2014 RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab

hodge-xj said:

Yea, idk enough about the "rules" of set up, I'll talk to the techs when the time comes. How's the top of the fender clearance? I know my 315s rubbed.

I'm starting to see more and more of our trucks running 37s. These trucks take a beating for sure, aside from broken CVs there's not many complaints.

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Haven't have any issues after the massage i did to the fender lips.

ram1500rsm said:

Haven't have any issues after the massage i did to the fender lips.

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Perfect! Got any plans in the works or trips coming up?

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I wanted a roof tent but nothing has showed up in CL yet so i will continue to use my camping tents, it’s free and I don’t have to thinker with how to mount them in the truck. I did put my softopper back so I think I’ll provision something back there to throw in some inflatable beds. Way cheaper than a new RTT and at least I can put my 3 kids in there with the doggy or even myself if I’m on my own

ram1500rsm said:

I wanted a roof tent but nothing has showed up in CL yet so i will continue to use my camping tents, it’s free and I don’t have to thinker with how to mount them in the truck. I did put my softopper back so I think I’ll provision something back there to throw in some inflatable beds. Way cheaper than a new RTT and at least I can put my 3 kids in there with the doggy or even myself if I’m on my own

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Yea, I'm still split on roof tents. They look cool, but the ones I've climbed in at the shows didn't have all that much space. Plus trying to appropriately mount it, and keep the COG usable for real offroad. Bleh that. They make those cool truck bed tents that come off the rear of the truck too. Could almost attach it to the softopper

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In my head something like this. Except you obviously have the soft topper. Almost like a tent condo! Plus those truck bed mattresses are kick ass.

If you could find one for cheap, which will eventually happen, than it makes sense to go RTT. But than you loose the soft topper which is a bummer, so you end up compromising on one thing or another.

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Part of my conumdrum is that i have a family of 5 plus a dog. Doggy is small and fits everywhere but the kids are getting taller by the day. My oldest kid is 14 and already a tad taller than me and i'm 6ft tall as you can imagine i'll need to 2 RTT's on top of the truck to fit everybody hahaha.

At the moment still amazed at how this truck respond to suspension/tire mods.
84k miles and counting

Untitled by RAM RSM, on Flickr

ram1500rsm said:

At the moment still amazed at how this truck respond to suspension/tire mods.
84k miles and counting

Untitled by RAM RSM, on Flickr

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Dear Santa,
I'm a size 37" tire!

I'll stand on my soap box once again and say this is the most underrated truck available. I've been in all competitor trucks of the same generation as the 4th gen and aside from a rear locker these trucks are amazing.

In regards to spacial issues for the whole family, what about a camp trailer? Essentially just base camp and keep the truck unhooked until you need to leave?

That's options I'm heavily considering and a big reason behind selling my other vehicles. I'd much rather set up a trailer and tote it around than try to fit everything into my payload ratings.

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hodge-xj said:

Dear Santa,
I'm a size 37" tire!

I'll stand on my soap box once again and say this is the most underrated truck available. I've been in all competitor trucks of the same generation as the 4th gen and aside from a rear locker these trucks are amazing.

In regards to spacial issues for the whole family, what about a camp trailer? Essentially just base camp and keep the truck unhooked until you need to leave?

That's options I'm heavily considering and a big reason behind selling my other vehicles. I'd much rather set up a trailer and tote it around than try to fit everything into my payload ratings.

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we'll see what the future brings in

Stretching her legs locally before the end of the year. Big Bear is packed with snow and mud, same with Cleghorn or Pilot Rock and my brother in law was in Johnson valley couple of days ago and they also had snow and lots of mud. With nothing around to clean that mess afterward quickly, i can't stand the idea of driving couple of hours letting that stuff cake up and dried, lol i hate mud.

So just to take it easy
20191231_124456 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

20191231_125042 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

20191231_122137 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

20191231_122056 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

And if you ever wonder how the BLD works when in 4x4, smooth light throttle is the trick and the computer does the rest. At a bare min 2 tires will need something to grab on. The system basically uses your ABS system to stop the wheel in the air while transferring torque to the opposite one. 1st video, at 24:00 sec driver rear tire is in the air because of a deep rut, while passenger front is dropping into the 2nd rut, wheels spin since they don't have anything to grab on and the PCM does its thing to counteract for it. other 2 wheels are still making contact with the ground and provide enough forward traction to move the truck without much effort. Same thing happens at 37:00 sec.


