Dodge truck

[MrMopar64]

Hi Guys
I'm look'n to buy a Dodge truck.... '96 to 2000
(of corse I'd like a new one but thats not in the budget)  
Dakota or Ram but I do want a v6 and prefer a automatic
Are there any years or motors I should stay away from?
Alot of them I've seen are pushing 150,000 which seems like alot of miles to me
The only person I know with one has 140,000 and he claims it still running great with no problems

TIA
MM64  

[SKR8PN]

They all used the 3.9 V-6 in that year range.
VERY Good engine....transmissions weren't TO bad   But my truck is a stick  They ALL had A/c problems.......a  few had rear differential problems....... a few have trans trouble.
Best maintenance advise I can give you is to CHANGE THE TRANNY FLUID!!!

Oh ya..and mine has 120,000 on it and is still running great.

[58 Yeoman]

My GF has a 98 Chrysler Cirrus with the 2.5 V6, has 212000 miles on it with the original spark plugs in it.  I"M not changing em....have to remove the intake for three of them.  It just blew its' 3rd heat blower bypass resistor. ??

[Inprimer]

They all used the 3.9 V-6 in that year range.
VERY Good engine....transmissions weren't TO bad   But my truck is a stick  They ALL had A/c problems.......a  few had rear differential problems....... a few have trans trouble.
Best maintenance advise I can give you is to CHANGE THE TRANNY FLUID!!!

Oh ya..and mine has 120,000 on it and is still running great.

I've owned 5 Dodges over the last 15 years,  2 Rams  3 Dakotas. One thing about the 3.9 not too fuel efficient IMO, I got ok  milage with a 99 4X4  318,  now I have an 05 Dakota  3.7/ 6sp I.ve been cross country 3x AZ to NY pulling a trailer 2  times. The rear is a 2.68, not exactly great for a trailer but the 6 sp helps . Its somewhat slooow  up & down hills  esp with a trailer, best milage was 22 with a trailer worst 13/14 in a headwind that  was unreal. Depends what you want. IMO  the 8 is a better choise .The 6 is lathargic unless you wind it over 3500 RPM My 92 Dakota was a 3.9 and at the time mi difference  with a 3.9 vs 5.2 was about 1 mi per gal on the highway I was sorry I did'nt buy the 318 at that time. I change oil every 3k and 30 k on a 1 yr old truck with NO PROBLEMS is fine for me Good luck

[rumrumm]

I finally figured out why I have such a hankerin' for a Dodge truck. Man, those guys at Daimler Chrysler are sneaky!

[40]

Oh my God....That's funny!

[tonto1]

FWIW I have an '02 Dakota pickup with the 4.7 V-8 and AT. Has about 45K miles and no problems yet except an O2 sensor.
In talking to people with the V6, I get almost the same gas mileage as they do. ~18mpg locally. Highway only is ~20

[MrMopar64]

Well guys I bought a 2001 Ram quad cab 5.2 v8 auto 40,000 mi  
Very clean truck...... Hope I have as good of luck as you others have
Thanks to everyone for the info

MM64