If I was going to have it done I'd have the 4x4 shop here do it.

 

I'm guessing the cost would be crazy if you had to pay somebody else to do it. It's still probably the "best" way to get any substantial amount of lift, though.

 

One of those cases where it'd be better to do a ton of fabbing yourself for the axle, and bring them the truck and front axle assembly and say "Make it fit". $95 an hour adds up in a hurry!

 

Definitely costly. Maybe just do a six inch lift on 33s.Money is tight as I'm building a 1970 roadrunner at the moment.

 

Unfortunately, you're going to find that the Tuff Country kit won't fit your truck without steering modifications and it costs almost the same as a SAS, anyway.

Your only "budget" options are going to be a 3-inch body lift and torsion bar keys in the front with blocks or add-a-leafs in the rear. That will get you about 5" of lift for a few hundred bucks.

 

Isn't suspension lift an option as well?

 

not on our trucks. Unless you feel like taking a torch and welder to your truck. Like Tom said, anything more than a body lift for our trucks and you might as well do a DIY SAS for the same money, or cheap out with a 3" body lift, blocks in back, and torsion stuff up front. Even that (2" from torsion) is a stretch but it's doable.

The tuff country lift is only 97-99. It does not fit the post-2000 trucks. Fundamentally you could make it fit, but you'll have to change alot of stuff (think pre-99 donor vehicle).

For a SAS, you can land an axle and springs for $250, steering box for $150, drag link for $75, driveshaft for $150, steering shaft for $75, new rims for $500 (you wont find an axle to match the dakota rims, not sure what you do for front/back lug matching, if anything), 37" tires for $800, and some other miscellaneous parts Tom might know better about.

The Tuff Country is $1900 just to have UPS deliver it...

 

Alright thanks. Sorry you have to answer soany questions I'm sure you have a million times. This is a little out of my comfort zone. I've always been about motor or motocross which has plenty of parts for every bike.

 

No problem answering questions. That's what this place is for.

And yes, it sucks that there's hardly any aftermarket support for our trucks. For some reason, Dakotas never really caught on with most of the truck customizing crowd.

 

Theres really nothing wrong with a body lift and cranking the keys a little bit. I have a 99 extended cab with a 5.2 and 31" mud claws and a 3" body lift (i think) and I was following some buddies in 1500 series trucks and a few jeeps through mud holes and trails just fine and I drive it to work and school also.