Oddity's [LAND] 1500 Build

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Oddity

Junior Member
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Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I noticed there aren't a lot of 1500's built for purposeful off-road expedition, with most of that crowd either staying in the mid-size truck / Jeep realm, and some moving up to a 2500 Power Wagon. While there are definitely limitations to the 1500, I feel there is also a lot of potential. I'm not looking to build a rock-crawler or a dune-jumper (though it would be nice). Living in the Pacific North-West (and Canada at that), we have mainly narrow forest trails and long, harsh fireroads. I aim to explore these, and don't want to be bottlenecked by my truck. Maybe I will find the shortcomings of the 1/2 ton platform too hefty, or the aftermarket support too limited. Whatever the case, I figure I may as well document my experiences and hopefully answer questions and inspire, as so many others on this board have done for me.

THE GOAL
I want to build up the truck to be a capable overland-type vehicle. By capable, I mean able to get myself and my passengers to any location actually worth reaching, and carry the equipment and supplies to stay there for a period of time. As this is not a daily driver, the end-goal is to have a truck that I can pick a destination, refresh my consumables (food, water, gas, etc.), and go, without having to worry if I am equipped for the journey ahead. Every tool will have a place, every piece of equipment will have a purpose. Function over Form!

IN THE BEGINNING
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I got the keys to my ’15 Ram 1500 Sport CCSB on August 24, 2015. It’s a hell of a truck, and straight from the factory it’s a comfortable ride. In choosing the Sport trim, I effectively minimized any interior modifications - it’s luxury with ample storage options.

MODS TO DATE
Wheels
• Method NV Wheels 17x8.5
• BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 35x12.5x17

Front Suspension
• Zone Offroad Upper Control Arms
• Bilstein 5100 Adjustable Shocks

Interior
• Husky X-act Contour Floor Mats - Front & Rear

Bed
• Line-X Bedliner
• DeeZee Truck Tailgate Assist

Recovery / Trail Repair
• Smittybilt Receiver Hitch D-Ring
• Smittybilt 2"x30' Tow Strap
• ARB Speedy Seal Tire Repair Kit
• OTC 5-Ton Bottle Jack
• Hi-Lift Off Road Base
• SuperFlow MV50 Portable Compressor

UPCOMING MODS
Working on it!

FUTURE MODS
- Camper shell
- Bed storage / platform
- Foam cushion above storage for sleeping
- 1”-1.5” Progressive rear coils
- Upgraded rear shocks
- Skid plates
- High clearance front steel bumper
- Winch
- Frame mounted rock sliders / steps
- Hi-Lift
- Steel rear bumper
- Camper shell roof rack/basket
- Cab roof rack/basket
- Basket mounted lighting
- 2.5” front & rear reservoir shocks
- Bumper mounted rear tire carrier

Let's see how this turns out!
 

tipnitty

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Location
Oklahoma
Ram Year
2014
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Sounds like a very cool build. I'll be following!
 
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Oddity

Oddity

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Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Alright! Long past due for an update. Been a busy few weeks.

Got the itch to start personalizing, had a few cans of plasti-dip around from previous projects.
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Ram emblems are next, didn't want to chance it with the questionable amount of plastidip.

Started getting parts in as well..
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Set aside a day and threw the Bilstein 5100's on. Compressing the spring was awful, I highly recommend getting it as compressed as you need before taking it off the OEM strut.
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On goes the Zone UCAs as well, here is a comparison pic vs stock.
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Never wound up taking a photo of the completed assembly with the wheel off, here is how she sits on stock wheels with the 5100s at 2.8". (1/4" nose high with the back empty, I have plans to lift the rear soon).
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Picked up the wheels! 35x12.5x17 BFG AT KO2s on Method NVs, with OEM tpms sensors. These things are HEAVY! Good thing they are 10-ply, the less flat changing I have to do the better.
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Here is a comparison to the stock 275x60x20 (33") wheels. Weight difference is massive.
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After some hassles with the lug nuts (OEM lugs won't fit, you need small diameter ones to fit the Method holes), I got a set of Pro-comp duplex lugs and was able to mount the new wheels.. in the dark.
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Here is how she currently sits!
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Extremely happy with the way everything worked out, glad I opted for 0 offset instead of -12, still aggressive but saves me having to buy fender flares (for now anyways).

