Dakota work truck ???

I am looking at getting a new work truck, a used Dakota, prefer non 4X4, but four door or crew cab. I have only owned full size trucks.

What years should I stay away from, what types of trouble(s) with engine size, and what is considered high mileage?

and anything else you guys can throw out there. It will be driven about 10,000+ miles a year.

Thanks in advance.

Stay away from one with the 4.7 motor.
By the time you get a 4 door/crew cab on a Dakota, there isn't much difference between it and a full sized truck. That is the primary reason the Dakota trucks went away. If you want or need a 4 door or crew cab, get the full sized truck. Gene

Thanks Gene!

Got 230,000 on my '02 Dakota with 3.9 auto. Getting pretty ragged but it will be my daily driver for another year or so. I hope.

I've had several 87-96s over the years still have a 96 and a 99. I prefer the older ones. 318 no worse on fuel than 6 cylinder, but much more get up and go...…
more power, same gas mileage makes for no brainer. my favorite was my 93 club cab with 318, got with bad trans and converted to a 5 speed.... 20+MPG "when I tried," and 18-1/2 most of the rest of the time, in combo highway/in town driving..... only got rid of because it was wrecked horribly, still ran awesome at that time with over 200k on it.....
current daily (70 miles a day) is a 96 318 club cab 4wd.... 214k miles and climbing fast...… pull my popup all over with it, too.....
the 99 with its 3.9, said "HELP ME/ NEED MORE POWER," the one time I used it to go camping with..
have also had a 90 longbed with a (pre magnum) 3.9, and a 94 reg cab shortbed with a 3.9.......… all the rest have been 318s. Wouldn't have one any other way. 3.9 or 318.
. as has been said/ stay away from 4.7.

Thanks volaredon! I am still looking most of the newer ones around here are over 200,000 miles of salvaged titles. I do like the looks of the late 90 ones.

I currently have 3 Dakotas:
A 90 standard cab, long box 2 wd with the non-magnum 3.9 5 speed.
A 93 standard cab, long box, 3.9 magnum, auto, 4x4.
And a 96 club cab short box 3.9 magnum, auto, 2 wd.
of the 3, the 90 chassis is under my 48 Plymouth business coupe and shows 180,000 miles, This is the 2nd motor, the first one was real tired at around 150K. The 5 speed makes it fun, gets 17 mpg in town, about 22 highway@70
The 93 is parked with 155K miles, rotted out frame. This truck was a good truck until the frame issue killed it. The drive train may live on in something else.
The 96 is my current winter driver and hauler. Its got about 120K miles on it. this thing sure leaves a lot to be desired as far as power, it certainly is the dog of the bunch, I have to think that extra cab weight is killing it. Its an OK truck that does what its suppose to do.

The body style changed in 97, everything older is pretty much the same, save for the front clip being longer in the 91 - 96 truck. I think the 97 body stayed around until 2002, or so. Gene

Thanks Poorboy!

I had a 92 club cab with a 5.2 in it. Beat that truck like a red headed step child for over 450,000 miles. Still running and driving when we sold it.