The first article about it is in their May2008 issue. From the article:

"In the next few issues of Truckin', we are going to be transforming an '00 Dodge Dakota Sport V-8 Magnum 5.9L with a gear-grabbin' ZF 6S-850 six-speed manual transmission into a Red Ripper. From suspension, body mods, and interior this will make the Bow Tie and Blue Oval folks jealous of the Dodge boys."

This issue begins with a DJM Suspension 3"/5" drop. I'm not really into laying frames on the ground or anything, and this looks pretty good. I think I'd have left some rake in the back (now the back on it looks too low), but it'll be interesting to see what they have in store. Whether you like lowered 2WD trucks or jacked up 4x4s, you may get something out of the next few issues of Truckin'. It's probably not everyday when a truck magazine does a project with a 2nd gen Dakota.

 

I stopped subscribing to that magazine about a year ago. I was dissappointed in the lack of dodge used. It all seemed to be towards GM and Ford fullsize being lifted, the occasional slammed, and all of the "mini" trucks were pavement pounders. Hardly any Dakota's, and like in this case, if there is one, it's getting lowered too! Don't get me wrong the right truck looks good lowered, but you can't use it like a truck. Besides, lowriders are for guys who can't get it up! ...End rant.

 

yea some trucks look good lowered and some look awesome raised to the sky dont get me wrong i used to have a full size chevy with a 3" body life 3" blocks and the torsion bars cranked up and it was rollen' on 34" tires that sucker was big and its stance was awesome
its on youtube search either my name socomHD, or the name of the vid...chevy ridin high, and Loud Chevy
i want to lower my truck with 2/3 drop and put some lower pro tires on it and make it sit low but not a frame drager i bought an 86 datsun thats gonna be chopped and channeled and sittin on hopefully 18's

 

Mine's got a 3" body lift on it now, but it's a 2WD truck, and I'm not into pretending. So it's going back to stock height soon...as soon as I can sell my 32" tires and put a smaller size on it (will be 255/70R15 street tires). Based on how my truck sits now, and looking at the before/after photos from the Truckin' magazine, I'll have quite a rake (the back is about 3" higher than the front right now). So I will probably install 1" (or possibly 2") lowering blocks in the back, just toget it closer to even.

Either way, just giving you guys a heads up because they may do some exterior/interior stuff that gives someone a good idea about something they wanted to try.

 

i see it both ways,
on one hand its cool to see them FINALLY doing a dak
but on the other,this may lead to daks becoming much more popular in the show scene, therefore losing the uniqueness.

a big reason behind me loving these trucks IS the lack of coverage they get, and the severe lack of parts, makes it exteremly difficult to build a show stopper.
a friend of mine once said "You don't build a dakota to win trophies, or make mag coverage. You do it out of love, for your truck, for the minitruckin lifestyle..."

loudpedal, you gonna lay body or door with the dat? sounds cool