The BFG KO2s are a fantastic compromise between a mud tire and a road tire, traction is vastly improved on slick pavement (stock Goodyear SR-As were awful) and road noise is minimal, considering the huge change in tread pattern and width. The Bilsteins are buttery smooth, albeit slightly stiffer than OEM up front. Both on and off-road handling is fantastic, however I really noticed the rear rattling around on dirt roads now. Next on the list is to pop the rear end up about 1.5" and upgrade the suspension.
 
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Oddity

Oddity

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Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Got some new stuff in, nothing too special but I'm running out of storage under the seats..
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Picked up a SuperFlow MV50 portable compressor and an OTC 5-ton bottle jack.
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The bottle jack packs in to a small package, should work well for changing a flat. Will have to either fab up a cradle for the axle (way too small of a contact patch on the jack to safely lift) or purchase something. The base will fit nicely on a Hi-Lift ORB, which I'll pick up this weekend.
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Jerry1984

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Location
Meridian, Idaho
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2014
Engine
Hemi 5.7
How many mpg did you lose with the heavier tires? Truck looks good!!
 

nclark112

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Location
Jacksonville, NC
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2013
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Hemi 5.7
Currently drooling all over my desk at work! haha! Your truck is looking amazing!
 

PassivAggressor

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2014
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Hemi 5.7
Good god this truck is glorious! Extremely jealous of your wheel choice! I love Method wheels and I love the size.

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Nick@GotExhaust

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great build and awesome pics. let us know if we can help with your build. we offer just about everything and have discounts for the members!
 

ram1500rsm

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Hemi 5.7
You were not kidding when you said you added some weight :) have fun with the new springs.
 

8732cuts

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5.7
I was thinking in the same direction as you for my build here's what I have come up with so far. Mainly for 4x4'n , fishing and hunting... Zombies tooe2c00b61620c7c707bdcff23d7ff406d.jpgad35279fb07ca3533f6b169727a8e089.jpgb74b67ff1d1ce0ea974df7a802491965.jpga9aec56a4b6858f8e7c8aeb71c9fa9c1.jpg

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Oliver_Closov

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SoCal
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2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 w/6.4ft bed
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5.7 Hemi
I was thinking in the same direction as you for my build here's what I have come up with so far. Mainly for 4x4'n , fishing and hunting... Zombies tooe2c00b61620c7c707bdcff23d7ff406d.jpgad35279fb07ca3533f6b169727a8e089.jpgb74b67ff1d1ce0ea974df7a802491965.jpga9aec56a4b6858f8e7c8aeb71c9fa9c1.jpg

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Nice!
Do you have a build thread or a description of what all you've done to this truck?
 

8732cuts

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Nice!
Do you have a build thread or a description of what all you've done to this truck?
Wow, so much since October

6" rough country lift
33x12 nitto grapplers
20x12 kmc
Royalty core custom grille w/emblem +LED light
Hammered bumper w/ rigid radiance red
Oracle engine LED strip red
Smittybilt 12500lb winch w/ tow hooks
GoRhino 2.0 Chase rack w/ actuator
5 lumen 4" LEDs
4- 3" plashlight cubes in rear rack
40" rear plashlight bar in rear rack
Ram logo brake light
Hi- Lift jack
TygerAuto side steps
50mm 4" antenna
KN air
Borla exhaust
MUD & more MUD

Still2Come:
AEV snorkel air intake
Oracle rock lights
Change diff gearing 4:56
37" tires
Rear bumper with tire carrier
Trip to mohab


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