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Dans Dak
Dodge Dakota
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1/17/2008
23:31:25
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 Subject: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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A few months ago I had an accident with a ditch that set off my airbags and bent my frame. I had the frame straightened, but have not fixed my airbags. I have always wanted a quad cab for road trips because the club cab on my truck is much too small for that. I would just buy a quad cab, but the shorter bed is out of the question due to dirt bikes and the gear that goes with them. If I was to find a cab from a quad cab, remove mine, and take my truck to a limo shop to have the frame lengthed, would there be any problems with fitting that quad cab on? Thus far all I can imagine would be driveshaft, wires, parking brake, fuel line, and most difficult would be molding my 6.5 foot bed to the cab which dips foward towards the bottom. A body shop could probably fabricate something to fill the gap. What do you think? Is it possible? Do you know any shops in the SoCal area that could help me out? How much do you think it will cost? I'm pretty sure having a 6.5 ft bed quad cab would be worth many hours in the garage and some big money. I would like to do as much work as possible with the help of some buddies.
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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1/18/2008
06:53:03
|  RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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Lots-O-Luck, Dans Dak. You got a hell of a task
ahead of you.
I would think it can be done. Post pictures when
finished..
Good luck ;)
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GB2000
GenIII
1/18/2008
12:09:53
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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How much shorter is a quad cab bed over the standard 6.5' bed? If it's just a lil bit...what about springing for a bed extender (one of the ones that turns your tailgate into part of the bed)? They're what...under $200?
That sounds like an awful expension project just to get a quad cab WITH a 6.5' bed...lol
Definitely post pics if you actually go through with it. That'd be a pretty unique Dakota. Might as well turn it into a show Dakota. At least make it worthwhile. haha
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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1/18/2008
12:22:06
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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QC bed is 5.5ft compared to the 6.5ft on the CC. since you want to use the longer CC bed, graft the rear wall from the CC cab onto the QC cab. that would take care of your bed matching the cab.
the bed on a QC actually wraps around the corners of the cab a little.
sounds like an interesting project. i see quite a few hours of work being involved here. good luck.
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seanw727
GenI
1/18/2008
17:11:18
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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Wouldn't it jut be easier and possibly cheaper to buy a quad cab truck... and swap the larger bed to the Quad Cab???
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GB2000
GenIII
1/18/2008
20:58:59
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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Thing is...would it bolt up properly or would the bed hang way off the back of the frame? Could cause some issues there...with stuff like bumper mounting?
If there's only a 1 ft difference...I honestly think buying a quad cab and installing a bed extender would be the easiest/cheapest way to go.
http://www.performancecenter.com/product/Bed+Accessories+%26+Liners/Bed+X-Tender/0/4/0/Dodge/2000/Dakota/Search+By+Vehicle+Application
So I was wrong...just under $300 while on sale.
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Dans Dak
Dodge Dakota
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1/18/2008
22:37:20
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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I already have a bed extender and anything smaller would not due. Plus, since the airbags in my truck are deployed, I doubt I could sell it. Even if I was to get new airbags then sell it, I would have to spend at least $2000 to get new ones. Also I would have to get a new tranny becuase my tranny grinds going into second. I plan on replacing it with a stronger NV4500 because I have a 3 inch body lift, but I can drive around it for now.
Daddio, that's a great idea to solve my problem, but I would like to try to sell my club cab to pay for the quad or at least part of it. Maybe I could graft part of it from a wrecked club cab?
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Hereit is
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2008
00:14:45
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-BLACK-PTM-GRILLE-DODGE-97-04-DAKOTA-98-03-DURANGO_W0QQitemZ330204707071QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330204707071http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-BLACK-PTM-GRILLE-DODGE-97-04-DAKOTA-98-03-DURANGO_W0QQitemZ330204707071QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330204707071http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-BLACK-PTM-GRILLE-DODGE-97-04-DAKOTA-98-03-DURANGO_W0QQitemZ330204707071QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330204707071http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-BLACK-PTM-GRILLE-DODGE-97-04-DAKOTA-98-03-DURANGO_W0QQitemZ330204707071QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330204707071
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2008
11:15:45
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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i haven't taken any measurements but instead of grafting the rear of the cabs there may be another way. on the QC from the rear window down, the corners are recessed a good 2 maybe 3 inches. you could patch over that to round the corners of the cab and then it may match that CC 6.5ft bed.
you may be better off just finding a good used Ram QC. 6.5ft bed and 4 doors.
the project would be much more fun and rewarding though. it would be very unique.
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Dans Dak
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2008
12:45:07
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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You're right about the Ram, but getting my truck to the condition where I could sell it for maybe $6k would take about $3K between airbags and tranny. Then that new truck would be at least $10k. I don't think getting rid of my truck to upgrade is an option. I just watched and old episode of Trucks and they got a pannel that they replaced a rust hole with. Maybe I could get a pannel for a club cab and add it to the quad cab? I think this whole project is dependent on how much it will cost to lengthen the frame, or how hard it would be to do it myself. I can weld quite well, but I'm not sure if I have the technique to cut my frame in half and then line it up perfectly straight.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2008
13:06:31
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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Dan what year is your truck?
try looking here for your airbags:
www.car-part.com
i saw some for under 100 bucks there.
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Dans Dak
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2008
13:30:58
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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Mine is a 1997. I could replace the drivers side for about $200 between clockspring, sensors, and the actual undeployed bag. The problem is the passenger side. You cannot replace that without replacing the dash. That is pretty involved and not too cheap. Every shop I have called said I can only have to replace both sides for them to be functional.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2008
14:27:34
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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if you want to finish repairing your truck you outh to check out www.car-part.com. there are yards on there that can save you some $$$ on your parts.
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Stan
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2008
16:37:09
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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You know what would be neat? Cut the cab and frame off a QC and weld it to the bed and frame of a CC.
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Dans Dak
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2008
18:22:21
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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Good idea, but then I have to get rid of my 5.2 engine, which will eventually turn into a 408 stroker. I'll just get a 408 block with everything else staying the same. So many plans, so little time and money.
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seven-eighths
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2008
20:38:26
| RE: Club cab to crew cab conversion?
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why not just sell the truck and upgrade to a full-size Ram if you really need the bed space and cab size???
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