Well been here a bit planning on what to do with my Ramcharger. After a couple camping trips, the RC just isn't big enough for us and the 2 dogs. Plan was for it to be the base camp then go play in another vehicle that we flat towed behind us.
Still have the RC. Just now I get to have a little more fun with it after this project.
Wife was going to take her car in for a down payment on a new truck. A 4wd crewcab diesel. Schweet. Did some price checking. OUCH! Didn't know all the new Dodges are made out of platinum and gold. So the new Dodges as far as I am concerned are made out of unobtanium. New idea.
Some brainstorming and general searching I found a good truck to start with. As long as looks aren't necessity. Lol
85 Dodge D350 srw crewcab
Got the truck street worthy. Drove it around started the planning process.
Gotta be 4wd. Since its a looong truck I believe I will have to run a tad higher lift to prevent getting high centered on everything. So 6-8" lift. 37" tires.
In the middle of reading the doitalldodge and really liking the XMLs. Front fender sectioning added to the list.
Diesel conversion of course.
Debating on a topper or not. My 01 ram has a topper and its great but does limit it some its a short bed though. My 01
Want to be able to tent camp but have a rooftop for more flexibility during most weather conditions. A pop up camper made the discussion board.
All good ideas. Well wife came up with a really good idea. Then proceeded to find one for sale. A utility bed. Perfect. Honestly I like the utility bed trailers everyone e builds on here. Her idea is perfect. Get one for the crew. That way no separate trailer can still tow another 4wd behind us to play. It's an 8' foot bed so a matching box will have plenty of room for things.
So as I said she found one. My idea was a srw 8' bed. She found one close to that. However it has a roof rack. No meed to put one on the truck cab. And it's for a drw.
That really helped decide some other things I wasn't 100% on.
Dual rear wheel box is wide. My fix: use the old Dana 70 from my diesel as they are a bit wider. It will fix the narrow rear end look. Give me the updated brakes. Trac lok and 3.54 gears. Also I can remove the brake drums without pulling an axle. Even the option for a rear sway bar.
Well the box is a 9x5 foot box. Rear wheels are about 5-6" to far forward.
Not a problem. Along with swapping in the 2nd gen rear get a pair on 2nd gen rear leafs. They are longer keeping the front hanger in the stick location will move the axle back about 5" hope it's enough to look ok. Also longer springs better ride since I can get more lift without as much arch. Of course I need to do a shackle flip. Then that lead to the idea of swapping the 52" dodge rear springs to the front. Same thing more lift less arch smoother ride.
Well that is about where I am at. Trying to mount the box still had to reposition it as it is recommended to have at least 3" between the cab and box. Since I WILL be taking this off road I should follow that recommendation.
I have to remove the rear shock mount as the box is hitting that. Not a bad thing as now I can mount the new shocks staggered like on my 01. Since the rear already has the mounts anyways.
Big thing I am concerned about and hope for input on this is the box mounting and frame reinforcement. Don't want the truck to fold in half. I have my plan for the frame. "L" reinforcements. Not going to box it as I don't want anything trapped inside to rot the frame. Also easier to run wires etc inside a "[" vs a box.
Box mounting I am not to sure how to do it. It does have a solid roof rack so that braces the whole bed. Should I do flexible mounts on the box? If so front or rear? Any ideas or pics of the earth roamer mounts would help.
Anyways such a long intro, I owe ya all some pics. Oh I plan on Keeping it the bright green. Reminds me. It is suppose to be an old Burlington Northern Railroad truck? Anyone know the paint code for this green?
Had to put a pic of the stuck RC
Still have the RC. Just now I get to have a little more fun with it after this project.
Wife was going to take her car in for a down payment on a new truck. A 4wd crewcab diesel. Schweet. Did some price checking. OUCH! Didn't know all the new Dodges are made out of platinum and gold. So the new Dodges as far as I am concerned are made out of unobtanium. New idea.
Some brainstorming and general searching I found a good truck to start with. As long as looks aren't necessity. Lol
85 Dodge D350 srw crewcab
Got the truck street worthy. Drove it around started the planning process.
Gotta be 4wd. Since its a looong truck I believe I will have to run a tad higher lift to prevent getting high centered on everything. So 6-8" lift. 37" tires.
In the middle of reading the doitalldodge and really liking the XMLs. Front fender sectioning added to the list.
Diesel conversion of course.
Debating on a topper or not. My 01 ram has a topper and its great but does limit it some its a short bed though. My 01
Want to be able to tent camp but have a rooftop for more flexibility during most weather conditions. A pop up camper made the discussion board.
All good ideas. Well wife came up with a really good idea. Then proceeded to find one for sale. A utility bed. Perfect. Honestly I like the utility bed trailers everyone e builds on here. Her idea is perfect. Get one for the crew. That way no separate trailer can still tow another 4wd behind us to play. It's an 8' foot bed so a matching box will have plenty of room for things.
So as I said she found one. My idea was a srw 8' bed. She found one close to that. However it has a roof rack. No meed to put one on the truck cab. And it's for a drw.
That really helped decide some other things I wasn't 100% on.
Dual rear wheel box is wide. My fix: use the old Dana 70 from my diesel as they are a bit wider. It will fix the narrow rear end look. Give me the updated brakes. Trac lok and 3.54 gears. Also I can remove the brake drums without pulling an axle. Even the option for a rear sway bar.
Well the box is a 9x5 foot box. Rear wheels are about 5-6" to far forward.
Not a problem. Along with swapping in the 2nd gen rear get a pair on 2nd gen rear leafs. They are longer keeping the front hanger in the stick location will move the axle back about 5" hope it's enough to look ok. Also longer springs better ride since I can get more lift without as much arch. Of course I need to do a shackle flip. Then that lead to the idea of swapping the 52" dodge rear springs to the front. Same thing more lift less arch smoother ride.
Well that is about where I am at. Trying to mount the box still had to reposition it as it is recommended to have at least 3" between the cab and box. Since I WILL be taking this off road I should follow that recommendation.
I have to remove the rear shock mount as the box is hitting that. Not a bad thing as now I can mount the new shocks staggered like on my 01. Since the rear already has the mounts anyways.
Big thing I am concerned about and hope for input on this is the box mounting and frame reinforcement. Don't want the truck to fold in half. I have my plan for the frame. "L" reinforcements. Not going to box it as I don't want anything trapped inside to rot the frame. Also easier to run wires etc inside a "[" vs a box.
Box mounting I am not to sure how to do it. It does have a solid roof rack so that braces the whole bed. Should I do flexible mounts on the box? If so front or rear? Any ideas or pics of the earth roamer mounts would help.
Anyways such a long intro, I owe ya all some pics. Oh I plan on Keeping it the bright green. Reminds me. It is suppose to be an old Burlington Northern Railroad truck? Anyone know the paint code for this green?
Had to put a pic of the stuck RC
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wheeling is a lot more fun when you know you can drag her back home if she breaks!
