jupp0r
Active member
Mods:
I picked up the truck with 50 miles from Sunnyvale. It replaced a 2017 Ford Expedition that would have been hard to build into something capable due to missing aftermarket support.
Here’s the truck before picking it up.
The first mod was a SnugTop Rebel Camper shell. I went with the 500lbs roof capacity model and also got the roof rails for a possible rack in the future.
I’m super happy so far with the shell. Seems solid and the materials are nice.
Next I installed the Carli front diff guard (I removed the logo sticker before putting it in). Install was super easy, lost just a few drops of diff fluid, no need to top it of.
Decked drawers got installed next. It’s just super helpful to have storage available when the shell is crammed with gear.
One day before our road trip through the north west, the engine transmission skid plate from Dethloff Manufacturing arrived just in time (thanks so much Marcus for the extra effort). It’s still a mystery to me why RAM thinks it’s a good idea to have an unprotected plastic transmission pan under their beefiest offroad truck, but thankfully there is a solution to that problem. Install was really easy compared to other reports I’ve heard due to a new flag nut design for two of the bolts that are somewhat hard to reach.
Next step was putting 37s on. I went with Raceline Wheels and 37x13.5R17 Cooper STT Pros as they were some of the only E rated tires available for 17 in rims and also seemed a good compromise between MT and AT tires. I knew I’d have to do some more trimming than with a 12.5in wide tire, though. I wanted to trim enough the first time and also make the trimming as invisible as possible. I ended up hammering the pinch weld over instead of cutting it or grinding it down. I think this is superior to preserve the seal and prevent rust problems inside the seam in the future. I sanded everything and rattle canned it with black Rustoleum. I also wanted to avoid cutting the plastic fender so I heated it up with a heat gun and pushed it back when hot. Took a while but worked, while preserving the liner to protect the metal behind from stones and water. I flexed the suspension a little on a large curb and it seems like it won’t rub anywhere even fully articulated.
I picked up the truck with 50 miles from Sunnyvale. It replaced a 2017 Ford Expedition that would have been hard to build into something capable due to missing aftermarket support.
Here’s the truck before picking it up.
The first mod was a SnugTop Rebel Camper shell. I went with the 500lbs roof capacity model and also got the roof rails for a possible rack in the future.
I’m super happy so far with the shell. Seems solid and the materials are nice.
Next I installed the Carli front diff guard (I removed the logo sticker before putting it in). Install was super easy, lost just a few drops of diff fluid, no need to top it of.
Decked drawers got installed next. It’s just super helpful to have storage available when the shell is crammed with gear.
One day before our road trip through the north west, the engine transmission skid plate from Dethloff Manufacturing arrived just in time (thanks so much Marcus for the extra effort). It’s still a mystery to me why RAM thinks it’s a good idea to have an unprotected plastic transmission pan under their beefiest offroad truck, but thankfully there is a solution to that problem. Install was really easy compared to other reports I’ve heard due to a new flag nut design for two of the bolts that are somewhat hard to reach.
Next step was putting 37s on. I went with Raceline Wheels and 37x13.5R17 Cooper STT Pros as they were some of the only E rated tires available for 17 in rims and also seemed a good compromise between MT and AT tires. I knew I’d have to do some more trimming than with a 12.5in wide tire, though. I wanted to trim enough the first time and also make the trimming as invisible as possible. I ended up hammering the pinch weld over instead of cutting it or grinding it down. I think this is superior to preserve the seal and prevent rust problems inside the seam in the future. I sanded everything and rattle canned it with black Rustoleum. I also wanted to avoid cutting the plastic fender so I heated it up with a heat gun and pushed it back when hot. Took a while but worked, while preserving the liner to protect the metal behind from stones and water. I flexed the suspension a little on a large curb and it seems like it won’t rub anywhere even fully articulated.
