On the gas mileage:
In stock form, the 3.9 is too underpowered for the Gen 3 CC's for that amount of weight of our trucks. The 5.2 would put out about the same mileage as the 3.9 would in the CC models. The 4.7 will get even better. Here's some tips (as some have also mentioned):
If you haven't already, put in some form of Cold-air intake with a K&N filter. Air flow is VERY restricted on these engines in stock form. When I bought my '97 CC SLT 5.2L with 53K miles on it, I would get a best of 16.5MPG. That was doing about 70mph. I put in a cold-air intake system, and I would now get 18.5 on the hwy. Putting on a performance Computer and exhaust system also got me up to about 19.5MPG hwy. Tonneau cover didn't help any that I have noticed, but I think it might help on the acceleration, but hard to tell.
Rear end bouncing around - well, that's a truck for ya. Some handle better than others, but as someone else said, get better suspension. I still use the factory suspension, and mine does bounce around a little bit, but just keep steering like normal, and it'll fall right back into line (wanna have real fun?? Go around a tight corner, doing 35mph, and hit some REALLY bouncy railroad tricks in the middle... that'll wake ya up!!!). Most dakotas have the suspension of a full size to have the heavy payload, but are 500+ lbs lighter then a small full-size (1500, etc).
Ken Allgood
97 CC SLT 5.2L
>
> From: james.zito@ps.ge.com
> Date: 2003/07/25 Fri PM 12:56:39 EDT
> To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
> Subject: DML: Design flaws or just things I am noticing since this is my first
> MOPAR?
>
>
> OK have been mostly lurking for a while but I guess it's time to ask some
> questions.
>
> Vehicle 2003 Dakota Club Cab 2WD V-6, purchased in Jan has almost 11k on the
> clock.
>
> a. Although the AC does blow cold it feels like there is almost no air
> coming out of the outboard driver's side vent, the other 3 vents blow LARGE
> volumes of air.
>
> 2. The truck handles very badly when traversing lumpy roads. It nearly
> went sideways when I took the 287 exit of 95 south. The bumps seem to
> override my steering input. This is the only vehicle I have driven that has
> this behavior.
>
> iii. The mileage is terrible. Best tank of gas was 20 mpg doing 80 on
> cruise control on the NJ turnpike. Generally getting 16-17 mpg lately has
> dropped to about 15mpg. Is this just because the truck is set up to operate
> about 500 rpm under the torque peak? Or is the engine just that
> underpowered for the weight of the truck.
>
> Jim
> no cute signature line yet
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Feb 06 2004 - 11:46:39 EST