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MikeC
Dodge Dakota
6/11/2001
13:47:05
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 Subject: What's Dodge doing?
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Message:
I love my Dakota. But what is going on with the new Dodge products? 1999 was the last year you could get a suspension lift for your Dakota. 2000 and beyond will be short changed on hight since the new lifts will not go higher than 3" most likely. 2002 RAM 1500's will incorporate the same IFS and rack and pinion steering changes. (luckily the 2500 and 3500 will still have solid front axles for another year, but what fun will one of those be in the woods. If I wanted something that road and steared like a mini-van, I would have bought one!). We dont all buy our trucks for the same reason, but this board speaks well for the many of us who want to do some off-roading in something other than a Jeep but are limited to just a handful of mods for offroading, and 32 inch tires. It does not seem that Dodge's direction is the same as ours. Weaker parts and more places to break do not make for a tuck that can be put to full use. Are smaller engines, more street geared vehicles the influence of stricter government regulations, or does Dodge just not want to make a real offroad machine? I'm a little pissed, but I just hate to think that I bought the wrong thing. It looks nice, but damn, don't turn them into minivans.
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Hawkeye
Dakota Enthusiast
6/11/2001
15:30:57
|  RE: What's Dodge doing?
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I agree Mike. I dont take my truck rock crawling in the mountains of moab every week but I would like it to be able to stand up to some decent off road use. Unfortunately I think a lot of it ahs the do with the government sticking its nose into things. You know that it is our fault that those of us who drive these big heavy strong 4x4's destroys the little flimsy plastic car that japs in front of us or runs the stoplight or stop sign. It is our fault that that our trucks out weigh them by so much and that they are bad drivers. Etc etc etc. I wish dearly that a simple realiable strong 4x4 would be made by a maunfacturer that can handle off road use and still be a decent daily driver and family hauler. I thought that dodge was really on to that with the Quad cab Daks. But as you said they seem to be moving away from that idea more everyday on the Daks as well as their other trucks.
'00 QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
Jet Power
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MikeC
Dodge Dakota
6/11/2001
16:18:35
|  RE: What's Dodge doing?
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Yeah, I hear ya. Maybe the frustration is that there isn't an all-in-one vehicle that wil do what we want. Rock-crawl (Jeeps) and carry lots o' stuff (trucks). I picked the Dakota because it was small(er) than a full size truck which is good for fittin thru tough spots you can't go over in a full-size, and because it had a meaner engine than what's in the Toy's and Rangers. It also simply looked the darn best. I guess as a paying customer to Dodge, I wold like to see them put a little more in rather than take more out. Still a damn good truck...
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Hawkeye
Dakota Enthusiast
6/11/2001
20:39:36
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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Message:
My thoughts exactly. I still love my Dak.
'00 QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
Jet Power
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Ryan Kane
Dodge Dakota
6/12/2001
02:23:03
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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I have IFS in my truck, and I can go just about anywhere I want to. You do not need a straight axle to go offroading. Not at all. I have plenty of lift, the right 31" tires, and good suspension to go places and get into tight spots and go uphills and do things that lots of trucks cannot. Crawling over rocks is not the only offroading activity there is. Let the Jeeps have that, as that doesnt interest me much at all.
As with any vehicle, you need to take your stock vehicle and make it what you want it to become. I took a used 1" lowered truck and turned it into a nice lifted 4x4 rig that takes me anywhere I want. Sometimes I have to add some weight in the bed, centered over the tires, and I can go just about anywhere. But that is the nature of any truck.
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Hawkeye
Dakota Enthusiast
6/12/2001
06:48:03
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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Message:
Thats exactly what we are saying. No one said you needed a solid front axle. Every 4x4 I have owned, all 6 of them, since I was 16, have been a form of IFS and all have been stock except for a few minor mods to the engine and such. I live in Florida so no rocks here to climb on even if I wanted to. We just dont like Dodge changing things on the trucks just for technology's sake and to make the trucks more car like. If the yuppies want a car, then let them buy a car but dont change the trucks to be more car like just to apppease some people. But, a vehicle that could do all types of off roading without having to put a lot of money into it on changes would be very nice.
