Hodges 2016 Bilstein Build

[hodge-xj]

Been a while since I actually posted anything.

232k on the truck. Did fresh Air and Fuel filters. Added a cabin filter finally as well a few K's ago. Also installed a set of Smart Liners since my weather techs were beat. Full floor coverage to fend off toddler snacks.

TLC is definitely needed. Windshield, both headlights and a tail light are all broken in some facet thanks to tread caps on the highway or some other misc debris of some type. Spring time will definitely see all new OE style lights, a windshield and likely a brush guard to protect the new stuff. Vice Designs has a nice skid I wanna add as well to protect underside a bit. Otherwise I can't say I need/want much beyond a bed topper and drawers still. It surely won't turn heads like this but it runs 3-4 hours on the highway a day and that's all I can ask right now.

House hunting is still priority as I have a second kid on the way and need more space. Also picked up the wife a brand new Kia Telluride which is pretty sick mom car.

We'll see how things look this spring.

 

[czervika]

Man time flies.

 

[hodge-xj]

Man time flies.

You aren't kidding man. I swear it was yesterday I was in highschool.

 

[ram1500rsm]

232k miles, damn.... Enjoy the Telluride, plenty of space for the family.

 

[hodge-xj]

232k miles, damn.... Enjoy the Telluride, plenty of space for the family.

Yea I'm logging some serious seat time again lol. Gave it a light refresh with some bits and bobs since my wife refers to it as the Grandpa Truck now. Still have my fuels and toyos so might scoop another set of tires for those wheels and regain some cool factor lol. We'll see what I actually end up doing.

The telluride is awesome, and really surprised me. My wife loves it. Aside from the tech graphics being a bit on the girly side with the color ways i really like it. Added tuxmats and it's as baby/woman proof as I can make it. For a 3 row mom car it's pretty slick.

 

[hodge-xj]

New headlights and some black wheel skins. Current setup is boring but super comfortable for all the highway driving I'm currently doing.

 

[czervika]

Looking good.

 

[hodge-xj]

Looking good.

Thanks. We have entered full blown dad mode/commuter phase. I'm trying to hang onto some cool factor while maximizing practicality. Stockers are lame, but the offset means I don't have to clean the truck much at all which has been really nice. Big plus is I hit nearly 30mpg on my trip home today. Lots of wants on the list, few needs right now.

 

[hodge-xj]

Ordered some new stainless hardware for my fuel wheels and picked up some paint to touch them up and get the faux beadlock painted black. Pulled lower valence off again as I cracked it at work and ordered the Vice Designs stock compatible skid. The wheels are going to be a side project when I can get some spare time and hopefully have them done by the time it's warm. I also need to repaint the white bumper top cover, which I'll remove this time from the truck, but that will be a closer to summer project so I can be sure the temps will be warm enough.

Should be enough to keep me busy for a while with my lack of free time lol.

 

[hodge-xj]

Skid is on. Easy peasy.

 

[kurek]

no EPS skidplate?

 

[hodge-xj]

no EPS skidplate?

Thats next! Honestly, this is all to keep 18 wheeler tread caps from nuking something at 5am when they all seem to be in the middle of the highway.

 

[hodge-xj]

1100 lbs to the dump.

Truck tared at 8060 on the way out. Door says I'm 6950 GVWR. So trailer is about 1100-1150. Consider my tow rating is 7750lbs with a 1390 payload. Trailer is only good for 5k. Heavy hauler here guys watch out!

Loaded it sat about perfect level at 23.25-23.5" all the way around. * EDITED at bottom* Trying to get rough numbers for tongue weight to see if I wanna drop the pintle a little. Trailer is on long term loan from my father in law so I'm tweaking things and fixing the trailer up as I go.


This pic is how the truck has been living life and will be for a while. Commuting and working on the new property with a second child due in July means the truck is nothing more than a work horse. With the 3.55s and 285s Defender M/S2s this thing tows and drives great so I really don't wanna jump to 35s and kill that. Still a daily driver at 239k.

Looking at front bumpers as I am considering adding a winch setup. The new property has a couple acres and I am planning on clearing it out. I'd also still like to do a cap and drawers but money is going to much more useful things right now.

Edited Measurements

Loaded - 23.25- 23.5" F/R
Unloaded Trailer - 23.25 F/ 23.5 R
No Trailer - 23-23.25 F / 24-24.25 R

Hard to measure exact so these are just quick numbers.

 

[hodge-xj]

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