Oh also, shrp, in 2001 was the first year for the major D overhaul so the 98 and 00 were the same. So just to end this disagreement here I went to my dodge dealer and asked them the total factory stock height for a 98 D and an 03 D, they pulled out a specs. book and it said this:
The lenght for 98-00 is 193.3 (4,910 mm) and for 01-03 is 193.5 in (4,910 mm)
The width for 98-00 is 71.5 in (1,820 mm) and for 01-03 is 71.3 in (1,810 mm)
And finally the one we've all been waiting for, the height for 98-00 is 72.9 in (1,850 mm) and for 01-03 is 70.0 in (1,780 mm)

Good call josh, that would have never occured to me the newer revision was actually lowered almost 3 inches. The only thing the service center manager (or book I should say) couldn't tell me was whether or not it was the body that was lowered or the chassis because he was even unaware of the height change too. If I had to guess I'd say it was the actual cabin that was redesigned and lowered a bit because I've noticed the newer windows look much shorter than the older model ones. Anyone who has access to both models, take some measurements on the body to confirm.

 

well looks like i was right shrp! lol My 'someone" source was reliable indeed. well the dealer confirms this now.

but that is a good question. i think what changed was the body height. since the did a whole interior revision than it makes sense the body height changed rather than the chassis height.

thats my thought on it.

 

1), i guess techinically you could, but the size and weight of the durango would NOT be happy towing much more than the factory rated them for, ask hydra, he did it for a number of years.

2) yes josh, it seems you were right, but i would still like to see these numbers for myself and i cannot seem to find them anywhere (i havnt given up yet tho) and lastly

3)the front suspension height is the same as per the alignment instructions, so it much have been a change in the headroom somehow, but it still stands that i have a friend w/ a 98 which, when parked next to my 02 is the same height . . . and my truck rides at the stock height

i also wonder if those dimensions for height are with the roof rack bars on, allpar states for the 98

 

The t/s bars sag as time passes, my front is 2 inches lower than my rear and I never adjusted anything...yet. I'm going to do the shackle lift this summer, should be good times.

 

i believe the front was lower than the rear to begin with (not to the same extreme as the dakota p/u that its based off of) and when the profile heights are the same parked next to each other, i doubt they were any different to begin with. i really think all they did was change the measure point for the height, im just not home to check my roof rack height versus roof height atm, next time im home ill be sure to measure

 

Idk shrp, i've always noticed the older years to be the same height as me after my lift. but i think it is a body height that changed. well oh well not really a big deal.

 

not a big deal, but its driving me nuts now, and it just seems odd to me that the height difference is exactly the same as the height added by the roof racks dont you think?

 

Well hate to get picky here, but the height difference is off .2 inches from the model difference in the book and having no roof racks. No doubt about it that the 98-00 bodys have a more bigger and mean looking stance than the newer 01-03, can't describe it though, you can just tell a older model from a newer one if you've been around both enough. We just need to take measurements on the body panels and windows of an older and newer model to see where the difference is, or the service manuals both tell you measurements of everything in the body section. I just can't rely on any measurements from mine since it's been rolled over a few times and beat to death, everything is probably way off.

 

Hey evon, if i didn't know you had an older durango i could sure guess it! lol thats twice you've mentioned the older durangos look a little meaner lol. they honestly look the same too me. the only little differences i notice are the side view mirrors and a little bit on the windows and such. plus most older ones don't have running boards? and they have the v8 magnum logo on the sides. and what I've noticed is that older ones say 4x4 on the back rather than saying durango.

 

Yup the lettering on the back is different, mine came with running boards but those are long gone lost somewhere. The newer models mostly have chrome grills and the plastic, usually black on top, bumpers. I've just seen too many 1st gens. to be able to easily point out 98-00 or 01-03, without cheating and taking a peek inside that is haha.