Need New Truck!

[Road Rat]

Going to be looking for a newer truck to replace my 05’ Explorer Sport Trac that got crushed when an oak tree fell on it during Hurricane Sally.

Looking for a small 4 door 2wd, open to whatever make works for the price. Only used around Pensacola for errands. A Dodge would be cool but??? What have some you guys out there had decent luck with? Probably looking for something 6-8 years old. Open to suggestions.

 

[BeepBeepRR]

Dakotas skip any with a 4.7 look for 3.9/5.2/5.9 They have the 4 door cabs but shorter beds. I think any year prior to the 4.7 would be up to 2000.

4.7 is a problematic engine I'm sure someone will chime in that theirs has 200k on it and it runs fine. Well, good for them. But the majority of them have the same issues as the 5.7 Hemi. Dropping valve seats and head gaskets. The 3.9 up to the 5.9 are pretty rock solid engines even at higher mileage. They are Magnum engines and they are only slightly different than the older 318/360 LA engines.

https://www.allpar.com/trucks/dakot...rted out as,lower cost, and higher horsepower.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Late model Ram 1500 with 5.7.

 

[Slap Stick]

6-8 years old eliminates Dakotas, especially ones pre-2000.
Break out the wallet for a 6-8 year old truck.
Never owned a newer truck so I can't recommend anything.

 

[moparedtn]

I waited on Dodge to offer the 5.7 in the Dakota, a match made in heaven if you ask me.
Nope...and since the Dakota was being sold at damn near the same price as the full-sized
Rams and was too big to compete with the true compact foreign stuff, it ultimately failed.

On to the OP's question:
If it was me replacing like type with like type, I'd go find a Grand Cherokee and I'd not
even look twice at a 2WD. There is little/no trade-off in taking them in 4WD and resale is
MILES ahead with the 4WD (for good reason).
Nobody makes a better long-lived, well made SUV than Jeep and that's been the case for
many years now. Heck, I'd look for a low mile 4.0 6 banger even - you cannot kill that engine.

 

[747mopar]

You'll have to go a bit older but another vote on a Dakota. I had an 04 with a 3.7 and a standard transmission, what a tough little truck.

 

[Road Rat]

I appreciate all the feedback, I hadn’t really considered the older Dakota’s but maybe I need to give them another look. I was thinking something newer but I never go out of town in my pickup, just local and want something I can throw whatever I want in the back or the cab and not feel guilty about it. Thanks for the replies and welcome anymore input.

 

[BeepBeepRR]

You never really mentioned a budget I just assumed cheap truck. Hell for that matter even the first gen Dakotas were and are pretty solid trucks. Good for exactly what you want them for beater.... But they never made a 4 door first gen just an extended cab.

 

[FU64RY]

Late model Ram 1500 with 5.7.

He said small, that is a big truck

 

[FU64RY]

I waited on Dodge to offer the 5.7 in the Dakota, a match made in heaven if you ask me.
Nope...and since the Dakota was being sold at damn near the same price as the full-sized
Rams and was too big to compete with the true compact foreign stuff, it ultimately failed.

On to the OP's question:
If it was me replacing like type with like type, I'd go find a Grand Cherokee and I'd not
even look twice at a 2WD. There is little/no trade-off in taking them in 4WD and resale is
MILES ahead with the 4WD (for good reason).
Nobody makes a better long-lived, well made SUV than Jeep and that's been the case for
many years now. Heck, I'd look for a low mile 4.0 6 banger even - you cannot kill that engine.

He is in Florida where most trucks are 2WD..resale there is very good for 2WD.
4WD is a giant waste of money and fuel......tell me how many times a year anybody uses their 4WD unless they
Live in Alaska

 

[Road Rat]

Yes, 2wd is preferred, but who knows depends on the deal. As far as budget goes, it’s just a reliable beater for around town my house is 100 feet from saltwater. Truck is kept outdoors, the Satellite is in air conditioned shop, (I have priorities).

 

[Roger63]

Don't be afraid to travel to get what you want. I live in Oklahoma and have always got a much better deal out of state. Do the research in my case on the last 2 trucks I saved approximately $6000 on each one.

 

[Road Rat]

I’ve been looking on Auto trader and can search nationwide. What’s shocking is what some people want for 10 year old trucks! I guess that shows my age, I remember when $4000 was a top of the line Dodge Adventurer, with the shift on the dash. The adjuster is coming here today, probably total it, I’ll keep my eyes out for something that does the job for reasonable. Still appreciate any input. Thanks Brian

 

[Roger63]

I’ve been looking on Auto trader and can search nationwide. What’s shocking is what some people want for 10 year old trucks! I guess that shows my age, I remember when $4000 was a top of the line Dodge Adventurer, with the shift on the dash. The adjuster is coming here today, probably total it, I’ll keep my eyes out for something that does the job for reasonable. Still appreciate any input. Thanks Brian

It's been my experience that Autotrader represents the highest priced vehicles. There are other sights that have vehicles listed that aren't on Autotrader.

