Hi all, the is my first post. I just bought a 96 Ext Cab 4x4 Dakota with 5spd and v6. Before this truck, I had a 2001 Dakota quad cab 4x4 with leather and really loved the seats. I did a search but didn't come up with too much. Can the seats out of a 97-04 fit in the dakota (width) and how would I install them. Im assuming some sort of bracket or drilling would be necessary. Second, anyone out there know what the factory tow rating is for my truck? Lastly, is there an adapter that plugs in under the dash like in my 2001 for a trailer brake control hook up? Thanks!

 

The Jumper harness for your trailer brakes are in your glove compartment.
Trailer Life
Your stock towing rating is 2,000 pounds.
Consumer Guide
Sorry, I'm not sure about the seats.

 

I am buying the truck used so there is nothing in the dash. Everything that I see for the brake control wiring is for 97 and newer dakotas. I know how to hook them up without the pigtail- it just makes life a lot easier. As far as the tow capacity, im assuming the 2000 pound rating is for a 4 cyl? I have the 3.9 v6 with 5 spd manual.

 

My tow rating is 2,000. I have a '96 V8.
And that is for a hitch. The tongue rating is only about 500.
I don't use the brake hookup, because, legally, I only need to run lights, and I haven't needed to tow anything that has trailer brakes that I know of.

 

i own a 92 dakota and wanted to do the same thing with the seats. unfortunately, they do not match to the bolting pattern in the first gen truck. what i did was go to a junkyard and located a first gen with buckets. they were a direct bolt in and are a real nice riding seat.

 

Just so everyone knows, the tow rating on the bumper is 2000 pounds but with a class 3 hitch on the back according to the GCWR and the original window sticker, for a 3.9 5 speed I can tow up to 4100 pounds. I plan on doing a lot more than that!

 

I put a 40/20/40 split bench in mine and every hole but the 2 outside front holes had to be re-drilled. I just put the original studs back into the original holes to close them up! Don't worry though it wasn't as bad as it sounds!!! I got mine outta an 01 Dakota from my local junkyard. The newer model is a little bit narrower but not so much you can tell when you're behind the wheel. On the 2 outer front mounts you'll have to cut your carpet and there are 2 rectangle holes there. These are openings to a big hollow hump that our seats are mounted on. I got those bolts with the spring seperators on them that you hold together, stick through the hole and the spread creating a backing to pull on when the bolt is tightened. The only other thing is that the two front inside mounts had to be bent toward the center hump. I'll take some pics of everything this weekend and post once I get Roxio CD fixed on my computer.

 

What are you towing that you need trailer brakes on? My 96 can pull a 22 foot cuddy cabin boat just fine, but when it comes to stopping or trying to actully move quickly. it does not do so good. These trucks were not really made for towing anything that heavy just to let you know.

 

I have actually already installed a class 3 hitch and a brake control in the truck. So far in the month that I have owned it, I have pulled 4 trailers that weighed over 5000 pounds, 2 empty skid steer trailers that weighed around 2000 pounds and a boat that was 4000 pounds. I have to say, the truck has exceeded my expectations and gets pretty good mileage for the amt of weight behind it. I towed a car on a dual axle flatbed for 200 miles and got 15.5 mpg!

 

Seats from a Daytona and Lebaron are a direct bolt in. They have the added benefit of being fold forward seats as well. Just unbolt the seat rails and install the ones of your stock seats. I put Lebaron leather buckets in my 92, which had the split bench in it. Now working on adapting a GenIII console once I get a good deal on one.

Be careful when selecting one though. I found a set of power seats, but the power rack will not transfer over. It might be possible to fab up some spacers and brackets to make it fit, but I lack the equipment to do so. The recline function is also powered, but you have to remove the motor assembly in order to use the Dakota rails. I have not looked into making abracket for that specific motor yet, but I think it could be done without too much trouble.