BoldAdventures 2015 Ram Power Wagon ROCKLANDER Build

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BoldAdventure

BoldAdventure

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Airstream, USA
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 6.4
July 2017 Updates

So, I'm still waiting on my friend Marcus to finish his move to Portland before the major work on the truck begins. In the meantime, I've been just exploring Idaho and SE Oregon more on the weekends and doing some camping with the family to gauge what we need as we move this truck to the next phase. And more towards a hybrid overland/tow rig.

Over Memorial Day weekend, we loaded up the truck and did our first camping trip in years! Wife and I haven't been camping since 2013. We don't really count living in or traveling in the Airstream as camping. (It's more like our mobile house) We attempted to do the Idaho Backcountry Discovery Route, however, most of it was all closed and we got turned around on several sections that were opened by downed trees and washed out roads.

Overall, we had a really great time. Our girls did great and seemed to have a good time.

The trip helped us cement some ideas, about ground tent vs RTT. We're sure now that we do want to build a custom rack and add a RTT to the truck. Ground camping just isn't for us anymore. And we can see ourselves moving from spot to spot a little more frequently.

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We did find a beautiful dispersed spot along the South Fork of the Payette River.

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BoldAdventure

BoldAdventure

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Hemi 6.4
So, we spent two years traveling the country full-time in our Airstream. Then we settled down and bought a house. As such, I wanted to do some more overlanding type camping with our rig. And since we like to rock crawl as well, I figured that we'd call this next phase the:

ROCKLANDER BUILD


Modified Front Bumper

I had some problems with my bumper the way it was. Had a good friend rework all the welds, and weld the back side which originally was not welded. Also removed 2 1/2 inches from the bottom of the bumper.

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Thuren Parts Galore!

Installed Thuren 1.5 inch front Hemi coils, Thuren Rear Trackbar, Thuren Boogie Rated Front Bumpstops and King Steering Stabilizer.

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Also Dodge Off Road Steering Brace

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BoldAdventure

BoldAdventure

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Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 6.4
Second Tire Upgrade

After installing the Thuren 1.5 inch Hemi coil up front, I went ahead and installed Toyo Open Country M/T's in 37x12.50R17

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BoldAdventure

BoldAdventure

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Dethloff MFG Custom Build Stuff

So, my pal Marcus started up a fabrication business and I was to be his first customer. The plan, build me a custom Oil & Transmission skid plate, a custom Rooftop Tent Rack and if time permitted, build a custom rear high clearance bumper. With the long term plan being, that my truck would use prototype parts that Marcus could take to production for other Ram 2500 owners.

I also helped Marcus build his website: dethloffmfg.com - designed by yours truly :tongueout:

Skid Plate

So I dented my transmission skid plate in Moab last May. Ram doesn't offer any protection for this area of the vehicle.

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Marcus spent A LOT of time engineering a solution for my truck. The first prototype
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CUSTOM ROOFTOP TENT RACK - Designed for Ram's with Ram Boxes

No one makes a decent rack for the Ram 2500 with Ram Boxes. Nuthouse kinda sorta makes an overpriced joke, but it's fugly as all get out. And did I mention, OVER PRICED.

My requirements were first that the rack MUST match the design of the cab. It must follow the truck lines. It has to work with my Ram Boxes and I didn't want my tent completely at roof height. And the cross bars need to be removable so I can use my truck as a truck. I can still load a dirt bike or an ATV if need be.

Marcus spent A LOT of time designing and engineering a solution for me. One that he'll take to market shortly for others. This is the rack, the forward section matches the cab contours and clears the 3rd brake light. Custom mounting brackets and only weighs about 100lbs total. Made from 2 inch 120 DOM steel.

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This rack also features custom mounting brackets that allow me to mount the RTT directly to the cross bars. So no need for those stupid cross bars these tents usually come with.

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We also did a weight test. We put myself, my wife, Marcus and my two kids in the tent on the rack. The tent weighs 130lbs and say 690lbs for 3 adults and two kids, so about 820lbs with no bending in the tubes.

The rack underwent a lot of testing before we sent it off to powder coat.

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BoldAdventure

BoldAdventure

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This rack has been thoroughly Moab tested as well during our Labor Day 2017 trip.

No one makes a rack that sits this tightly to the cab
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Ram boxes are completely useable with this rack
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Completely trail worthy!

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I'm extremely happy with how the rack turned out.
 
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BoldAdventure

BoldAdventure

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Hemi 6.4
Electric Upgrades & Communications

So, you could spend like 500 something dollars for an S-Pod thingy because you can't wire, or you could spend $65 dollars and learn to do some basic wiring. Those S-Pods do not have $500's worth of electronics in them. Sorry, it's relays and switches. There is a level of the amount I'd personally pay for ease of installation.

