dereksbicycles

I'm interested in a 1997-2000 Dodge Dakota, 1996-2000 Dodge Ram, and 1997-2000 F150/F250. I'm more interested in long bed for my bike business. I have had a lot of bad lucks with Ford E150/E250/E350 vans so no more of this. I also saw a lot of Ram Maxi 15 passenger vans on side of road so I don't want one of those either.

I'm interested mostly in your experience of owning one of those or if you knew people who owned those rigs(Dakota, F series, or Ram pick ups). I have read consumer report and reviews on them. I'm more of looking for personal experience, you know.

Deafness

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

diehardbiker

I have 2006 F-250 Harley Edition Powerstroke TurboDiesel, and I have owned it for a year already and I love it! It keeps stroking without any issues. I have not had single regret traded with my old Jeep Wrangler. Jeep Wrangler is good, but the problem is it can't haul much, can't have my family in it and haul anything like my truck can. I can bring my whole family, yet can haul anything I want.

Problem is, it is NOT cheap to own it.

I personally will NEVER own GM mini truck. They aren't as good as it used to be during 80's

Just haul firewood without any issues, and Im going haul more for myself and my friends.

I don't think brand really matters. From what I see now is that who built them. Some years they got bad team which result poor quality vehicles and other years they got great team ended up great vehicle so, it is hard to predict which will come out good or lemon.

DHB

__________________
J-MAC's quote: "People who try and fail are more superior than people who don't try at all"

"If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as the souls who live under tyranny."
Thomas Jefferson (1778)

Avatar picture is Cape Hatteras light house in OBX.

dereksbicycles

Thank you very much. I wish I would afford a 2006, but I cannot. That is why I am looking at 1997-2000 models.

mods, please move this to auto section, not sports section. Thanks.

diehardbiker

Then stay away from GM mini trucks, they are just plain junk. I had Chevy and GMC S series truck, both has issue with engine and tranny. WTF? Friend of mine had great experience with Ford Ranger, and that was 90's model.

I was very impressed with Frontier on how it handles off road very well. Im not sure about the quality itself.

About Dakota, I never own one and I wouldn't recommend Dakota for off road because doing so will cause intensive damage to 4 wheel drive. I witness done. I m not sure about quality of that Dakota. I got mixed feedback on this one as well.

Again, I believe that it has nothing to do with Make/model. It has to do with who build these vehicles.

__________________
J-MAC's quote: "People who try and fail are more superior than people who don't try at all"

"If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as the souls who live under tyranny."
Thomas Jefferson (1778)

Avatar picture is Cape Hatteras light house in OBX.

~SG~

Done.

__________________

dereksbicycles

What I really want is a vehicle that has a lot of room and I can put a lot of bikes in it. I had thought about a 15 passenger Dodge Ram Maxi van from late 1990s. However, my f riend told me that they have a lot of transmission problem and is pretty $$ to fix. That is why I thought F150/F250 would be an ideal candidate.

Not worried about 4x4 or off roading stuffs. Would be nice to have 4wd for winter, but not needed.

tigersharkdude

How bout a Ford Transit Connect? They can be found used for around 10-12k
+++++2010 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT---XL----VERY GOOD CONDITION+++++

__________________

dereksbicycles

I really wish I had this much to spend, but I have like $2K, 2.5K to spend.

SilentRider

Have u thought about buying whichever truck you feel comfortable in, and just buy a trailer to haul the.bikes? I bought a 5x10 trailer and transport 4 adult dirt.bikes comfortably .. they go from small to large sizes. I bought the enclosed one so I wouldn't need to unload the bikes and store when done.. but while shopping for one, saw many types and just an idea.

__________________

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

SilentRider

If u bought a used open trailer 6x12 I saw them for 500 to 1k on Craigslist so if the vehicle has a tow hitch. Ur good to go.

__________________

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Milwaukee

Why you hate E150-E350?

We had them in Fleet with 60K to 300K miles. Mostly are cause fault by people who abused and not maintain.


