Recent content by mattcrouch1502

I grew up in a machine shop and I am a welder and equipment mechanic. It's is a undertaking but I still feel like it's less work than repairing the rotted frame under the Dakota. Only time will really tell though!

Been slow going with family but was able to get a little done. I adjusted front axle in the wheel opening because at full bump the wheel was a little far forward. With the wheel past full bump there is no rubbing from lock to lock except right at lock where the rear inside of the tire rubs the...

My sons baseball season ended so we will have more time to get stuff done on the truck. We had a little free time and he was itching to do something so we got the passenger side coil bucket swapped out. We were also able to hack together a temporary steering shaft coupling the Dakota column to...

A flatbed is on the table, I just have to figure out what my son want. I have a ton of ideas but I want to leave a majority of things up to him. He is very visual so we have been looking at ideas to get an idea. At one point I had an idea of building a flatbed and then having bed sides that...

Was a super busy baseball weekend but my son wanted to get something done, so we got the rear tires mounted up. I also got a chance to look into rear suspension options. The idea of running a Dakota 6.5' bed means the rear axle may need to move forward some. At some point ford started welding...

I'm not sure why but I have always like the 2nd gen Dodges, especially the Dakota! He is having a blast, he wants to get it on the road ASAP. My goal is by his 16th birthday in June 2026... I remember that one! There was a several cool Dakota's that got build by the magazines back in the...

If you are a Dodge/Dakota purest this might not be the build for you, just a warning. Back story: June of 2014 my oldest son had saved some cash and we picked up a 2001 Dakota as a project for his first truck. He wanted to lift it and put bigger tires on it to go wheeling and camping. For a...

A little update, I did some work on the box in preparation for a short camping trip with my youngest son. I started by decking the floor and using insulation board and then decking the front wall, I also installed the window a/c unit, puck lights in the celing, and building a quick bed frame...

That's a clean setup! I installed a hitch pin locking system for the same reason, I don't want to loose body parts because there is a ton of tension in those springs! I had to have the tire mounted when I installed the rack and springs because there is too much tension to lower the rack without...

The wheel and tire weight about 425#, I would put the weight of wheel, tire and tubing supported by the springs is about 475#. The amount of effort to lift it is not terrible, it doesn't lift itself but my 135# 14 year old son can raise it. Obviously a lighter wheel and tire combo would be...

Been a crazy year, I had a turbo go bad and had the input shaft and counter shaft blew up in the transmission. I have come up with most of a plan for how I want to layout the box and that project will start soon. I have just finished my current attempt at a heavy duty spare tire carrier, It is...

I know it's a old thread but I know I hate a thread with no closure! What I came up with was a fold down style mount that uses trailer ramp springs. Ocnce down or up the gate is pinned in place. These springs make lowering and raising the tire easy enough, only downside is it would be difficult...

Thanks! Its a lot of fun, I am really looking forward to getting the box sorted out for camping and getting some trips in!

So it has been a while since I updated but for the most part I have been driving the truck and working out little bugs. I ended up installing bigger lift rear springs to get rid of the sag in the rear that I had, while I was at it I replaced the rear main eye hanger. Over the last six months I...

Thanks man! I am looking forward to driving it and getting the inside of the box setup for camping!