i need to buy dodge durango to take to country and show these japanese cars( pajero)(aka montero) in my country(georgia) what real strong american car is. i need 4x4 for offroad. i want mostly 5.9 but 5.2 will be ok too. i saw couple diff models but i have few questions.

1- i saw 5.2 sxt with but it had switch tht said 2wd and 4 lock? wtf is tht 4 lock? idk

2- i wanted r/t but people said r/t was bad idea for offroad b/c it was lower or somthing idk

3- i also want 2003 becuase i heard 2003 was year for D-D with least amount of problems. i need tips tips tips!!! help must destroy the japs! with my fav car 1st gen D's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The better off-road ones were the 98-99 D's if you ask me. 4-lock is 4hi non awd. The lock just signifies that. R/T's had awd and larger rims. They were set up for street performance more than off-road.

 

why do you think? any reason for tht or just personal experience?

 

2000 brought many changes so Id start their. Better front axle. Better steering etc

 

I'm pretty sure they dropped the 5.2 after 2000 and replaced it with the 4.7 which is not a bad motor at all pretty powerful for a small v8

 

I'd argue the dana 35 front diff was pretty well matched to the 8" in the 2000+ model. I like having the manual shift transfer case and not a switch. I liked 1998-99 because they have more of a truck like feel than the 2001+ from experience. I haven't been in a 2000 but that was a transition year.

 

Also if you are going to modify one, and switch to a SAS sticking with a 98-99 is better because, (correct me if I'm wrong), they had the steering boxes that are easier to transition over to a solid axle.
Plus if your going to really show them up your going to need a solid axle, 3.92 gears, and a 5.9L running some 35" M/T's!

 

I like the interior a lot better on the 2000+ a lot better but lift options are a lot better for a 98-99 and the 4wheel shift doesent really bother me much they both can fail theres just a little bit less to go wrong on the manual shift

 

I have 2000 5.9 with manual shift. 2hi 4hi and 4lo 2000 interior is same as 98-99 just a little more fancier on SLT+ model which is what I own.

 

Oh sorry my bad must be 01+ then