I'm looking at an ad for a 2000 Dakota Sport with 5 speed and 4 cylinders with 58000 miles.

Are these motors the super charged ones, or are they the mouse powered varieties?. I'll need to haul cordwood and pull a trailer on occasion.

I remember the old IH Scouts had a powerful low rpm high torque 4 cylinder with a piston top the size of a desert plate.

Are these Dakota 4's any good for this weight vehicle with power to spare or does it barely handle the GVW?. What's gas like on these ?

Thanks

Andy

 

I don't know what you're talking about regarding the supercharged 4 bangers. The 2.5 iirc is the same old 4 banger found in Jeeps and doesn't make much power, but they're ok for light duty. I seriously would look elsewhere if you're planning on hauling firewood in any quantity. Can they tow? Yeah, not nearly as well as a bigger motor though.

 

Unless they're giving that truck away I'd look at something else ... The V6's are pretty reasonably priced, more power, towing and probably better reliabiltiy (??) Really I think you'd be disappointed with the truck with a 4cyl. IMHO.

 

I have a 4 banger w/ the 5 speed manual, I have trouble keeping it at highway speeds, It does well hauling 2,000 lbs of sand, but not really good.
the MPG is good, mine runs around 20-25 and i drive with a leadfoot.
I would recommend a bigger engine. If it needs to move weight.
Hope I helped
________
The Cliff Condos

 

I feel like my 3.9 is barely adequate for a truck this size. Perhaps with a regular cab and a stick it would seem better.

I'm anxious to see what my truck does this summer towing my Neon...