Your truck?

An older topic, but I thought I would reply to this one instead of making a new one.

1999 Dodge Dakota, 3.9L V-6, 2WD, 5 speed manual transmission. Here's some photos.

My truck at a glance with the 102" whip CB antenna.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...s/P7270025.JPG

400 watt power inverter is awesome. Runs my drill and other electronics that are useful as can be.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...s/P7270014.JPG

Since the power inverter is wired directly to the battery with 10-2 wire, I put a fuse in-line so that if something happens and the leads come loose and touch each other, it'll pop the fuse instead of blowing up my battery.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...s/P7270019.JPG

Supplies I keep behind the seat. Extension cord for use with the power inverter, jumper cables, battery charger, and my old serpentine belt. I replaced it already, but I kept the old one since it wasn't actually broken so if something happens and the new one breaks, I have a spare to get me home with.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...s/P7270022.JPG

My CB radio. I use it just to chit chat and to keep in touch with my wife when I'm around town since it's less distracting than a cell phone.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...s/P7270017.JPG

The bed and my toolbox.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...s/P7270023.JPG

Contents of the toolbox in the bed: Ratchet straps, tow chain, hydraulic jack, 2 jack stands, magnetic tray and can of misc. bolts, extra fluids of all kinds, grease gun, and my tool bag with all of my hand tools including spare fuses.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...s/P7270024.JPG

Jack and 4-way behind the passenger seat under the carpeting.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...s/P7270029.JPG

And that big sexy 3.9L V-6, :P
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...s/P7270031.JPG

2005 Ford F-150, 6.x5x14 Utility Trailer, and a car hauler I just picked up from someone for free as scrap today.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by retro

1999 Dodge Dakota, 3.9L V-6, 2WD, 5 speed manual transmission

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I owned a 1992 Dakota with the 3.9 and the 5 speed. It was 4x4, and a regular cab long bed. My God, what a truck! I've hauled over 2000# in the bed, and it did it better than my true half tons did.

I'm looking into another one. Mine was end-of-life when I got it. Have you towed or hauled anything heavy with yours? If you don't mind, I'd like to hear your thoughts on a Dakota that wasn't almost done with life.

only dakota i have ever had was a 2005 ext cab laramie w/ 4.7 v8, that truck was awesome. i regret ever getting rid of that. one of the few things i wish i would have stopped myself from doing if i could go back and do it again. That truck would pull nearly anything i asked it to.

I have a 2001 Toy Taco with a cap. Bought it new. Has 192,000 on it. Gets 19mph. I have a 6x12 single axle trailer that I have loaded up with more than the truck weighs.
http://4fix.com/mypic.jpg

That's a pic from my business website. I am behind the fat guy in front of the truck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by matador

I owned a 1992 Dakota with the 3.9 and the 5 speed. It was 4x4, and a regular cab long bed. My God, what a truck! I've hauled over 2000# in the bed, and it did it better than my true half tons did.

I'm looking into another one. Mine was end-of-life when I got it. Have you towed or hauled anything heavy with yours? If you don't mind, I'd like to hear your thoughts on a Dakota that wasn't almost done with life.

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Mine was at 200k miles when I got it, and I've hauled ~3000 pounds in it. I regularly pull my 15 foot flatbed with one or two riding mowers on it, and for a V-6 it does really well to have that much weight on the back. It has no problem accelerating on flat ground in 5th gear with 1,500 pounds behind it. You do kind of notice it going up hills, but all in all it does really good for a V-6. The one time I put 3k in it was when I needed gravel for my driveway so I put 3k pounds of gravel in the bed of the truck instead of paying the guy $45 to haul it 2 miles down the road. The engine acted just fine, could hardly tell the weight was back there as far as drag, but the suspension really didn't like it. I guess I really didn't realize just how heavy 3,000 pounds was until the loader started dumping and my bumper just sat lower and lower. Didn't hurt anything though. I also hooked onto the two halves of a car I was junking and dragged them a mile through the creek bed to where my trailer was sitting (trailer wouldn't fit up the creek), as well as a 20 foot long 12"x4" I-beam, loaded the car and the beam up on my trailer and hauled it to the scrap yard. To answer your question, yes, I've hauled a lot of weight with it, relative to the size of the truck anyway.

