Hi Everyone :) i would like your opionons

[Gary DuBois]

Around here in eastern Virginia rust isn't a huge issue, but Dodge/Ram Dakotas are fairly scarce. (The 2010 and 2011 models were Rams, not Dodges.) They just didn't seem to hold up, and that's a typical Chrysler trait, unfortunately. By comparison, I can't walk down the street without tripping over Rangers and 20+–year-old F-150s.

I'd avoid Dakotas unless you can pick up a well-maintained, clean, low-mileage one for a good price. Look for a unicorn while you're at it.

Why do you think they didn't hold up ? I can find a 2000-2004 dakota quad cab 4.7 v8 4wd that was well maintained, clean, low mileage for a good price. Unicorns Are Cool

 

[Gary DuBois]

My opinion is biased by emotion, but...


Keep the truck dad bought you.


I lost my father just after turning 16, and I absolutely cherish everything that's still kicking around that he put his hands on.

Sometimes its good to let your emotion be the deciding factor.

I have thought at different times of keeping my truck that my dad bought for me but The older i get the more i think to myself i don't need a full size f-150 anymore sometimes because its bigger than i want and my dad said i seemed uncomfortable driving my big f-150 sometimes.

Im sad to hear that my condolences, always hold onto possesions that your dad owned.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

If you think your 93 feels big...a 97-03 will feel bigger, and a dakota is probably going to feel bigger then your 93 as well.

Sounds like you would be well suited to a Ranger honestly.

As far as the 351 being the best, you cant go wrong with any of the engines in them years. The 300 was a impossible to kill cockroach workhorse, the 302 pry had the best blend of giddyup and MPG, and the 351 was the best for fun factor and towing.

Reliabilty the 300 cant be beat, but the 302/351 were very, very solid motors.

I still would keep the 93 though, just for sentimental sake. Buy your dakota or whatever and just use the 150 occasionally...and before long youll end up like any gearhead with 5 vehicles clogging the driveway

 

[Gary DuBois]

If you think your 93 feels big...a 97-03 will feel bigger, and a dakota is probably going to feel bigger then your 93 as well.

Sounds like you would be well suited to a Ranger honestly.

As far as the 351 being the best, you cant go wrong with any of the engines in them years. The 300 was a impossible to kill cockroach workhorse, the 302 pry had the best blend of giddyup and MPG, and the 351 was the best for fun factor and towing.

Reliabilty the 300 cant be beat, but the 302/351 were very, very solid motors.

I still would keep the 93 though, just for sentimental sake. Buy your dakota or whatever and just use the 150 occasionally...and before long youll end up like any gearhead with 5 vehicles clogging the driveway

Why would a 97-03 f-150 feel bigger ? the 97-03 f-150 rounded body style looks smaller than my 93 obs body style. And the dakota is smaller than the f-150 because its a midsize truck.

I already own a ranger but if i was to get another ranger i would get a 2000 with the 4.0 v6 ohv and 4wd.

how is the older 4.9 300 different than the 4.6 v8, giddyup and go whats different between the 5.8 v8 351 and 5.4 v8 330 and my 93 f-150 is a fun truck and i don't do any towing.

I could keep the f-150 for sentimental sake but i think my dad doesn't want 3 trucks around my dad already owns 5 cars so it would take up to much of our front yard. I don't have a need for a full size f-150 so i will probably get the dakota and then have my 2002 ranger 4.0 v6 fx4 off road and my 2002-2004 dakota 4.7 v8 4wd quad cab i could get $6,000 or high 5's range and then give the cash i get from my f-150 to my dad and then buy the dakota.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Why would a 97-03 f-150 feel bigger ? the 97-03 f-150 rounded body style looks smaller than my 93 obs body style. And the dakota is smaller than the f-150 because its a midsize truck.

I already own a ranger but if i was to get another ranger i would get a 2000 with the 4.0 v6 ohv and 4wd.

how is the older 4.9 300 different than the 4.6 v8, giddyup and go whats different between the 5.8 v8 351 and 5.4 v8 330 and my 93 f-150 is a fun truck and i don't do any towing.

