look all im saying is, if there are two simular trucks to chose from, one with a 4.7 and one with a Hemi of course anyone here would pick the Hemi, it's the better engine, but if you find a nice truck for your dad don't turn it down just because it has a 4.7, yeah its not a Hemi but that doesn't mean that it is a bad engine, its still a Dodge Ram right !!!

 

It is worth noting that a redesigned 4.7 V8
with 25% higher hp
higher torque
and 5% better fuel economy will show up on dealer lots
within a few weeks.

http://www.huliq.com/22800/dodge-pre...8-dakota-truck

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_PowerTech_engine

Normally it is wise to avoid a new engine in its first year
but the present offer of a lifetime warranty on powertrain
may offset that.

Dodge has been revising warranty length frequently
so I don't know how long this present 'lifetime' offer will last.

 

Thanks Hank, I knew I had read that stuff somewhere, That sounds like it will be a very nice engine

 

The 4.7 engine. like most solid designs, will last a very very long time with proper maintenance. I know a guy that has well over 200,000 miles on his in a Dakota and it's still running strong.

If you are buying used and care about gas mileage, the 4.7 is probably a better choice. It gets better mileage than the Hemi or 5.2 or 5.9 fairly easily. Only the newer Hemis with MDS get better mileage. It makes enough power for most people, depending on the use.

 

If money wasn't an issue I would say get a hemi, but he's looking for a used truck I'm guessing that money is an issue. I doubt I could have picked up an 04 hemi with 39k miles for $9k. That's what I paid for my 4.7. It's a v8, it does run strong, gas mileage isn't the greatest (I believe it would be better with 3.92 gears) but it works as a truck. The only thing I would change about my truck is the gears, and at some point I'll put a set of 4.56's in it and that problem will be fixed

 

i've got on 03 4.7 and once i hit about 40k miles it started goin to crap, sensors were goin out everywhere, lights were goin out everywhere, at 52k i had to pay 800 to replace the guage panel my CVjoints have went to crap (thats a common problem on any big vehicle though), electrical is so bad in this truck, rear brake light is out theres a loose wire somehwere, overhead light works sometimes, driver side power window works sometimes, it dings all the time driveing down the road for no reason, However, as bad as the electrical is the engin has been good i guess, i got a bad ticking noise about 2 months ago but i tihnk its in the ehaust manifold, thats all from the engine though, pretty strong, i got a good one on that part, but i would very highly suggest the hemi, he'll MAYBE get 1 mpg worse on a BAD day, really not much of a difference there

 

oh yes, another point that is cool, i've went 68k miles on the same brakes, yes, and they still work just fine, im sure i'd notice a difference if i got new ones, these do'nt even squeek yet and they stop plaenty good enough, and i ride em hard also due to my heavier foot.

 

I have an 05 Dodge Q-Cab with the 4.7 and 3.92 gears. It runs goods, looks good, and smells good. I take it out on dates all the time lol

Seriuosly though, I havnt had a single problem with it, I've towed trailers and boats without a problem at all. As with any vehicle though you need to take care of it to last. I currently have 29,000 miles on my truck and she purrs like a kitten with the new magnaflow muffler [sm=smiley14.gif]

 

I have the 4.7LTR V-8. I've had it for approximately 5 years now...it has 77K miles on it, and i have to say it's pretty dependable.
Haven't had any major problems with it thus far.. If i could change anything on it, it would be the following:
A couple of extra coats of paint would have been nice..(Present paint chips easily)
A stronger A.C. would also be nice.

 

i agree also that the hemi has more power its obvios, but the major malfunction on the 1500 is the hemi is not available with a manual trans, and i love the standard so it looks like im going for the 4.7L. thanks to every1 that suggested the 3.92 gears i was going 2 get the 3.5.