My truck started out going one direction, then some things changed and now going a completely different way with it. A little history, a few years ago I bought my first diesel. A dang near new 1997 F250 Crew Cab…. I loved that truck. It had gone from 100% stock to 100% OMFG in the 10 years I had it. Along the way found a bunch of other like minded Ford owners, which progressed to diesel truck guys, which progressed to getting on a diesel drag truck team, which led me to the National Hot Rod Diesel Assoc, where I eventually became race director. Ultimately that truck was cursed with electrical problems and would just shut down where ever it wanted to, every sensor replaced ect ect and I traded it in on a 2006 Dodge Ram. I was REALLY sad to see it go. Then life got in the way and started though a divorce, too many hours at work and couldn’t keep doing the racing thing, but the truck was originally going to be BUILT for drag racing and truck pulling. Fast forward a couple years…. A buddy I met through some other diesel junkies started working for Carli Suspension. Then was posting pictures on his blog ect ect, he moved to Baja and spent almost every day in the dirt traveling all over the peninsula logging thousands of miles. That just sparked something inside me and right then and there I knew what I was going to do with my truck.
So some information on the truck….
2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab 3500
Cummins engine, “mostly” stock (injectors and headstuds)
48RE Automatic transmission, stock for now except for Mag Hytec deep pan, it will be built this year or early next.
Stock transfer case and drive lines
Front axle…
Fully trussed AAM 9.25 with 4.10’s, ARB locker, dynatrack ball joints and ’08 steering upgrade, and Thuren TRE replacement, Thuren lower steering stabilizer, and Carli upper stabilizer, Red Head steering box, Carli diff cover with lower stabilizer mount (so stabilizers oppose each other), high angle mount for upper stabilizer
Rear axle...
Grizzly locker and 4.10's...
Front suspension…
Thuren Alien long arms, Thuren shock towers, Thuren torsion bar and links, Carli limit straps, Thuren tuned Stage 6+ 2.5″ King remote resi shocks.
Rear suspension….
Thuren Long travel leafs, Thuren long travel shackles, Thuren tuned Stage 6+ 2.5″ King bypass shocks with piggybacks. Will be adding Carli rear shocks mounts, the factory ones are known to tear off.
Other stuff…
37×12.5×17 Maxxis Trepadors
Power Wagon OEM wheels (VERY strong and cheap)
AirDog 100 fuel/water filtration system
Uniden pro xl 520
Creative Fabrication winch bumper
Baja Designs 44" Onyx
Warn VR 12,000 with ASR 7/16" 80' line and TJM hook.
CJC Offroad spare tire hold down (37″ will not fit between frame rails)
Protech aluminum tool box (with spare axles, oil, water, and enough tools to disassemble your truck)
EBC brakes, stainless brake lines...
Painless Wiring fuse block
Blue Sea 150a cutoff switch
ARB dual compressor and 1 gal. tank
The truck pretty much rides like a truck on the street, though handling is amazing compared to what it was. Off road the truck just floats, it will cruise nicely in the dirt, but also get up to speed and handle it with no issues. I’ve hit 1-2′ bumps at 75+ mph and you don’t really notice them. And before anyone asks yes it will be getting a roll cage, as well as suspension seats ect. But it is being built go from point A to point B no matter what the terrain is between (to a certain extent).
