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Dunes_NY
Dodge Dakota
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4/01/2007
20:34:35
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 Subject: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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Hello all, I'm thinking of buying a leftover 2006 Dakota with SLT/4WD/4-door options. Is the 3.7 liter engine with manual transmission going to be enough to get around? The truck is probably pushing 4600 lbs and I'm a little worried, though I don't plan on towing much. Thanks.
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little jer
Dodge Dakota
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4/02/2007
00:36:30
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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from reading posts in lots of forums, people in general don't seem to be happy with the smaller v6's. Especially if you have a 4X4 and ever plan on putting on biggeer tires or tow anything.Even though they may be better for mileage, owners seem to rather have power than economy, and since trucks are meant for work you can't blame them.
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Epyon
Dodge Dakota
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4/02/2007
01:52:23
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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Most poeple here including me are talking about the 3.9L being under powered as it was that v6 work horse for these trucks for many years but the 3.7 has more power and more torque
3.9L 175BHP 225TQ
3.7L 210BHP 235TQ
Most likely a good motor but in the end most likely still undered powered. Depends what u do with your truck tho
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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4/02/2007
08:20:20
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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Well, it's all relative. What's underpowered to some is not for others. My brother sold me my Dak. It's a club cab 4x4 3.9L V-6 with 4-speed auto and 3.55 axle. The truck itself weighs 4420 lbs on the scale at the landfill. Gets 20+ mpg highway. He was able to tow a 22' Catalina sailboat cross-country with no problems. No HD radiator or auxiliary cooler, just a 3000 lb frame hitch. That was with about 40K miles on it. Same tranny works fine at 160K miles with no rebuild. Good enough for me.
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DC02
Dodge Dakota
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4/02/2007
10:00:37
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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I agree with Bob. I have a 02 quad cab 4x4 with the 3.9 and it's been fine even towing a small camper. Yes I wish it had a bit more power, but it's done the job.
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red rock
Dodge Dakota
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4/02/2007
11:04:05
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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Have a 04 club with 3.7. Would not get this motor without a manual transmission.
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little jer
Dodge Dakota
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4/02/2007
11:14:18
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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I said people in general, not all. If you read the dakota forums it seems like a lot of people complain about them being underpowered and wanting to stick a 360 in their truck. Bob, your bro must have towed across the plains of Kansas. Can't see towing something like that over a mountain range without problems. lol The 3.7 should work fine for most driving, depending upon your requirements, but may fall flat for any serious off roading.
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STS
Dodge Dakota
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4/02/2007
19:52:33
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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From what I know. Some where I herd this in the grapevine that Mopar is going to replace the 3.7L with a more powerfull 4.0L V6 that produces over 250 HP and about 275ftlbs toruqe.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2007
08:54:22
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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"Bob, your bro must have towed across the plains of Kansas. Can't see towing something like that over a mountain range without problems." Wrong. He went I-10 from FL much of the way, then I-8 over the hills east of San Diego. Those are 6% grades.
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little jer
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2007
21:45:55
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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6% is pretty steep, that's like the grapevine on I-5 near L.A. Hell, I bout overheated towing a utility trailer loaded with my ATC and camping gear going up that and I had a 350 chevy 1/2 ton. Also had the heater on full blast to help disipate heat. I guess it depends on the distance you're going on the grade, gearing and all that.
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jayb
Dodge Dakota
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4/05/2007
10:11:02
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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i think a v6 dakota with the towing package and 3.92's wouldnt have much of a problem towing anything under 5k. some people say its underpowered cause it doesnt throw your head into the seats.
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Ky_man
Dodge Dakota
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4/05/2007
14:50:38
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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Nice drive Bob. I live in San Diego and have been over the desert
hills of the I-8 many times, and when you get going through those,
you just take off the overdrive and go. Especially from the east
going west. So I give props to those with the V6 Dakotas towing
through there. It shows the durability and strength even the V6's
produce. I have a '97 5.2, and I LOVE doing that drive. It's fun.
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calikota
Dodge Dakota
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4/05/2007
20:30:18
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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This is also what I own. It has been under powered during certain offroad situations, however I just put it in low 2nd and never have had a problem. Low 1st is way too much power and have only used it when going down very steep rocky terrain because I didn't want to use my brakes.
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Ian
Dodge Dakota
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4/07/2007
21:31:36
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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I have an 04 quadcab and I've never really worried about being underpowered... in fact I had one of the V8 05's as a rental after a collision, and my girlfriend (who usually pays little attention to cars, BTW) commented on how it seemed to feel gutless compared to my V6 Dakota. It could just be my gears, but the V8 in that truck had NO guts until 3.5k rpm when gettting on the freeway.
I've always thought the 3.7L was a nice little V6. It tows better than the 4.3L I had the Sonoma I owned before this truck. I've towed camper trailers, jetskis, a 19' skiboat, and even another truck on a car trailer once.
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2007
22:24:21
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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The 3.7 L is with-in 5 HP of the 5.2L V8. My Dakota has this 5.2 and does a nice job hauling and pulling. mine is the 4x4 CC 99 model. in fact, my 5.2 well out pull and out run my friends 5.9 ram.
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Joe.C
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2007
17:38:31
|  RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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Well 0Bi03, it might be just 5 HP behind the older 318 Magnums. But, you ever thought about the torque difference between the two? Also the newer 318’s (I guess they were in the ’96 Dakotas?) was 230HP and right at 300ftbls torque.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
4/10/2007
20:36:40
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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Yeah. It does NICE for a V6. But it will NOT do as well, especially towing or doing truck duties.
The torque is a good amount less and I assume probably needing to stay at higher RPM's to maintain what it does have.
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jayb
Dodge Dakota
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4/14/2007
12:57:22
| RE: 3.7 liter under-powered?
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yep. and it isnt within 5hp. my 93 5.2L magnum has 230 hp and 300TQ@3200rpm. the new 3.7 has 210hp and 235TQ@4000rpm. That is way less torque and a significantly higher rpm.
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