This week’s Muddy Monday feature takes a look at a 2nd gen Dakota as it digs its way through a trench of thick, nearly black mud. While the majority of our featured offroading vehicles are powered by big, beefy American V8s – this little Dakota is powered by a V6. Best of all, this Dakota shows us what kind of difference having 4WD can make in a seriously muddy situation.
During the first portion of the video, the V6 powered Dodge Dakota shown digging through the thick mud is doing so with only rear wheel drive. The truck does surprisingly well for itself while spinning only two wheels and he is even able to back up and get another run but to no avail. Fortunately, before the video comes to an end, the driver switches into 4WD and we can see what a huge difference than makes as the Dakota effortlessly pulls up out of the dark mud. Considering how easily this Dakota climbed out of the slop in 4WD, he was probably attempting to cross the pit in 2WD because full traction obviously made it too easy but in doing so; he did a fine job of slinging plenty of mud onto the sides of his bright white Dakota.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
