Dakota SAS exo-cage w/custom bed

Drove it about 1/2 mile today to check everything and flexed it a little. I have it loaded to take to get exhaust on it in the morning. Sounds like an old rag of a mud truck with just open headers. I will try to get some pics tomorrow when it is daylight:bounce2:.
 
Back from getting exhaust put on it:
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Saturday morning in Mountain City on its virgin run:
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Carnage list:
Busted front pinion yoke
Blew caps off passenger side axle shaft u-joint
Lost slave cylinder for clutch
Tweaked rear bumper
Broke welded spider gears in rear
Nothing a few hours of work can't fix. All in all truck did great and I was very pleased. Looking forward to going back in Dec.
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I can't believe this is the first time I've seen this build. It looks great.
 
Hey man, I mate some of you all Saturday at Mtn City, I was in the 99 blue xj. Good looking dodge and maybe see ya'll again on the trail!
 
Hey guys, I've got some good video too but I'm having trouble getting it to youtube. Maybe by the tomorrow I will make some progress. I will post the links here when I get it. Thanks for the videos Brooke, they were great. Hope to wheel with you guys again soon.
 
Looks like a good time, glad the truck did well!

Let me know if I can help ya some of the busted stuff.
 
Finally able to get back working on mine a little. Had to replace the front axle u-joints and ended up finding a busted outer on the passenger side. Also had to replace the front pinion yoke. Built some traction bars for the rear and almost finished the front bumper.
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I received MY coils today so I can give the borrowed ones back.
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Wired up an in-cab winch control. Red one activates the power, the other is a three-way momentary switch that controls in and out.
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Also got the front bumper finished. I am hoping to start on the exo soon which will also tie into the front bumper.
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Got my dual-rate coils on today and put my Lokar parking brake cables on.
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Got started on my exo today. Didn't get alot done since the kids were out of school today because of snow. They were my "shop helpers" today.
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Shop Helpers

I have 2 shop helpers of my own and they are better than any project. Keep up the good work. Excellent build.
 
Well I got part of the exo done today, atleast enough before our trip tomorrow. I still have alot of bracing and gussets that need to go in and still have to do the bed and fenders, but the basic frame work is there. I still have to tie the x-bracing behind the cab down through the bed to tie into the frame and put diagonals across the top of the cap. Don't flame me too bad, it still has a ways to go, but I had to stop for out trip tomorrow.
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Lookin great. Since I saw the grille hoop I've been wondering what it would look like with cross bars in it to match the grille. I couldn't take it anymore, I had to see what it would look like. I also wanted to see what it would look like with some bars to protect the headlights.

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Yeah I am planning on putting the ones to protect the headlights, but I can't do anything inside the front hoop because I have to be able to remove the cover on the top of the bumper to access the winch. Thanks for the ideas though.
 
sqrl$$ said:
Yeah I am planning on putting the ones to protect the headlights, but I can't do anything inside the front hoop because I have to be able to remove the cover on the top of the bumper to access the winch. Thanks for the ideas though.
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Haha just a thought I had to share. Keep up the good work.
 
Do the light protectors but not the cross, i think it looks better with just the factory grill showin
 
I like them alot. Right now I am running 10 in the front and 8 in the rear. Probably drop down to 8 and 6 for the next trip because they are new and still not conforming around the rocks as good as they will once they get softened up a little.

I have some video of yesterday at Mountain City. I will post it when I can get it loaded.
 
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