I've been meaning to upgrade my wiring for awhile. It was looking a tad nasty. So I spent some time cleaning things up. I also had a few new items to wire up. Such as the new Baja Designs lights and a new Yaesu ham radio.

I installed a RIGrunner 4005 to power the 12v accessories inside the truck. Not pictured, not only am I using the RIGrunner, but I used about 5 relays throughout the system. The large Anderson connector is for connecting other accessories, such as solar or my portable air compressors.

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I love beautiful connectors. :)

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My switch panel install, lovely OE look.

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RADIO

To step up my communications game, I picked up a Yaesu FT-8900R and Larson NMO 2/70B antenna.

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BoldAdventure

BoldAdventure

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Final Touches


Painting

Since we modified the front bumper all the paint got removed. I considered for a good while powder coating the front bumper. But I scratched the hell out of it in Moab. So I decided the painting the bumper with a high-quality automotive paint might be a better idea. I etched the metal and used Eastwood Two Part Rat Rod Satin Black. I LOVE THE WAY it turned out. I also took the time to touch up my sliders, since they were scratched to hell and back also.

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I finally got some new lights for the front bumper. Picked up a pair Baja Designs Squadron Sport S. They compliment the bumper very nicely.

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And as you might have noticed, I replaced the front winch hook with a Factor55 Flatlink E. In safety orange of course.
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Trolling IRL

To cap it all off, I had a set of these custom decals made to replace the White Knuckle logo on my sliders.

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BoldAdventure

BoldAdventure

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Moab Labor Day Weekend

Moab Testing - Labor Day Weekend (2017)

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I frequent Moab quite a bit. So all this stuff needed some durability testing. And I can't think of a better place to test things, than a weekend trip to Moab. This past Labor Day, I took the family down to Moab to test all our new modifications. We were just there in May, so everything is was still fresh in our minds.

We had a great time camping, hiking, and rock crawling in this magical place.

I put together a fun little video of our time in Moab
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwHi4sgfKWE

Flexing on the Pickle!

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The 37's made quick work of obstacles on Seven Mile Rim.

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THE PICKLE

We tackled some new trails, and as far as I know, I am now the SECOND Power Wagon to have tackled the first obstacle on the PICKLE. And I'd just like to brag a little more, but this is one of the hardest trails in Moab. :flipthebird:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y088OZhRsKA

Sadly, we went home with some damage when we got to the second obstacle and had to turn around.

Sadly though, our attempt left some marks when we got to the second obstacle. See the video of damage here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BYpNMJih2Kv/?taken-by=herboldadventure

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Odin

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2015 2500
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Hemi 6.4L
The build looks sweet man!! I didn't have the scratch for the PW when I got my 2500.

I'm gonna slowly make it PW capable through ordering g a few parts from DOR.

Had a question though about your buddies fab shop. Do you think he'd be able to make some rock sliders that would work with the AMP power steps?

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BoldAdventure

BoldAdventure

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I think I'm getting another one that says Tacomas are tasty, or something similar...
 
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BoldAdventure

BoldAdventure

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Apparently, I've got a bunch of broken images to fix. I will have to take care of that!

In the meantime, I've started a video series on our build.

The first video is up, detailing why we chose the Power Wagon. Working on the next video going over our mods to our truck, some of my thoughts on the parts. And the third video will detail our overlanding/camp setup. And the fourth one, I plan on detailing upcoming mods, such as axle truss, gears, king shocks, etc.

 
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BoldAdventure

BoldAdventure

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Did a little adventuring this weekend with some local guys. Great bunch of guys, some awesome rigs.

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Also just published part 2 of my Rocklander Build videos, discussing all the mods on the truck.


 

pwjouster

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need help understanding your exhaust.

i also am going for a high tuck crawler exhaust and want to mimic your system...

stock muffler in place?
only the reso is chopped off and where is the magnaflow muffler? i dont see it tucked anywhere
 

Odin

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Hemi 6.4L
I'm curious to know how you got this muffler to work... It's the wrong diameter for the 2500 6.4, unless your PW is the 5.7? They musta done some serious tweaking with your pipes and changing diameters.

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Odin

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need help understanding your exhaust.

i also am going for a high tuck crawler exhaust and want to mimic your system...

stock muffler in place?
only the reso is chopped off and where is the magnaflow muffler? i dont see it tucked anywhere
They didn't do anything special. All they did was delete the resonator and put the tip right off what was left of the resonator piping after they cut it off.

The muffler is in the same place as it is stock.

If you go to his first post on the exhaust you will see where it's located.

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