I prefer F150 with 5.4L NO NO 4.2L V6 it worst engine.

dereksbicycles

I had few mid 1990s E 150-E350 vans and they broke down on me. The 1989 E150 van was good, but the newer ones all broke down on me.

The Highlander

What kind of engine? how often you change a spark plug, ATF, motor oil, and fuel filter?

__________________
"There are a lot of people that don’t like this software. It is because they don’t understand how to use the software and don’t realize it’s potential."

deafsmogtech

I believe they are 5.0L, 5.8L and 7.5L, all OHV engines, few problems, change spark plugs at approx 30K, ATF at annual or bi-annual, motor oil at 3K and fuel filter at bi-annual.

Milwaukee

What poster say 90's

It could be 1990-1999?

They had 4.2L V6, 4.9L 6 inline, 5.0L V8, 5.4L V8, 5.8L V8, 6.8L V10, 6.9L V8 diesel, 7.3L V8 diesel, and 7.5L V8

dereksbicycles

That is why I don't want Ford van any more. Too much headache for me.

Tonight, I went out and bought a 1998 Ram with v6.

Dodge : Ram 1500 | eBay

Paid $1800 for it.

Issue is that the heat does not get hot. It does get warm, but not hot. Someone told me that it may be thermostat issue. Heat do blow fine, but not always hot. It is slow to get hot.

dereksbicycles

I am not sure how to back up trailer. I have tried and I am not good with backing up a trailer. It was fun driving with trailer, but a pain in the butt to back it up.

deafsmogtech

Yes, I forget about 4.9L 6 in-line. My tired brain. I think the last 5.0L OHV V8 engine production was in 2002 or 2003. I can't recall other Ford OHV engines.

deafsmogtech

Good. 3.9L OHV V6 I think. Good motor/tranny. I think your gamble on used truck is right choice. Good luck.

dereksbicycles

Thank you. I am not looking to haul. I need something big enough to carry bikes. I don't need v8 to carry bikes. That is why I went for v6. I'm glad that you like my choice. I've heard that 1998 is a good year for Dodge Ram. I hope it holds true with my new rig.

SilentRider

The trick is to put ur hand on bottom of steering wheel, and when u move ur hand right that's same direction trailer follows. Vice versa move left it turns left.. this is while backing up.. takes a little practice on parking lot and can do..

__________________

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

deafsmogtech

Sorry I forget to reply to your heater issue. It should be T-stat (short word for thermostat) or heater control valve or broken blend door. Diagnostic Tip:
Put your hand on the heater hoses at the firewall ( CAUTION.. HOT HEATER HOSES), like touch with your finger on the hose to make sure the hose is not hot. Felt both heater hoses.... If both hot hoses you may have HVAC problem like broken blend door or bad electric blend door actuator motor. Hope that help. Dst

dereksbicycles

While running or when not running?

dereksbicycles

A lot of practice!!!

SilentRider

Rofl it was cheaper for me to get a trailer for my dirt bikes and keep the suv, than buying a nice full flatbed truck. Plus I can leave the bikes in and it becomes a lil garage shedding. And when free just hook up and go! took me a couple days and got used to it.. I do admit it helps if u visualize where it gonna go.. where ur gonna park ahead of time.. but does the job.

__________________

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

deafsmogtech

while running

dereksbicycles

Had it running 5 minutes. Did not get hot hoses.

deafsmogtech

Umm, I print out Heater System Diagnosis soon when I finish a engine swap. I ll be late work untill abt 7pm. I may have free time abt 9 pm or so. I think it is T-Stat problem. Dst

Milwaukee

Try drive for 10 mins then check. There will be 2 hoses to cab's firewall. hoses look to be 1" thick. Do you see that?


Here important leave truck cool down before open radiator cap. DON'T OPEN if engine hot it will push pressure. Look at coolant what color do you see.

Green, brown, yellow, black, clay, and sludge?

TXgolfer

NV....Just saw post 19

__________________
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:21


Sometimes at night, I see their faces. I feel the traces they've left on my soul