I could keep the f-150 for sentimental sake but i think my dad doesn't want 3 trucks around my dad already owns 5 cars so it would take up to much of our front yard. I don't have a need for a full size f-150 so i will probably get the dakota and then have my 2002 ranger 4.0 v6 fx4 off road and my 2002-2004 dakota 4.7 v8 4wd quad cab i could get $6,000 or high 5's range and then give the cash i get from my f-150 to my dad and then buy the dakota.

Its hard to explain why they feel bigger...but they do. Sit in one youll see what i mean. Same with dakota.

The 300 will outtow a 4.6L all day, but the 4.6 will outrun the 300. It has to do with powerbands and HP vs TQ

The 351 IMO has more "punch" then a 5.4. As in, the feeling you get when you mat the throttle from a stop. The 5.4 is better at passing. The 351 and 5.4 are both reliable. 99-03 5.4's like to blow out spark plugs, the 97-98s dont but they also dont have the power of the 99-03s.

If you want a dakota by all means buy one. But i think youll be let down when compared to your 93. Bluntly the 93 F150 is a better truck.

 

[Gary DuBois]

Its hard to explain why they feel bigger...but they do. Sit in one youll see what i mean. Same with dakota.

The 300 will outtow a 4.6L all day, but the 4.6 will outrun the 300. It has to do with powerbands and HP vs TQ

The 351 IMO has more "punch" then a 5.4. As in, the feeling you get when you mat the throttle from a stop. The 5.4 is better at passing. The 351 and 5.4 are both reliable. 99-03 5.4's like to blow out spark plugs, the 97-98s dont but they also dont have the power of the 99-03s.

If you want a dakota by all means buy one. But i think youll be let down when compared to your 93. Bluntly the 93 F150 is a better truck.

I seriously think a dodge dakota will feel smaller than my ford f-150 because it is smaller its a midsize truck compared to a full size truck.

How would i be let down when compared to my 93 f-150 ? why do you think the 93 f-150 is a better truck ? and my dad said maybe you would like to get a midsize dakota when i was thinking of buying my next truck but i wanted to get my 2nd ranger that i own now thats in my profile picture.

I decided to get my compact ranger because i like the compact smaller feel and look that my 93 f-150 doesn't have and my first truck in my life i had was my 94 ranger 4.0 v6 2wd.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I seriously think a dodge dakota will feel smaller than my ford f-150 because it is smaller its a midsize truck compared to a full size truck.

How would i be let down when compared to my 93 f-150 ? why do you think the 93 f-150 is a better truck ? and my dad said maybe you would like to get a midsize dakota when i was thinking of buying my next truck but i wanted to get my 2nd ranger that i own now thats in my profile picture.

I decided to get my compact ranger because i like the compact smaller feel and look that my 93 f-150 doesn't have and my first truck in my life i had was my 94 ranger 4.0 v6 2wd.

Like i said go sit in one and youll see. Its not that the dakota IS bigger, just FEELS like its the same size. Due to the way its designed.

The F150 will be more reliable, haul more, tow more, be cheaper/Eaiser to fix, and really not lose anything comfort wise to the dakota.

 

[Gary DuBois]

Like i said go sit in one and youll see. Its not that the dakota IS bigger, just FEELS like its the same size. Due to the way its designed.

The F150 will be more reliable, haul more, tow more, be cheaper/Eaiser to fix, and really not lose anything comfort wise to the dakota.

I will go sit in a 2000-2004 dodge dakota quad cab 4.7 v8 4wd sometime i never tow or haul anything and wouldn't the F150 be more expensive/harder to fix because its full size.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I will go sit in a 2000-2004 dodge dakota quad cab 4.7 v8 4wd sometime i never tow or haul anything and wouldn't the F150 be more expensive/harder to fix because its full size.

No. The F150 is simpler, and since they sold so many and so many are still around parts are cheaper.

 

[Gary DuBois]

No. The F150 is simpler, and since they sold so many and so many are still around parts are cheaper.

No. The F150 is simpler, and since they sold so many and so many are still around parts are cheaper.

