hi all, i'm new to the site. i'm still looking for my first dodge. i decided i want a 2nd gen quad cab (4 doors in 2nd gen were from 2000-2004, right?) 4x4 dakota. i'd prefer a 4.7L. anyways, i was just wondering what the most common problems with these trucks are so that i can know what to look for when i look at them in person. i'm fairly knowledgable around vehicles, and i'm certainly not afraid of crawling underneath to look for specific things. one thing i've easily noticed is that pretty much all of them have rusty rear bumpers.

also, if you are selling a 2nd gen quad cab 4x4 in the detroit metro area, let me know! i have cash and am ready to buy!

thanks for your help/info!

 

The only thing that I know of off hand is the ball joints, but there was a recall on them to be changed out, so see if they have been changed or not. I have only had my 2003 quad cab dakota for about 3 weeks now, so I am not to sure on what the problems are, but so far so good with mine!

 

people still live in detroit??? jk....but crappy paint is "normal"

 

ha, actually, LOTS of people still live in detroit. well, at least the suburbs (like myself). 2009 was pretty brutal in this area, but the big 3 and all the local tier 1 suppliers started re-hiring people about 6 months ago. i myself am a chrysler engineer, which is why i'm looking for a dodge!

yeah, i've noticed maybe 10% of them have bad paint problems. and the ones that do are REALLY bad. i figured worst case, i could always do a maaco special. haha

 

oh chrysler engineer....u didnt have anything to do with the dumb bolt pattern that the dakota uses 6x4.5=fail

jk, sorry just giving u a hard time... try to find an r/t.

 

y not get a 5.9L quad cab 4x4? the aftermarket for the 360ci is SO much better for that engine
but like stated above biggest thing u'll encounter on the 4x4s is the bjs

 

ha, no, i had nothing to do with that. i'm an HVAC engineer for the wrangler, nitro, liberty, and minivan. unfortunately i'm fairly new to the position so don't know a whole lot about HVAC yet, so probably won't be able to answer too many questions!

 

i'm looking at any 2nd gen quad cab 4x4, i'd say about 75% of the ones i've seen on craigslist and autorader are the 4.7, the other 25% i've seen are the V6. i have yet to come across a 5.9L 4x4 quad cab for sale locally. so that's why i said i'd prefer the 4.7. out of curiousity, what is the gas mileage difference between the 4.7 and 5.9? i'm not too concerned with the aftermarket. i just want a quality, dependable 4x4 daily driver that can tow a popup camper and do some light offroading about once a year.

as for the ball joints, how difficult are they to change on this truck? that is one of a handful of items i've never had to change in my years of doing my own work. the only vehicle i've ever had that needed to do a ball joint job was on a 1994 geo metro, and it was 13 years old with 150,000 miles when it blew out, so instead of doing the work to change it, i just dragged it to the junk yard and collected my $100! haha

 

to avoid the bickering of each person's gas mileage im just gonna take the numbers off the government mpg website and we call go with that ok? good
a 5.9 is rated at 14mpg
4.7 is rated at 17mpg
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.d...20Pickup%204WD
from what i here the bjs arent that hard, the hardest part is getting the old ones out cause they are pressed in, best way to do it is grind an X in it then drill/airchissel them off

 

fair enough, but regardless of actual real world #'s that people get, based on the government website i'm guessing that the average's will be about 3mpgs in the 4.7L. and that's another point for the 4.7!

but like i said, i'm open to anything right now, i just gotta get a truck!