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Thread: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

  1. #1
    Senior Member Wrider's Avatar
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    Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    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...


  2. #2
    Senior Member TinkerinWstuff's Avatar
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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    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
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  3. #3
    Member Yodannyc's Avatar
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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    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
    2005 Pure Sex R6

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  4. #4
    Senior Member vort3xr6's Avatar
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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    Quote Originally Posted by Yodannyc View Post
    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!?

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

  5. #5
    Senior Member Wrider's Avatar
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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    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
    Last edited by Wrider; Tue Jan 3rd, 2012 at 12:24 AM.

  6. #6
    Senior Member TinkerinWstuff's Avatar
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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    Quote Originally Posted by Wrider View Post
    As far as the torque converter/tranny issues, why do you think I shopped so hard to find myself a manual??? lol
    1998 VFR800 Interceptor - resurrected and custom tail http://vfrworld.com/forums/5th-gener...98-vfr800.html

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  7. #7
    Senior Member Wrider's Avatar
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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    Now with more pictorials!
















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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    Hope you have insurance, looks like it could be "totalled".

  9. #9
    I'm pumped... Let's let the healing begin! Lifetime Supporter ~Barn~'s Avatar
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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    Damn. Glad your friend and yourself are doing okay.
    ~Brandon~
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  10. #10
    Senior Member Moderator Jmetz's Avatar
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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    That'll buff right out.
    I've got more flavor than a packet of macaroni.

  11. #11
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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

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

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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    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!

  13. #13
    Senior Member Wrider's Avatar
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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    Quote Originally Posted by Kristian View Post
    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.

    Quote Originally Posted by ~Barn~ View Post
    Damn. Glad your friend and yourself are doing okay.
    Thanks, me too.

    Quote Originally Posted by Jmetz View Post
    That'll buff right out.
    What's life without elbow grease, right?

    Quote Originally Posted by derekm View Post
    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!

    Quote Originally Posted by JonnyD View Post
    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...

  14. #14
    Senior Member Wrider's Avatar
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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    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
    Last edited by Wrider; Thu Jan 26th, 2012 at 02:07 PM.

  15. #15
    Senior Member mdub's Avatar
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    Re: Dodge Dakota sturdiness

    <<<<<<<<will NEVER buy another dodge product
    agree.

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

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