Hello all,

My name is Joe and I currently own a 1999 Dodge Dakota, 3.9L sport 4x4. I bought the truck a few weeks ago (first pickup ever, im 16) with the intentions to go off roading with it and haul my atvs and dirtbikes around. Being a Dodge lover since I was 4 (family never owned one since I was alive, but liked the emblem at first, and as I grew up friends got one etc.) I dont want to go to ford or somthing. I was VERY dissapointed with the car. First, Its very weak. Yes I know I bought the small 3.9 motor, but this was laughable how bad it was. I put my atv in the bed of it about 2 weekends ago with high hopes of going atving that day, and there is abouta 1/4th mile entry ramp to the high way here, and I gunned it as soon as i turned onto it and by the time I was at the highway, I was only going 48 mph. Keep in mind, I was hauling my atv, but its a sport which weighs only 386 pounds. How can I plan to tow a trailer like this too?


Then I was like.. hmph can't tow very much with it, but I'm sure it can do some off roading, so I went for about 45 minutes around our property (dad owns country land and was just messing around going on the dirt roads fast, I know its not real off road but was testing suspension) and now my ABS and BRAKE lights are on every time I drive it now. I really am disapointed with the truck and am already thinking about selling it again. Its body and interior is in perfect condition, just dont like its power.



Now I'm looking at somthing that I can also get used at the same value as the dakota currently that is made by dodge. That is the Ram 1500 around the years of 1999 - 2001. I was looking at the engines they come with and I'd probably get.


It comes with a 3.9 175 horse which is the same engine I have currently in there, a 5.2 230 horse and a 5.9 245 horse. The 175 is off for sure since I'm so dissapointed with it in my dakota, but the 5.2 and 5.9 are only 55-70 more horses more then the 3.9.


I WILL be putting a 6-9 inch lift on it with off roading tires with the intention of going off roading with it, and planning on towing one atv in the bed (no more then 600 pounds) to no more then pulling a trailer with 4 atvs on it (so thats pulling 2400 pounds).

I'm a teen too so obviously I like power so when i want it to accelerate, I want it to ACCELERATE not just get up to speed slower than it takes to coast slower.

I might put some cheaper power mods on it too like pipe, intake and chip.


Anyways, now that you know what I want, will I want a Ram and will I not be disappointed with it like I am with my dakota?


I greatly appreciate your taking your time to read this and answer my question because I dont want to make another bad buy in the future.

Thank you!

-Joe

 

you dont be dissappointed in it, but there may be issues with towing a trailer with a 6inch,.... other than that teh guys on this site are incredibly knowledgable and can help you out a lot- so NO, you dont be dissapointed.

and if you plan on towin that much get a 5.9

 

A 75hp increase is pretty significant when you consider that the 245hp produced by a 5.9 is a 40% increase over the 175hp produced by the 3.9. More significant than that though, a 3.9 only puts out 230 ft-lbs of torque whereas the 5.9 puts out 330 ft-lbs, over a 40% increase in torque. The other thing to consider is that the power potential of a V8 is much higher than that of the 6cyl. With a few simple mods to the intake and exhaust, you see some pretty significant increases in power. Lastly, when you buy a full size truck, you're buying more than just a bigger motor, you're getting a stronger frame, transmission, axles, you name it, it will take a lot more licks than your dakota.

 

if you want to stick with a dakota.. look into a v8 dakota with the 4.7 or 5.2 motor. that'll give you plenty of power you need to tow and offroad.

 

It appears the going rate of my dakota


Excellent $7,435 [/align]
Good $6,840 [/align]
Fair $6,030

is enough to get a Ram 1500 or even a 2500 if i wait and pounce on some good offers on ebay. Around here about 1 in 6 trucks that are good ( bout 100k miles and good-excelent body) go for 5-7k.

If anyone is interested in trading a Ram for my Dakota I could get some pics up and stuff. Anyways, it appears to be easyier around here to find a 2500 with the 5.9 engine. All the 1500's with it are a few thousand high and plus if i can get a 5.9 and a whole class up (2500) then thats a way better deal in my opinion.


Thanks alot guys! You guys are the best!

 

I have a friend of mine that has an 02 Dakota quad cab 4x4 with the 4.7 in it. That truck has some pretty impressive ***** under the hood to the point I am not sureI would want to go heads up with him on the highway with my 97 Ram with a 360.

My Durango has the same motor as that but obviously the performance is different since the Durango weighs more and is geared differently.

 

It's only money, spend it now...

 

Greetings, You didn't mention if you wanted to buy a new one, or a used one. I found a resource for trucks, and bought mine there for $3800. Every month or so the GSA, goverment services administration offers it's vehicles at auction to thePUBLIC. They are generally well maintained with records, low mileage. Mine had 21,000 miles on it and it was a 1999 ram. Many are quad cabs Crewcabs etc. This outfit is near Sacramento, also Portland, and Salt lake. there is a website so you can see whats being offered before you bother. Also, you can see what the last auction sold, and for how much!

 

If any one were to ever get a vehicle from gsa, be really careful. I drive them on a daily basis. If you want to look at it one way, think of it as a rental car because, the maintenance is done, but people drive the vehicles like they stole them. Atleast I know I do.

 

i had a 96 dakota 5.2 5 speed 4 by4 an it by no way disipointed me, if you like a dakota look around an grab a 5.2 or 4.7 you will be happy,but if you really want to be happy grab you a ram