Will this plug directly into my Dakota's factory wiring?

Yes — this assembly is designed to use the factory connector and harness without modification. No rewiring needed.

Do I need to remove anything from the hatch to install this?

You'll need to remove the factory third brake light assembly first. The mounting points are the same, so installation is straightforward with basic hand tools.

Will this work with my factory brake light switch?

Yes — LED draws less power than incandescent, so your factory switch handles it without issue. No load equalizer or resistor required.