A Wheelchair Dudes Dodge Dakota build

1leg

Explorer
It does well in hard pack and on the Road, but when you get in any kind of sand you come to a complete stop. Dirt hills are a problem too. There is not enough weight on the front wheel to get traction. My plan is to put some road wheels and tires on it and lighten it up a little. I just don’t have the money yet to do it. Need 3 650 clincher wheels,
As for seating, it’s fine. I’m very comfortable in it.

I have not had the chain fall off. YET!!!
 

1speed

Explorer
It does well in hard pack and on the Road, but when you get in any kind of sand you come to a complete stop. Dirt hills are a problem too. There is not enough weight on the front wheel to get traction.

I wonder if you could adapt a Surly Pugsley fork and run the Large Marge rims and Endomorph 3.7 tires. http://www.surlybikes.com/pugsley.html I have a buddy that rides his Pugsley through everything! Including sugar sand. Here's a video of the psycho... I mean my friend.:elkgrin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rUaWj6Xk70
 

ExpoMike

Well-known member
Nice rig. Never understood why more people didn't use the Dakota as an ExPo platform. For a number of years, it was the only "large" midsize truck, which gave you more room but not as big as a full size rig. Add that you could get different V8's too, was an added bonus. I enjoyed my Quad Cab 2002 Dak but it was only 2WD.

My dad has a mint condition '97 Club Cab 4x4 with the 5.2. Rides nice, tows well and he has kept it in the garage so the paint is like new. He's only got 60,000 miles on it and I keep trying to get him to use it more offroad. Oh well.

Keep posting pics as you finish the bumper.
 

The Adam Blaster

Expedition Leader
Nice rig. Never understood why more people didn't use the Dakota as an ExPo platform.

There is little aftermarket support for these vehicles. (Same model years with the Durango, they share the same drivetrain.)

I used to have a 2000 Dakota, now I have a 2002 Durango that I bought last year with only 31,500 km on the clock. :D :D :D

I'm having trouble finding wheels to fit the ridiculous bolt pattern - 6 on 4.5.
The only vehicles that have that bolt pattern are the Daks/Durs, the Viper, and I believe the new Frontier also.
But the offset is different for the Frontier, so the wheels have to be built differently to fit the Nissan vs. the Dodges.

Bumpers are hard to come by, I can't find an auxillary gas tank to mount under/between the frame rails, no snorkel kit, etc. etc...

I really like the older model Daks/Durs for their looks, the powerful engines, the space (not too big, not too small) and the ability to run (with a bit of rubbing mind you) 32x11.5R15's right from the factory.

And if I could get the above items for my Durango, I would probably keep it for 10+ years and use it as my primary expo rig.
Unfortunately, that's not the case, so I'm not going to spend too much time modifying this one because I'll just have to get another truck in a year or two.
 

ExpoMike

Well-known member
That's kind of what I mean. The aftermarket will build what people are willing to want and actually buy. Since it seems like not many people were trying to build up Dakota and Durango's, the aftermarket never really got started. I know there was some stuff for lowering Dak's but not much in the offroad area.

Too bad.
 

corbin8or

Adventurer
I have been frustrated about not finding stuff fr my rig but things are slowly changing. I think some manufacturers are sarting to see the demand. Forums help a lot!!
I've got some cool things going on my truck that some people are watching so lets hope for more stuff in the future.
BTW right now I am making everything that is on my truck.
 

proto

Adventurer
On the other hand, when someone sees a nicely turned out expedition rig based on a Durango, they know a lot of thought, effort, and crafting went into it.
 

02TahoeMD

Explorer
On the other hand, when someone sees a nicely turned out expedition rig based on a Durango, they know a lot of thought, effort, and crafting went into it.

X2! I have had to modify stuff made for Toyotas to fit my Tahoe since no one else makes the things I want for it....I applaud your efforts in your build, will be watching. :coffee:Keep up the good work.
 

corbin8or

Adventurer
went to the steel yard today and decided to redesign after thinking about some things at the yard. Next week I will make a cardboard mock-up.
We are out at the AZ Game and Fish Expo this weekend. come say hi!!
 

corbin8or

Adventurer
started mock up of rear bumper. cut the main piece out of cardboard and sized it up. side pieces tomorrow and pictures...
 

The Adam Blaster

Expedition Leader
Corbin, as you are making your own bumpers, keep all the measurements if you are at all interesting in marketing these to the rest of the Dakota and Durango owners out there.
There very well might be a market for a heavy-duty rear bumper with a tire carrier. :D
 

corbin8or

Adventurer
well pictures come a little slower these days as my olympus SW1030 was stolen out of my truck a few weeks back. well I actually cut the shape out yesterday with the help of Buddy Rice, the plasma cutter was behind his cherry '57 chevy. I cut out the radius of the corners and then came home to start setting it up.
here are pictures of that... I have started thinking about modifying the design to removing the tailgate and making a new tube gate/tire carrier.
I think I can get almost 5 galons of air tank out of this design too that has yet to be decided on... more to comehttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YDXhh31KNvA/SdaBQyJ9doI/AAAAAAAAADM/9BXeThJb5Xg/s1600-h/rear+bumper+002.jpg
 
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