Dodge Ram DD/expo rig

[Nate Romero]

Hi everyone,
This is my first post since becoming a member. So glad to be a part of this group and look forward to helping and being helped lol. This is my 2002 dodge 1500 with the 5.9l gas motor. This rig is now my Daily driver as well as...….well everything else. I am building this as my wife and I love taking trips together with our 4 kids and love showing them and us parts of Colorado (for now) that not a huge amount of people get to see. Here is the progression of the truck and I hope to be able to keep this updated as I make more changes throughout this winter. Posts may be slow but I do have 4 kids, a wife, a jeep build, and my work (prototype aerospace machinist). I am thinking of changing up the topper setup and making a topper/tent like the Snap treehouse.

 

[Nate Romero]

we bought a awning for it to start which worked great

 

[Nate Romero]

then we put on a Rhino Rack Batwing awning sorry the pic isn't very good 270 deg of shade

 

[Nate Romero]

I am currently running RAM mounts for my cell and my iPad. Love them

 

[gabe]

Awesome build [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]

 

[Nate Romero]

I made a slide for the RTIC 65qt cooler a while back. worked well when we used a tent but then decided to make the bed our sleeping area so the cooler stayed outside of the truck. Since I am looking to make a new topper for the truck that would place the sleeping platform higher up, this setup will probable go back in the truck

 

[Wag]

Awesome build thus far !

 

[Joey83]

Awesome!

More pics please! :D

 

[Nate Romero]

We have started off very basic at first we really just wanted to explore the trails that I have off roaded for years. And we are really working hard to be able to show our kids the areas that not many people get to see let alone camp at.

 

[Nate Romero]

I also hooked up a battery in he rear of the truck independent of the a]starting battery to be able to charge devices and run the exterior lighting that is mounted to the roof rack

 

[Nate Romero]

New roof rack design in the works. Hopefully will be cutting metal in another week or two

 

[Nate Romero]

Ok so thinking of going back to the original design for the truck. Drew this up today. Just a raw design

 

[Sonarman]

I have the same awning which is great for the money. I swap it between trailer and CTD depending on trip.

 

[Nate Romero]

I have the same awning which is great for the money. I swap it between trailer and CTD depending on trip.View attachment 86525

Like your setup. Any info on the trailer?

 

[Sonarman]

M101a2 Trailer. I put a Knapheide industrial shell on it. Still working on getting a slide out for back of trailer. Seems like evertime I need something it is in back of trailer. Trailer tows like a dream, surge brakes work perfect. I had to do a lot of modification to the rear doors on shell to make it work with tailgate. The bolt pattern on trailer matches the Dodge 8 lug.

 

[Nate Romero]

M101a2 Trailer. I put a Knapheide industrial shell on it. Still working on getting a slide out for back of trailer. Seems like evertime I need something it is in back of trailer. Trailer tows like a dream, surge brakes work perfect. I had to do a lot of modification to the rear doors on shell to make it work with tailgate. The bolt pattern on trailer matches the Dodge 8 lug.
View attachment 86530 View attachment 86533

Have you had the trailer weighed?

 

[Nate Romero]

Got the RhinoRack Batwing and Sunseeker awnings unfolded to see the setup and the hue amount of shade we have to look forward too.

 

[Nate Romero]

Made switch panel for the cab for LED lighting. Did the lights on the hood but still need to do the rock lights

 

[Nate Romero]

Picked up this fridge/ freezer off of Amazon. It is the Costway 63QT fridge/freezer. So far this tings works amazingly well. I will be making a slide for the back of the truck this weekend. I will post pics when I am done.

 

[RoarinRow]

Looks like a solid start to a good build!