On the 2nd video same thing though the video doesn't show clearly ,but sec 17:00 , passenger rear wheel is the air, passenger front is in a mud patch, so the only wheels with traction are both rear and front driver wheels.
The system operates in any fashion as needed. works best when at least 2 tires have something to catch traction on. Not a locker replacement, but will put any mechanical open diff to shame day or night

Is the BLD in 4 Low only?

There is a hill we tried the other weekend that I was unable to make it, this sounds like something to try to complete it.

We are going to be off pavement travelling/dispersed camping in Bald Eagle State Forest in Pennsylvania this spring summer fall. Going to start just using our tents and incorporate the truck more.

Enjoy your build and trips.

392DevilDog said:

Is the BLD in 4 Low only?

There is a hill we tried the other weekend that I was unable to make it, this sounds like something to try to complete it.

We are going to be off pavement travelling/dispersed camping in Bald Eagle State Forest in Pennsylvania this spring summer fall. Going to start just using our tents and incorporate the truck more.

Enjoy your build and trips.

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Thanks a lot man.
Regardless the BLD, it should work in 4hi or 4lo. Better in 4lo because in theory the ESC routines can operate without much of the torque management crap robbing your power away. Ive massaged those with HPTuners so i have less TM when the routines are active but in 4lo you should have none of that so you should get nothing but the full function of your ABS doing the work for you. Work best with ligth throttle just keep it smooth and steady. Wheel have to spin for the computer to sense the slip and transfer the torque to the opposite wheel. In essence is an electronically engaged limited slip diff front and rear that uses the abs to operate.

ram1500rsm said:

Thanks a lot man.
Regardless the BLD, it should work in 4hi or 4lo. Better in 4lo because in theory the ESC routines can operate without much of the torque management crap robbing your power away. Ive massaged those with HPTuners so i have less TM when the routines are active but in 4lo you should have none of that so you should get nothing but the full function of your ABS doing the work for you. Work best with ligth throttle just keep it smooth and steady. Wheel have to spin for the computer to sense the slip and transfer the torque to the opposite wheel. In essence is an electronically engaged limited slip diff front and rear that uses the abs to operate.

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That sounds pretty awesome, but excuse my ignorance - whats BLD?

4eyedconekiller said:

That sounds pretty awesome, but excuse my ignorance - whats BLD?

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Brake locking differential. Its an electronic limited slip and part of the traction control system.

ram1500rsm said:

Brake locking differential. Its an electronic limited slip and part of the traction control system.

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Guess I need to up my reading game!

4eyedconekiller said:

Guess I need to up my reading game!

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No problem bud.
Read this article from FCA
https://blog.fcanorthamerica.com/2008/02/11/jeep-brake-traction-control-explained/

Wow. Would’ve been good to know when I did this:

4eyedconekiller said:

Wow. Would’ve been good to know when I did this:

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One of those instances where larger mud tires and mechanical LSD or lockers will had faired better for you. BLD would have not saved you from that alone as you want momentum and wheel speed to sort through something like that. I don't know the details/conditions of the spot where you got stuck, i'd imagine myself in that situation trying 4hi and lots of gas before entering the mud pit from the pic it seems the truck is high centered on the diffs so not a lot you can do once you get to that point.

BLD works better in this type of situations where at least 2 out of the 4 wheels have something to grab on, you don't have to wheel the vehicle like you will with an open diff, just keep your foot in the pedal even if the tire is lifted in the air, smooth and steady throttle and the system does the rest.

Notice the first 2 vehicles demonstration with tradional open diff, our trucks are basically open diff front and rear unless you have the factory rear LSD, but we have the same Brake Lock Diff assist found in the Jeep Wranglers since 2007, Notice how the Jeep Wrangler handles the same obstacle. Little wheel spin and up she goes. The 1st video i posted with my RAM above is literally the same condition you see here but with big deeper ruts, the BLD system makes it looks super easy



My Jeep Wrangler Sport below did not have locker or LSD, so she was fully open front/rear diff with the factory BLD system, later on i added an Eaton elocker rear and detroit trutrac front to handle the rocks better.


My FJ for example had A-trac (similar to FCA BLD above but you have to press a switch, i had a rear locker in the FJ though)

Weigthed the truck today at 6200lbs. According to the RAM literature, the truck base (14 RAM 1500 crew cab 1500) weight is 5347lbs, so i have around 800lbs extra compared to stock. Damn. I guess no drag racing for her fat butt