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Topic: New winter/hunting/truck stuff vehicle (WARNING: CONTAINS MOPAR) (Read 1126 times) previous topic - next topic

New winter/hunting/truck stuff vehicle (WARNING: CONTAINS MOPAR)

Um, yeah. So I bought another Dodge. Sold my Sonoma a month ago and had really been missing having a truck, especially as it's deer season. I wanted a small or midsize truck with an extended cab (not a crew cab, I wanted at least a 6' box). And I wanted ZERO body rust.

puppiesanese brands were out of the question because people think that stuff on the frame and around the wheel openings is gold, instead of rust. I mean really, $8k for a '99 Tacoma with 150k miles? That's typical around here.

GM was pretty much out because I didn't want another S-truck and the Colorado/Canyons are too new, and therefore too expensive. Good little trucks they are (we sell a lot of them and rarely see any major issues on them) but too much money.

Ranger was in the running, as long as I could get a 2001 or newer with the 4.0 SOHC and a 5-speed, but after searching for several weeks nothing was turning up.

Which leaves us with Mopar. I've always liked 2nd gen Dakotas and truthfully Dakota was the frontrunner for the extra size. After traveling all over the province looking at Dakotas (and Rangers) I found this gem:

XXX

It's an '03, 3.9, automatic, with posi rear and some aftermarket dress up stuff (wheels, running boards, that cowcatcher on the front). It's spent its life in BC and has absolutely no rust anywhere. Came with a 1 yr/12k mile powertrain warranty.

And I even properly broke it in by taking it hunting tonight and shooting a deer...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

New winter/hunting/truck stuff vehicle (WARNING: CONTAINS MOPAR)

Reply #1 –
8k for a 99 taco is typical anywhere, as long as it's solid.. tacos/tundras hold their value with a firm grip.. you're lucky if you can even get a t-100 (pre tacoma) for under 3k
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

New winter/hunting/truck stuff vehicle (WARNING: CONTAINS MOPAR)

Reply #2 –
Thing is, there is pretty much no such thing as a solid Tacoma around here (Or Nissan Frontier, for that matter). Even if you find one that's had the frame replaced under recall the body is shot, or it came from out west and they want even more than the already ridiculous prices most people are asking...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

New winter/hunting/truck stuff vehicle (WARNING: CONTAINS MOPAR)

Reply #3 –
i'll own 1 in about 10 years when the prices are more reasonable.. then i will proceed to cut it up and have my way with it lol but even the rusty toyotas hold value for some reason.. that i'll never understand
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

New winter/hunting/truck stuff vehicle (WARNING: CONTAINS MOPAR)

Reply #4 –
I don't know dodge trucks except for 1/2-ton Rams don't have a good enough tranny. I feel like the Dakotas must be well-equipped, haven't exactly heard the firestorm of complaints  that plagues rams. They really seemed to do well with that thing. See them a lot and yea plenty of rust-free ones can be found too if you look. Congrats good score! Did laugh when I saw the title (wait did someone bump a dead thread? LOL)
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane

New winter/hunting/truck stuff vehicle (WARNING: CONTAINS MOPAR)

Reply #5 –
 Carm, you're turning Dodge on us!

Kind've a cool color, never seen a green one before. I've *heard* the balljoints don't last, but that's only what I've heard. Good job on the deer too...I'm weighing on taking a chance and getting sicker to go hunting.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

New winter/hunting/truck stuff vehicle (WARNING: CONTAINS MOPAR)

Reply #6 –
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;372141
I've *heard* the balljoints don't last, but that's only what I've heard.


the transmissions are pretty py too.. if you have it serviced every now and then, it'll hold together longer.. dodge really slacked in the transmission department for many, many years
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

New winter/hunting/truck stuff vehicle (WARNING: CONTAINS MOPAR)

Reply #7 –
It's got all new ball joints, tie rod ends, stabilizer links & bushings and new pads & rotors front & rear. All lifetime parts, and all receipts in the glove box. :deal:

As for the tranny, I will be servicing it myself very soon (as well as changing the diff fluids with royal purple and doing plugs, dist cap & rotor button, and antifreeze flush) and adding a transmission cooler. If it screws up, hopefully it'll happen within that year or 20k km. If I start feeling failure is pending, I will see to it that it fails within that warranty period :evilgrin:

Every truck has its known issues. I think just about every domestic 4WD truck could be accused of eating up ball joints, and I wouldn't say GM's 4L60E is any better than Mopar's 44RE. Dunno about the Ford 5R55E's reliability, but given its relation to the A4LD I wouldn't feel any better about it than the one in my Dakota either.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

New winter/hunting/truck stuff vehicle (WARNING: CONTAINS MOPAR)

Reply #8 –
a cooler will definitely help.. a good trans flush, new filter and fresh fluid should do her some good.. disconnect the lines from the radiator and flush them out with some clean fluid.. 99% of the time, people overlook the fluid in the lines and rad cooler lol
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

New winter/hunting/truck stuff vehicle (WARNING: CONTAINS MOPAR)

Reply #9 –
Love the truck Carm! the dakotas are addicting little trucks. Ive had 5 so far but only 2 remain i have a 1st gen and a 2nd gen a 92 318 auto 4x4 and a 99 3.9L auto 4x4 you cant beat these trucks somtimes. Their low range is amazing very tight trucks.