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Dakota work truck ??? #2692928
08/30/19 02:44 PM
08/30/19 02:44 PM
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Star Idaho
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67vertman Offline OP
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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. wave

Last edited by 67vertman; 08/30/19 02:46 PM.

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Re: Dakota work truck ??? [Re: 67vertman] #2693016
08/30/19 09:21 PM
08/30/19 09:21 PM
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Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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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

Re: Dakota work truck ??? [Re: poorboy] #2693156
08/31/19 01:41 PM
08/31/19 01:41 PM
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67vertman Offline OP
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Thanks Gene!


My Monster are real!

Living within your means makes life pretty easy.
Re: Dakota work truck ??? [Re: 67vertman] #2693478
09/01/19 06:05 PM
09/01/19 06:05 PM
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bobby66 Offline
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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.

Re: Dakota work truck ??? [Re: bobby66] #2703571
10/03/19 07:54 PM
10/03/19 07:54 PM
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ILLINOIS
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volaredon Offline
top fuel
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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.

Re: Dakota work truck ??? [Re: volaredon] #2703590
10/03/19 08:41 PM
10/03/19 08:41 PM
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Star Idaho
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67vertman Offline OP
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Originally Posted by volaredon
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.


My Monster are real!

Living within your means makes life pretty easy.
Re: Dakota work truck ??? [Re: 67vertman] #2703631
10/03/19 10:55 PM
10/03/19 10:55 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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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

Re: Dakota work truck ??? [Re: poorboy] #2703638
10/03/19 11:25 PM
10/03/19 11:25 PM
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Star Idaho
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67vertman Offline OP
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up Thanks Poorboy!


My Monster are real!

Living within your means makes life pretty easy.
Re: Dakota work truck ??? [Re: 67vertman] #2703892
10/04/19 05:30 PM
10/04/19 05:30 PM
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Posts: 20,600
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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Guitar Jones Offline
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in a cattle trailer down by th...
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.


"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"


'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion.
'74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost coming soon!
2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.






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