In the first pic how did you manage to get back in the truck looks pretty high lol

 

see that little rock directly underneath the door? jump

 

My '98, 5.2 has 320,000mi, I used to run a hotshot co. with it, yes it has plenty war wounds, and it is still going strong. this is my second Dakota, the first was a '88, 3.9 it had 240,000 when I got rid of it and then it was only because I wanted a V-8. When Dodge built the dakota they really hit a winner.

 

I want to get a new front grill for my 97, one that has the dodge logo on it like the newer 1500's... the baby Ram grille has to go.. :P

 

I have a truck (and have had several trucks in the past) because I like the way they look, like the higher ride height, like that they tend to be built tougher than cars, and like that I can throw things like groceries in the bed rather than messing with a trunk (or sometimes an arcade machine or a 4x8 sheet of MDF, plywood, etc.)

My current truck is a 4WD (and I've had three other 4WD pickups in the past), which means I can get around my extremely hilly town in the winter without trying to find convoluted non-hilly routes to my destination (which is sometimes impossible), and also I can usually get out of my driveway without shoveling when it snows.

I don't go off-road for the sake of going off-road. I can see how it would be fun, but it is also a potentially expensive hobby (when you start breaking/damaging things), and going off-roading out in the willywacks by yourself isn't particularly bright anyway (I don't have any friends that go off-roading). On top of that, stock or nearly stock Dodge Dakotas aren't very good off-road vehicles anyway, what with their IFS, relatively long wheel base, and relatively heavy weight. They're not exactly a Jeep CJ, a '79 - '85 (pre-IFS) Toyota shortbed PU, or FJ40 Land Cruiser.

I like the capabilities of trucks. Whether or not I take full advantage of their capabilities is irrelevant; they're there if I need them.

 

I agree I get mad when I hear of people not using their truck the way it should be. Especially when you see someone with like a brand new Cummins or Powerstroke and you can tell their never gonna use it the way it was meant to be. I can understand not wanting it to get damaged but come on its a truck. As for me, I've had drywall, lumber, marble (HEAVY), sand, dirt, dirtbikes, and probably a snowmobile in the near future. And my trucks still really clean (except the salt all over it now lol) but I like it when its dirty too, and undamaged (except the bumper until I fix it). That goes to show you can have a nice truck and still use it as a TRUCK.

 

Yeah my pap has a old 93 dakota 170k on it hauls coal,wood,dirt,wood and this truck still looks like it came off the showroom floor. He babys it he wants a new truck but at the same time he doesnt.

 

Well yeah and just looking at the beginning of this thread where you showed all the stuff you hauled and then you see in your sig pic that it cleans up nice. and fourpointseven... your truck is so sweet I bet it cleans up good too. But it probably looks best muddy haha.

 

Yeah I try and take good care of her at the moment she needs a good waxing cause currently she is my 20 footer(looks good at 20 feet but shows the scratches when you get closer lol)

 

Yeah mine definately could use a good cleaning its been like 4 months since I last cleaned it and that was just a quick spraydown/power wash wheels. I figure with all the salt theres no point to clean it now. Although I think I want to power wash the bottom by the cab to get salt outta there so it doesnt rust like my back bumper, which I have to sandblast and paint lol. Im gonna black out my wheels too while i am painting it should look good with the "dark garnet" red.