I’m putting together a 96 Dakota 2wd, it’s been changed over to 5x4.5bp. I want to put some 17x7”wheels on it. I know the factory wheels are 15x6” w/5”bs. I’m looking at 17x7” w/5.5”bs wheels. Has anyone done this before? What have you used?
I lowered the truck 4” all around and I don’t want rubbing or the tires sticking out past the fender.

Your aftermarket wheels are going to have to have a deeper rear wheel spacing. The stock wheels on a 96 Dakota sit inward at least an inch from center, maybe more.

Since you have lowered the truck from its original height, want to go with 17" diameter, and will need a deeper then centered rear offset, I believe some serious measurements are going to be needed to be done on your truck to assure clearance.

Yeah he's not asking for much.

That said I went the other way with my 96, lifted instead of lowered... But only a couple of inches the only thing I don't like about the 96 is that the tinworm is taking possession

17" Dakota RT wheels from later model versions have been used on the 92-96 Daks with no problem. Might check sizes on some of the old build threads on the other sites.