2014 RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab

[hodge-xj]

Nooooo i wish i had such deep pockets
I traded my wife Explorer and picked an 18 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport S
2021-05-23_07-05-11 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

I figured you got bored with the 1500 and wanted some change. Lol.



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[ram1500rsm]

I figured you got bored with the 1500 and wanted some change. Lol.



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Oh no, i love my truck and i will be keeping her for a nice while.

 

[fernandok]

Love the build my dude!

Can I ask why you went back down to 35's from 37's? Your original post about the 37's was the reason to push me to get them, but now I'm not so sure. LOL.

 

[ram1500rsm]

Love the build my dude!

Can I ask why you went back down to 35's from 37's? Your original post about the 37's was the reason to push me to get them, but now I'm not so sure. LOL.

If I had the 8 speed trans I would have prob kept them. The size kind of sucks with the 6 speed and factory 3.92's and post Covid I'm working from home so my drive is now pure city. City driving with 37's had me looking at MPG more often so when I started seen single digits I panicked we pay $4 and change a gallon here.

 

[ram1500rsm]

Damn haven't updated in a while, very busy upgrading the Jeep For now is just an spacer lift, yep you heard that right, spacers , but welll thought out setup for now as not to upset the live axels geometty very much. i just needed to accomodate the 315's so the front is 1.75", back is 1", no need to mess up with adjustable trackbars and/or TB relo brackets that way. i went with longer shocks in the rear, stock in the front, but that's because i'm getting a new longer/sturdier driveshaft. Also had to spend money on tires, Got KO2's in 315/70/17 again, and i'm doing 4.56's front/rear tomorrow.
I did Synergy Fixed LCA's in the front, but more likely i'll sell them an get Claytons front and rear., and i have a bunch of other chit coming in. Clayton don't have fixed lenght LCA's, so i went with Synergy for now, Getting me a set of rock sliders in a couple of weeks, control arms skids, belly pna skids and shell be ready to hit the rocks.

2021-06-11_07-58-59 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

2021-06-11_07-58-53 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

As for the truck, i'm taking her to Yosemite next week wooo wooo.
I''ll have a bunch of pictures with her soon.

 

[hodge-xj]

Damn haven't updated in a while, very busy upgrading the Jeep For now is just an spacer lift, yep you heard that right, spacers , but welll thought out setup for now as not to upset the live axels geometty very much. i just needed to accomodate the 315's so the front is 1.75", back is 1", no need to mess up with adjustable trackbars and/or TB relo brackets that way. i went with longer shocks in the rear, stock in the front, but that's because i'm getting a new longer/sturdier driveshaft. Also had to spend money on tires, Got KO2's in 315/70/17 again, and i'm doing 4.56's front/rear tomorrow.
I did Synergy Fixed LCA's in the front, but more likely i'll sell them an get Claytons front and rear., and i have a bunch of other chit coming in. Clayton don't have fixed lenght LCA's, so i went with Synergy for now, Getting me a set of rock sliders in a couple of weeks, control arms skids, belly pna skids and shell be ready to hit the rocks.

2021-06-11_07-58-59 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

2021-06-11_07-58-53 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

As for the truck, i'm taking her to Yosemite next week wooo wooo.
I''ll have a bunch of pictures with her soon.

Ahhh yessss! Looks awesome!!!

Gonna need more pics of course. My truck has gotten ZERO love and hardly gets driven recently. The jeeps is getting all the goodies, LCG Cherokee build on 37s is not as easy as you Wrangler nerds .

 

[ram1500rsm]

Ahhh yessss! Looks awesome!!!

Gonna need more pics of course. My truck has gotten ZERO love and hardly gets driven recently. The jeeps is getting all the goodies, LCG Cherokee build on 37s is not as easy as you Wrangler nerds .

Had forgotten how expensive it gets to build a Jeep In a way it's cheaper than the RAM cause some parts are cheaper but damn is the collection of stuff you can get at once that makes the builts complicated. Cant decide what springs to get yet, but I'll be keeping the lift around the 2.5-3", arms, trackbars etc will be Clayton.

 

[fernandok]

If I had the 8 speed trans I would have prob kept them. The size kind of sucks with the 6 speed and factory 3.92's and post Covid I'm working from home so my drive is now pure city. City driving with 37's had me looking at MPG more often so when I started seen single digits I panicked we pay $4 and change a gallon here.

Interesting! I have the 6spd with 3.55's and I'm running 315/70's and the truck feels "okay" to me, and you have 3.92's! So I can see you definitely not recommending 37's to me. Ha!

