06 I bought a Dakota 4d 4.7 V-8 auto. After 6 years the thing is running great and still drives tight. As you can see we've had tons of fun in the thing.



Since we plan on retiring, moving and building a new place I've been selling off the toys. Sold the camper & boat so there's no point on keeping the truck any longer. Sadly I'll be putting it up for sale the end of summer and shame is, from the bad rap the things get I'll probably only get book for the thing.

Don't over look a Dakota, my 06 has been a good lil truck and fun to drive.

David_L6, on 27 May 2012 - 03:16 PM, said:

But Japanese bikes are ok?

zlathim, on 27 May 2012 - 03:01 PM, said:

David_L6, on 27 May 2012 - 03:16 PM, said:

Amazingly limited viewpoints on both sides  ----- once again, 2 more ways to show ignorance in a pickup thread.

There is an immense lovefest for the Tundra on this board for some reason -- i have several friends with Tundras, some are super happy,  others  would like to clamp a rock to the gas pedal and point it towards a cliff.
   Seems to be about the same with people and domestic trucks  ---  sadly with the b-s all the manufacturers put out now, there may be a 1 in 25 or 30 shot of anybody getting a "problem truck" , whether its foreign or domestic

Some people just have a problem with domestic vehicles, period - (the Prius phenomenon) , others are the same way about foreign vehicles.

DMC707, on 27 May 2012 - 04:28 PM, said:

I don't have anything against any particular manufacturer. In addition to vehicles from U.S. manufacturers, I've owned a Datsun, Nissan, Toyota, Honda... I just made that post to illustrate a point.

DMC707, on 23 May 2012 - 07:21 AM, said:

It pisses me off that the mileage and costs aren't much better for a mid sized...but I made the conscience decision to not get a full sized truck.  I don't need the bed size or the extra towing capacity, and like a vehicle that doesn't take up the other lane on back roads and is easy to maneuver in tight parking lots.  I've had a F150 this week as a rental and loved it, but I still I'm still looking forward to getting home and driving my Frontier.  I don't have that "I need a big truck" problem some guys do.

I just picked up a 2009 Chevy 1/2 ton crew cab today. I pull a 6x12 enclosed. My Explorer sport trac would pull it with a couple bikes and gear no problem (V6). When loaded with 3 bikes, rolling tool box, riding gear for 3 people, camping gear and stove, and three passengers it made it work pretty hard, I worried about longevity. So, I went with the 1/2 ton. I haven't towed with it yet but I can tell the motor is considerably stronger and the overall larger size should do the trick. And... the mileage is listed at the same as my sport trac, though I'm sure results will vary. I was hesitant to go with a bigger truck but the trade in was very close and MPGs should be about the same, hoping it works out. Ford and Toyota seemed to be more expensive, not a fan of the Dodge, left me with GMC as the obvious choice.

Travis147, on 30 May 2012 - 03:52 PM, said:

What engine does it have? In a strong head wind pulling your trailer could be a challenge with the V6. The 5.3, 6.0, or especially the 6.2 won't have any problems. Even the little 4.8 V8 does a pretty good job with a trailer.

David_L6, on 30 May 2012 - 07:49 PM, said:

Guess I left that out, it's a 5.3. My sport trac was a V6, the new truck should be a nice upgrade. Unfortunately with weddings the next couple weekends I won't get to try it out with a dirty bike trip anytime soon.

Travis147, on 31 May 2012 - 03:46 PM, said:

You're in good shape. Before I bought the 2012 crew cab I have now (with 6.2) I had a 2008 extended cab with a 5.3. The 5.3 should handle your 6 X 12 very well.

David_L6, on 31 May 2012 - 05:59 PM, said:

We pull a 20' open trailer (tandem axle car trailer) quite often with 1500 pickup trucks. '96 Ram, '99 5.3L Z71, '04 5.3L Z71, and when the job calls for it.... '96 F350 Powerstroke Dually

Not sure on the weight difference, though I know the 20' trailer can be heavier when loaded down with a car, tractor, etc.

Edited by KissMyWhtSS, 31 May 2012 - 07:42 PM.

tdub2112, on 11 May 2012 - 04:03 PM, said:

I have a 2009 Chevy Sub 3/4 ton 6.0 litre engine.  I don't know the mpg but for 130 litres of gas im lucky if I go 550k... reliable.... yes so far nothing major to report, did the breaks at 100k

DMC707, on 27 May 2012 - 04:28 PM, said:

I have owned GMC 1992 Sonoma(loved it most relieable vehicle to date) I was young and stupid and never did anything to this truck but try to kill it and it wouldn't die!  I have owned Chevy (good truck) I have owned Dodge 2002 cummins diesel as I love the cummins engine... but I WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY A TRUCK BUILT IN MEXICO... sorry if that offends anyone but i can't believe dodge is built much diff then chevy gmc ect but both my dodges (one was my dads 1992 cummins) have nickle and dimed me to death... i don't believe these factories down there have very good quality control.... IMOP...

