Project Land Yacht! Full size Dodge Diesel 4 door

[Outback]

Tuesday I will be ordering my AT Flippac. Before she gets installed I will have my bed Rhino lined. I will also be ordering an AmsOil dual oil bypass filtration system. I will also order trans and transfercase fluid, differential gear lube and enough bearing grease to repack my bearings with. The dual oil bypass filtration system filters your entire oil capacity in 10 minutes. Its like changing your oil every 10 minutes while driving! Next I will be installing the Power Wagon Skid Plates. I hope to get the Carli 2.0 Performance suspension system installed sometime after I have the Flippac put on. So stay tuned and post any suggestions for me if you have them.

 

[Heimz]

The BFG AT's are a great tire, make sure to rotate them often and stay on top of the air pressures when running them on Dodge HD's. For whatever reason, Dodge solid axle trucks do not like the 315/70 BFG's. After some miles rack up on them, the tires induce a harmonic into the front axle after a small "hit" and you'll get the infamous Death Wobble. Doesn't mean the BFG's are bad, quite contrary as they excel on many other rigs including Jeeps and other trucks. Unfortunately, the tires just dont jive with our 5-link front ends.

You should be more than happy with a Performance 2.0 system, I suggest taking the stock truck through some really bad streets or dirt and see how it handles dips, drainage culverts, and potholes. Then do the same run after installing the 2.0 system. I guarantee a smile from ear to ear.

Nice talking with you, let us know if you have more questions about the kit or anything regarding the installation we discussed.

Shaun @ Carli

 

[Outback]

Thanks for the info. My BFGs are 285 70R 17. I measured them today and they are 33" tall. I agree the 2.0 will really help things out in the on and off road department. My wife and I just spent the last seven days driving 12 hours each day only stopping for fuel and checking the chains tension. I wish I had a better on road suspension! BUT for a stock truck the Dodges are pretty good. Cant wait for the Carli set up!

 

[Regcabguy]

I'd look into Glacier Diesel Products 2-Micron+ Big Line kit for your truck before the Amsoil oil filter. Your engine with stock filtration and good oil will outlive the truck. The fuel quality in the US is what will kill the injectors and then the engine. Super easy install. A Baldwin PF7977 5-micron exact fit drop in fuel filter will clean your fuel better than the 7-micron Fleetguard stocker. Bosch approved.

 

[sapper]

Do you have the hub conversion done on this truck? Just curious about doing it to mine when I get closer to the end of the warrenty.

 

[Outback]

Hey Sapper,
No I dont but my friend did. He gets exactly 2.0 MPG better fuel economy! I will do the conversion but will wait a bit.

 

[Outback]

REGCABGUY,
Thanks for this info. I will be doing this as well. Thanks for the tip. I also love there Arctic heater kit which improves airflow 40% over stock!

 

[Outback]

For some reason my mileage has jumped up about 4 mpg over the last 10K miles. I checked my gallons per mile after I fill up and try and fill up to the exact spot in the fill neck. Thats just below the over flow hole in the side of the fill tube. I have not done anything different. I have not installed anything different. Could the motor have just finally broken in? When I first purchased the Dodge with this Bluetech I was not very happy with the mileage. It was about the same as my Dodge Power Wagon! Then she slowly started to get better and better fuel economy. Then she pretty much topped out at about 18 MPG. Now she has jumped up again? Im not complaining. In fact I very pleased! Im sure a lift and larger tires will effect her in the MPG area but if I do the hub conversion I hope to negate any loss with the other mods. Please keep your ideas coming in! Its really helping me focus on what is needed for overall peformance of my Land Yacht!

 

[Outback]

Just ordered my Power Wagon front skid plate. $42.60 delivered. It should arrive sometime next week. Unfortunately I will be on the road again and wont be back home till about the end of the month. By that time my Amsoil fluids should arrive along with my Baldwin 5 micron fuel filter. I will hold off on the dual oil filtration system and just go with the Amsoil replacement filter for now. I really like the Glacier 2 micron fuel filter but need to check if it will affect my warranty. But for now the 5 micron filter will be an upgrade over the stock unit. I also like the idea of the Arctic heater relocation kit by Glacier! 40% increase in airflow. Im sure that would affect warranty issues. I might have all of those done at the same time at there shop.

 

[milo12]

Nice build here is a pic of my truck, similar to yours.

Note the jeeps in the background. They don't like the fact that I can do everything they can do and be far more comfortable doing it. I can also get to the trail in far more comfort and bring more stuff.

Don't let the naysayers tell you your truck is too big. I am not rockcrawling so the size doesn't hurt as much as people claim. In fact the long wheelbase usually helps going over ledges etc. A jeep with real tires is just as wide as my truck, what hurts more than anything is the larger turning radius. that has never stopped me but has led to some 3 point turns.

I have a couple recommendations. Go with 37 inch tires. they fit no problem and really help. There is a discussion here. http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/6-7-liter-general-discussion/294961-tires-opinions-wanted.html

Make your own full skid plates. The Dodge ones are a waste of money and provide no protection (too flimsy for a 9000 lb truck). What look like steps on my truck are not really there for steps, but they make a great step. They provide tons of protection to the doors and sides. Our doors are very susceptible to damage. The door curves all the way around the bottom. If you hit anything, even dirt, you may not be able to open or close the door. I have seen it numerous times. Our transfer case and trans are other areas that need protection. I made a 1/4 inch thick steel plate that protects everything from the driveshaft forward.

Good luck with your build.

 

[Capt Eddie]

Have you given any thought to a flatbed?

 

[Outback]

MILO12,
Thanks for your input. I ordered just the front skid plate which I think will be just fine for the front axle and steering dampner. I agree with the idea of building my own skid plates for the trans and transfer case. I also am installing an Arrow 75 gallon fuel tank so a custom skid plate for there as well. I think I will have Wayne Hanson build me up some out of 1/4" plate. Thanks for the suggestion. I will check out the 37" tire thread too. Your sill protector / steps are very cool! Can you post some more pics here?


CAPT EDDIE,
I have thought about a flat bed. But the Flippac is just the ticket for me and the family outback. Do you have an idea for a flat bed camper?

 

[sapper]

MILO12,
Thanks for your input. I ordered just the front skid plate which I think will be just fine for the front axle and steering dampner. I agree with the idea of building my own skid plates for the trans and transfer case. I also am installing an Arrow 75 gallon fuel tank so a custom skid plate for there as well. I think I will have Wayne Hanson build me up some out of 1/4" plate. Thanks for the suggestion. I will check out the 37" tire thread too. Your sill protector / steps are very cool! Can you post some more pics here?


CAPT EDDIE,
I have thought about a flat bed. But the Flippac is just the ticket for me and the family outback. Do you have an idea for a flat bed camper?

I saw a sweet one recently that had a service body in place of the factory box and the bins greatly increased the storage capacity. In front of each wheels are round spare tire holders so the tires are flush with the side of the truck. He was running 19.5" wheels. It was slick.

 

[Capt Eddie]

I have plenty of ideas. The first would be a flatbed with aluminum boxes about 10 inches deep and the height nessacary to get the flippac above the cab. You would get the camper. Take off the bed. Put on a flat bed. Them measure for the boxes. Order the boxes from Builder Products. Bolt them in place. Boxes under the bed also. Boxes can be custom made with no upcharge.

 

[Outback]

That sound like a good idea. For this build I am going to stay within a certain budget. Maybe I can do something like that on a Toyota build. If anyone has pictures of something like this please post up.