trail truck

Ive got a stock 98 dodge 1500 4x4 and its my daily driver. Im alowing myself 7 or 8 thousand to make it a good weekend trail truck. ANY SUGGESTIONS?  

Yes, get another truck. With 8 grand and sale of truck you can get a much better foundation to build with and not have to spend time and money on axle housing upgrades. That year truck has a weak front axle because of the notched design of axle tube for 2wd disconnector. Rear axle is not that strong either for lifts and big tires. Yes you could swap in different axles and gear but the point is if you start with a different truck and model you can avoid some of these problems. I would strongly suggest if Dodge is your game, to get a 03 or later 2500 or 3500 as they come with a much stronger AAM 9.25 front axle whether it is gas or CTD powered and it is stronger than the D60 is replaced. They also come with stronger rear axles and chassis too. There is some real good buys on truck out there right now.  

yeah what is previously said is true the 2500/3500 dogde trucks are hella stout, but it depends how extreme you want to go with your 1500, the chrysler 9.25 rear end isn't too weak up to 35 inc tires, yes the front axle is compromised but what if you strentheged it?? or swap it out for a jeep d44 like the ones mopar now sells as crate axles thery are like 2 grand but come loaded withe gears lockers and the brackets that should macth the rams front 4 link suspension  
Solid axle chevys can't be beat!
My dream truck: 73-91 chevy 3500 crew cab srw with dana 60/14bolt, 6 inc long travel lift with KING shocks, 37 inc tires and a 24v cummins diesel, nv5600 and np205

If your looking to make it a great trail truck, then this a great start. Dont let the first post discorige you. He is talking about people who like to horse beat the trucks by jumping them and do extreem rock crawling. I would suggest get a locker (Unfortitly there is no slectable locker) or a LSD. This will help alot on the trails. Get a suspention lift, larger tires. Plenty of guys are out there with 35s with no problems. The rear diff 9 1/4 is stronger than the Famous Ford 9in, and the so called bullet proff 8 3/4. That is according to moparaction magazine. If you dont belive me check it out! And the 9.25 is beefer is all areas compaired to danna 44s and is equal to most areas of the danna 60s and in some areas beefer than the danna 60s. just the danna 60 has a bigger ring size and there is an optional larger axle shaft.  

No, I am not talking about just horse beat trucks. Dodge played a cruel trick on owners of "Ram Tuff" trucks. That axle is seriously weakened and and bigger tires and offset increase strain on axle even when you are not flying and hard landing. Many do these lifts and tires thinking they are making things more HD when they are making it less HD because all this stuff is bolted to same axles and places more strain on them. (I have seen a LOT of Dodge trucks with bent front axles!) Next on D60 thing, you do not want a 94 to 02 Dodge D60 because they are notched too and in comparison to AAM 9.25, the later is a sturdier axle. It has stronger knuckles and much bigger ball joints. Dodge started using it in 03 to fix a problem with early joint failure they were having in CTD powered trucks. This replacement axle was designed to address this and the carrier/pig in it is the same on that GM has been using since 88 in 2500 and 3500 4x4 IFS trucks. It is a sturdy "pig".