Will It Fit

I am getting ready to buy a truck. Will a Commando fit in the back of a Dodge Dakota pick up with a 6.5 foot bed?

Thanks.

Steve

steveyacht said:

I am getting ready to buy a truck. Will a Commando fit in the back of a Dodge Dakota pick up with a 6.5 foot bed?

Thanks.

Steve

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Tailgate up or down?

I have a F-150 with a 5 1/2 foot bed, it fits diagonally easy, so 6 1/2 will be perfect.

My combat

bwolfie said:

My combat

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Wow! Did hobot take his shotgun to your front rotor?

No, T.C. at sunset motors did.

swooshdave said:

steveyacht said:

I am getting ready to buy a truck. Will a Commando fit in the back of a Dodge Dakota pick up with a 6.5 foot bed?

Thanks.

Steve

Click to expand...

Tailgate up or down?

Click to expand...

Tailgate up, for when I head to Vermont in July!!!

I am getting ready to buy a truck. Will a Commando fit in the back of a Dodge Dakota pick up with a 6.5 foot bed?

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Why a Dodge Dakota? I have some real nightmare stories about my Dodge Durango.

It seems to have fallen over .

My combat
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It's just napping.

As for Dodge horror stories, I have a few maintainance problems encountered on the ones I work on, 2 2002 ram 1500's among them. Transmission problems galore (auto) and an engine ECU that commits suicide, among other things. And hope the heater core goes, the dash comes out for that one.

I know all manufactures have their problems, but I can't get over the weak transmissions.

My 2 cents is to get the vehicle you want and a trailer. I have a Kendon, one person loading, stands up to store in front of car in garage. Much easier on you and safer for the bike. You can pull one with about any type of vehicle, so doesn't limit what you want to take on a trip.

I know all manufactures have their problems, but I can't get over the weak transmissions.

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Every Dakota/Durango owner I know has had to replace the tranny, at least once. Mine gave it up at 75,000 miles.

Oh ya', heater core. Just did that sucker. What a bitch. Ask me about the one hidden nut that keeps you from removing the heater core/evaporator assembly.

Here's a list of replacements on my 2000 Durango in less than 100,000 miles:

rear differential
transmission
AC compressor (twice)
AC hoses
radiator (twice)
rack and pinion
fan relay stuck and burnt up the box
radio
water pump (twice)
heater core
power window regulator

Not to mention 13mpg.

I'd like to give Dodge all the free advertising I can.

actually the transmission is not all that weak. the one thing that will make it fail for sure is dodge in there infanant wisdom put a one way check valve in the trans cooler line ( sound familiar) and when it fails it will loose all lube to the gear train. the fix is to REMOVE THE CHECK VALVE ( again i will not use a anti sump valve ) so IF your tranny shop knows what they are doing it can be made reliable after all it is just an old torqueflite with an overdrive added in the extinction housing. 35+ years doing transmission's.

bwolfie said:

Transmission problems galore (auto)

I know all manufactures have their problems, but I can't get over the weak transmissions.

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Bill,

Since I'm completely ignorant about automatic trannies, what's with the check valve? Why was it used? A wet sumping issue?

htown16 said:

My 2 cents is to get the vehicle you want and a trailer. I have a Kendon, one person loading, stands up to store in front of car in garage. Much easier on you and safer for the bike. You can pull one with about any type of vehicle, so doesn't limit what you want to take on a trip.

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Totally agree!

Pickups for hauling motorcycles never made sense to me. Unless I had a ditch to load or unload from it was always a struggle using a pickup with a bike of any size. I don't remember the brand name, but the trailer that squats to the ground looks like the way to go.

That is a Baxley trailer, they are NICE but bring your wallet!!

Vince

I agree, a trailer is the way to go, but I've been dreaming about building a ramp with an electric wench up front on the bed of the Dakota to pull the bike up there. I think it would be cool and I wouldn't have to borrow the neighbor's trailer.

Only trouble I've had with my 03 Dakota is the mice eating the backup light wires and the evap lines to the gas tank. Been fine to me, but not great gas mileage, but that's not why I bought a 4.7 semi-hemi 4wd, 17mpg.

I think the Commando may fit in the 6.5' bed diagonally, but if you leave the gate down and have a front wheel chock, ties and ramp?

Dave
69S

it was kinda sorta a wet sump issue. the torque converter can drain back and will not want to move till it get's charged again and in more of there genius it will not charge in park. the after market has a fix for this problem also. A competent shop can make it a VERY GOOD transmission.

JimC said:

Bill,

Since I'm completely ignorant about automatic trannies, what's with the check valve? Why was it used? A wet sumping issue?

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JimC said:

I am getting ready to buy a truck. Will a Commando fit in the back of a Dodge Dakota pick up with a 6.5 foot bed?

Click to expand...

Why a Dodge Dakota? I have some real nightmare stories about my Dodge Durango.

Click to expand...

After over 30 years in the automobile business, from being a prep guy, to sales, to sales manager, to service manager to general manager to every thing in between, I can tell you horror stories about everything on or off the road. Don't care who made it or where it was made.

I am fairly sure that I will buy this Dakota for several reasons:

1) 1999 Dakota R/T, original owner, 42,000 miles.
2) Has been serviced at our shop since it had 11,000 miles on it.
3) All service records are available.
4) Tires, Brakes, Ball Joints, Belts, Tune etc all done within the last 5,000 miles.
5) When I say Immaculate, I mean IMMACULATE. Ran my hand over the rear differential and, Nothing. He won't drive it in the Rain.
6) Well under $10,000, and I do mean WELL UNDER. Not much other that Junque out there in this price range.
7) The Blue is nearly a perfect match for my FireFlake Royal Blue Norton.
8) Gas Mileage SUCKS, but at between 5,000 and 7,000 miles per year, I don't care.
9) Has complete towing package if I decide to trailer or pull a camper.
10) Sounds really cool with that 5.9 litre breathing through the K&N Cold air induction he has on it.
11) Club cab to haul my guns, targets and other crap to the range.
12) Not to mention other positive aspects.


Now if I wanted to ad $10,000 to $15,000 to my budget I would get a small SUV or Crossover. But, I don't want to spend that much.

Are you going to be loading your beloved Norton into the truck alone, or will you have help? Drop your precious Norton and you will ruin your whole day, your bike, and possibly your body. If you are doing it alone, think about a trailer. They are lower, can be detached so you can use the vehicle, and don't need tune-ups.

i once owned a toyota :roll: