Another Ram 3500 build...
- Thread starter blackdmax15
- Start date
Buddha.
Finally in expo white.
blackdmax15
Observer
My only experience is on road so far. I never drove it stock so I cannot talk a true comparison, but it rides as nice as my Yukon XL Denali with airbags in the rear. I’m waiting to take it off-road and maybe this weekend i’ll Get a chance. Pot holes that jar my teeth in the Yukon (San Diego roads are AFU), are just a nuisance in the truck. Expansion joints etc are smooth. For a work truck on 37s i’m Extremely impressed. It’s the 1.75” coils up front so there is still a slight rake nose down and I love it. Some of this may be due to the larger tires making the small road holes smaller? It is hands down the smoothest riding truck I have driven and I have driven new KR Fords and new Denali 1500s and I prefer this. I still think the Ford is a better truck (flame away), but I like the simplicity and price so far. Or maybe i’m trying to justify my new toy and making it sound better? If you are in SoCal come drive it and decide.
blackdmax15
Observer
I believe Cole said that 1in 5 Ram trucks that they have their gear vendor modify has a Torsen style diff in the front. Said one can only find out when they open it?
blackdmax15
Observer
This was reply from Asfir. Looks like rumor is true and I don’t feel like finding out if the gas tank skid will fit haha.
blackdmax15
Observer
Got the truck Line-Xed on Friday. Worked on where to put all of our kit. Pretty tight so exploring options of putting the dots on top of the tonneau along with fire pit and fire wood. If I place the 3 cots flat on top of each other, maybe a surfboard cover would protect them from the elements? My other thought was to buy canvas and figure out how to sew heavy material?
Attachments
blackdmax15
Observer
Shovel, ax, broom and CO2 tank are going in this week/weekend and will be mounted via Quickfists. Should I use stainless bolts, or are galvanized self tapping metal screws good enough to mount? The CO2 tank only weighs 25# and will be mounted with two straps that are rated to 50#s a piece. Mounted sideways, they should not have an issue. Thoughts?
Bubba rope and military folding shovel fit underneath rear seat with tool rolls. One cubbie will house tie downs and other bungees, and the other will hold the 4000amp Noco Genius battery booster for emergencies (aka jumping everyone’s car but mine...).
To do list still includes rock lights, aux front lights and deciding whether to just do gears or gears and front electric locker. Looking at 30” BD dual control front LED light bar. Degradation of the cooling system doesn’t seem to be a big factor on most forums and I don’t plan on towing heavy. If so I can just remove the bar. A CJC guy said he recommends buying a take off front bumper from a truck with factory fogs, and just running 2 sets of squadron Pros from BD. He said the light bars are just too damn bright and unless you run it through a dimming switch, they are moderately useless. I plan on using my factor upfitter switches so dimming is out.
Bubba rope and military folding shovel fit underneath rear seat with tool rolls. One cubbie will house tie downs and other bungees, and the other will hold the 4000amp Noco Genius battery booster for emergencies (aka jumping everyone’s car but mine...).
To do list still includes rock lights, aux front lights and deciding whether to just do gears or gears and front electric locker. Looking at 30” BD dual control front LED light bar. Degradation of the cooling system doesn’t seem to be a big factor on most forums and I don’t plan on towing heavy. If so I can just remove the bar. A CJC guy said he recommends buying a take off front bumper from a truck with factory fogs, and just running 2 sets of squadron Pros from BD. He said the light bars are just too damn bright and unless you run it through a dimming switch, they are moderately useless. I plan on using my factor upfitter switches so dimming is out.
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Tex68w
Beach Bum
I have the BD fog pocket kit bracket to run two lights in the factory location, I believe @marshal has this as well. The factory fogs aren't terrible, in fact they are much better than the crap headlights. I haven't installed mine yet, but I am going to run a BD Squadron Sport Wide Cornering in white on the outside to act as fog lights off of the factory fog switch and the inner light will be a BD Squadron Pro Driving Combo in amber and it will be run off of the Switch Pros panel. This is a great option for someone who has no plans to run a light bar or aftermarket bumper.
I want to eventually run an aftermarket front bumper for better break over and clearance for larger tires, but at the moment there is only one bumper available that replaces the factory unit without forcing you to relocate the winch from between the frame rails to the bumper itself. The issue for myself is that it doesn't have an option for the front parking sensors and I am not sure that I like the look of it all that much. Expo1 is coming out soon with one that does the same and offers the parking sensors, but they haven't gotten the rear sensors to work correctly so I have little faith that the front will work as it should.
I want to eventually run an aftermarket front bumper for better break over and clearance for larger tires, but at the moment there is only one bumper available that replaces the factory unit without forcing you to relocate the winch from between the frame rails to the bumper itself. The issue for myself is that it doesn't have an option for the front parking sensors and I am not sure that I like the look of it all that much. Expo1 is coming out soon with one that does the same and offers the parking sensors, but they haven't gotten the rear sensors to work correctly so I have little faith that the front will work as it should.
marshal
Burrito Enthusiast
FYI, the wire on the stock harness is good for 65 watts. the Pros are 40 watts and the squadrons are 20 watts. easily doable to run both at the same time. I'm running my pros on the street off of the stock switch with no issues.
blackdmax15
Observer
That’s good to know as I believe the OnX6 30” bar is well above that. Maybe the dual control each is under 65 watts. Anyone have a granite crystal or black front bumper with factory fog light holes?..
blackdmax15
Observer
No clue honestly. That is a picture of the response they sent above. Says maybe the gas tank skid would work. I’m more worried about the engine than the gas tank honestly.
Tex68w
Beach Bum
I own both and I agree with you. The Ram rides better, no question. Even with Fox 2.5 coil overs and Sulastic shackles my Alumiduty can't touch the PW with the Thuren coils. I also agree that the Ford is the better truck. It comes down to build quality and overall design, the Ford is simply the better truck. New entries from Ram this coming year and Chevy as well could very well change that.
Hhmmm...well what does that leave for skid plate options then? Have you heard of any other vendors selling stuff?
Well for all the woes/issues they've had in years past with their HD trucks, and considering how big their global presence is, they damn well should have a better-built truck. I actually like Ford's innovation and quality. I think the Ranger is a solid vehicle. I do like the newer F-250/350's. I think the fandom which surrounds Ford gets a little out of hand, but that can be said for just about any major car company.
Ram has always struck me as the value option. They still make very good work trucks, but they've generally been a bit more spartan compared to Ford. And I'm honestly fine with that. I really don't want/need the nth degree of luxury and refinement in a work truck (like what Ford does in their higher trim levels).
Tex68w
Beach Bum
I am lucky enough to have both in the driveway and I appreciate both for very different reasons. The Ford is a KR and has every bell and whistle imaginable and while they aren't all necessary they sure are nice to have on long road trips and since it is used as the DD. The Ram cost nearly $20K less and it shows, but we bought it in a lower trim level on purpose. It is to be used as the camp rig, hunting truck, dog hauler, overland tool, etc. I prefer a simpler platform with less to go wrong for a vehicle that will be used in such a manner and it fits the bill nicely for that intended purpose. In all honesty, if it weren't for the PW I would have never purchased a Ram, we would have simply built an XL or XLT diesel 4x4 instead, but the PW goodies lured us in and in the end I am glad that we purchased it. It's also nice to not have two diesel maintenance bills as well.