Future Sibling: Ram Dakota Pickup First Look

[BXFXJeep]

Why do these supposed work trucks have purty fragile integrated bumpers, one slight ding, and it's expensive body work.

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[Reflektr]

Why do these manufacturers insist on repeatedly missing the mark by miles?

 

[JeepinJason95]

"...will possibly share a platform with the Wrangler and Gladiator..." It better not, because that thing clearly has IFS.

They can build SFA and IFS variants on the same line, off the same platform. Dodge used to do it with the old 2nd gen Ram 1500 - 2WD models were IFS while 4x4 models had a SFA. RAM and Ford still both do it on their HD trucks where 2WD models are IFS and 4x4 models are SFA. The only difference here would be both 2wd and 4wd Dakotas would be IFS while Gladiator would be SFA. I would be very surprised if they did it any other way.

It is kind of ugly, don't you think?

I can't tell from the pictures if it is supposed to compete with the Ford Maverick or the Ford Ranger. It looks too car like for a "truck" if you ask me.

It's a midsize BOF truck that would compete with the Ranger, Colorado, Taco, and its sister (brother?) the Gladiator.

Ram does have a small unibody truck that would compete well with the Maverick, they just don't offer it in the US (yet?). It's called the Rampage. It looks just like the Dakota (and Ram 1500), but it's smaller and the bed is integrated into the body like the Maverick.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2025-ram-rampage-pickup-truck-first-look

 

[jeepingib]

They can build SFA and IFS variants on the same line, off the same platform. Dodge used to do it with the old 2nd gen Ram 1500 - 2WD models were IFS while 4x4 models had a SFA. RAM and Ford still both do it on their HD trucks where 2WD models are IFS and 4x4 models are SFA. The only difference here would be both 2wd and 4wd Dakotas would be IFS while Gladiator would be SFA. I would be very surprised if they did it any other way.



It's a midsize BOF truck that would compete with the Ranger, Colorado, Taco, and its sister (brother?) the Gladiator.

Ram does have a small unibody truck that would compete well with the Maverick, they just don't offer it in the US (yet?). It's called the Rampage. It looks just like the Dakota (and Ram 1500), but it's smaller and the bed is integrated into the body like the Maverick.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2025-ram-rampage-pickup-truck-first-look

I just loathe the idea of IFS on the same platform even. It is a short stretch of the imagination for them to consider it cost effective to only produce one version.

 

[aeonixx1001]

First looks at production Ram Dakota pickup!

https://www.dakotaforums.com/forum/threads/ram-dakota-pickup-production-version-first-looks.24095/

* you can copy your account to Dakota Forums via your Account Copy Menu

Why dont they throw some more shit on the front end. I do not like the look. I have seen some full size rams that have been lifted with wheels and tires that I thought looked pretty good. But then it comes down to a quality issue. Rams are known for being a POS. Many friends bought them at a good price then couldn't sell them and they all said the same thing " I hate this truck"...I cant say that I have never owned one.

 

[Trout Trekker]

One of many Mopar's I've owned, this was my 1989 Dakota 4X4 3.9L V6 Auto. Now if they'd stop thinking that all pick-ups need four doors & bucket seats and go back to 6.5' and 8' beds including bench seating, I'd gladly buy one.

 

[Heimkehr]

Now if they'd stop thinking that all pick-ups need four doors & bucket seats and go back to 6.5' and 8' beds including bench seating, I'd gladly buy one.

I get what you're saying, but crew cab trucks have for many years now been the proxy for the large, comfortable and capable sedans that have been legislated out of existence due to ever-stricter CAFE regulations. That light trucks were and are very profitable for the OEMs guarantees continuation of the status quo.

Consider, for example, that with the Malibu ending production after 2025, Chevrolet won't offer a single sedan for sale. That's a bit sobering to consider.

 

[Reflektr]

Truck owners: “I would like something rugged and reliable, please.”

Auto Manufacturers: “Here is your jelly-bean with active fuel management and a 9-speed transmission…”

 

[LazyJL]

I owned a 1997 4X4, two-door Dakota with the short bed, the 5.2 V8, and the off-road package..
It was one of my favorite vehicles, being fairly fast and very maneuverable off-road.
With 135,000 miles, I sold it to my brother, who ran it up to about 200,000 miles and then sold it to a friend who now has 265,000 miles. It finally needed a transmission rebuild at 260,000 miles; the 5.2 has never been opened up. They don't build them like they used to.
Sure wish I had kept it, it was much lighter than our Rubicon and would have made a good vehicle to tow behind our motorhome.

 

[2nd 392]

I owned a 1997 4X4, two-door Dakota with the short bed, the 5.2 V8, and the off-road package..
It was one of my favorite vehicles, being fairly fast and very maneuverable off-road.
With 135,000 miles, I sold it to my brother, who ran it up to about 200,000 miles and then sold it to a friend who now has 265,000 miles. It finally needed a transmission rebuild at 260,000 miles; the 5.2 has never been opened up. They don't build them like they used to.
Sure wish I had kept it, it was much lighter than our Rubicon and would have made a good vehicle to tow behind our motorhome.

My son had a 98 Dakota SC SB 318 that was still running good albeit burning a little oil at 328K mi when the trans failed.
An old friend had one of these. ahh- if it only had a V8 I would like to have one

 

[Oncorhynchus]

Looks very much like a Ford Ranger. Durango front end on a mid-size truck would give the segment some much needed character.

 

[NWJeepr]

it’s not like the last generation was a looker, either.

 

[Reflektr]

it’s not like the last generation was a looker, either.

Hey, isn’t that when Fisher Price and Atari teamed up and designed for Dodge?

 

[Steveo]

 

[MayThe4x4BWU]

This is one of those times when the RAM name doesn't fit.

Ram Dakota...
vs
Dodge Dakota...

A friend of mine had a 2001 RT. I think that was the last good looking/performing Dakota

This one...needs to lose a lot of lipstick, pointless pieces from it starting with that "roll bar" garbage on the bed. It's about as horrid on pickups as an angry grille is on a Wrangler

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