[ericbneverscared]

Any thoughts on the best place to find a (gray) replacement center console for a 2006 Dakota quad cab?

On mine, the plastic is cracked on the side and I'd like to replace it (or repair it, if anyone has suggestions). Rock Auto doesn't have any in stock, and people on eBay want $300+ (for used ones that I doubt are in as great of condition as they claim . I'd like to avoid the hassle of finding one at a junkyard, if at all possible.

I've glued mine back together and it's holding, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before the crack reopens and grows.

If it's unlikely I'll find one for under $300, just tell me I'm being unrealistic.

I see "universal center consoles" but I'm skeptical those would fit (they are a much different shape and I'm not sure I want to deal with "making it work").

Thanks!

 

[dakotaff]

Choices are limited on where to find one. Ebay has consoles around $150 from time to time, $300 is a very high price for one. I scored my Brand New floor console for $150 a while back, removed from a 2001 Dakota which was a fleet vehicle. 2001-2007 Dakota floor consoles are the same and will bolt right in. And most likely 2008-2011 Dakota floor consoles will fit too, not 100% sure on that though.

Aside from Ebay and local junkyards, check out Car-Part, you can search for anything on there, and a lot of listings have pictures. It's a collection of junkyards across the nation, you can search by distance or part grade. Some prices are listed, others you will need to call for a price.

 

[ericbneverscared]

Thanks for the tip on Car-Part! The closest console is ~150 miles away from me, but this seems like a great resource in general.

 

[dakotaff]

Go to This Thread, you can download the 2005 Dodge Dakota Factory Service Manual, which applies to your 2006. It has a ton of info that will come in handy at some point. And it's FREE.

 

[TLAC]

Go to This Thread, you can download the 2005 Dodge Dakota Factory Service Manual, which applies to your 2006. It has a ton of info that will come in handy at some point. And it's FREE.

Is there an fsm for 2000 Dakota's as well ?

 

[dakotaff]

Is there an fsm for 2000 Dakota's as well ?

Try the link below, hopefully it works. I have the 2000 FSM saved as a PDF file on my computer, but cannot simply send it.

2000 Dakota FSM

 

[BadAxe]

I just replaced mine on my '02. I've got a 5 speed and the factory cup holders were a pain in the rear. So hit the salvage yard and found a stand alone shifter console for the stick shift and installed the Smittybuilt lockable console with Tuffy cup holders and keypad safe inside for "valuables".

 

[BadAxe]

Also they have larger options if the manual shifter is not an issue.

 

[Laidback66]

I just replaced mine on my '02. I've got a 5 speed and the factory cup holders were a pain in the rear. So hit the salvage yard and found a stand alone shifter console for the stick shift and installed the Smittybuilt lockable console with Tuffy cup holders and keypad safe inside for "valuables".

I have an 07 with the 6 speed manual 4x4 with the same console cracking lid buckling issue. Do you have a part number for that Smitty Built console ?? I am very interested. Thanks .

 

[BadAxe]

Console: Smittybilt 31711 under $100- solid, had to custom trim rear lower bracket, matched up original console mounting holes to bolt it down, simple cup holder with springs pushes drinks towards each other and not very strong

Cup Holder: Tuffy 034-01 $25 or so- removed small mid-level tray and mounted at that height, removed stock holders for more storage.

I'll try and get better pics tomorrow.

 

[Laidback66]

Console: Smittybilt 31711 under $100- solid, had to custom trim rear lower bracket, matched up original console mounting holes to bolt it down, simple cup holder with springs pushes drinks towards each other and not very strong

Cup Holder: Tuffy 034-01 $25 or so- removed small mid-level tray and mounted at that height, removed stock holders for more storage.

I'll try and get better pics tomorrow.

That would be very cool . Thank you .

Console: Smittybilt 31711 under $100- solid, had to custom trim rear lower bracket, matched up original console mounting holes to bolt it down, simple cup holder with springs pushes drinks towards each other and not very strong

Cup Holder: Tuffy 034-01 $25 or so- removed small mid-level tray and mounted at that height, removed stock holders for more storage.

I'll try and get better pics tomorrow.

how hard was the non console stick shift cover to find amd any suggestions on where to find it ?? Still would like to see more pics of your install of the smitty built console . Thank you very much .

 

[BadAxe]

I found the manual console at a local pull-n-pay yard, gen3 fairly abundant, but gen4 might be harder. Ebay maybe. Once I pulled the old one out I essentually laid them bottom to bottom inorder to transfer stock mounting holes to new console. There is a back skirt that mounts on the bottom rear to cover the gap. You can use cardboard or paper to make template. It was roughly 1" in center and 1.5" at the corners.

Low battery, weak signal... will add more later

 

[BadAxe]

Bolts with large washers go to factory mounts using a heavier lag bolt. Smaller ones go to rear lower bracket/skirt I discussed before. Drilled 1" hole below lock box for factory accessory charger that was inside original console (haven't decided where to mount usb charger yet) And yes the lock box is digital and will fit several different caliber of "goods".

Smitty cup holder mounted where small shelf (had two tack welds holding it) holding can and larger water bottle.

Had to do a little fine tuning on underside edges of shifter piece, but it mounted using existing bracket positions. And left a perfect gap for my flashlight mount. Shifter is Hurst short-shift w/Core Shifters billet 3" spacer for the body lift

 

[Laidback66]

I found the manual console at a local pull-n-pay yard, gen3 fairly abundant, but gen4 might be harder. Ebay maybe. Once I pulled the old one out I essentually laid them bottom to bottom inorder to transfer stock mounting holes to new console. There is a back skirt that mounts on the bottom rear to cover the gap. You can use cardboard or paper to make template. It was roughly 1" in center and 1.5" at the corners.
View attachment 110751

Low battery, weak signal... will add more later

Thank you for more info and the pic. Making notes of it all.

 

[TLAC]

looks like it's working out perfect luv the caliber storage. I maybe looking into shorter shifter for 2000 Dakota was never happy with the long throw shifting

 

[Laidback66]

View attachment 110756
Bolts with large washers go to factory mounts using a heavier lag bolt. Smaller ones go to rear lower bracket/skirt I discussed before. Drilled 1" hole below lock box for factory accessory charger that was inside original console (haven't decided where to mount usb charger yet) And yes the lock box is digital and will fit several different caliber of "goods".
View attachment 110757
Smitty cup holder mounted where small shelf (had two tack welds holding it) holding can and larger water bottle.
View attachment 110758
Had to do a little fine tuning on underside edges of shifter piece, but it mounted using existing bracket positions. And left a perfect gap for my flashlight mount. Shifter is Hurst short-shift w/Core Shifters billet 3" spacer for the body lift

I really like the way it all looks n fits . Excellent planning n instal job. Thank you for all the fine details and pics . I will try n save all this to my phone for reference when I do the swap . Hope w do you like the shifter compared to the stock one??

 

[JeremyJ]

Shifter is Hurst short-shift w/Core Shifters billet 3" spacer for the body lift

How do you like the shifter? It's on my list of things to buy for mine, but I haven't heard much feedback on them yet.

 

[BadAxe]

Very happy with it. At first it was pretty stiff and had to shift in precise H pattern to hit gears, but it's either smoothed out or I have. So nice not having to deal with the extra slop/unneeded movement when shifting. worth every penny.