I will try a toyota next as emmission control is making diesel pointless and I have to find out for myself... on first test drive I didn't like the cabin as if feels like im sitting in car not a truck... seat too close to the floor... other then that... the tundra gets very high reviews for reliability... i don't mind paying extra for a vehicle but ball joints x3 on a truck that only ever saw highway, lift pumps x 2, steering boxes, electrical problems all creeping up on you then a 5000$ fix for something that should have been under warrenty is BS!  Thanks for nothing dodge... Yes, maybe I got a lemon.. engine has been bullet proof after I changed out the lift pump for a gas tank push pump and put in a new fuel pump... In Canada we don't have a lemon law so you have to take a big hit and sell it used... my dads cummins... once again engine bullet proof but everything else rattled apart...

If cummins ever gets dropped into a ford (which I have never owned) I will go out and be the first to buy one... just cause I'd have to try it!!!!

somethingnuw, on 09 June 2012 - 07:06 AM, said:

That's only about 10 mpg. Not good. Are you running E85?

somethingnuw, on 09 June 2012 - 07:26 AM, said:

I was wondering about that as I picked up a new truck 5 weeks ago and it was built in Mexico. The two trucks I had before this one were built in Canada and have been good trucks. GM closed the Canadian plant. All three are 1/2 ton Chevy Silverados ('99, '08, '12). I had a 2 in 3 chance of getting a truck built in the U.S. as GM has two truck assembly plants in the U.S. and one in Mexico. I struck out. So far I haven't found anything wrong with the truck but I haven't had it very long either.

No discussion of the Nissan Titan here yet.

I have one. 18 MPG combined and 14 MPG non-highway. This is a 2WD crew cab. Very roomy. 45K miles. 2007 model. Comfortable. Get 18 with two bikes in the back. Not gonna say it's the end-all be all but never one problem in five years ain't bad. Made in USA too.

David_L6, on 09 June 2012 - 10:56 AM, said:

like i said just my opinion... could it just be the dodge??? I don't know... i don't know how to look up rating of mexican plants... I wish I could figure it out as through work i get a good discount on chrysler products... but I am too scared to buy... I am in the market for a half ton 4x4 crew cab... ford f150 or tundra are high on my list... love the look of the dodge but am too afraid too touch it...

I wish you luck with yours... could be just my experience as no one on this forum has brought up that issue!

David_L6, on 09 June 2012 - 10:49 AM, said:

no idea what E85 is... is that the octane rating?  Up here we have 87, 90, 92 and 94... i alwyas run 87 as its a work truck thats the only thing I am allowed to run... like I said other then that the truck has run perfectly except for a minor issue of the 4x4 sticking despite being in 2 wheel drive... seems to have fixed itself though... poor position of air filter as its right over the front right tire... in the winter with the really fine snow we get up here... air filters get clogged very fast... every oil change requires a new filter...

somethingnuw, on 09 June 2012 - 12:35 PM, said:

E85 is 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline. E85 has a high octane rating but, due to the ethanol, mileage running that stuff is terrible. Ethanol does not have as much energy as gasoline so engines require more of it to do the same amount of work.

Almost all gasoline sold in the U.S. has 10% ethanol. The mileage with 10% ethanol isn't as bad as it is with 85% ethanol but it is still less than gas with no ethanol. If there were a feasible way for me to avoid running ethanol in my truck I would. If there is I haven't found it yet. I run AV gas in everything I have that doesn't have a catalytic converter (motorcycles, ATVs, boat motors, lawn mower, generator, weed eater, chain saw - i.e. everything but my truck).

somethingnuw, on 09 June 2012 - 12:31 PM, said:

Could be. I know several people with Dodge diesels that praise the engines and cuss the trucks.

somethingnuw, on 09 June 2012 - 12:31 PM, said:

Don't rule out the Chevrolet Silverado. I've had three Silverados in a row now. Bought the first one in October 1998 (it now has close to 260,000 miles on it). Before those three trucks I had a 1995 Suburban. That's four Chevys in a row dating back to 1995. No major problems with any of them. We still have all of them except the Suburban.

1995 Suburban with a 350 (don't remember gear ratio)
1999 Silverado with a 4.8 (3.42 gear ratio)
2008 Silverado with a 5.3 (3.42 gear ratio)
2012 Silverado with a 6.2 (3.73 gear ratio and 6 speed auto)

somethingnuw, on 09 June 2012 - 12:31 PM, said:

Thanks!


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Edited by David_L6, 09 June 2012 - 02:02 PM.