muddeprived

I'm bored and flippin through some old pictures. I came across snapshots of my first wheeling truck that i ever owned. I bought it for college and then got my first taste of mud and was addicted. The rest is history.....

The truck was a 2000 Dodge Dakota Sport v-6 2wd regular cab. At that time, i was a big fan of the movie Twister because i would drool over the v-10 dodge ram that was in that movie. Since i couldn't afford that truck, i got the scaled down version, the dakota. I couldn't afford 4wd or v-8 either but i had to have a dodge and took this one with 000045 miles on it.

Stock with tiny mudders


First mod:



A couple months later i installed a 3" fabtech Lift and started abusing it:



Don't laugh please...


After i got yanked out of that spot:

muddeprived

I wasn't satisfied with the height because i was still lower than a stock 4wd dakota so i body-lifted it 3" , installed 2" rear shackles, and slapped on some 31" bfg's
Oh you sexy thing you!


31's seemed small so out came the wallet for some 33's:



Those ended up rubbing all over the damn place and it needed re-geared badly so i took it back and told em to remove em and put the bfg's back on. They did it at no charge...cuz i knew the guy who worked there

A couple months later i had a lockright locker installed in the rear. Best mod i ever had and never had a vehicle without a locker after that. I abused the living crap out of this truck for the next 2 years and kept up with 4wd jeeps and trucks easily....




STUCK!


I can flex a little...


Mud...oh yum


new wheels



More flex.......and don't ask how the mud got on the tailgate and rear window.......



My last mud bath before i traded it for my wrangler....




What no one ever knew was the truck was a LEASED vehicle I went in for a trade-in and the dealer was puzzled when i showed him the paper work and then came out to check it out and saw a lifted and scratched up dodge truck that was supposed to be 8" lower with 215's......the look on his face was priceless.


I miss that truck.....

Kyle

Good looking rig, 2wd and all.

WJCraig

Other than the IFS and transfer case situation, sweet truck!!

XJ?2010

Thats awesome i've always loved those trucks even thought about buying one nice rig

finneys98xj

Nice mudd!

muddeprived

Thanks for the comments guys. They are very nice trucks. Nice enough that i will pick up one with a v-8 later on down the road. I love their design and how they drive.

prerunner1982

Since you started it... I am gonna join in...

This is my 82 Chevy Silverado that I got stock in 96 with 86K miles on it.. Eventually I crammed 32" tires under it with only a mild rubbing issue.. It still sits in my yard minus and engine because the frame cracked at the steering box and where the front crossmember (for suspension) bolts.

Stock:


Ouch: But you should see the truck that rear ended me...


Final Stage:

muddeprived

Sweet. What motor did it have? is that blood on the license plate?

nick_n_ii

That's priceless....

prerunner1982

It orginally had a 305, but I later put in a 350..It had a th350 3 speed trans and 3.08 rear gears. I didnt have to modify the suspension at all but did have to roll the inner lip of the front fenders as they were cutting into the tires. The truck it self had well over 200K miles on it..The motor lives on in my dad's 65 Chevy K10 (4x4).

everybody asks if that is blood.. It is actually oil. I had a drip pan (the kind with the plug in the bottom and a capped spout) that hit the tailgate upon impact and exploded. They had to call out the fire dept to clean up the road.

I like your truck too, looks like it came along way from stock. If someone didnt know any better they would definatly think that was a 4x4.

Just for giggles here is the truck that hit me... notice his front bumper is untouched...

muddeprived

Oh that explains it. I thought it was blood based on that lady's concerned expression.

jones92jeep

love the tire chains one the 4x2

muddeprived

I loved them at that time! I got so stuck out on that pipeline trail and was alone with a buddy. I know i know, i was a stupid college freshman and didn't think. There was no one to come yank me out so i took out the chains, jacked up the truck in inches of mud and stuck them on. I felt like i was locked front and rear 4x4 with those chains! I walked right out like it was nothing.

TrueBlueXJ

Nice! I used to drool over the Dodge in Twister, too. Man that thing was sweet! The V8 Dakotas are nice, but the V6 Magnum packs a wallop too.