1997-2004 Dodge Dakota + Durango / Lift Kits / 35 Inch Tires **Links in Description**

Today we go over lift kit options, suspension and body lifts, for 2nd generation Dodge Dakotas and 1st gen Dodge Durangos and the biggest tires you can fit with them. We have 35" tires on ours and I believe that to be about the largest tire you can have on the factory wheels. We did a 2 inch suspension lift from supreme suspensions, and a 3 inch body lift from performance accessories. This video should apply to 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 models with 4x4. Automatic transmission models with an electronic transfer case are by far the easiest trucks to lift. The manual transmissions and manual transfer cases will require cutting and welding of the stick shift and transfer case lever.
Affiliate Links
Body Lift 2003-2004 Dakota - ebay.us/cnehcS
Body Lift 2000-2002 Dakota - ebay.us/7RsdlX
2 Inch Rear Block Lift Dakota 1997-2004 - ebay.us/8ye5H7
2 Inch Rear Shackles Durango 1997-2003 - ebay.us/mc5YN4
315/75R16 Ironman Mud Terrain 10 Ply Tires - ebay.us/dbUIga
I am an eBay and Amazon affiliate and so our links earn us a small commission from sales. The items do not cost anymore because of our affiliate relationship with eBay and Amazon.

[@kalanibordeaux99]

Thank you for sharing ❤🎉❤❤ love it 😍

[@bikesandbangs]

Thanks man!

[@2braincellsoutdoors152]

So i put 12 wides on my 2001 durango. I lifted the front 3in and did the 2.5 rear shackles but it didnt lift any in the rear so now it's swatted. any suggestions or do you know anything i can do/ replace to help lift the rear?

[@rossfricke2010]

pretty well explained thx

[@bikesandbangs]

No problem man, thanks!

[@trevormiller5107]

Does this body lift work in third gen dakotas ?

[@bikesandbangs]

This exact one doesn't fit but if u follow the link there should be one unrelated items

[@devinmenchaca9965]

I have myself the same truck I so far already have the 3 inch tortion bar key and the 2.5 inch block in the back I’m really wanting to do the body lift is it going to mess with any wires or anything crazy like that

[@bikesandbangs]

You do have to unclip (from their fasteners) a few different harnesses and wires, and move the transmission shift cable slightly if you have an automatic. But it's extremely simple and is detailed in the instructions

[@crazyloki5819]

So no other parts was required?

[@leightonreese1832]

wow looks awesome, clean and sharp! Glad you kept the original rims, they look the best especially on the two-tone trucks as the paint color matches I went w/ the 1" rear block from supreme suspension for my Dak and was pleasantly surprised how much lift it gave. T-bar crank in the front to level it and works perfect with enough travel both up and down (no bottoming out on the bump stops) Hoping I can fit 32" tires on (265/75/16), I'm interested in Cooper's new Road+Trail all terrains as it's my daily driver that happens to go overlanding a couple times a year

[@bikesandbangs]

Yeah you should have no problem with that size and a torsion crank. I think you could even go up to a 33" tire so 285/75R16 with maybe a little trimming of the wheel wells

[@Bennett-xo6iu]

Wish they would of just offerd a 5 or 6inch suspension kit for those dodges... they didn't for years on my 2002 Ford ranger then finally rough country stepped up and they do a 5inch lift on the 1998 through 2011 Ford rangers.. wish they would step up for these dakotas...

[@bikesandbangs]

No kidding

[@Bennett-xo6iu]

@@bikesandbangs just watched your video of the white dakota that looks really nice

[@gabelewis6044]

Love your Dakota builds! I have an 04 RWD Dakota quad cab and would like to lift it 2 inches. If I bought a 2inch lift/level, would I be able to run stock wheels and tires and not look wonky? If not, what tire size would you recommend? Sorry for all the questions but you seem to be the Dakota expert!

[@bikesandbangs]

265/75r16 would look nice but won't rub. About a 32 inch tire

[@gabelewis6044]

Awesome, thanks again!

[@tonyrosas3098]

4" shackel.

[@thofford]

Nice truck! I’m looking for the exact model!

[@thofford]

Only with less rust.

[@bikesandbangs]

That's the key, is trying to find these Dakota's that aren't completely rusted out. These old dodges rust horribly

[@leafer8894]

Would this work for 2005 Dakota 4wd?

[@bikesandbangs]

It's similar but the wheel wells are smaller and I don't think you will ever get 35's on one

[@kirkbigshaw3358]

Would this work on my 01 SLT V6

[@bikesandbangs]

Yes sir

[@trapmasterjaster1273]

Are the axles stock. My cv axles are messed up. Maxed torsion bars. Looking into replacing the cv axles should I get longer ones that can take harsher angles or save some money and just get oe spec axles.

[@bikesandbangs]

I just have stock cv's. How many miles are on ur truck?

[@trapmasterjaster1273]

260k on the body. The cv are binding. My stock tires are bald. Looking into what size tires I can fit with maxed torsion bars and 2” blocks. I don’t want a body lift. This trucks suspension lift looks the same as what I did. From what I can see the frame is the closest thing to rubbing by about 1/2 inch. I suspect this guys truck rubs hard. Also my tie rod boots are torn and won’t hold grease from the harsh angles from the lift. Same story for sway bar bushings and cv axles. Looking into tie rod ends, cv’s, sway bar kit or bushings, and tires. Also my transmission and transfer case is pulled from a dodge ram so I did some funky stuff to make that fit. My main question is what size tire will fit with no rub.