'00 QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
Jet Power
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MikeC
Dodge Dakota
6/12/2001
09:34:35
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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Message:
Yep. This whole thing has been a learning experience for me since this was my first truck and I am quite pleased with it. I have a friend who is a Jeeper and there just seems to be so mouch more made for them and they don't look like they will ever change in style or functionality. I just hope that after 15 years or so of Dak's, they would give more stock options and keep them trail worthy. This just started as a small vent...perhaps the right place to send it all is to Dodge. The trouble with big companies is that if they don't see an immediate market need or do not have a new technology that will take a bite out of the competition, they just won't build it. I personally think there are plenty of people out there who would love to see a truck they could easily and inexpensively customize and go head to head with serious offroaders. Dodge's bread and butter is their Magnum engines and great looks...now they need to finish the job.
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Ryan Kane
Dodge Dakota
6/13/2001
01:40:30
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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I can see what you are saying. You guys have made a valid arguement and well stated. If you notice the trend, however, most newer vehicles coming out seem to be aiming at where the big market is = the street crowds that don't offroad much. Even Jeep has recognized this market demand, and is doing away with the Cherokee's for some lame crap-looking "Jeep Liberty". This is the first time Jeep is going with an IFS system, too. I'm sure since that appears to be the big market, that is also where the money is. Like all other manufacturers, Dodge has to make a run at that market to stay in business.
But, maybe a good idea would be to make a killer offroad package for the Dakota. Sorta like the Dodge Ram Offroadster package. They could send it out with a stock 2" suspension lift, 31" tires, LSD in the rear, Bilstein shocks, cool offroad bumpers and lights, and stuff like that. This would allow them to continue in their current roads and allow a market to exist for us who have dirt on our minds! Geez! Half of the upgrades would be completed! I think that would be a nice way to continue to make everyone happy, or atleast as much as possible.
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Hawkeye
Dakota Enthusiast
6/13/2001
06:49:19
|  RE: What's Dodge doing?
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That would be a nice start. Only thing I would do differently than what you mentioned would be to have at least 32's on it. I have 32's on mine stock with no lift if it was 2 inches higher it would look a little funny with 31's on it. A 3inch lift lets you put 33's and thats about perfect to me. 33's are all I have ever run so my current 32's are a bit of a change for me. Cant wait until Rancho gets their 3inch lift out later this year.
'00 QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
Jet Power
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MikeC
Dodge Dakota
6/13/2001
09:07:10
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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Message:
That sounds like a good alternative Ryan. A package would be the cheapest way for them to do it. Or someone else..hehe. Hmm..maybe we need an off-road-tweaks.com.
MikeC
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Dan Gruber
Gen III
6/21/2001
21:05:04
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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Somebody up the thread here hit it on the nose about Dodge simply building for the market. But if Dodge really wants to sell a vehicle, here's what they need to make:
Body: 4 Door Dakota-sized
Engine: a twin-turbo Viper V-10 would do nicely
4WD system: liftable, lowerable, solid axle design
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Interior: just like a 300M
Handling: Porsche Turbo territory
Ride: Driver selectable for Lexus-mode or Ram 2500 mode
Towing: 10,000 pounds should do it
Mileage: VW Diesel
Price: like a base Neon
Am I asking for too much? Are you listening Dodge?
Dan
2000 CC SLT 4.7 4X4 Auto 3.55 LSD
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Hawkeye
Dakota Enthusiast
6/21/2001
21:18:33
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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Dan, Dont put ideas like that into my head, It only gets me to wishing for something I know will never come about!!!! HeHe!! :-)
'00 QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
32x11.50 BFG AT's
Jet Power
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Mopar fellow
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/02/2003
17:24:15
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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What Dodge should be doing, is making a Off-Road package for he Dakota and Durango.
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Z71
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/03/2003
03:50:37
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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I thought the Dodge offroad package was called a Jeep.
I think the last thing DC will do is become their own biggest competitor again like back in the Dodge versus Plymouth days. And they certainly won't make an offroad vehicle to chop away at Jeep sales.
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R / aysTRUCK
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/05/2003
09:00:55
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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Message:
What they should be doing is making a 2004 Dakota R/T HEMI!
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R / aysTRUCK
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/05/2003
18:14:33
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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Also,what in the heck have they done to the engine compartment on the 03 R/T? I can'even find a performance air filter that fits, not even from K&N !
Anybody out there who can help?
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STS
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/11/2008
13:35:50
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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Message:
I agree with Mike. The softer you make a suspension the less cabable it is off-road. Just how man Lincoln Mark LT pickups do you see out in the dirt?
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psssst
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/11/2008
19:30:11
| RE: What's Dodge doing?
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Message:
hey dum dum
check the date next time
its not likely Mike will be responding to your dumbazz
considering THE POST IS OVER 4 YEARS OLD!!!!!
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