A hard-working truck, one that has a strong engine and ample payload, is just what you need. You also want a truck that’s reliable and can pull at least some weight. If that sounds good, the 2005 Dodge Dakota SLT may be the right truck for you.
What does the 2005 Dodge Dakota SLT have to offer?
Designed to be a good-looking, but hard-working truck, it features either a 3.7L V6 or 4.7L V8 engine, up to 3,900 pounds of towing capacity, and up to 1,722 pounds of payload capacity in four total configurations.
That’s a small bit of information on a big truck with numerous options for drivers to choose from across each configuration. We’ll take a closer look at these options and what you can expect. You’ll also want to check out all of the specs on the 2005 Dodge Dakota SLT at Vehicle History.
Explore the Options and Find the Right Vehicle
The 2005 Dodge Dakota SLT is the mid-range trim option for the lineup for this year. The base trim is the ST, and the third tier, the highest, is the Laramie. All three are high-quality trucks. Each is also available as a 4×2 club cab, 4×2 quad cab, 4×4 club cab, and a 4×4 quad cab.
Here’s a walk-around video showcasing the truck and some of its key features:
Let’s take a closer look at some of the key features based on the 4×4 club cab. This truck seats up to five people pretty comfortably. The interior has ample room with enough space in the back for adults.
It features a 3.7L V6 engine as the base option. That engine is a six-speed manual with overdrive. It gets 210 horsepower and 235 lbs.-ft. of torque. This four-wheel-drive vehicle has a towing capacity of 3,900 pounds and a payload capacity of up to 1,550 pounds. That’s a solid truck.
Owners can decide to upgrade to the 4.7L V8 engine. That gets 230 horsepower and 290 lb-ft. Yet another option, a 4.7L V8, gets 250 horsepower and 300 lbs.-ft. of torque with an optional sequential MPI.
The base model engine does offer some key upgradable features, including a multi-speed automatic transmission, full-time four-wheel drive, and transmission electronic control. There’s plenty to choose from in transmission options overall, including a four-speed automatic, five-speed multi-speed automatic, and a six-speed manual.
When it comes to fuel economy, the 3.7L engine gets 15 city and 20 highway for a combined 17 miles per gallon by EPA estimates. The 4.7L engine is a bit worse at 16 combined miles per gallon.
When it comes to overall safety, the 2005 Dodge Dakota SLT performed about average for its classification. That’s before the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offered an overall safety rating.
This vehicle also has seven recalls, as of October of 2020. Those include mostly simple problems related to the airbags and exterior lighting. There’s also a concern with the automatic transmission in some vehicles. Overall, the truck is a solid performer that’s maintained its value well over the years.
What about What’s Inside?
One nice feature about the Dakota SLT is that, as the mid-trim option, you do get access to a lot of optional upgrades, though it would be nice if some were already standard. That includes leather interior over the current cloth material.
The vehicle also offered an optional power height adjustable driver’s seat, driver and passenger heated cushions, and a power driver cushion tilt feature. The interior offers a 40-40 jump seat. Overall, it’s comfortable enough for most to fit in but does leave limited legroom in the back.
Upfront, you have a six-disc CD changer that’s remote CD compatible. An optional upgrade includes the steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, a radio data system, and wireless phone connectivity. You can also upgrade to six Infinity speakers and Sirius AM/FM Satellite radio.
Remember, too, that the 2005 Dodge Dakota SLT is also available in the smaller club cab, which reduces the overall interior size significantly.
How Does it Compare to Other Trims?
The Dakota SLT is a solid option. The Laramie features the same engine options overall. It offers more of the interior features as standard, including the leather seat trim and steering wheel audio controls. It’s a bit nicer overall but isn’t a significant upgrade.
The lower-end model, the ST, still has the same configurations and engine options with a few less interior features and limited transmission options. Again, it’s a reliable vehicle overall.
Is the 2005 Dodge Dakota SLT the Right Vehicle for Your Needs?
Chances are good you’re impressed with the durability of this truck and its overall performance. It’s not a flash truck by today’s standards, but it can pull that small trailer and get that payload where it needs to go with ease.
One of the best ways to check out a vehicle’s quality is to ask owners what they think. You can do that when you check out the 2005 Dodge Dakota SLT’s Vehicle History.
