id have to agree with the 5.2 being more dependable mainly because its been around longer but with regular maintenance and care i wouldnt see any reason you couldn't make a 4.7 last just as long

 

my 4.7 liked to eat oil, bout a quart every 2000 miles or so not burning it, welll mabie never smoked or showed it on the plugs...

 

Well thanks for the info everyone. So far it looks like my choice Dakota is a 98 - 99 4x4 w/ 5.2, two door of course, and I'm a fan of the blue. I know what to look for now when buying one. Thank you all for the help. If there's any more info anyone feels I should know, please don't hesitate. Thanks again.

 

i still think the 00 4.7 isn't a bad option to look for as well but thats just my opinion

 

You know, I might search a little further into the two engines. I want to add some upgrades to whichever engine I get. I'll see whichever one can better handle modifications, aftermarket support, which is easier to work on, ect.

 

You'll find more stuff for the 98-99 dakotas than most of the other years. I would also make sure to check out the brake lines on the truck. I had to replace mine on my 98 last summer and they were pretty bad. It's not a design flaw or anything like that it's just that its a 10 year old truck...just something else to look for. Also check the fuel filler tube...before I replaced mine this spring you could poke your finger through the thing. It is cheap and easy to replace though. If you can find one that has spent it's life in a warm climate you may have a better chance but if it came from an area where they use road salt in the winter I would check it over very well. Front end parts tend to wear out on these trucks as well so make sure you check it out as well. If you can jack it up and check for play in tie rods/ball joints along with the rest of the steering linkage. They are great trucks but since they are close to 10 years old it will need some attention...luckily parts aren't too pricey for them.

 

I have a 99' regular cab 4wd with the 5.2. I have had very few problems with it since we got it a year ago with 74,xxx miles on it. within that year, we replaced the water pump and the water pump. It now has 98,6xx miles on it and i had no problems with it since the pumps were replaced. The only thing now is there is a squeek in the front end. Like, my suspention, however you spell it ha, or something with my steering. Or its something else. Other than that, there pretty dependasble trucks.

 

I had a 98, 4x4 with the tried and true 5.2 (318) V8.
I believe the 318 was the best work horse V8 Dodge built.
You can't go wrong with that enginewhen buying used.

 

I have heard issues with the front-end on the Dakota. I live in Michigan and when the snow falls, little or alot, they slam the roads with salt. That was another concern of mine, what are the(for lack of a better word) "rust areas" on the truck? Also, can anyone elaborate on the issues the front end has, unless 300exho nailed them. Thanks again everyone. You don't know how much I appreciate this. My last vehicle was a pile of s*it because i didn't look into it very well. I'm not going to make that mistake twice. Again, thank you for all of the help.

 

I was on another forum (forgive me) and there was a post about the 4.7 engine. Half the posters were bashing it and half loved it. The common theme among those that disliked it was that the engine doesn't cool well in the upper area, therefore the valve coverarea stays hot and cooks the oil producing sludge.
Is this just B.S. or has anyone heard of this? I don't use synthetic, but if that is true I will switch to it just to try to prevent the sludge as much as possible.
I would like to hear from somebody who can debunk this myth or classify it as true.

Thank You