 

[hodge-xj]

Had forgotten how expensive it gets to build a Jeep In a way it's cheaper than the RAM cause some parts are cheaper but damn is the collection of stuff you can get at once that makes the builts complicated. Cant decide what springs to get yet, but I'll be keeping the lift around the 2.5-3", arms, trackbars etc will be Clayton.

Oh the choices! I'm running a TON of clayton stuff and I love it. Haven't really messed with springs too much from them since they like stiffer rates. My old man emu coils have been fantastic, especially since they have perfected the low lift, weight carrying game. Soft coils and proper valved shocks are the bees knees!

I'm not super versed on wrangler bits, since I've only ever run cherokars, but I have been helping my buddy with his 2dr jk and there so many choices for coils it's insane. Are you gonna be running decent weight/overlandish kinda stuff? Shocks.....kings, Falcons? I love the jeep stuff!

My poor ram has been so neglected and just used as a truck, but the jeep just fits better for east coast stuff.

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[ram1500rsm]

Oh the choices! I'm running a TON of clayton stuff and I love it. Haven't really messed with springs too much from them since they like stiffer rates. My old man emu coils have been fantastic, especially since they have perfected the low lift, weight carrying game. Soft coils and proper valved shocks are the bees knees!

I'm not super versed on wrangler bits, since I've only ever run cherokars, but I have been helping my buddy with his 2dr jk and there so many choices for coils it's insane. Are you gonna be running decent weight/overlandish kinda stuff? Shocks.....kings, Falcons? I love the jeep stuff!

My poor ram has been so neglected and just used as a truck, but the jeep just fits better for east coast stuff.

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Haven't decided yet. I keep telling to myself I'll try keep the weigth light. I had OME springs in my previous JKU so perhaps I'll go that route since I know how much heigth I'm getting with those. For now I'm addressing the basics, some tires, gears, longer driveshaft in the front, longer shocks, couple of basic skids. Then I'll address little more heigth, steering, arms, TB's, lockers,bumpers,winch etc.

 

[hodge-xj]

Haven't decided yet. I keep telling to myself I'll try keep the weigth light. I had OME springs in my previous JKU so perhaps I'll go that route since I know how much heigth I'm getting with those. For now I'm addressing the basics, some tires, gears, longer driveshaft in the front, longer shocks, couple of basic skids. Then I'll address little more heigth, steering, arms, TB's, lockers,bumpers,winch etc.

Totally understand that. Honestly doing it the way you are is better anyway imo. You end up only lifting the amount really needed balanced by personal aesthetics vs just throwing a height on it and working around that. That's kind of why I went and re did mine. I'm kind of building my rig around a tire size and keeping it as low as possible vs the age old idea of lift it till they fit....wheel wells don't get bigger with lift contrary to the internet myth lol. I lifted it enough to keep a comfortable amount of up travel and will just cut till things don't hit anymore!

 

[ram1500rsm]

Totally understand that. Honestly doing it the way you are is better anyway imo. You end up only lifting the amount really needed balanced by personal aesthetics vs just throwing a height on it and working around that. That's kind of why I went and re did mine. I'm kind of building my rig around a tire size and keeping it as low as possible vs the age old idea of lift it till they fit....wheel wells don't get bigger with lift contrary to the internet myth lol. I lifted it enough to keep a comfortable amount of up travel and will just cut till things don't hit anymore!

Likewise here. I was never a friend of high lift anything. Learned to love LCG setups with my Yotas. 3 wheeling with IFS and a high lift will make you puke so I keep things high enough to accomdate the tires I need in pretty much anything I wheel. With Jeeps is a lot more rewarding cause we can get longer shocks and have some nice flex to take the edge of that 3 wheel pucker factor. .

For now the 4.56's gears are done. Stockers were 3.21. Got them installed this morming in 1 damn hour. felt more like a pit stop. Lol. Now waiting the 500 miles break-in period before I take her to the dirt. In the meantime I'll visit a drive line shop in a couple of weeks and see if I can save some money if they make me a custom DS instead of buying one of the main stream JK offerings.

 

[hodge-xj]

Likewise here. I was never a friend of high lift anything. Learned to love LCG setups with my Yotas. 3 wheeling with IFS and a high lift will make you puke so I keep things high enough to accomdate the tires I need in pretty much anything I wheel. With Jeeps is a lot more rewarding cause we can get longer shocks and have some nice flex to take the edge of that 3 wheel pucker factor. .

