Upgraded My Horse Hauler

[Achto 27,565]

Been driving Dodge Dakota's for over 20yrs now. My 4th & latest one has over 265k on the clock & still climbing. With the knowledge that this Dakota won't last for ever, plus the need/want for a bigger truck I finally bit the bullet and up graded to a Ram 1500. It's a 2018 Sport with 31k on the clock and more bells & whistles than any vehicle should have. The 5.7L under the hood gets better fuel mileage and has waaay more power than the 4.7L that is in my Dakota. 

 

A couple pictures of my new financial burden.  

 

So far I am quite happy with my new truck but I'd like to keep the mileage down on it for a while. So with a 70 mile round trip 5 to 6 days a week for work, I'm still pounding the Dakota back & forth for that commute. 

 

[Pullstart 62,838]

At least it’s the right color!

 

Congrats buddy!

[JoeM 7,873]

built for comfort and speed! 

I had one of those old Dakota's, 200k plus 50 when it went by by, anemic v6 but ran and ran, 16mpg loaded or empty.

[Achto 27,565]

1 minute ago, JoeM said:

16mpg loaded or empty

 

Seems to be a Dakota thing, early or later, 4cyl - 8cyl, 2wd or 4wd, all seem to get around 16mpg

[squonk 41,073]

Dakota's always got 15-16 MPG no matter what. The only time they got better was when they were attached to a hook! The good old days. The Friday after T-giving we would clear a space out back for the Dakota's and Power Wagon plow trucks to line up waiting for their new transmissions and rear axles! 

[peter lena 8,614]

@Achto  nice looking unit , be a good time to think about a mineral oil creep in every closed / seamed body area . especially closed doors , door opening / floor seams , fender well lips and tailgate . you can pick up a gallon of mineral  oil , for that , to easily apply with an air compressor  spray wand / etc. inside hood seams , base line thought , the higher you get it , the more space it will cover in the run down . doing that forever , zero rust / rot , frame , suspension , get that oil creep going , don't let rust get started . pete  

[peter lena 8,614]

@Ed Kennell  my son recently picked up a  Mercedes  from his FIL , got a base line service don on it , to verify status , all oils dropped and refilled , new brakes , 2 gallons of mineral oil , creep , and an OPEN GEAR  LUBRICANT OVER SPRAY . also gave the body a mineral oil rub down , made the paint , look fresh , sheds water like a duck . go oily , pete

[ebinmaine 67,441]

2 hours ago, Pullstart said:

 it’s the right color!

 

Congrats buddy!

 

 

 

The Ram ♈ brand has come a loooong way toward better reliability and quality in comparison to the 90s Dodge.  

 

If I was in the market for a later model truck right now it almost certainly be a 🐏 Ram. 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Achto said:

I'm still pounding the Dakota back & forth for that commute. 

Fair idea.  

Likely I'd do the same. 

 

[Pullstart 62,838]

3 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Ram ♈ brand

That looks to me like it might be a uterus emoji 

[953 nut 55,195]

1 hour ago, JoeM said:

16mpg loaded or empty.

 

2 hours ago, Achto said:

he need/want for a bigger truck I finally bit the bullet and up graded to a Ram 1500.

That is a goooood lookin truck,        got to love all the bells and whistles. My wife's SUV is loaded with all the goodies but my 2009 Dakota has AC, automatic transmission and an AM/FM radio, nothing more. 

My 2009 V6 Dakota is my third one and I get about the same 16mpg unless I'm running empty on a long trip, averages about 24 mpg then. First one was a 1987 V6 long bed with a five speed, 15-16 local and about 25 on a trip. After 270K miles I replaced it with a 1996 four cylinder short bed five speed that got 20 mpg local, 30 mpg on a trip but couldn't pull much of a load. At the time I was putting on a lot of longt trip mileage on flat land in Florida and the 30 mpg was great. Once I retired and moved to the mountains the fourbanger was not quite up to the task. Plus it was already well over 200K and starting to cost me some money. The "I've got to have one" part of me would love to get a new truck but the practical side of me knows that the 2009 only has 50K on the odometer and will outlast my need for a truck.

[ebinmaine 67,441]

5 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

That looks to me like it might be a uterus emoji 

Technically it's not but your idea is funny so I'm going with it.  

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

2 hours ago, Achto said:

So with a 70 mile round trip 5 to 6 days a week for work, I'm still pounding the Dakota back & forth for that commute

That’s what I would do…

[WHX?? 48,815]

So when Dan came over yesterday to wrench on the 953 I was on a dump run. I pulled in and just saw a red truck in the driveway. Our buddy Joel has a newer red Dodge so I just thought he came over too. Walked in the house and says where's Joel. He says that my new ride. When you get that I ask. Three weeks ago. F&%$#* holden out on me?!?!

Did sound good when you left last nite...

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

I love the Ram trucks! 
  When I was shopping for a new (used) truck at the end of 2019 it had to be a certified used Ram or a Toyota. I’m not a Ford guy and GM quality has just taken a big dump since like 2014. Stumbled on a Tundra and that’s what I bought. 
  And I love the color 

 

 

[WHX?? 48,815]

2 hours ago, Sparky said:

Ford guy and GM quality has just taken a big dump since like 2014.

Don't know much about Ford's these days other than the aluminum thing but agree on the GM thing Sparky. I do like the Toyotas.

2 hours ago, Sparky said:

And I love the color 

Agreed ther as well. Never cared for a red truck till I became a horseaholic. Too hard to hide in the woods when moonshining...

His is blacked out on the badges and has features my '17 doesn't have. 

[rmaynard 15,436]

That's a good looking truck. I don't think you'll have any horse haulin' problem with that. However, around here (just south of the big show) I see a lot of Rams, old and new, with serious rust problems compared to the GM, Ford, and Toyotas. With your winters up there, do they treat the bodies and frames differently?

[WHX?? 48,815]

They claim the under coating helps Bob but its like putting sugar coating on a turd. Nothin will ever help against the salt they put down up here.

[Achto 27,565]

8 hours ago, rmaynard said:

With your winters up there, do they treat the bodies and frames differently?

 

She'll be getting the greasy Pete oil coating on the under side every 6 months or so..

[Achto 27,565]

13 hours ago, Sparky said:

And I love the color 

 

In our area the main color choices are black, some shade of gray, or white. Wanted some thing that stood out a little more. Second choice would have been lime green.

Edited October 9, 2023 by Achto

[ebinmaine 67,441]

10 hours ago, rmaynard said:

I see a lot of Rams, old and new, with serious rust problems compared to the GM, Ford, and Toyotas. With your winters up there, do they treat the bodies and frames differently?

 

Up here they ALL rust but it's GM that seems more severe. 

 

 

1 hour ago, Achto said:

 

She'll be getting the greasy Pete oil coating on the under side every 6 months or so..

 

That's the best way....

Trina's been using an aerosol spray on her "new" Pilot. 

Likely she'll keep that habit permanently.   

 

[RandyLittrell 3,877]

I loved my Dakota, but really irked me the guys with a bigger truck and motor, got better mileage!!!!

 

 

 

Randy