I am looking at buying a Dakota for my 8 hr commute to work. It is 97% highway. I am also going to be using it around the farm (pulling small trailer, hauling). Which engine would be best? I have been told to stay away from the 4.7. They are solid but fuel economy isnt great. I was told to get the 3.9 or the 5.2. When is 'miled out' for these engines?

 

I don't know when miled out is for these motors. My opinion is it really all depends on how hard your working them and the regular maintenance. The motor that's going to last you the longest is the 5.2 but if your looking for gas mileage that's not a good choice. From what I read on here is that the 4.7 and 3.9 get about the same mileage with the 4.7 having more power. My dakota is a regular cab 5speed manual 4x4 I do about 80% highway driving and with the 4.7l I constantly get 18 with low garade pump gas and 19 with premium so not worth the extra money. The 5.2 and 3.9 have a thing called a plenum gasket also. Chances are most vehicles you look at with those motors its going to be blown. Do a search on it and you'll get lots of results about what to look for and heres a link to the 2nd gen ram section on it
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...um-thread.html

 

if MPG is more important than power on the farm. i would get the rear end gear changed to 2.73-2.93 range. and recommend using marvel mystery oil, it will make the engine last longer, a few people says they get better MPG, i didnt. when putting MMO in the fuel, most of it goes past the valve stem, but does cover the combustion camber. so i use what i call an upper oilier, putting oil in the manifold, oiling the valve stems. check out this out fit www.ampcolubes.com i use the st400 using it for 2 1/2 years i recommend 1/4 to 3/8 turn on the adj screw. so you feed oil in two ways. good luck

 

I would go for the 3.9. I have it and get 23-25 highway depending on how I drive.

 

8 Hr is that one way or for both ways. That is a long commute. If I had to do that I'd buy a car that got 30MPG and have a truck just for the farm.
I do like my 4.7 lot of power and not to bad on gas. 13 in town and about 19 to 20 on the Hwy.

 

+1, if you're driving 8 hours a day (I assume it's 4 hours each way otherwise with an 8 hour working day and 8 hours each way you're already at 24 hours...) I would buy a civic or carolla, something good on gas. If you're driving 8 hours a day it must be around 500 miles. The car would pay for it's self in no time. You could buy a Dakota for the farm and pay it in gas in a matter of months. It would cost around $85-$90 a day at 20 mpg or $50 at 35 mpg. That's $800 a month in savings.

If you're are hooked on getting a Dakota, the 4.7 is the only motor I would consider for that drive. It's the most reliable and does better on gas than the 5.2. The 3.9 you might see a mpg better but not much else (trust me, I've owned both).

Driving 4 hours each way must get old...

 

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I work on a 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off schedule. I will be driving 8 hrs to work, staying in camp for 2 weeks, then driving home. I do not actually farm. We took over the farm house, but we have a 3 acre yard. I do have an older half ton (not really highway worthy) i use for garbage runs and pulling out trees. The Dakota would be used for hauling the quad trailer, the odd flatdeck, and hauling stuff like shingles or wood.