Dodge Dakota 2004Change

i loved this truck have it 6 years wish it had little more power i got the 8cyl 4.7lt i had put throttle body spacer,cold air intake chip for the pcm and performance larger exhaust from cat to back it helped but i still wanted more power so i bought a 1500 Ram with 5.7lt Hemi

The only repair required was a new radiator and water pump. Fuel economy is good, oil changes were done every 5k. We bought it from a dealer and it was brought up to spec before the purchase. This vehicle has a tow package, but we did not use it for pulling a trailer.

Truck has been extremely reliable for me. Fuel economy is not to great compared to your average car, but better then heavy duty trucks. No complaints about about performance on the highway or in city.

Well designed mid size pickup truck with lots of head and leg room front and back, has a tight turning circle, and excellent visibility to all 4 corners making it easy to park and drive.

I would strongly recommend considering a 4x4 if u r going to driving on snow and ice as the back end of pickup trucks have no weight to gain traction on the back wheels. Best method to engage or disengage the 4x4 is the system using an electronic switch over the system that uses a lever as engagement is fast and doesn`t jam as the lever does.

It should be remembered that a 4x4 will get u through snow and ice but a 4x4 system does not help u stop, so attention to the type tires is also important.

In overdrive the truck does less then 2000 rpm at 110 km on the hwy. so the engine is not really being worked (ref: 5 speed auto, trans with 4.7L engine).

With the 4x4 suspension it gives u a lift of about 10 '' of clearance off the pavement and with the 16'' tires keeps the truck box low enough for easy access for loading and unloading. (my main reason 4 selecting the Dakota over the Tundra).

Summary: Lots of comfortable interior room, fun to drive, easy to handle and judge where your vehicle sits on the road with easy access to the truck box makes the Dakota a winner.

I just love driving around in my truck! It works great in all weather! I like that it isn't a huge truck so I can easily get in and out without seeming like I have to jump into it. It's also easy enough to get the kids in. The four doors in the quad cab are nice and big as well. We are a family of four and we fit great in it, carseats and all. The box holds everything we need for a weekend getaway or camping. I especially love that we can fold up the back bench and store things easily under the seats.

The Dakota rides like a family car and hauls loads like a half ton.
The 3.7lt engine gives you the fuel economy you need to feel good about doing both.
The truck suffers from the usual problems Dodge has (rotting bumpers, bad fan resistors, etc) but in the long run it delivers what you need to get the job done.

Bought new in 2004, last of the old body style with a V8. I have over 230000 km on it and it has performed very well. Very good reliability, had to do front end work but not until over two hundred km and I did all four ball joints for less than $600 installed and aligned. Decent room in cab and rides well for a truck. Other than front end work, nothing needed outside of regular maintenance. This was my first Dodge and I will definately look hard at another one soon. Fuel mileage is not outstanding, but it is not bad either. Way nicer to drive in town, compared to my old full sized trucks. Too bad they aren't making them anymore.