"Bruiser" A 2017 RAM 1500 4X4 5.7 HEMI adventure...

[bruiserRAM]

I'm a bit late to start a build thread, but I'll try and go back in time and start from the beginning.

Here she is the morning after I bought her from Dave Smith in Idaho. March 2018. Got a really good deal...used with only 3000 miles and less than 6 months old!









And then, after I drove her 950 miles back home..

 

[bruiserRAM]

And this is Bruiser now.



To find out how she got there, and what else is in store, come on the adventure.

I don't intend to go into too much detail per mod, in this thread. I'll post specific install threads for big jobs, etc, elsewhere.

Enjoy the pics/info and feel free to ask questions and post suggestions, pics, etc. I've learned so much on others' threads that I just hope I can help others in the same way!

 

[CheechDogg.0n37s]

Nice truck Bruiser ... how are you liking those Toyo ATIIs ?

 

[MADDOG]

Nice truck.

This would be as good a place as any to document your mods. Keeping them all in one thread makes for interesting reading.

 

[Nick@GotExhaust]

Bruiser is a beauty! Must be a lot easier and quicker to get to those great pic locations now with them ICONS! Thank you for letting us be a part of your build!!

 

[bruiserRAM]

Nice truck Bruiser ... how are you liking those Toyo ATIIs ?

I really like them. When I bought the truck I tried real hard to get new tires/wheels thrown in the deal. The dealer wasn't havin it, but did say they'd get me a small discount on anything in stock and buy back my stock tires and wheels for a decent price. My salesman and I drove to the tire shop...and low and behold...RAM Rebel take-offs, brand new and sitting in a corner, almost forgotten! They happened to be the exact tires I was planning to buy anyway. Super stoked.

Fast forward to today, and to be honest, I'm a little bored of them. I want something about an inch taller and a bit more aggressive. Both for the look and for better sand and rock traction.

That said, these are very quiet and are wearing very well. Not the best in snow maybe, but a good overall all arounder that looks pretty damn good for an AT. No regrets...just greedier now. ha.

 

[Nick@GotExhaust]

Hey guys I suggest that if you are Instagram follow @bruiser_ram There are some great pics on there!

 

[bruiserRAM]

Thought I'd share the window sticker...

 

[bruiserRAM]

First thing I got was Weathertech floor liners. Meh... I had much more flexible ones in my previous truck and liked how you could just pull them out without spilling all the sand because they kinda rolled up. These sometimes fling the sand all over when you remove them because they're stiff like a loaded spring. Rugged and durable though! Good fit.

 

[bruiserRAM]

Noticed right away the Maximum Steel Metallic paint held dust and prints and scratches like you wouldn't believe! I've only owned a tan Ford Bronco, a white Chevy Tahoe, and a red Ford Ranger, so I've never experienced a dark colored, metallic paint job! It's my least favorite thing about the Bruiser probably...the scratches and swirls and dust and sparkles. I want a matte grey or similar so bad...

Anyway, bought these Jamhandles after seeing them on instagram: @jamhandle

Really helps with prints on the outside edge of the door...now if only my girlfriend would use them!

 

[bruiserRAM]

A few weeks after I brought her home, Truck was used in a photoshoot for a shooting/hunting clothing company...


Still has the temporary plate sticker in the window! haha.

 

[bruiserRAM]

As much As the dealer plate looked good during sunset...



I was happy to finally get my proper, CA Legacy plates!

 

[O.R.T.]

About damn time this build got posted in here.

Seriously, use RF’s server space. Post pics to the build without links. The info and parts you used are an all in one build ideal so far.

p.s. I hate you for reminding me I’ve still not done the front lift and tires/wheels on mine yet.

 

[O.R.T.]

*You know that one of the photos from the shoot you referenced made it into Wheels Afield right? I’d have to check the pile of copies at our family place another day to see which issue exactly but I remember the image of the rifle and shooter in the truck bed.

 

[bruiserRAM]

*You know that one of the photos from the shoot you referenced made it into Wheels Afield right? I’d have to check the pile of copies at our family place another day to see which issue exactly but I remember the image of the rifle and shooter in the truck bed.

Whaaaa? No, I had no idea! Crazy. Please attempt to find that if you can! I can call the photographer and try and get more info that way too. Thanks for the heads up!!

Do you know if it was an advertisement or part of the magazine content?

 

[bruiserRAM]

About damn time this build got posted in here.

Seriously, use RF’s server space. Post pics to the build without links. The info and parts you used are an all in one build ideal so far.

p.s. I hate you for reminding me I’ve still not done the front lift and tires/wheels on mine yet.

Thanks!

I'm not sure what you mean by post pics without links. Are mine showing up as links? I just click the "Upload a File" button below the text screen when posting and then upload a picture from my PC harddrive. Then I either pick to show as "thumbnail" or "full size" depending on how big I want it to show up in the post. I know the thumbnails can be clicked on and show up bigger in a sort of "in post album" that you can scroll through...

I deff want to have pics remain in my threads forever, so any tips are appreciated. Maybe there is a sticky thread I can read...

 

[O.R.T.]

Once you have enough posts you simple upload from your computer. Outlinking from places like Instagram, Photobucket, etc, well, all those eventually fail due to a picture shuffle or a file change, or *gasp* now they want fees. Uploading to the site makes the pics stay until a forum issue comes up.

I'll look for the issue.

 

[bruiserRAM]

Once you have enough posts you simple upload from your computer. Outlinking from places like Instagram, Photobucket, etc, well, all those eventually fail due to a picture shuffle or a file change, or *gasp* now they want fees. Uploading to the site makes the pics stay until a forum issue comes up.

I'll look for the issue.

Gotcha. That's what I've been doing, uploading files instead of entering a url.

Thanks!

 

[bruiserRAM]

*You know that one of the photos from the shoot you referenced made it into Wheels Afield right? I’d have to check the pile of copies at our family place another day to see which issue exactly but I remember the image of the rifle and shooter in the truck bed.

Any luck finding the issue?

 

[bruiserRAM]

So....to revive my build thread (some serious change coming soon...)

Next I added a VMS racing 50 caliber bullet antenna. That long whippy old schooler had to go.