I have a fleet of different type units and I desided to buy a dakota. Seemed like a good value andnice mid size truck.
Well, I just took delivery of a 2004 4x4 quad cab with the revised v6. I hate to say this: It is a pig. It has no power.(It wont pull a wet noodle out of a chickens butt). It struggles just to cruize at 55/60 mph.
Does anyone out there have them same feeling? If so, other than take the truck back, any suggestions? </P>

 

Well... I'd blame the smaller engine, why not get the v8? It's a 4x4...

I LOVE your screen name!!

~Amanda

 

Thanks for you reply and LOVING my nick name.
Employees tend to run the heck out of stuff that has a v/8. (burn outs, etc..)
I have 2 2001's with the older V6,not too happy with them either.This year, we got 2004 at 2003 prices on our bids. I drove a 2 wd and thought I would give it a try. Well, 3rd time was not the charm. I don't care if the dealers give us 2005 trucks for 2001 prices, I have learned the old lesson. You get what you paid for.!!
</P>

 

Hmmmm... that's frustrating...

So you won't have a v8?

~Amanda

 

Unless you can swing a deal to let me trade this one for one with a v8 at no additional cost?LOL You think thata v6 would give you a lttle more low end.
Most people will give up a little MPG or HP, but its bad when you can't get either!! </P>

 

My 03 CC SXT 4x2 is horrible on low end, but mid to top isnt bad. I'm learning it is NOT a V8! I think we expect too much of these little V6's. Mine is 175hp, and I'm effectivly towing a 3000# camper with it.</P>


16city and 21 hwy, cant complain for a 4000# truck. </P>


Ummm, you complain you dont want your employee's doing burn-outs, then complain because they cant?<IMG src=smileys/smiley36.gif border="0"></P>


Also...maybe I dont want to know...but how do you know how hard it is to pull a wet noodle out of a chickens butt??<IMG src=smileys/smiley29.gif border="0"></P>

 

I have an 02 Regular Cab SXT with the 3.9 V-6 Magnum and it's a pretty strong engine. I have the regular cab 2WD, so maybe the weight difference is enough to make your trucks feel sluggish. Maybe a few upgrades are in order? Intake? Exhaust? Ignition? EFI control chip? I'd be more than happy to test some stuff out for you on my truck. Just send products to...

... Josh

 

That's odd...I work at Dodge Dealer...and people generally praise the 3.7L in the 4x4 Dakotas....say that it's a worlds better than the 3.9L.

 

They do have little computers you can buy that will raise the horsepower from no addition to and addition of 60 horses. You should get one of those and maybe an intake. If that isn't enough you could get headers and exhaust. That would put you around the output of the 4.7 and possibly above it. If you don't mind spending some money, buy a supercharger or turbocharger for it. I agree with you though, don't trade it in. Hell they got 735HP/1300TQ out of a 6-cylinder in the Banks Sidewinder Dakota! [sm=smiley20.gif]

 

Well, I'm not so sure about those 4.7's either. I bought an 03' with 18k on it and within 3500 miles the whole top end let go. Took the dealer over a month to fix it. They told me that there is a problem with the head gaskets and that's why they let go. Ended up having both heads replaced, and both exhaust manifolds because they were warped as well as the intake manifold because it would no longer seat properly. I haven't even had the chance to open the thing up yet. And man does that motor idle rough.