2wd Durango Thoughts?
 

So we bought a 2000 2wd Durango (not for the mpg, but we liked the ride and build quality, and we'll be needing more seats soon) but I think this could be a fun challenge, or just frustrating, So tell me what you think about this:

First, an air-dam made of 4" garden trimming
Second, Airtabs or some sort of vortex generators
Third, some sort of flare to keep air from hitting the front tires (they stick out a bit)
Fourth, a plastic body-pan thing underneath most of the vehicle
Fifth, Lowering (maybe 2 rear and 1 front?)

I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with these SUVs, because at first glance, they don't seem to be the least aerodynamically efficient vehicles, and yet the MPGs is terrible! So I wonder if I can hope for any gains at all with aero mods, or if I should just go with something more ambitious like:

Sixth: Engine swap (maybe a 3.3 or 3.9 cummins, with the right drivetrain)

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

You'll be lucky to see more than 18mpg. Your best mods will be aero.

Is it a V8 or V6? I wouldn't bother too much with vortex generators (or do a search here for discussions on them). The air dam up front, and tire spats are a great place to start. For lowering, it likely will help, but if you're aiming just to save money, it probably won't be worth it, because the cost will take way too long to pay for itself in savings. However if you want to do it for looks or anything else, then it's all up to you.

Do you do a lot of city or highway driving? I would also recommend an ultragauge or scanguage, to get real time feedback of fuel economy.

I don't know what trim line you ended up with or what else you plan on doing with it, but a more efficient final ratio may be available.

EPA estimates your SUV to get 15 combined. If you increase by 50% Which, is doable by avoiding the brakes, slowing down a bit, and making sure your tires are inflated, you are still only getting 22mpg.

fuel economy readout is very key

If mileage is a concern there may be more suitable vehicles.

If it is the 4.7l removing the clutch fan helped my Dakota as long as it has a electric fan for the AC.

What does this offer that a 20 mpg minivan doesn't?

The old durango was v8 standard, and if im not mistaken that year was either the 318/5.2 or the 360/5.9. You should be able to do a wai.

If it has the 318 or 360, good luck.

To answer quickly first look in old threads as myself and 2 others have fought this battle already on a few fronts.
Second for the guy who said why not just get the mini van It has a whole style aspect unavailible to all but the new Honda van that I think is a strangely sexy car.???
Dont expect a miracle here as this is a gas sucking pig, well mine is at least.
But its soo fun to drive! FYI ive got the Dakota R/T
The 4 cyl sport truck guys ive spoken with clim mid 30 mpg.
mabe you could drop in one.

which engine do you have?(4.7,5.2,5.9)

well at least you didn't get the 4x4 version my brother has. I have airtabs on my jeep; they cost me 40km per tank last summer when i put them on, though they do increase my coasting distance/speed; i think.

ps. if you have a luggage rack remove it

Good luck. I agree with PaleMalenesian, you'd be much better off starting with a vehicle built for the utility you want it for rather than a swollen SUV... But, to each their own I suppose.

I love these models. I think there is a lot you can do, but everyone is right...its a pig.

I liked the 1998-2002, before they got weird and gigantic. WAI, grille block, underbody, skinnier&taller tires will do a lot for you.

thanks for the help guys!

its the 5.2

yeah i know i can't expect a miracle, it is a pig. However, it seems to have space of many larger SUVs squeezed into an overall smaller body, which is why i'm optimistic about aero mods. (reason we didnt get a minivan... i dunno, maybe stupid decision :/ but we got it now, so i'll see if i can get 18-20 before i go and dump the thing.)

If I was the OP, I'd look into getting a taller differential, as well as doing a WAI.

The OP might want to retrofit an electric fan, and chuck his engine fan. I'm using a Jeep Grand Cherokee fan with much success on my 4.7L Quad Cab Dakota.

oh yeah, and we do almost all highway driving (we're in rural wyoming, so its like 1 hour at 55-65mph to just about anywhere)

Did you see the other dodge forum posts? you should have no probblem getting 22mpg if ya read what we have already done.
If you plan to tow haul good luck most big savers are defunct in that manner.
First if it needs tires already then just for the feel of it put largest used rubbers that fit on rear.
Second drive it like you have left your wallet full of cash on the top.
This should get you 16-18+ mpg alone.
The front air dam you plan is too short, need 6+ inches. {8-10 probbably}
Again read whats already been accomplished by others b4, there are several 20+ mpg dakota and durango in archives.
Last dont expect miracles with any dodge magnum or hemi engine these are all grunt engines lowering rpm will help but wont cure it. perhaps there is a cam that will allow timing adjustment and unknown by me fuel savings.

The ability to tow a trailer bigger than a little red wagon and the ability to drive somewhere without a paper bag over your head. :D

SUV's tend to offer better flexability than a minvan but for purely people hauling uses; the van wins.

To the op:
Good luck. The 5.2 is a great engine that will run till there's no more fuel left in the world to feed it but it's not the most thrifty engine ever made. My dad used to have a 2wd Dakota with the 5.2 and a manual (fun truck!) and it would get 22-23mpg on the road with the 3.73 gears that were in it. I'd imagine careful driving with the Durango could net you 20-21 without mods.

Meh, If you picked an SUV because someone might see you in a minivan and demand that you hand in your man card, you've already lost the right to it.

It seems we need a "tongue in cheek" icon here. :D

My biggest gripe is that I get no enjoyment of any sort from driving a minivan. They are EASILY the best option for what they do (people hauling) but they are soul-sucking machines that turn driving into something to be dreaded instead of enjoyed.

:)

That I agree with, it is a very rare minivan that I have enjoyed driving. We rented a dodge caravan not to long ago. My mother was in town, as were my little sis and her kid so we had 6 of us and we decided that we did not want to take two cars everywhere. If I ever need a van, it won't be one of those.

We had a caravan for awhile. It was a great vehicle and drove much better, IMO than any full size truck. RWD trucks are more fun to drive than FWDs when it is slick and you can drift it everywhere. Otherwise, not so much.

I've worked on two different Caravan thingies. One was a 1999 Plymouth Voyager, and one was a 1988 Dodge Caravan.

Knowing that, I'd go with a Durango in a heartbeat, if I had to choose between a Durango and a minivan. They get about the same gas mileage as a minivan (or would, once I got done with them), and they're a lot easier to work on than a minivan. Of course, that's just speculation, as I've never actually worked on a Durango. However, I've worked extensively on my Quad Cab Dakota, and I can't imagine that a Durango would be substantially different.

Right before I got my diesel suburban in 2006 I was away from home doing a work thing, we rented a 2005 or 2006 duango with the V6.
It got 13mpg driving it around town.
Its going to take some work to get it near 20mpg for anything but pure highway driving.

I THINK they got worse. Just adding more weight and garbage to them, making them big and gaudy, combined with a v6 struggling to move it, I would think this one could match and beat it.