Please give advice on if we should buy 2001 dodge 4x4

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feel better - 14 Jun 2005 08:51 GMT

We have been looking for a used 4x4 truck for several months.
Our old truck has 180,000 miles and is a ford. We have had lots of
maintaince on this old ford. I always hated the way it drove with to
much play in the steering.

We have found a 2001 4x4 dodge crew cab with 60,000 miles.
I called the previous owner and he said he never had any problems.
I have been doing searches all night and I keep seeing things about
people having to replace transimissions frequently. Sorry for the
spelling it very late.
We buy autos and take care of them and keep them forever.
We would rather pay cash and with our truck being this age we have a
good offer on trade.

Is a dodge something that will last as much as a ford or chevy 4x4
truck.
Please let me hear something. I am suppose to take it to the shope and
have our mechanic look it over in the am.
Thanks,
suttles

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Bob G. - 14 Jun 2005 15:14 GMT

>Is a dodge something that will last as much as a ford or chevy 4x4
>truck.
>Please let me hear something. I am suppose to take it to the shope and
>have our mechanic look it over in the am.
>Thanks,
>suttles

============
I always have and always be a Chevy Man... (lol) have 5 in the
Garage right now...

But my wife has 160,000 miles on her 96 Dodge Grand Caravan...which
she had to have since she liked the sytling so much .. and who am I to
argue with my wife over her choice of her own vehicles....Anyway its
been pretty much completely trouble free...at least nothing comes to
mind right now that was a royal pain or expensive...and I too was very
leary about the transmission...but its been fine...

I drive a 2001 Dakota every day...only 41,000 on its clock now...but
with a 5 speed... again no problems.... it however is not much of a
truck..ok for very light hauling which is all I needed...

Bob G

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jmc - 14 Jun 2005 20:30 GMT

Suddenly, without warning, feel better exclaimed (14-Jun-05 8:51 AM):

> We have been looking for a used 4x4 truck for several months.
> Our old truck has 180,000 miles and is a ford. We have had lots of
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Thanks,
> suttles

Well, I love my 2001 Dakota Club Cab, it has just shy of 50k miles.
I've had relatively few problems - had to replace the front rotors, and
have had to replace a part in the heat/ac assembly twice. Other than
that, and the not-sterling gas mileage, I do love my truck, and I also
buy vehicles "for life".

It's had rough points in it's life: I picked it up and within about 3
weeks put 3k miles on it - drove it from MT to VA and then to NY and
back to VA. After a couple of years there, it was shipped to England,
land of damp, where I live now. It's still doing fine.

As with any vehicle, I'd take a close look at it's service and
maintenance history, and be suspicious and cautious if there isn't one.
Good idea to have a mechanic look at it too.

jmc, who's off to Scotland with the Dakota, Hubby and Cat tomorrow am.

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SnoMan - 14 Jun 2005 20:36 GMT

> We have been looking for a used 4x4 truck for several months.
> Our old truck has 180,000 miles and is a ford. We have had
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> Thanks,
> suttles

The 4wd drive train in a dodge is very sturdy and simple as well and I
am guessing that you Ford was one with a TTB front end that are well
known for getting "loose as a goose" about steering and such when
they get some miles or wear on them. Dodges are kinda known for have
little nickle dime problems with body and interior hardware and sueaks
and rattles and such when they get old but they have improved in more
recent times. They are also not known for getting the best MPG either
but the drivetrain is durable and will go the distance without major
repair with normal maintance.

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TBone - 14 Jun 2005 20:41 GMT

> > We have been looking for a used 4x4 truck for several months.
> > Our old truck has 180,000 miles and is a ford. We have had
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
> but the drivetrain is durable and will go the distance without major
> repair with normal maintance.

Tea, except for the POS rear axle that the Dakota and 1500 series Rams use.

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SnoMan - 14 Jun 2005 22:36 GMT

>Tea, except for the POS rear axle that the Dakota and 1500 series Rams
>use.

Not sure which axle they use in a Dakota but they use a pretty stout
axle in a 1500 4x4’s (A lot stronger than a POS axle that GM uses in
their 1500 series trucks which can be traced back to the 70’s for use
in midsized cars before that started puting then in trucks too around
79.

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TBone - 15 Jun 2005 01:19 GMT

The DC axle used in the 4X4 1500 is the same one used in the wheel drive and
the Dakota. The axle design itself is not bad, it is the low quality
bearings they put in them to save about $5.00 per axle.

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> >Tea, except for the POS rear axle that the Dakota and 1500 series
> Rams
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> in midsized cars before that started puting then in trucks too around
> 79.

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