Hi, i have a 2006 Dakota Crew Cab Laramie and I’ve been looking at possibly giving my truck the 6.5 foot box since the one i have is too short. I don’t think that they sold this generation with a crew cab and the 6.5 foot box so i was thinking of modifying the frame to accommodate it. Has anyone out there ever done this conversion before and what it all entails? I seen something similar to this done but it was on a Toyota tundra crew cab.

 

Probably doable if you have the skills, or the money..... Moving this to third gen Dak section for ya.

 

Just off the top of my head:

-Cut and extend the frame
-depending or where the cut is, move box mounting points
-custom driveshaft
-extend the wiring
-longer fill tube for the tank
-longer exhaust
-longer brake lines/park brake cable
-find a longer box that hasn't rusted away to nothing

Keep in mind the turning radius is going to be even worse. The 3.7l v6 without 4wd uses a two piece drive shaft with a carrier bearing, which might not be a bad idea given the increased length. Overall the increase in bed length is only about ten inches, it's a lot of work for not much gain.

 

I suppose that if you can take a car or an SUV and stretch it into a limo, then you could stretch the crew cab Dakota to accept the 6' bed. But, as mentioned, is the gain worth the work, time, and money? Or, would it be easier (and less expensive) to just buy a 2006 Tundra (V8 7/8-size truck with a crew cab and 6' bed) or a 2015-2019 Colorado/Canyon (mid-size trucks with crew cabs and 6' bed options)?

Of course, if this is just a "can I do it" project, that has an intangible value all by itself.