I have always liked this style of second generation Dakota. Mine, with the 4.7L V8, 5-speed auto and 4WD, I believe is the best. I felt that this type of truck would be perfect to pull our camping trailer (we call it “the summer home”) and to help around the yard. I saw this particular Dakota on a used car lot with 78K original miles, and it was love at first sight. It needed work: a new headliner, dents removed, peeling clear coat paint, brakes, tires and front end parts. Where some would look and see too much work, I saw potential.

To make it a better tow vehicle, it now has 4.56 gears, rebuilt 9.25 rear LSD and front differential, Mag-Hytec differential cover and transmission pan, temperature gauges for the transmission and rear, JBA stainless headers, MagnaFlow free flow exhaust, free flow air filter, 12-hole 24-pound fuel injectors, fuel rail heat wrap, SOS high voltage coils, a 68MM throttle body, a relocated IAT sensor, and programming upgrade to the CPU. In addition, an electronic trailer brake was added, the factory class-4 hitch was replaced with a newer hitch, an add-a-leaf was inserted into the rear spring pack, 1500/2500 1st generation flip-up tow mirrors were adapted and slotted and cross drilled rotors help with the stopping. This Dakota was also fitted from the factory with all the heavy duty options available at that time.

The Dakota now has 105,000 miles on the clock. Approximately 10,000 miles were accumulated by towing our 6000-pound summer home from New Jersey to Florida, and towing a 14-foot, dual-axle enclosed trailer loaded with personal goods, including an upright piano and organ, to my daughter’s new home in Idaho. To make our trips more enjoyable, a 2500 watt inverter was installed, along with sliding sun visors from a Jeep Liberty and a complete sound system with Bluetooth and back up camera along with sound deadening applied to the floors and doors.

To help me with the work around the house, I installed a 7.5 Western poly blade plow assembly from a Dodge 1500 and a removable shortbed dump insert.

I finally addressed the paint this summer by replacing the green peeling paint with white, creating a two tone truck. It is still a work in progress. I also wanted something to make the truck stand out further, so I graphed on 49/50 Dodge Ram hood ornament.

Winning first place (peer judged, and I was by myself so there was no ballet box stuffing) in the stock Dakota class at the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals told me I was going in the right direction.

With the help of LMC, I plan on keeping my Dakota on the road for a long time.

Al