Anyway. This is my first Chrysler vehicle, and I have been seriously impressed with it. The previous owner was my wife's uncle who used it on construction jobs hauling blacktop and stuff, and they didn't even take care of it that well, so for it to do as good as it does with me after 200,000 miles of abuse is a testament to their durability. I have just tried to do all sorts of preventative maintenance since I've gotten it to keep it alive. I change the oil filter (Mopar filter) and oil (synthetic high mileage) every 3,000 miles, grease the front end and drive shaft and rotate the tires when I change the oil. I flush the transmission once a year before winter and just drained the transmission and re-filled it with full synthetic gear oil. The engine uses a little oil but I have a set of valve seals and valve cover gaskets when I feel like changing it out, it's not bad enough to warrant me screwing with it right now. I'm currently at 211,000 miles with the factory engine, transmission and differential, and when (if) it ever throws a rod or something, I plan to buy another Dodge truck to replace it.

I have a 00 silverado with the seemingly indestructible 5.3. Between 2006 and 11 it went from 70,000 to 296k at an oilfield company. Bought because i thought it had bad oil pressure but it just had a bad gauge. Ran a little rough so changed plugs and wires, may have been original if not changed once with oem acdelcos. Overall putting 2k lbs in it over every couple of weeks and carrying a couple hundred at a time daily. Its been a great little work truck. Also is basically all stock. Currently has 305k and running strong

Alright, while we're on Dodge Dakotas, this was/is my first truck:

1992 Dodge Dakota LE (4x4, 5-Speed, 3.9 V6) What a truck!
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7d3f1423.jpg

This load was a good 2000#
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2c16e102.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1ecff5ab.jpg

See that ugly grey duckling in the background? That's a 1987 Chevrolet R10. It's 2x4, and has the 305/4 Speed Auto combination. That was what the truck looked like when I fixed it. Here's what she looks like today:
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...ps09f99830.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7dc40ecd.jpg

That load of cases scaled at 1260 pounds. I drive the Chevy once or twice a week. The Dakota is on the DL with a cracked transfer case. I think the green and white Oliver paint scheme looks nicer than the "50 shades of grey" theme :D

Been doing some maintenance on the old pickup truck the past week or so. Cleaned and painted my brake drums, flushed fresh antifreeze through the radiator, drained the differential and put in fresh fluid with a new gasket, as well as cleaning and painting the differential cover, drained the transmission and re-filled it with new gear lubricant, and getting ready to bleed fresh brake fluid through all the lines tomorrow. Since I do use it as a work truck, I try to keep it in good working order and take care of it. I figure if I take care of my truck, my truck will take care of me.

Differential fluid drained, cover cleaned and painted, fill plug painted (only on the outside, not the part that goes into the cover)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45...h_P8250123.jpg

Brake drums after the first of two coats of paint.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45...h_P8250108.jpg

Brake drums put back on, and wheel painted flat black to help prevent corrosion/rust from making the drums stick.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45...h_P8250120.jpg

Differential looked good. No metal chunks, no broken teeth, etc.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45...h_P8250106.jpg

And I made a video on how I re-fill the transmission with fresh fluid.
http://youtu.be/HY0ovl4i3Fk

06 GMC Sierra half ton 4x4 reg cab long box. Has the manual windows, locks, and 4x4. A radio and ac. If I may also add... No bench seat but the arm rest that folds down is nice. You know what I mean. Whatever. That's my truck. Got any fuel? I like toe mode. Lol.

I just put a transfer case in my 1992 Dakota.