 

[moparedtn]

He is in Florida where most trucks are 2WD..resale there is very good for 2WD.
4WD is a giant waste of money and fuel......tell me how many times a year anybody uses their 4WD unless they
Live in Alaska

- Yes, I read his post and am aware of where he is, thanks.
- Resale of 2WD will never be better than the equivalent 4WD - anywhere.
- Again, the trade-off for a 4WD in a SUV is negligible.
- Folks use 4WD all the time everywhere. I certainly do, a few times a week in fact.

So...what was your suggestion for a vehicle for him, anyways?

 

[Budnicks]

I like most the Ram trucks, before the autostart bs
& keyless nonsense
I almost bought a Ram 1500 Rumble Bee in 2005 (?)
& then a SRT10 in early 2006, just couldn't convince myself to buy

any of the one I like maybe too old for your likings

I would highly recommend one if you can find a lower mileage version

I love my 99 Dakota SLT 4x4 5.2ltr/318cid (above)
only thing I wish was it had a 5 speed, it had an O/D auto 46RE/TF
they were near to impossible to find with a manual when new
I didn't really want to wait when I was getting it...
My 99 with a bunch of bolt-ons, 32 x 11 ms tires
AEI Air box & swirl spacer, 1.7 ratio rockers & a Hypertech tuner
all drastically improved the performance & milage
drives nice, handles great on curvey mountain roads
it's easy to park fits in a smaller garage
I couldn't replace it for what I could sell it for...

I will do a 3.91 gear swap in the near future
(I lived in the Sac. valley when I 1st purchased it, I live in the Sierras now)
I'm going to do a slight leveling lift & go to 33" x 10" ms tires
& the std org. 3.54:1 gears aren't enough, too much gear reduction
for my preferences
especially with the larger diameter tires, up here in the sticks
on the flatlands of Florida it'd not be an issue at all...

when it dies I'll put a 5.7 Hemi in it,
or maybe a 4" stroker combo
it's got only 59k now, I love it, great lil' Truck/4x4
only problems ever
was a trans speed sensor
& brakes replacement upfront, I put slotted & drilled rotors, not much more
I venture to say it will be quite a while before I replace/rebuild the engine

 

[moparedtn]

You'll have to go a bit older but another vote on a Dakota. I had an 04 with a 3.7 and a standard transmission, what a tough little truck.

I had a '98 Dakota with that 3.7 (318 with two cylinders lopped off). It's a crude engine but quite
reliable and does the job, just not very thrifty on fuel.
I loved that little truck, just outgrew it is all.

 

[FU64RY]

- Yes, I read his post and am aware of where he is, thanks.
- Resale of 2WD will never be better than the equivalent 4WD - anywhere.
- Again, the trade-off for a 4WD in a SUV is negligible.
- Folks use 4WD all the time everywhere. I certainly do, a few times a week in fact.

So...what was your suggestion for a vehicle for him, anyways?

You may be using it but do you need to?
Where in Tn. do you need 4WD in the summer for that matter in the winter?
I have 94 Dakota for 4 years in Central Pa. and have never put it in to 4WD.
As I said 4WD is a waste of time and money and upkeep.

 

[moparedtn]

You may be using it but do you need to?
Where in Tn. do you need 4WD in the summer for that matter in the winter?
I have 94 Dakota for 4 years in Central Pa. and have never put it in to 4WD.
As I said 4WD is a waste of time and money and upkeep.

We have these little things called "mountains" around here....with things called "gravel roads"
on them oftentimes.

Yes, I assumed since you're in PA that you'd be one of those who brags about never needing 4WD
in 2 foot snows - uphill - with a head wind.

There's a lot of that type running loose up north.... been there, done that.

 

[Road Rat]

The insurance adjuster left today and said my truck is totaled. So I guess I have to start looking in earnest. I really like the looks of the 2nd gen Dakotas. My brother in-law had a first gen but problems with the manual transmission. Anybody else see any tranny problems?

I guess whatever mileage and sacrifice in ride quality with a 4wd would probably be negligible. The last 4wd I had was a 94, not that nice a ride. I actually had good luck with the Sport Trac in the 12 years I had it. It owes me nothing. Hope I find a good replacement.