2021 RAM 1500 Classic Tradesman

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patzzoo

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Hello all, I purchased a new 2021 Ram 1500 Classic crew cab in February 2021 and have been lurking around the forum since shortly after that time.
First brand-new four-wheeled vehicle for me and first truck, so I was pretty excited. I specifically sought out the protection package, LSD, and trailer wiring. And, of course, 4x4 and HEMI. C5E906A3-BFC6-4EDD-B1F2-D871CF27CBA1.jpeg
 
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patzzoo

patzzoo

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I had plans for truck that I wanted to start implementing by last fall, but life happened and multiple job changes, cross country drives, and other stuff got in the way, so the extent of my modifications ended up being a Tekonsha Prodigy P2 trailer brake controller and a Gator soft roll-up tonneau cover from Amazon.

In-dash trailer brake controllers were nice, but the Tekonsha was free to me and only cost me $20 for the wiring adaptor. It tucks neatly under the center console, so it’s not really that obtrusive.

The soft tonneau cover has held up pretty well so far. It only drips a few drops in the corners during heavy rain and keeps the dust out reasonably well. It rolls up out of the way and I can still put motorcycles and anything else in the bed.
 
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patzzoo

patzzoo

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On to the good stuff: finally got around to putting in an order with Nick@GotExhaust for an Icon Stage 3 kit and some Zone UCAs. Was originally going to go with Method wheels, but found these Raceline Boost wheels on clearance for $200 apiece:
 

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patzzoo

patzzoo

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Wasn’t sure how the wheels would look with the chrome bumpers. Not a huge fan of the chrome look anyway, as I was originally looking for a Warlock before ending up with the Tradesman. So I did some plastidip on the chrome bits in an attempt to tone down all the chrome.
 

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huntergreen

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Nice looking truck. Nice find on the wheels. Look good .
 
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patzzoo

patzzoo

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Spent three afternoons after work installing the lift. Pretty straightforward process except for getting the UCAs to separate from the steering knuckles. Took about 2 hrs of pounding before I finally went to the store and got a pickle fork. It took the fork and a three foot persuader bar to finally get the thing to separate. It actually left gouges in the steering knuckle. 1111FF40-4899-4213-991C-BD209CC1B226.jpeg

I cobbled together some shock shaft protectors with hose clamp and rubber. 01AF8B6D-B0D2-49CB-B5EF-33F5639D2CE9.jpeg

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I’ll see how well they work.

After lift, before new wheels and tires:
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With new wheels and 315/70R17 General Grabbers. 7255DF64-F6D0-4EC7-95DA-780741BD8D69.jpeg01140F4B-12BA-4DE0-B7E2-0DBE58B7E2DD.jpeg
 

rule18

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Nice transformation, the understated look works.
 
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patzzoo

patzzoo

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Thanks! The wheels almost color match the truck, which is a bit unusual, but I think it works.

Still waiting to get it out into the dirt somewhere and see how the new setup works.
 
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patzzoo

patzzoo

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On another note, somewhere in the middle of the whole process the tailgate got dinged really good. C7C3B135-FD13-494E-9AB9-10E846EB681F.jpeg

Not sure where that happened, it looks like it was a solid hit to dent the tailgate right there. Dent removal quote was expensive, I think I’m just going to touch up the paint and call it hood.
 

Dan Topp

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My 19 tradesmen got 7k in hail PDR from one storm.With only 20 k mi. and the mods already done I was slightly tempted to pocket the combined 10 k in Allstate checks from both cars but I didn’t.
 
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patzzoo

patzzoo

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Got a little “recovery kit” off of FB market for $60. Everything looks unused except the hitch mount and hitch pins. I’ll probably shell out for a kinetic rope at some point, but at least this way I’ve got something. Now I just need to actually get out and see how the truck does in the dirt. It sucks that there’s not a lot of good off-road or open land in this part of the country. I miss the west already.
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patzzoo

patzzoo

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On another note, the Chipex paint repair kit I ordered finally arrived. I’ll see how it does with touching up the tailgate ding and post some before/after pics.
 
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patzzoo

patzzoo

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Been a minute since I updated this. I spent way too long trying to perfect the touch up job with the chipex kit. I think it came out ok, but definitely doesn’t look brand new.
Before:
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And after: C5E10B31-D9B6-4ABA-85B2-253A06BCB2CD.jpeg
 
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patzzoo

patzzoo

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Also got a chance to go visit the Ouachita national forest before the end of the year. Ended up not camping like we had originally planned due to surprise rainstorm, but still a nice trip.
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patzzoo

patzzoo

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Spent the last two months stalking the forum for everyone's aftermarket bumper setups and apparently haven't bothered to update my thread for a year. Work and traveling for family obligations seems like it sucked all the time up.
Didn't do too much on the truck this last year, just added some little quality of life things inside the cab.

Nice floormats (courtesy of @AllMoparParts.com):

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Phone holder since I'm sick of propping my phone up in the cupholder. It was pricier than I felt like it should be, but I like how tidily it integrates into the dash and was the only option that did that.

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And last but not least, the wallymart-special seat covers. My wife said it needed color. They actually seem pretty decent for $35 and don't slide all around the seat.
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patzzoo

patzzoo

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Also upgraded the rear trackbar. I always felt like the rear end was just stiff and bouncy after the lift, and the rear would hop to the side funny when it hit the right bump going down the road. Found an Icon trackbar on Amazon for $150, about $100 off retail. Went to order it once I was home and it was back up to $300, so I watched it for a month and grabbed one when it finally dropped back down to $140 for a day. It bolted up fine and I was able to center the rear axle, the Icon part definitely feels heavier and more solid than the stock one, as well as having a ball joint on one end.

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It's not a dramatic difference, but the truck feels like it rides and articulates better now, and doesn't feel so stiff in the rear. Interestingly, when I grabbed the rear bumper and pulled myself out from underneath after installing the new part, it felt like the whole back end of the truck settled a little bit. I'm pretty sure that it's sitting a little bit lower in the back now, just enough that its barely noticeable; before it was sitting with a little rake and now it looks almost perfectly level. Interesting to me that being able to adjust the trackbar correctly made that difference.
 

hodge-xj

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I really like that phone mount! I'm looking into that now, I have the vent mount but it's not ideal.

Hooke Road seems to have some decent priced entry level aftermarket bumpers if you don't need something crazy HD.
 
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patzzoo

patzzoo

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I really like that phone mount! I'm looking into that now, I have the vent mount but it's not ideal.

Hooke Road seems to have some decent priced entry level aftermarket bumpers if you don't need something crazy HD.
I’ve liked it so far. It was kinda pricey but works well.

I was looking at those on eBay the other day, they had a couple low profile ones that didn’t seem too bad.
I actually put in an order for a vice designs one the other day, so we‘ll see.
 
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