"Need" is a funny word. I have found I could have really used lockers only a couple times so far. Once in the snow, and once thinking a black diamond jeep trail was a good idea. I got through the jeep trail, but it wasn't easy or fun. I am in a 08' Megacab on 35s for reference. The rear LSD is pretty much garbage when it is needed. It works great when it is not.
New, slow build. Do all 2015 Ram Cummins turbo diesel. 37s and 550hp.
- Thread starter Trophycummins
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"Need" is a funny word. I have found I could have really used lockers only a couple times so far. Once in the snow, and once thinking a black diamond jeep trail was a good idea. I got through the jeep trail, but it wasn't easy or fun. I am in a 08' Megacab on 35s for reference. The rear LSD is pretty much garbage when it is needed. It works great when it is not.
Trophycummins
Adventurer
If I ever put a locker in my truck (which is a possibility), I will leave the oem rear lsd, and put an ARB air locker in the front, or perhaps the eaten e locker out of a PW.
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madakira
Observer
Nice truck man! I used to have a dodge with a full thuren set up also! I probably had mine set up right around the time Dom started working on his whale. Both of you guys have nice trucks and make me want to get back into one. I was living in Camarillo at the time, so you may have seen it around the county. I am looking to build another dodge expo truck now that I see yours. I sold my old Dodge because the back seat space was just too small, but ow with the crew cabs, I want to get back into one.
Trophycummins
Adventurer
Thanks!
I actually met Dom through the gun world, before he set up fine line tactical. We shoot together about once a month.
The new trucks are great. I couldn't ask for more. They ride great on the highway once you get rid of the stock front end. The suspension is also relatively cheap to build compared to leaf sprung setups.
In these new trucks, there's no need for a mega, aside from the flat folding seats.
I don't know how hard you plan to beat on it, but my biggest hurdle right now is building a rack for my RTT that's "boogie rated"
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madakira
Observer
I used to run my truck pretty hard. I had the Thuren Stage 6 set up. Took it on whoops, jumps, everything. But I think now I am planning on doing the old man expo thing. I don't know own if I could afford a boogie rated truck.
I will have to get out with you guys some time. I just purchase a Tavor from his brother's shop. I am thinking on a Glock next, or maybe a Socom16. Not sure. I have also had my eye on a remington 700.
I HAVE A 13 2500 CTD AND PLAN TO FOLLOW A SIMILAR SETUP AS YOURS. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THE CARLI OR THUREN AND THINK A THUREN 3" LEVEL, TRACK BAR AND SOME DEAVERS OUT BACK WILL DO EVERYTHING I NEED THE TRUCK TO DO. I LIVE IN OHIO SO SNOW AND MUD ARE AROUND AND WANT TO THROW A RTT IN THE BACK, LOAD UP AND DRIVE OUR NEXT YEAR FOR AN ELK HUNT IN COLORADO OR MONTANA, THEN THROUGH NEVADA SEE SOME MINING TOWNS AND GHOST TOWNS, AND DOWN TO ARIZONA TO THE GRAND CANYON, MORE GHOST TOWNS AND HOME.
Trophycummins
Adventurer
That's hilarious. Small world man. I used to date the redhead that works at GD. That's how I came to meet mike, and subsequently Dom.
Over actor, I'm not familiar with the 4 link front suspensions in the 2013s unfortunately, but thurens gear is top notch. I just don't think you'll be able to fit 37s on the 3" kit.
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gunpainter
Observer
I keep looking at all the things i'd like to do to my truck to give me the capability of something I 'might' do, but i'm not sure whether it's really even something that I 'need' to do to accomplish it. I don't see me doing hardcore crazy rock crawling, moab type stuff. That doesn't really interest me. I mostly just want to get into places where I can camp with the kids, although it would be nice having the option of knowing that the truck is capable of pretty much anything I decide I need it to do.
