Overcome by Overland...Slow Expo Dodge Ram 2007 Build!

[rbgerrish]

I can no longer resist the urge to begin Expo'ing my Dodge. It's like some horrible wonderful virus that consumes my thoughts! Anyhow, I'll be starting slow and mild, but I wanted to track my progress with an official thread. Here's what I'm planning: (It's a 5.9 2500 6 Speed, 44k miles.)

- Front protection, most likely an ARB, with an extra skid to protect the diesel bits.
- Skids, perhaps power wagon or custom.
- Bed drawers and sleeping platform, lights, onboard air and water.
- Rear bumper with dual swing aways, fuel rack and cargo box.
- Cargo rack

I'll be building the rear bumper. As much as I love the Aluminess unit, I cant spend that much. I've already ordered the joints for the swing aways.

I've thought about an ICON 2.5" leveling/suspension kit, but I cant decide yet.

Here's the truck stock:

Then I scored an ARE Commercial canopy on craigslist for $300. It's got "Taco Truck" sides, mesh security grating over the windows, and some insulation. I'll be adding more. the stock Michelins are terrible, so after much research I went with Hankook Dynatrac ATMs in load range E, 285's. Love them!

Up next is building a better bed platform (I have a temporary one in there now), and planning the rear bumper.

Thanks for looking! Love the forum!
Ryan

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Nice score on the camper shell...gotta love craigs list!!!

 

[sdwhip]

Nice truck. I'll be watching your build and future comments on your tires as the Hankooks are one of my main considerations on tire choice for my 2500 next spring. If they continue to do well or if you have any negative experiences with them post your comments.

 

[Regcabguy]

You're in Thuren country. He resides in Bend now and can dial you in pretty inexpensively. With just a shell,drawers, etc you don't need the whole shebang. www.thurenfabrication.com. He's a one man show but will return calls within 24 hrs.

www.dieselpowerproducts.com is an authorized Carli distributor in Spokane also.

 

[rbgerrish]

Nice truck. I'll be watching your build and future comments on your tires as the Hankooks are one of my main considerations on tire choice for my 2500 next spring. If they continue to do well or if you have any negative experiences with them post your comments.

Thanks! I did a bunch of searching, and the Discount Tire website has many reviews of these Hankooks on Diesel trucks, mostly very positive reviews! So far they have done quite well in rain and normal street driving, and a bit of sand.

 

[colodak]

someone in the Toyota section did a really nice buildup of a commercial topper like that, heavily modifying it to allow for a RTT and other items to the topper

 

[RU55ELL]

Good looking truck! Also, what's the story on the Unimog?

 

[WillSucceed]

Love it. That camper shell is awesome, especially for $300. I little bit of extra height without being huge and very sturdy so you can mount whatever you want on or in it. The only downside I see to it is no screened windows... which could always be changed.

 

[rbgerrish]

My plan was to have the back half of the space under the sleeping platform contain the auxilary power, air and water systems, and the front half (closest to the tailgate) be slide out drawers. I'd like to run air quick-connects to each side of the canopy to be accessed through ports, like this:

Same with the water, although maybe just one side.

I plan to build a cargo rack to go around/over the canopy, and have it incorporate light mounts, tool mounts, tie downs, awning and all that.

The mog is our 404 Doka:

Thanks!

 

[Fish]

A couple of things to think about. First, I second the recommendation for Thuren or Carli. Oh, and last I saw Thuren's website had not been updated in some time. His Facebook page was just started today. He now has an "overlanding" kit, as does Carli.

You're planning to sleep in the shell and build a swing away tire carrier. How will you close the tire carrier when you're in the shell? Or, if someone closes it on you, how will you get out? I have a very similar set up and have been pondering that question. I do occasionally stealth camp in my truck and can't figure out a good way to deal with a swing out.

 

[lstzephyr]

When I camped in the back of my dodge I just climbed through the cab/cap window to get into the back. That way there was no outside sign that I was even in the truck.

 

[Fish]

When I camped in the back of my dodge I just climbed through the cab/cap window to get into the back. That way there was no outside sign that I was even in the truck.

Not so easy with no sliding window.

 

[rbgerrish]

A couple of things to think about. First, I second the recommendation for Thuren or Carli. Oh, and last I saw Thuren's website had not been updated in some time. His Facebook page was just started today. He now has an "overlanding" kit, as does Carli.

You're planning to sleep in the shell and build a swing away tire carrier. How will you close the tire carrier when you're in the shell? Or, if someone closes it on you, how will you get out? I have a very similar set up and have been pondering that question. I do occasionally stealth camp in my truck and can't figure out a good way to deal with a swing out.

I'll look into the "overlanding kit" offered by Thuren and Carli, thanks!

The swing-away I'm building will hold fuel cans on one side and probably a locking box on the other for my generator.The spare is staying under the truck. I'm going to try to keep the boxes low enough so that the rear hatch of the canopy can open with the swings closed... We'll see how planning goes!

 

[Scott Brady]

Fun build on a nice truck. Thanks for posting the progress

 

[lstzephyr]

Not so easy with no sliding window.

Oh right, I forgot about that whole modern truck thing.