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View Full Version : Dodge Dakota sturdiness



Wrider
Mon Jan 2nd, 2012, 03:36 PM
Well yesterday I got to test the sturdiness of the 01 Dakota I owned. Didn't mean to test it, but I thought I'd report the results with you guys.

Engine revved unexpectedly in a downhill off-camber corner on a dirt road, and I almost managed to save it after the rear tires broke loose, but overcorrected, went off of the dirt road, onto the soft shoulder, and down a 4 foot embankment. Rolled the truck with a buddy and myself inside of it. We're both perfectly fine, quite literally out of there without a scratch. He has a bruise, I have a sore neck/shoulders.

The truck went over once, landed back on it's wheels against some small trees, and was still revving to high hell when we stopped, still wanted to move too, but I shut it off immediately.

Anyway, A, B, and C pillars were bent on both sides, but no more than 2 inches at most, the roof metal was crushed in, but the protective arches definitely did their job. Amazingly, both doors still worked and we were able to get out without a problem. Back quarter glass on both sides shattered, back drivers glass and sliding glass shattered, and passenger window shattered. Windshield was cracked and spidered.

The craziest part to me is that even after being pulled sideways and up a 4 foot 80 degree embankment, everything underneath was just fine. Wheels were straight and true, tires still inflated, even the alignment still looked good. No broken suspension/drivetrain pieces to report.

And yes, I managed to have the frame of mind to grab a picture...

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab49/Wrider/Cars/DakotaEdited.jpg

TinkerinWstuff
Mon Jan 2nd, 2012, 03:54 PM
was gonna say "pics or it didn't happen...."

glad you're ok

owned one of those myself. Aside from poor mileage and torque convertors that don't hold up, it's a great midsize truck

Yodannyc
Mon Jan 2nd, 2012, 03:55 PM
Wow. Good to hear your ok! makes me feel better about my truck. Same 01 dakota. They are great trucks. I have no complaints about mine other then ball joints being crappy with a lift and big tires does not help though. Im glad you both are ok

vort3xr6
Mon Jan 2nd, 2012, 04:33 PM
Wow. Good to hear your ok! makes me feel better about my truck. Same 01 dakota. They are great trucks. I have no complaints about mine other then ball joints being crappy with a lift and big tires does not help though. Im glad you both are ok

Want a truck box for it!? :eyebrows:

But seriously, glad you are okay man. Accidents are rough stuff.

Wrider
Mon Jan 2nd, 2012, 04:59 PM
Thanks guys. And yup, I replaced the ball joints around a year ago, and they held up just fine. Mileage was low to mid teens in the city, got up to around 20 on the highway.

Truck definitely held up a lot better than I expected, the worst of it is a bruised hip on the passenger, and sore shoulders for me.

As far as the torque converter/tranny issues, why do you think I shopped so hard to find myself a manual??? lol

TinkerinWstuff
Mon Jan 2nd, 2012, 05:42 PM
As far as the torque converter/tranny issues, why do you think I shopped so hard to find myself a manual??? lol

:headbang:

Wrider
Sat Jan 7th, 2012, 03:22 PM
Now with more pictorials!

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab49/Wrider/Cars/Dakota/m_100_1467.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab49/Wrider/Cars/Dakota/m_100_1468.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab49/Wrider/Cars/Dakota/m_100_1469.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab49/Wrider/Cars/Dakota/m_100_1470.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab49/Wrider/Cars/Dakota/m_100_1471.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab49/Wrider/Cars/Dakota/m_100_1472.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab49/Wrider/Cars/Dakota/m_100_1473.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab49/Wrider/Cars/Dakota/m_100_1474.jpg

Kristian
Sun Jan 8th, 2012, 08:43 AM
Hope you have insurance, looks like it could be "totalled".

~Barn~
Sun Jan 8th, 2012, 09:19 AM
Damn. Glad your friend and yourself are doing okay.

Jmetz
Sun Jan 8th, 2012, 10:26 AM
That'll buff right out.

derekm
Sun Jan 8th, 2012, 10:43 AM
1-glad you & pal are ok
2- <<<<<<<<will NEVER buy another dodge product

JonnyD
Sun Jan 8th, 2012, 11:46 AM
I've got an '00 quad cab (manual!) and it's been awesome! I had a guy turn into me on Colorado Blvd south of I-25, I drove off after replacing a tire in the Dakota. They stretched the frame (B pillar) and it's been pretty good since. This thing is a tank. Other than the 15mpg part anyway...

Glad you walked away with minimal injuries!

Wrider
Sun Jan 8th, 2012, 02:30 PM
Hope you have insurance, looks like it could be "totalled".

Oh yeah it's totaled for sure. I've already gotten the paperwork and the insurance hasn't even seen it yet.


Damn. Glad your friend and yourself are doing okay.

Thanks, me too.


That'll buff right out.

What's life without elbow grease, right?


1-glad you & pal are ok
2- <<<<<<<<will NEVER buy another dodge product

Thanks, and FWIW they're finally turning around after using shitty electronics and drivetrain parts for so long... The bean counters finally realized that it may be cheaper to make it that way, but it costs more in terms of lost customers!


I've got an '00 quad cab (manual!) and it's been awesome! I had a guy turn into me on Colorado Blvd south of I-25, I drove off after replacing a tire in the Dakota. They stretched the frame (B pillar) and it's been pretty good since. This thing is a tank. Other than the 15mpg part anyway...

Glad you walked away with minimal injuries!

I agree on the 15 MPG part... lol And manuals FTW! Took me 3 months to find the combination I wanted in this truck... Manual, 4x4, V8, 4.7, under 100K, extended cab...

Wrider
Thu Jan 26th, 2012, 01:44 PM
Looks like I should have been driving a 2012 Frontier instead...
Saw this on TV the other day and damn near died laughing at it, especially the legal warning on the bottom of the screen.
Nissan Frontier Barrel Roll (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95bpVJJlI6s&feature=related)

mdub
Thu Jan 26th, 2012, 01:48 PM
<<<<<<<<will NEVER buy another dodge product

agree.

Yes. I want to go to Nissan cause of that..... Nope.