2016 RAM Power Wagon overland build

[JoeRadio]

nice truck, love seeing these big truck builds

 

[crit_pw]

nice truck, love seeing these big truck builds

Thanks its a constantly evolving project

 

[Torq]

I just picked up a new 2017 PW and I'm looking at upgrading to at least 35" tires. Maybe 37". I'll definitely be following your thread.

 

[XXXTERRA]

This is the ongoing build of my 2016 Laramie Power Wagon. I recently have gained a huge love of the overland lifestyle and it has definitely given me a new direction in which I will build my truck so the wife and I can enjoy more time away from the daily grind.View attachment 28426 In this picture the truck was only a few days old and is totally stock other than the wheels and tires. This was the first time the truck was taken off pavement. Since then the truck has been through numerous upgrades and modifications to suit my needs, wants and expectations. This is my daily driver, tow rig, camping rig, and family trip rig. My build is geared towards a vehicle that can go wherever I want to go on or off pavement yet not be so purpose built that it limits where I can go with it. This truck has been across a good portion of the western US since I bought it in late 2015. To date the following modifications have been made:

2016 RAM 2500 Laramie Power Wagon Overland Build
Current Modifications:

Powertrain
- 90mm BBK Throttle body
- Custom airbox to TB intake tube
- Muffler delete (OEM Resonator in place)
- Diablo Trinity Tuner with modified 91 octane tune
- Unlocked ECM
- 4.88 Nitro gears in front differential, 4.88 Yukon gears in rear diff
- OEM locking differentials
- OEM Electronic disconnect sway bar
- Yukon free-spin hub conversion

Suspension/Tires
- Thuren Coil springs front
- OEM Springs rear
- Bilstein 5160 Series Remote Res front shocks
- Bilstein 5100 Series rear shocks
- Thuren/KING Steering Damper
- Thuren front axle truss
- Carli Track Bar
- 37x13.5x17 Toyo Open Country MT tires
- 17x9" American Outlaw Wheels

Interior
- Marine Style 8 switch accessory panel w/12v and USB ports and digital voltage gauge mounted in center stack
- GoPro Mount
- Tinted windows
- Column mounted digital/analog air pressure gauge
- 3x First aid kits
- Emergency flare/triangle kit
- 3 First-aid kits (light duty medical to first responder)

Exterior
- Addictive Desert Designs HoneyBadger rear bumper with lockable storage and recovery points
- MOPAR Tri-fold hard bed cover
- Shorty Antenna
- Peel coated grill shell
- Anti glare vinyl wrap on hood
- Deleted lower front bumper valance for approach angle
- Pocket style flares to cover larger tires

Lighting
- Customized factory headlight housings with multi-colored selectable LED backilighting
- Rigid Industries Grille with 30" RDS series light bar
- Rigid Industries 20" E-series Combo Light bar
- 4x Rigid Industries Radiance pods mounted on ZRoadZ hood hinge mounts
- 2x Rigid D2 flood pods mounted in rear bumper
- LEDMircy Rock lights. 12 pods mounted under truck with one additional pod mounted over the winch to backlight the spool in low light usage

Armor:
- OEM Power Wagon Skid Plate package (T-Case/Fuel Tank)
- Carli Front differential Guard
- AEV Nodular cast rear diff cover
- White Knuckle wheel to wheel sliders
- Dethloff Mfg Engine/trans skid plate

Recovery:
- OEM installed Warn winch w/ factory wired control
- Warn wireless remote
- Hard-wired winch controls
- Factor55 Receiver Hitch D-Ring
- Factor55 Prolink winch hook
- Various selection of D-ring shackles
- 2x Snatch blocks
- 4x 20' recovery straps
- 2x tree savers
- 20' chain
- 48" Highlift Jack
- Viair 150psi 100% duty cycle compressor with dual 2.5 gallon storage tanks
- 50' air hose with quick couple for running air tools or reaching longer distance from vehicle
- 35' dedicated air up self-coiling hose
- Smittybuilt Trail shovel/trail axe
- 2x Tire repair kit
- ARB Deflator

