I have a 2003 dodge dakota quad cab and have not cranked the torsion bars and is completely stock. It is a 4.7l v8 engine and gets 11-12 mpg city and about 14 highway. I have searched threads but have not found much on this topic.

1.What size tires can I fit. I know some guys are running 305's but have not felt the urge to crank the torsion bars or buy keys for it, so stock what could I run? I was thinking 265/75/16's. Also what, in your opinion is the best tire for offroad performance but still maintains solid traction in rain and snow on the road.

2. Throttle body spacers. Do they add mpg at all? How different will my throttle response be just from this?

3. I am looking for a cold air intake, I have seen many of you have built a kit. What route is the best? I know k&n and airaid make a kit for my truck but I don't want to spend an extra 200 bucks if it is not necessary.

For any ideas on how to improve the gas mileage, I am all ears. Filling up once a week, sometimes more, gets very old very quick.

 

265 will be the biggest youll fit at stock height i would recommend cooper stts for mud tires they barely hum and if you rotate them every 4-5k miles they will wear good.

dont by a spacer buy a bored throttle body, fastmann makes one i actually have one on each of my dakotas and they work amazing just google "the fastmann" or something like that and he has a site. it will give you good performance and with my exp. it helped my mpg.

 

Any thoughts on a cold air intake? Which company or which materials of building one would be a better option?

 

yup 265 is the biggest you should run, I recommend firestone destination MT I have about 20k on them now and they have a great about of tread left for the way i drive. I agree with blaze get a fastman instead of a spacer. I have a K&N intake. I like it because it has a box to make sure no water can get in it.

 

Performance and fuel economy wise, what would the best option be? I know I am probably going for the air intake because everything I've heard has been positive, but what about a tuner? Would a throttle body show better results?

 

Um I like my K&N as previously said but they are kinda expensive. For tuner I have a superchips but most likely will be upgrading to an SCT tuner. Yes a fastman throttle body will show more power and MPG if you keep your foot out of it

 

So overal for mpg and performance the fastmann and the chip or fastmann and the intake? I will most likely end up getting both just not trying to blow all of my fun money especially since i need tires.

 

fastman and intake i would go also the intake give it a nice sound

 

i have the k and n 77 series i think i got mine for 170 bucks off ebay.. a lot of people on here get the cheaper intakes off ebay and say they work just as good so up to you, i just got the k and n 77 series cause it was chrome with the black metal heat shield for it.

oh and yes get the fastmann and intake first if you want to save for tires.. programmers are more expensive, tb for my 4.7 is like 240 and for my other one it was like 270? an that was the 5.2 motor

 

Here is my take on everything.
Tires: I love my bfg's at's great offroad and on road. Yes they are a bit more expensive but I love the traction and they wear very good. I got 32's last year online for 610 shipped to my door.
Intake: I got mine off ebay for 38.00 shipped. It looks like a k&n but its not. built well and works just as good.Spacer wont do anything on a fuel injected vehicle so the fastman is the way to go if you want way better throttle response.
Tuner: I would go with a sct from hemifeaver. I was getting around 11mpg on my truck before my intake and tuner. Now If I baby it I can get 15mpg. Thats with the tuner on the highest setting too.