 inches before the backing plate. We replaced numerous pinion bearings in those. Check for a growl on accel that goes away on coast at 40-50 mph. Sometimes they were so bad they growled all the time. I bought a 2003 with a 3.9 new and I love the truck. Hope that helps. Gerard

Cue P. · Aug 24, 2010

I have an 03 club cab, 5 speed manual, 4WD, V8 with towing package. It will handle towing 6750lbs. Factory tow package (mine anyways) included an auxiliary radiator. Been a nice little truck and handles my 18 ft car hauler and my IH W4. Recommend a weight distribution hitch. Did have ball joint issues but had them replaced. Kept getting a check engine evap light problem but nothing throwing some money at didnt fix.

Leroy · Aug 24, 2010

I would prefer the 318 but finding what you actually want is at times diffilcult, would also prefer 4 wheel drive but have always gotten by with 2 wheel. The full size is just too darn big of a cab and set too high off the ground for us to get into. Back when I worked at fertilizer plant drove a 1998 2500 3/4 ton and today I could not get into it without a ladder, the 1990 1 ton was not as bad and it was the earlier body style. The cab on the Dakota is as large as my current full size Chevy and GMC trucks but the truck sets low enough both me and my wife can get into it. Father-in-law had both a car and a motor home that had the 5.9 (360) in and both engines were junk, car was that way from new, so I want to stay away from it.

ASEguy · Aug 24, 2010

Leroy, My experience with the 318 and the 360 is they were solid reliable engines that have proven themselves over decades of use. After 1992 they used a taller intake manifold and called them the "Magnum" engine. This new design required the use of a phlenum chamber at the base of the intake with a gasket and a plate bolted to the bottom. This gasket failed a lot. I"m not saying the 4.7 isn"t a good engine. I could have gotten it"s baby brother the 3.7 in my Dakota. I simply prefered the time tested 3.9. Gerard

Leroy · Aug 24, 2010

We delt for the truck this evening and to pick it up tomorrow. Few small things that will need taken care of. Talked to my mechanick before we went and did not see a problem.

rodm1 · Aug 25, 2010

They have known front end problems Ball joints, sway arm links, bearings and rotors.

You can buy after market rotors and brake pads that will fix the brake problem (Power slot rotors with Hawk pads from Summit). All Ball joints, sway arm links. Seam to be all junk!

Get some Definity - Dakota A/T tires and you can get by with out 4x4.

OT Dodge Dakota

Leroy

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MSD

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Jon Hagen

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bradk

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ASEguy

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Cue P.

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Leroy

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ASEguy

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Leroy

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rodm1

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