Comms:
- Midland GXT1000P handheld radios
- Wilson Cell booster

Future mods include;
Thuren Springs
Thuren KING 2.5 shocks with custom valving
Thuren high clearance front bumper
Thuren Track bars front and rear
Dodge off road adjustable rear control arms
Artec Industries rear axle truss
Custom Roof and Bed racks with area lighting
RTT mounted above cab
Rack mounted Awning
2nd compressor with 2 additional 2.5 gallon tanks
CB and HAM radio
Front camera
Internal Beadlocks
Rear winch
On board water storage with heating capability and pump
Solar charging with additional battery storage
12V fridge/freezer
Dyna Trac or Carli Ball joints
Slide out bed tray with built in outdoor kitchen
2nd fullsize spare
Snorkel intake
and who knows what else I will find I need/want along the way.


Below are more current pics of the truck in its current state. View attachment 28434
View attachment 28435
View attachment 28439
View attachment 28440
View attachment 28441

Wow! What an impressive rig. You're uilding it just the way I would. Reliable and not too extreme. I'l definitely be keeping an eye on this build . You'e giving me inspiration for my 2014 Ram 2500 Overland build. "Wetcoast Rambler" (Soon to start a build thread)

 

[Nicholas Nelson]

How are you liking the springs over stock? Is the back to soft? What's the deal with the Bilstein shocks? We're they a good fit with the springs?

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using OB Talk mobile app

 

[Bob Levenhagen]

At 80mph in 6th I am running around 2270 RPM. Shifts are much cleaner at higher speeds and doesn't downshift near as often to maintain highway speeds on steeper grades. I am right at 1500 miles on the 4.88 gears and overall my mileage is holding steady at 13.4mpg. I keep the bed pretty well packed at all times and live in the Colorado Rockies so I regularly see altitude changes from 11,000'+ to around 4000' when I am on the road and I tend to have a heavy foot otherwise I am sure I would see better overall mileage.

Husband and wife looking to explore and find new adventures now that our children are grown.

That's encouraging, been debating 5.13's for the #megalander build. My 06 is just the 5.7 and doesn't have the HP rating of your 6.4, plus the truck is heavier being a mega cab. BTW I dig your sig, we are empty nesters too! Where in CO?

Bob

 

[krunchytaco]

do you have any pics of your beast on level ground?
Pretty amazing build by the way!!

 

[crit_pw]

That's encouraging, been debating 5.13's for the #megalander build. My 06 is just the 5.7 and doesn't have the HP rating of your 6.4, plus the truck is heavier being a mega cab. BTW I dig your sig, we are empty nesters too! Where in CO?

Bob

Sorry so long to reply I have been off OB for a while. We are on the western slope near Grand Junction

Sent from my SM-G935V using OB Talk mobile app

 

[crit_pw]

do you have any pics of your beast on level ground?
Pretty amazing build by the way!!

Here is the truck sitting on pavement. Thanks for the compliment. I need to sit down and update my thread as the truck has gone through quite a few changes here in the last few months.

Sent from my SM-G935V using OB Talk mobile app

 

[Montaska]

Yes, please do update

 

[persquank]

Great truck. Greater build. Can't wait to see more.

 

[DoogieF18]

crit

Beast PW! Beautiful, and functional build, very nice. Any chance you could discuss or toss up some pictures of how you mounted the VIAIR and tanks? Have a compressor and tank sitting in the garage and just can't seem to come up with a mounting solution I like. Still running stock wheels and tires so haven't been willing to stuff it all in the spare tire well yet. Maybe when the tire size goes up and the the spare no longer fits I can use that spot. Would really like everything on the frame and closer to the battery but the WKOR sliders take up a lot of frame space.

Looking forward to the updates

John

 

[PNW EXPLR]

Keeping an eye on this one. I really dig the rear bumper. I've been holding off cause I couldn't find one I really liked. The Honey Badger might be the one!
Nice rig, and a clean well thought out build so far.