The Ram Dakota wants to make sure you get a high level of quality not only out of it’s visual exterior but also from it’s intense performance. It combines an industrial exterior with well rounded capability that brings the best in a midsize pickup. At first glance, you’ll see a chiseled hood that ends in the cross-hair grille signature of Ram trucks. On both ends of the grille are the rectangular headlamps and standard fog lamps. It just gives off the air of a powerful truck that looks like it’s ready to tackle anything the back roads have to throw at you. Want to spice up the look even more, then you can add chrome tubular side steps from Mopar that also have textured stepping surfaces. There’s also the chrome exhaust tip to really give people the impression that your truck means business.
Once the door is opened and you take a gander inside, the first thing that stands out is the seating. Ram wants to make sure that you fall in love at first sight, an easy thing to see with the seat fabric. Available in all sorts of fabrics and colors, from cloth to leather trimmed. No matter the choice, the fabric is engineered to be stain, odor, and anti-static making sure you have the best seating even after time. It seats up to six passengers and the rear bench seats can also fold up to allow for more hauling cargo space.
For the power-train, the Ram Dakota comes with a choice of two engines. With the 4.7 liter V8, it has a high compression ratio with efficient cylinder head port flow. It’s horsepower is 302 and torque is 329 lb-ft. The other available choice is the 3.7 liter Magnum V6 engine. This engine offers electronic throttle control and exhaust gas recirculation that helps to lower emissions. The horsepower this one gives is 210 horsepower and torque is 235 lb-ft. The V8 comes with a 5 speed automatic transmission while the V6 is 4 speed automatic.
The Dakota is a versatile truck meant to appeal both the outdoors man and the causal truck driver. For that person who likes to get off the beaten path and take a jaunt to the Jersey Shore for a boat ride, the Dakota has the best in class maximum towing of up to 7200 lbs. Not enough, well then the Dakota also happens to be the best in class for maximum payload. You can bring your boat and plenty of gear in the back for camping or what not along with you with the truck being able to hold up to 1800 pounds. There’s also a two inch receiver available through Mopar.
The Dakota definitely encourages going off road. Not to worry though, the Dakota is built to handle like a dream. If you’re dealing with snow on the road to Atlantic City, no problem because the Dakota has an available anti-lock brake system to help keep you in control when the road isn’t at it’s best. There’s also an available anti-spin rear differential meant to transfer the torque better to the wheels to keep better traction. The wheel options go from 16 inches to 18 inches. Every wheel is designed to be both stylish and efficient, like the Dakota itself.
Safety is a major factor in the Dakota, with just as much effort put into keeping you and anyone tagging along for the ride as was into the design of the truck. All the handling options keep the Dakota on the road during the harshest of weather, be it snow or rain. Also included for protection is the multistage airbags for the driver and front passenger. They compliment the supplemental side curtain airbags that give an extra layer of security to the two rows of seating. The trucks frame design includes crush zones to absorb energy. All this combines to ensure that you’re safe at all times.