A little tip for filling the transfer case: Stick a cheap funnel into a section of 1/2 inch hose that runs between the cab and bed. Stick the other end of the hose in the fill plug. It works great! The funnel rests on the cab and bed, and I can pour while standing.

Extended cabs have what might as well be called rumble seats. Extended cabs are most or all of the pickup market now and I've never used the back seats. The space is a toss pile of oil bottles, tiedowns, and other stuff I throw back there. A box in a longer bed could do the same job and leave room for longer or more scrap.

1998 F150 pushing 271,000 mi on origional equipment with missing pipes. This canadian-built truck's a beast!

2002 Chevy Silverado 1500 4x4.

I also have a Harbor Freight 4x8 trailer if needed, but haven't needed it yet. I use it to haul the dirt bikes, but could use it for scrap more than likely.

my truck is such a piece of crap that whenever I go to the yard they ask me how I'm getting home.

just sold my 1992 GMC vandura to my dad 1/2 or 3/4 ton not sure gutted only the 2 front seats remained . had it since 2007 never left me stranded needed it because i used to live in a bad neighborhood other scrappers would steal your scrap and i did not have a garage to park it in. I also just sold my 1987 mazda b2000 to my cousin and now he is scrapping with it burned a ****load of oil for the last 2 years i just took peoples old oil and kept putting it in those engines were built to last but zero power or torque try getting over 60 mph on the highway with a small load lol.I have a 2 year old daughter so the wife made me go out and get my first car payment ever so i bought a 2002 toyota tacoma extended cab with 92000 miles for 8thousand. runs great more power than the mazda but uncomfortable getting my daughter in and out of her carseat. and not as comfortable in the drivers seat compared to my old mazdas i scrap a lot of front and rear clips from my body shop accounts so i needed a 4 cylinder low to the ground with no sides on it. i have had it for a year and will keep it until the wheels fall off and then some. CHICAGO GAS PRICES USUALLY LEAD THE NATION so i knew a 4 cylinder was the best option for me and i have never not gotten the load i needed and when i need the big guns i call my dad he's got a 1 TON VAN AND MY OLD 3/4 TON VAN

sawzawled the corner of my $17 highsides to fit this window guard i found in a dumpster, stoked
http://i.imgur.com/Ww7Msy0.jpg
only problem is it wont stay in place without the high sides, need to figure thazt one out :/
also want to chop the top 6 inches off then dot weld it back onto a flat bar of 1/4in steel to lower wind resistance. get it under the cab light.

high sides are lighter than any cage ive ever seen on anyones truck AND can be removed in seconds, holllla
window guard is ****ing heavy, like 50lbs heavy, lame.

https://scontent-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...c5&oe=55A72F52

load from the other day, 1/2ton of heavy iron and some tin, they gave me 80/20
http://i.imgur.com/JHrOX2u.jpg

i forgot to grab a stove + more from my neighbors that morning, had the tailgate saved and all, :/
highest paying yard in the bay only 1/4mi away, too
tin at $60/ton and iron at $120/ton

headache rack?
http://i.imgur.com/EnqYnf8.jpg
how would i attach this to my truck?
I imagine I could place those little hooks that people screw into the sides of their bed and then tie-wire it to the headache rack - gheeeetttttoooo, haha
BUT I recall hearing if you drill screws into your cab, they will leak
It would be awesome if I could have it be easily removeable so i could loose 50lbs if im doing a week of commuting or a long roadtrip
hmmmm....

Id also like to saw it off 6inches. to a height below the height of the cab. then weld back on a flatbar up there
I figure that those six inches sticking out probably add a lot of wind resistance, loss in fuel economy

2008 Dodge Dakota 3.7 V6 auto 3.55 rear axle 160k odo still average 19-20 mpg 13- heavily loaded 4 tones or more .
best part it is mine paid off in full so its the best truck in the...... world :) (top gear reference )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_4xYgTHVSs