V8 5 or 6 spd 4dr 2wd dakotas

[cobraearl]

been surveying the market for some time.. probably gonna buy one soon.

I just trust a straight gear more than a automatic. My 92 v-6 has 256k on its 5 spd. put a clutch in it at about 180k. I will be towing a landscaping type trailer or a 3000 lb boat, quite a bit.

Dont want/need a 4x4.

Four QUESTIONS..

1. Are folks having transmission problems with their 2000-2006 AUTOMATICS?

2. Are Folks having transmission problems with their 2000-2006 Straight gears?

3. I assume the straight gear will get a couple miles better gas milage. Anyone dissagree?

I have my eye on a 2006. LOW MILAGE.. but its SOOOOOOO danged Ugly. The 2000-2004 look 100% better to me.

4. Are the 05 and 06s as good or better than the 2000-2004?

earl

[JVMopar]

My dad has a 2002 dakota 4wd 4.7L and it's been a good truck. With 120,000 miles on it. He mainly uses it to drive to work, but does tow some with it mostly lighter stuff. I just put ball joints in it cause they were loose and we've done brakes twice but besides that just basic maintenance and it's been good. I wouldn't hesitate to get one.

[Walkercolt]

I tow a small RV trailer (about 3800 lbs.) with the auto with the OD locked out, no problems. With a stick you shouldn't tow in OD either. You'll want one with the factory towing pkg., as to put the parts on after market is about 4 times the price (and some you can't get). Gas mileage is a wash between the auto and the stick, towing. Going cross-country with a very small RV trailer, there might be 1 MPG difference(or not). Your right foot makes the most difference in MPG. Backing a ton and a half up-hill is definately easier with an auto and the 4.7. Check the truck has the 3.92 axle ratio. The 4.7 and the 3.55's aren't the best towing combination, IMHO.

[cobraearl]

Originally Posted by Walkercolt

You'll want one with the factory towing pkg., as to put the parts on after market is about 4 times the price (and some you can't get). Backing a ton and a half up-hill is definately easier with an auto and the 4.7. Check the truck has the 3.92 axle ratio. The 4.7 and the 3.55's aren't the best towing combination, IMHO.

having grown up on a farm.. plus CDL experience backing is not an issue..

What would be difference on the Tow package for a Manual trans Dakota.. other than the probable rear end ratio?

No one has addressed the reliablilty issue of the two generations.. ie 2000-4 vs the 2005-6-7.

earl

[Walkercolt]

A stick with the tow pkg. also gets a bigger cooling system, a 160 amp alternator, a power-steering cooler, a bigger stock battery, the trailer wiring harness for electric brakes factory installed with an electronic flasher and an "over-lay" relay to prevent burning out the dash headlight switch, a class 5 weight distributing drawbar (mine's a Reese-they left the sticker on it) a bigger fan and clutch, better shocks, different part number rear springs on my 2WD, and a rear sway bar on Gen III's (Mine also has the "sport handling pkg." too, so I also got 4 wheel disc brakes. The big 11" Kelsey-Haynes drums stopped my '98 fine, but the discs have more "feel" I think.). I don't know about the Gen IV's at all. PS: I hear you about backing. Had a CDL too. For some strange reason, the reverse ratio in both the auto and the stick are higher than 1st gear. If I had designed the trannies, reverse would be a near "granny". Be easier on clutches and bands, I would think.

[cobraearl]

Walkercolt, I would have had NO IDEA there was this much different..

This might mean that if you look under the hood and find a Powersteering cooler theres a pretty good chance it does have the factory towing package. everything else you mention would not look very different of be hard to impossible to see.

THANKS FOR THE HELP..

earl

Originally Posted by Walkercolt

A stick with the tow pkg. also gets a bigger cooling system, a 160 amp alternator, a power-steering cooler, a bigger stock battery, the trailer wiring harness for electric brakes factory installed with an electronic flasher and an "over-lay" relay to prevent burning out the dash headlight switch, a class 5 weight distributing drawbar (mine's a Reese-they left the sticker on it) a bigger fan and clutch, better shocks, different part number rear springs on my 2WD, and a rear sway bar on Gen III's (Mine also has the "sport handling pkg." too, so I also got 4 wheel disc brakes. The big 11" Kelsey-Haynes drums stopped my '98 fine, but the discs have more "feel" I think.). I don't know about the Gen IV's at all. PS: I hear you about backing. Had a CDL too. For some strange reason, the reverse ratio in both the auto and the stick are higher than 1st gear. If I had designed the trannies, reverse would be a near "granny". Be easier on clutches and bands, I would think.