That's the type of road I had to drive up to get to an awesome camping spot with the family about 2 weeks ago now. I got up in a basically stock ram 3500 MC (just found out this week I actually have a LSD in the rear, which explains why I had no traction issues in 2 spots i woulda swore i'd have a problem). If the road were any worse, i'm not sure I would have attempted it. At this point, part of me thinks that if I put some sway bar disconnects on the front, that would improve it's capabilities just a hair, but also maybe make the truck rock side to side a little less?
Is there really any reason why I would need a lot of upgrades to improve capability? I can understand a lot of you guys getting really great shocks for hauling butt around the desert, but you aren't gonna be doing 60mph on most of the 1 lane mountain trails in Colorado I don't think. I just don't want to spend thousands on a suspension I don't need to get where I wanna go. I came close to a front e-locker, but I keep getting told i'm not likely to take it anywhere where i'm going to 'need' that locker to get there.
I might just be overthinking it all, as I get older I have been doing a lot less impulse shopping, and weighing what it is that makes me want something. Should I just do what I want, or upgrade only when I find out that there is a limitation? I worry that the time I find out I need lockers, or a lift, or 37" tires will be the time I have to spend a fortune to get a recovery vehicle way up a tough path to get my butt out of a situation.
Branden
That's the type of road I had to drive up to get to an awesome camping spot with the family about 2 weeks ago now. I got up in a basically stock ram 3500 MC (just found out this week I actually have a LSD in the rear, which explains why I had no traction issues in 2 spots i woulda swore i'd have a problem). If the road were any worse, i'm not sure I would have attempted it. At this point, part of me thinks that if I put some sway bar disconnects on the front, that would improve it's capabilities just a hair, but also maybe make the truck rock side to side a little less?
Is there really any reason why I would need a lot of upgrades to improve capability? I can understand a lot of you guys getting really great shocks for hauling butt around the desert, but you aren't gonna be doing 60mph on most of the 1 lane mountain trails in Colorado I don't think. I just don't want to spend thousands on a suspension I don't need to get where I wanna go. I came close to a front e-locker, but I keep getting told i'm not likely to take it anywhere where i'm going to 'need' that locker to get there.
I might just be overthinking it all, as I get older I have been doing a lot less impulse shopping, and weighing what it is that makes me want something. Should I just do what I want, or upgrade only when I find out that there is a limitation? I worry that the time I find out I need lockers, or a lift, or 37" tires will be the time I have to spend a fortune to get a recovery vehicle way up a tough path to get my butt out of a situation.
Branden
Trophycummins
Adventurer
Lift: I only run the minimum size lift I need in order to run the size tire I want to run without rubbing. But, not having a lot of lift, does not mean not having aftermarket suspension. Our trucks are work well in stock form, but the articulation/travel is hindered. A stock suspended truck will probably get to the same places as a truck with built suspension(within the realm of Ram reality, we're not talking about a competiition rock crawler that gets more traction with different shock valving), it just wont do it as fast and it wont do it as comfortably.
Those of us that run big shocks arent only doing it for the high speed desert stuff, it makes these trucks ride like cadillacs on the highway.
Tire size: 37s work better than 35s, the difference is definitely measurable. BUT the question is do you need it for your purposes? I have 37s on my truck because it makes it easier on the truck when i'm slamming curb height ruts on the trail at 45 mph. If all I wanted to do was "get there" I'd probably have some 35" toyo MT's or Goodyear MT/R's, the truck would have better road manners that way too. Dont forget to air down either, the traction difference from 45 psi to 20psi is insane.
Lockers: Lockers are insurance. Especially when youre still learning to drive offroad and picking the right line isnt 100%. A front locker in my opinion would be a necessity for me with the type of terrain you posted.
Want more insurance? Get a winch with a capacity of 1.5 of your trucks GVWR and learn to rig it.
On the third gen trucks, 315 -70/17 will fit on a stock lift. You could probably tuck 37's with the longer arms if you really wanted. The body is a much bigger problem then the fenders up front.
