2020 Ram 5500 DIY Composite Panel Camper Build Thread

[Regcabguy]

Do you live close to Carli or Thuren? Thuren especially would probably like to take a look at it firsthand.

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Do you live close to Carli or Thuren? Thuren especially would probably like to take a look at it firsthand.

Im about 45 minutes away from Carli

Not sure where Thuren

Both have been great to talk to on the phone

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Also, heres something weird...

When local tire shop went to order them via the part # i gave them, told me they were discontinued, i said no way, theyve been out for ever.

Longggg story short after they spent a fair amount of time on the phone with Continental... They have replaced the older style with what they are calling the "Next Generation"

Oddly though, no one at Continental seems to know what the difference is between these and the old ones, and the tire shop spoke to 3 different people at Conti while i was there.

You can see in this pic, they look a little different, and have a little graphic pattern thing, but the tread is the same.

Time will tell..

 

[Darwin]

Curious about this new tread compound on the mpt's. I always thought from what I read that they didn't have the best wear characteristics but maybe this new tire fixes that. Either way, I did see them for a really good price new on Ebay.

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Curious about this new tread compound on the mpt's. I always thought from what I read that they didn't have the best wear characteristics but maybe this new tire fixes that. Either way, I did see them for a really good price new on Ebay.

I'm curious too! This could end up a very expensive trial and error mistake, or a glorious new chapter... 50/50 hahaha

 

[flylow4500]

Would the front wheels work if you took them off and rotated 180? I watched your video and the center section looks like a flat plate.

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Would the front wheels work if you took them off and rotated 180? I watched your video and the center section looks like a flat plate.

Don’t know. That would completely defeat half the purpose of the wider front axle in the first place. Doesn’t make sense

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

A pic of the fenders trimmed, full lock to lock with zero rub on flat surface. Still need to clean up the cut and curves to make the filler plate.

Not sure on uneven surface yet. Will hold off on that until things settle down

 

[flylow4500]

The reason for the wide front axle is so all the wheels can be dually style and the same.
I’m curious what the total width of the front is?
Do you understand the wheel makes a bigger arc with them sticking so far out? You might not have to trim at all if you had more backspacing.

I’ll drop this topic. If you’re happy then I don’t care.

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

I’m curious what the total width of the front is?

93” to outside of tire. Both front and rear, the same now.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

93” to outside of tire. Both front and rear, the same now.

With flares you will be close to 8' wide MONSTER TRUCK??

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

With flares you will be close to 8' wide MONSTER TRUCK??

yeah, same width and height as an earthroamer basically

but a bunch shorter

 

[zb39]

Awesome build. I did this one a couple years ago. Then traded for the super C and 6 months later traded for the 45'DP. I ordered the truck and then got the bed installed and then everything else.and then I do miss the truck and the dual tanks.

 

[jonathon]

Does the 5500 have a center axle disconnect like the 2500/3500?

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Does the 5500 have a center axle disconnect like the 2500/3500?

on the 2019+ yes it does

I THINK (but not sure) the older ones don’t