[@ClutchBoi04]

Need some help with my 04 Dakota it’s a 2wd but the leaf springs sits under the axle and I want to do 2inch left and 3inch body lift . Any suggestions?

[@bikesandbangs]

Body lift is the same, but 2wd trucks use a shackle lift instead of blocks, so it goes on the end of the leak spring to the bracket

[@devinmenchaca9965]

So my truck is a 2004 what is the main difference between your white one vs the one you are showing in this video and would I have to get the 2003/2004 body lift from your link

[@bikesandbangs]

They are basically the same. The body lift part numbers are technically different for 2000-2002 and 2003-2004 so idk if a few bolts changed or what but they go on the exact same. I have sold out eBay and Amazon of all the body lifts for 2nd Gen Dakota's as of this moment so you will have to get it from the performance accessories manufacturer site now

[@jondoe4667]

Id love to lift mine but its got the 3.9 and can barely move itself down the road now. Im afraid if I lift it,and go with bigger tires it will be even slower.

[@bikesandbangs]

Yeah I wouldn't try and get crazy with the v6. 31s are the biggest tires I'd ever put on one of those

[@arc_zozo-yt9041]

I have a 98 manual single cab I'm wondering how to put a 2in lift and maybe the 35s

[@bikesandbangs]

You will never get 35s with only 2 inches of lift unfortunately

[@ParekoysBRYAN]

What if i have a 17 inch rims with 35 tires.itwill fit? Thanks

[@bikesandbangs]

Yes, rim size is irrelevant. But offset is important, so if your 35’s are spaced out farther than stock, they are going to rub more on everything

[@emiliotorres4369]

On the front end, how do you know you only cranked it 2 inches? Can you just buy the 2 inch blocks for the front

[@bikesandbangs]

You just measure from the center of the wheel to the fender to find out how much higher than stock it is. The front end doesn't take blocks, only a leaf spring would use blocks

[@codyschwoch5451]

For the other Durango owners, they can flip the axle and then do pillow blocking so that they have more than just 5 inch pillow blocks

[@codyschwoch5451]

And also we have a 98 dodge Durango and we did a axle flip and it gave us three extra inches and clearance

[@jesussaves1324]

Do those 35s rub at all the way it sits? I have an 02 quad cab 2wd and have spacers in front that lifted it 3" and 2" lift shackles in the back.

[@bikesandbangs]

At full lock I can get the back inside of the tire to rub the frame on both sides. That's the only spot they rub after some minor trimming of the front plastic in the wheel well and about an inch taken off of the rear part of the front wheel wells

[@jobehayes8444]

Looks awesome! Was there a steering shaft adaptor in the kit? And also what shocks are you using? I got extended Ranchos but they don't fit 😮 thanks in advance

[@bikesandbangs]

I have the factory shocks, with only lifting the suspension 2 inches I didn't need expended shocks

[@justinfox1169]

Will your spare fit in the factory location?

[@bikesandbangs]

No, a 33 inch tire is the largest you can fit under the bed in the spare location. My 35 won't quite fit

[@plash6738]

do you know if the rear leaf spring blocks will fit a 2004 V8 2WD Dodge Dakota? The listing says 4WD only, not sure if the axle is bigger or smaller.

[@bikesandbangs]

Well something about the 4WD is different, not sure if its the axle size, leaf width, or what. But the 2wd Dakotas all seem to just use a "add-a-leaf" lift system for the rear. Hear is a link to a 1.5-2" rear lift for yours ebay.us/4PZFzg then you would just need the coil spacer for the front if you want to lift that as well

[@movementonwheels]

The 2wds have the leaf springs under the axle while 4wd have them on the top.

[@shadow105720]

Blocks will lower a 2wd because the axle is under the leafs. 4wds have the leaves over the axle.

[@clipzbyj589]

is it like that on the Mitsubishi raider ?

[@bikesandbangs]

I assume there's plenty of lifts out there for the raider, it's basically a re-badged Dakota. But they will have smaller wheel wells than our truck, so I don't think you will ever get 35's on one. Probably 33's max

[@santeenaspears438]

How do you do a lift kit on a 2000 Dodge Durango 5.9 two-wheel drive

[@richwilson7017]

Just like he said yo.

[@bikesandbangs]

Are you trying to do a body or suspension lift?

[@trapmasterjaster1273]

Shackle kit and spring spacers

[@julian182347]

We’re you able to get away without using the steering shaft extension?

[@bikesandbangs]

I used the extension. I have always used it on these. That steeving shaft does have some maneuverability and does extend some, but for as easy as it is to put on the extension, I always do. Don't know if you could safely use the stock shaft without it or not

[@julian182347]

Only thing I’ve heard with the shaft extension is it has play. Just got same kit in today. Let’s see how it goes.

[@MrSmiley256]

How much was all 4 tires?

[@bikesandbangs]

When I got them they were $223 a tire

[@MrSmiley256]

O okay, thanks bro

[@bikesandbangs]

👍

[@justingomez2379]

Do u happen to know if the front a arma will fit on a 96 Dakota..i have done the same lift but i need new a arms.it drive fine how it is but need to replace at some point.and i want to add a balljoint space..they dont sell much for frist gen so i have to start looking at the second gen for parts

[@bikesandbangs]

I'm unsure about that, sorry man!

[@sergvegas5446]

Good luck at the gas station 😂

[@bikesandbangs]

I've been getting 12.4mpg surprisingly! This one has the 3.92 gears. The last Dak I built like this got 10mpg cuz it had the 3.55 gears