For now the 4.56's gears are done. Stockers were 3.21. Got them installed this morming in 1 damn hour. felt more like a pit stop. Lol. Now waiting the 500 miles break-in period before I take her to the dirt. In the meantime I'll visit a drive line shop in a couple of weeks and see if I can save some money if they make me a custom DS instead of buying one of the main stream JK offerings.

I bet it feels so much better! My 4.56s and 33s has some pep in its step and even with my 35s it ain't bad. And thats with a tired 275k engine. Being in Cali I have to assume you will be able to find a spot that can get your drivelines situated.

I might PM you in the near future for some wrangler insight so I can point my buddy in the right direction for his 2dr. Getting up to speed in a platform that isn't mine via Google searches is frustrating.

I bump stopped my up travel where it's close to kissing, and needs a bit more cutting for perfect, but the down travel is just silly! Lcg tire lifts are so much more drama free, and with lockers it's like cheating almost!



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[ram1500rsm]

I bet it feels so much better! My 4.56s and 33s has some pep in its step and even with my 35s it ain't bad. And thats with a tired 275k engine. Being in Cali I have to assume you will be able to find a spot that can get your drivelines situated.

I might PM you in the near future for some wrangler insight so I can point my buddy in the right direction for his 2dr. Getting up to speed in a platform that isn't mine via Google searches is frustrating.

I bump stopped my up travel where it's close to kissing, and needs a bit more cutting for perfect, but the down travel is just silly! Lcg tire lifts are so much more drama free, and with lockers it's like cheating almost!



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Np, man. PM me at anytime. And I know that feeling with lockers and flex.

 

[danielmid]

What's the reasoning behind not just doing the gears and lockers as an all-at-once swap?

 

[ram1500rsm]

Cost. Lockers will be done on a 2nd stage. Little more expensive that way but I need to add rock sliders,skids and the driveshaft now. I can do John Bull in big bear without lockers but I wouldnt be able to do John Bull without damage without the armor.

 

[czervika]

May I ask where your spare tire rack came from? I went back to before you had it in the pictures in this thread but never did see it noted. I like the design and not having to utilize the hitch for it.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[ram1500rsm]

May I ask where your spare tire rack came from? I went back to before you had it in the pictures in this thread but never did see it noted. I like the design and not having to utilize the hitch for it.

Thanks,
Bill

That is a custom designed swing out carrier made by a forum member,, Revitupmoto33
He makes a lot of stuff in steel from time to time so if you follow his built thread you'll see everything he does and maybe get lucky with something he creates.

 

[ram1500rsm]

Came out from our 1600 mile round trip to Yosemite. We had a blast, the truck behave impecabbly as always, knocking on wood. Knocked out the Sonora Pass and the Old Priest road out of my bucket list of "Dangerous" roads to drive lol. Sure you wouldn't want to get caught in these roads when there is snow in the road that's for sure.

Sonora pass has a couple of sections with 25-26% grades, Old priest road is 20% for the entire 2 miles.
I was checking my coolant out of curiosity in those2 miles going up since i have stock T and clutch fan, truck fully loaded, Ac full balst i pressed the tow/haul switch and i let her go up.
2021-06-19_08-32-32 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

On the way back home i hit the Tejon pass at around 80mph, 6% grade for 5 miles, 104F outside temp, same thing fully loaded, AC full blast, Coolant went up to 226F tops. Oil temp reached 240F. She kept pushing like a champion with 103k miles damn, This damn truck is a Keeper

We stayed in a cabin in Mi-wuk CA close to the Pinecrest lake.
2021-06-15_07-38-40 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Did a lot of hiking this time while the temps were in the 70-80's
2021-06-19_08-30-18 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Drove the truck to a lot of places, we did some offroading here there but mostly just dirt roads with nothing fairly exciting, views were amazing
2021-06-16_08-55-20 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

2021-06-16_09-08-58 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

We did more hikes around the Sonora pass area as the temps were a lot better than at the Yosemite park
2021-06-16_09-09-04 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Yosemite was gorgeos but not a lot of places to go with kids when the temps are 102-104F, damn it
In the park we did hit mostly couple of the waterfalls, the rest were eating stuff and getting cooled down in the Village. too damn hot to walk around for hours like we thought doing.

2021-06-19_08-32-19 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

2021-06-19_08-33-18 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

2021-06-19_08-33-12 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

All in all another adventure for the ones to remember.

 

[crazykid1994]

I need to stop reading your posts… I see all these areas you drive through and it just makes me want to pack up and take a road trip. One of these days I will. Yosemite is on the top 10 places I want to visit in the United States.