The progressive front springs get the bumper that much further out of the dirt and ride a whole lot better. I hit bumps a few times without trying very hard with the stock set up. With the springs and the 2.0 shocks I have to try a lot harder to find the stops. I see my front shocks clean but I never feel and big hits.
I need to disconnect my sway bar next time out on the trail to see how it improves the front flex. Looking back that might have helped greatly on the last trail I took.
The progressive front springs get the bumper that much further out of the dirt and ride a whole lot better. I hit bumps a few times without trying very hard with the stock set up. With the springs and the 2.0 shocks I have to try a lot harder to find the stops. I see my front shocks clean but I never feel and big hits.
I need to disconnect my sway bar next time out on the trail to see how it improves the front flex. Looking back that might have helped greatly on the last trail I took.
BruiserCruiser
Observer
Great looking rig! I just purchased a 2016 Ram 2500 6.4 CC. I love it so far, came from a 2005 land Cruiser. They are pretty decent off road with just some good off road tires and the right air pressure I can go pretty much anywhere my cruiser did, of course with a little more caution because of the size difference.
Trophycummins
Adventurer
Worked a little bit on designing my rack today. Truck goes monday for the TRE replacement. RTT gets ordered friday, rack construction next saturday hopefully.
Construction will be 1.75x.120 wall DOM, bent on our JD squared model 32, and notched on a bailegh tn-250 notcher. I'm going to TIG weld everything.
Trying to keep it lightweight and functional. I still need to design attachment points for acessories. They will probably be made of flat plate because I have a waterjet.
Things that will be done to the rack:
Traction aid mount (maxtrac?)
shovel mount
RTT mounts on roof
hook attachment points on bottom of rack to cover contents of bed with a tarp
rearward facing 20" light bar for use as an amber dust light (I travel in groups sometimes and this is a required item)
passenger side facing camp lights (rigid industries 1x2 scene lights)
ARB awning
Roadshower (maybe, I have a brand new one at work, but they want $200 for it and I'm cheap)
Construction will be 1.75x.120 wall DOM, bent on our JD squared model 32, and notched on a bailegh tn-250 notcher. I'm going to TIG weld everything.
Trying to keep it lightweight and functional. I still need to design attachment points for acessories. They will probably be made of flat plate because I have a waterjet.
Things that will be done to the rack:
Traction aid mount (maxtrac?)
shovel mount
RTT mounts on roof
hook attachment points on bottom of rack to cover contents of bed with a tarp
rearward facing 20" light bar for use as an amber dust light (I travel in groups sometimes and this is a required item)
passenger side facing camp lights (rigid industries 1x2 scene lights)
ARB awning
Roadshower (maybe, I have a brand new one at work, but they want $200 for it and I'm cheap)
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Trophycummins
Adventurer
Question: if all I want to do is run usb electronics in my tent, any benefit to running a third isolated 42ah battery vs 50ah of portable power packs?
obviously, my truck has dual batts from the factory. So in order for me to run power which is charged by my charging system (440amp system), I'd have to buy two group 65 batteries to match the starting batts. I'm thinking of just adding some more usb outlets in the dash and getting a couple 25ah power packs to charge phones and run rope lights in the RTT.
The downside? I can't jump start myself with a power pack unless I get an xp10.
And because we all like pictures, here's one from last December.
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obviously, my truck has dual batts from the factory. So in order for me to run power which is charged by my charging system (440amp system), I'd have to buy two group 65 batteries to match the starting batts. I'm thinking of just adding some more usb outlets in the dash and getting a couple 25ah power packs to charge phones and run rope lights in the RTT.
The downside? I can't jump start myself with a power pack unless I get an xp10.
And because we all like pictures, here's one from last December.
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legendaryandrew
Adventurer
How long you planning to sit in one place? My tablet runs 9hrs of use about, maybe 6 watching movies, and charging it off the factory charging system has pretty low impact. My point being, you shouldn't need anything extra. Unless you plan to sit over a week without starting your truck once. Either way, I vote power pack. More versatile, less cost, less space.