I asked a Dodge mechanic about this today, after Jury duty was excused. He mentioned the easiest way was to do the torsion bar trick. I'm guessing this would be faster and have less work involved. I am still going to see if a local 4x4 shop can do it as it is a little beyond my expertise.

I am thinking, if all else fails, to use the leveling kit, but still, I would be getting someone else to install it, as I need new struts s well, and I figure they can do both and the alignment at the same time.

I don't want a lot of lift, I got stuck twice last year in the snow, due to snow build up, and I really don't want to go through that again, although, the winch will help with that. Getting unstuck, that is.

 

A torsion bar crank would be fine and good, but the new dakotas dont have torsion bars anymore. They use Double wishbone strut suspensions, like a 4x2 dakota. The 4x4 and 4x2 suspensions are 100% the same on the 05+ models.

The only thing you can do is install a leveling kit.

Its not alot of work, get the kit you want, Daystar, Autospring, etc. And tell the shop that it "simply bolts on top of the strut, no spring compression or strut disasembly needed. Simply remove the strut, put the spacer on top, and put the strut back"

It shouldnt be more then an hour of labor on each side. Some shops may even do the enitre job for 1 labor hour.

 

Thanks for the answer!

The shop I have in mind will do the leveling kit, new struts, and alignment for under $700. That includes labor. From the picture essay about the guy that did this, changing the struts out at the same time will save some labor cost as they're already out.

Hears hoping. Now all I have to do is wait for the truck to get out of the body shop. Dang hit and run drivers.....

Now I wonder about that Dodge mechanic....

 

Wow 700 sounds steep to me lol.

Just dont get a "Readylift" leveling kit, or one of those $200 leveling kits.

AutoSpring makes the same kit, with a lifetime warranty for $70.

 

Spacer kit: $155
Struts: $120 each
Labor: $196, to install spacer kit and Struts
Alignment: $90

I'm asking what brand spacer kit they use.

 

$700 is no great deal, but it's not horrible. If you want to level the truck, you might also look into rear lowering shackles. Cheap and easy. And you won't have a low-rider, just a better stance.

 

Daystar? Good?

Also, I'm trying for a little more ground clearance. I got stuck in snow twice this past year because the snow built up under the truck.

No, I don't want a lift so tall I can't get in the truck, just a bit so I can handle the snow like we got this past year. It was an odd year of a foot or more over the Christmas break.

Yeah, I know, some of you are saying, "A foot? Only a foot?" But a foot of unplowed road can keep you home around here.

 

There are 2 ways to install the leveling kit. One way will bind the other won't. read the instructions and it will explain. I'm running the TM kit on my 4x4. NO PROBLEMS at ALL. I've gone thrue some nasty terrian. fleaxed to the max no issues. How much did the winch and bull bar cost you? I want one bad!

 

DONT INSTALL ONTOP OF THE STRUT ON A 4X4!!! THIS WILL BIND UP THE 4X4! It needs to be compressed and installed the correct way. Thats why i took it to a shop.
Here's the link to the TM instructions. They install them betweent the coil assembly and upper perch.

GET THE TRAIL MASTER KIT. there known for a well made product BTW it will run you 103.99 plus roughly 10 for shipping. and thats directly from Trailmaster. I rember paying about that for mine. I think 89.99 plus shipping.
700 isnt a good deal. I had mine installed for $140. which included an allignment.

 

It was a birthday present. I won't know unless I go check the checking account...