Do you wish ford would of made a midsize truck in the 1993-2003 years

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Do you wish ford would of made a midsize truck in the 1993-2003 years

The ranger is considered midsized by that time

 

[Gary DuBois]

The ranger is considered midsized by that time

The ranger is a compact truck until 2011/ the newer rangers are considered as midsize

 

[2011Supercab]

The ranger is a compact truck until 2011/ the newer rangers are considered as midsize

The Ford Ranger has always been considered a midsize.

The Ford Courier was a compact

 

[Gary DuBois]

The Ford Ranger has always been considered a midsize.

The Ford Courier was a compact

1983-1992 Ford Ranger: The beginning of Ford's compact pickup truck. The Ford Ranger's story in the US started with its debut for the 1983 model year where the compact pickup truck replaced the Mazda-built Courier in the Blue Oval lineup.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Your truck looked clean and nice in your f-150s prime but im not a black exterior truck type of guy.

what did you like about your 5.4 v8's power - mileage - ride and handling ?

Ride/handling was fine, my '16 is better.

5.4 wasn't a speed machine but was adequate. It made a lot of torque at low rpm and was beautiful for towing. I wish I could get an engine with the bottom end of my 5.4 and the top end of my 5.0.

You should of got a supercrew 02 f-150 i don't care for the 2016 f-150's body style and look. how did you like driving at 73mph and to go along with your never missed a beat statement i have one its ford the best never rest.

I thought about it. Even looked into getting a clean one with a bad engine/trans to make one of two.

The problem was I couldn't find a worthy candidate. Really had to find one any cleaner than what I had. Also they only had the 5.5' bed which is kinda too small for my camper (designed for a 7' bed) My '16 is a crew cab longbed.

The Aluminium Falcon

I have had my old '02 F-150 dang near forever. It has been my faithful steed for 17 years and I have put 175k miles on it (had 25k when I got it) Still a darn good truck but with the whole family thing the Supercab isn't really working out super well. Vehicle market in general is wonky so I...

www.therangerstation.com

I actually had a dream last week I somehow found a 7 lug (heavy duty) 03 crew cab with a longbed and was going to sell my '16

They never made a 7 lug supercrew or the super crew longbed until '06

It would run faster empty of course (shut off at around 100mph) but with a 1984 camper strapped in the back I didn't want to push things too hard. It was close to hitting the wall for speed with the big brick in the back. Ran and handled fine but I had to get over to pass semis a bit earlier than normal because it would start to get a wiggle in the back from their turbulence.

Im thinking of getting a midsize 2000 to 2004 dodge dakota quad cab 4.7 v8 4wd because i have never owned a dodge truck and i like the smaller look and feel than the f-150 and i have owned 3 f-150's. What are your thoughts on the dodge dakota ? and the dodge dakotas 4.7 v8 ? i don't want to get the 3.9 v6 because i think its to small for that midsize dakota and the 5.9 v8 should of been left in the full size ram 1500. I don't need a full size f-150 but it would be fun to own a supercrew 5.4 v8 4wd 02-03.

Never really been around a Dakota. I drive them occasionally at work and they don't really feel much of any bigger than a Ranger. 4.7... kind of mixed reviews but I suppose if they are still going by now they must be a good one.

The problem with buying this vintage of vehicle for a dd (and another reason I didn't seek out a 99-03 too hard) is upkeep. I took good care of my '02 and it showed. Brakes, suspension etc, if it needed it got it. Trans flush, oil change every 5k, I tried to baby it.

Most trucks are not maintained to that level as they age. So if you just run out and buy one that tugs on your heart strings you could walk into a bunch of catching up. Brakes are shot, balljoints, tie rods etc. Oh wait, now the trans has five neutrals...

I knew what I had and I knew what had was probably better than most trucks similar vintage for sale... which makes trading it for a equal at best unknown kind of a tough pill to swallow.

We actually have a halfway decent looking 4.7 Dakota at work waiting to go to salvage. 5 speed truck which is kind of cool but the trans makes gawd awful noises, teardown/full diag exceed what the kid just paid for the truck let alone any parts/repairs. Trans fluid was full of metal and t-case had no fluid in it all.