2008 Dodge 2500 build help

[98dango]

So hear is the deal my cousin has a 2008 dodge 2500 5.7 6 speed crew cab short box SXT. I got the great job of building his truck over the next 4 months. I just want to collect your ideas on what a good suspension and other things.

His wants are easy to haul 2 dirt bikes a roof top tent 37s on 18 of 20 inch wheels winch in the front sliders. That's the short list of what he wants. I know very little about the new dodge stuff.

 

[brodiee2]

Interested in this build as i just bought an 08 2500 with a hemi my self, and it sounds like me and him are looking for very similar capabilities...get my quad into the bush and camp a little more off the beaten path. From what i have been reading on expo you cant go wrong with the Carli suspension kits, I priced out the starter kit and the front end upgrade kit today! Just from the reading i have been doing it sounds like the front end is the weakest link on these trucks stock.

 

[98dango]

So my cousin has been running the wheels off this truck. I have not had much time with it.

He has how ever managed to get a noise from the transmission that was first diagnosed as a rod bearing.

The 6 speed g56 I believe. Makes a tack tack noise unless under pressure acceleration or deceleration it goes away.

I have not touched it in months as he had it shipped to calif where he was doing short runs while a co driver was out with his new babby. He's now back in Montana and I'll be playing with it end of next week.

The plan is a new transmission and Atlas transfer case because why not.

Is there a better transmission we should be looking at. He's 25 going on 16 drives nice all week so this poor thing gets used when he has days off.

 

[leelikesbikes]

i have a hemi 2500 manual trans, the carli stuff is great, im running the starter kit and 37" st maxx. i put 4.56's and the powerwagon rear/tru trac front lockers in mine, plenty of room behind the stock bumper for a 12k winch. if you did a chase rack you could prob do a rtt and not have the dirt bike handlebars hitting the crossbar. i had a softtopper on mine for a while and it was nice for hauling bikes/camping. the hemi likes rpm's so if you wanna do it right you really should re-gear it. ive got a nv4500 in mine and it has been pretty much trouble free. i would stick with 17's for offroad, but thats just me. looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

 

[leelikesbikes]

to run 37's with the carli kit you will need to run stock offset wheels and i trimmed the rear wheel openings a bit. if you went with a 6" lift you could run some big wide dubs, but then you'd have a monster truck that would be a pita for loading bikes and getting in the rtt.

 

[Buliwyf]

Carli.

Bushwacker Cutout fender flares.

12' arched ramp. Nothing less for lifted trucks. Sure hills and ditches help, but that one time your on level ground.......

Ladder rack with removable cross bars for the tent and bikes. Heck, with the right rack, you can put the tent over the cab. Makes it a whole lot easier walking around the bed with the bikes.

 

[leelikesbikes]

chase rack would put the rtt over cab, i have a 7' ramp and it is easy to load bikes and atv's, i load bikes with a 6' ramp and its not bad, just hit it with a little more speed.

 

[Ducky's Dad]

Bushwacker Cutout fender flares.

No makee last time I checked.

OP needs to go here for advice: http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/index.php

Yes, they are PW guys, but lots of knowledge and willingness to help.

 

[Regcabguy]

Carli or Thuren for suspension and don't consider 20's. 18's max.
I like Thuren's softride 3" coils over Carli's multi rates. I've seen two unladen Dodge's with the Carli coils touching one another. I guess the progressive part starts after that. I expect them to be resorting to single rates like their 4th gen offerings.
Synergy's got a fix for the front linkage that Dodge should be supplying:
http://www.dieselpowerproducts.com/...ing-heavy-duty-steering-kit-03-13-ram-hd.aspx

 

[Bushwacker Inc.]

For what it's worth, Ducky's Dad is correct. We do not offer a Cut Out Flare for '08 Rams.

We do, however, offer our Pocket Style Fender Flares, which do offer 2.5-inches of additional coverage.

http://www.bushwacker.com/search-results/make-model-year/2008-dodge-ram-2500

- Andy