New Build 2012 Ram 3500 4x4 Diesel Expo/Chase/Tow/Truck

[gun45boat]

OK Installed the generator and the extended run fuel (6 gallons) tank to fit in the small rear cabinet. I vented the exhaust and the cooling air to the outside of the truck. Tested it under full load, it runs the roof AC like a dream, and the microwave, but only one at a time. Tested it at full load for over an hour while the cabinet door was closed, and it worked like a dream. It stayed nice and cool in the cabinet VERY quiet.

The venting was plumbed to the outside of the truck behind the rear tire, inside of the wheel well. Very pleased with the outcome, and feel better knowing I can run the generator behind a closed and locked cabinet:)

[gun45boat]

with the 6 gallon extended run kit I bought for the generator, I figure I can run the genny @ 3/4 load for about 40 hours on the current set up

I wish they made a decent 120V on-board welder that could run off a 2000W power supply!!!! But I guess it is not a perfect world:)

[BigRed2007]

Do they make a welder that'll run off a 3000W power supply?

[gun45boat]

YES The Lincoln 140 (120 Volt) series welder will work with a 3000W non-inverter generator

Apparently they make an "onboard" welder that will work with the 6.7L Cummins Diesel, Apparently it will run off the big alternator that comes with these trucks. But the price tag is steep

[BigRed2007]

I have a 3000W pure sine invertor that is a bit overkill for my needs

[gun45boat]

I wish the 3000W genny would fit in my cabinet in the truck.....

[gun45boat]

Mounted the 3 150w each Monocrystalin solar panels (totaling 450w) and installed 3 blue top optima batteries (I can run the ice maker off straight sun power) . Also go the custom water tank (44 gallons) made to fit the service body front cabinet, installed a transfer pump to transfer the water to the Camper tank that carries 37 gallons of water,,, for a total of 81 gallons of water.

I ordered the 50" LED light bar for above the windshield,,, and 5 20" LED light bars to be mounted around the outside of the camper and wired to a remote switch for hanging out at night..


The trailer project is coming along nicely. It is a M105A2 that is going to carry my Arctic Cat Side x Side and a RIgid floor Zodiak boat and fuel etc.etc. pics to come..

[JBM Power Wagon]

Still LOVE following this build!!! Keep the updates coming!

[05PWrockcrawler]

Sweet bud that's awesome!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk/hopefully somewhere Offroad!

[2wagons1driveway]

I know how hard that thin steel is to weld without warping it. I wish I could do this kind of work in my driveway

You are dead on!!!!!! It is a BITCH to weld thin steel, you have to know what you are doing!!!!! A mixture of fast spot welding and hitting lower settings on the welder with slower line speeds, and keeping the arc VERY close to the copper tip of the Mig (went through a few tips) AND pre-spot welds every 3" to counter the warping. As soon as I cut the section off with the plasma, I was like "damn,,,,this is some thin metal to play with" I am used to welding 1/4" thick plate and .125 wall tube,,,,,this was a reminder to polish up on my thin metal welding.

Thanks or the thumbs up!!!!!!!!!

picked up a thermal arc 250 mig a few weeks ago. Has a stitch function. Pulses the mig on and off in one second intervals. Awsome for welding thin shit!!!!

Build looks good btw!! So this truck has a factory locker? Never knew the CTD's or the 11.5 could get a locker from factory?


Sent from Canada

[04Ram2500Hemi]

This truck is freaking bad ass!

[gun45boat]

Thanks for the thumbs up. I never knew the Thermal arc had a "stitch switch" VERY COOL... Yes, the Cab and Chassis models with the 6.7 3500HD does come with a "locker" When I installed the AFE rear Diff cover/cooler It looked like a Detroit locker or some other variant (it does not feel like a LSD, because when it "engages" you can hear and feel it, and was also on the build sheet/window sticker when I bought the truck. It was in place of the spider gears, it works VERY well. I have installed Detroit lockers before in another truck, what I saw in the rear diff was in place of the spider gears, had NO clutch packs, and engages and disengages all by itself, BUT looks a lot like a Detroit. I noticed it when I first bought the truck, I had pulled over in some grass with 1 rear wheel in the grass,,,,,I floored the truck and you felt the axle "click" and it pulled off in a hurry with NO wheel spinning on the loose side of the tire. That is what prompted me to look at the build sheet, and it stated AAM 11.5 4:10 ATrac-rite ("A" meaning automatic http://www.aam.com/Product-Portfolio/Tr ... ls-32.html I do not really rock crawl this truck like my other Dodge, so I do not know how well it performs under massive pressures, but it really works well when I need it, and you can hear a "click" when it engages.

This truck came as a Cab and Chassis with the optional "Tow Max" option which included the Aisin 6 speed trans W/ PTO //52 gallon fuel tank//fluid filled hydrolic body mounts// and it came with the upgraded manual NV271 transfer case with the upgraded HD Chain and sprocket http://www.allpar.com/trucks/ram/ram-chassis-cabs.html

It is not your typical 3500HD dually, I ordered it as a single rear wheel 3500HD Cab and Chassis/Max Tow package

[gun45boat]

Got some shit done on the M105A2 today. Got the rack welded up for the Zodiak and the surfboards.. Got the fuel tank holders installed (2 on each side) I mounted the outboard engine on her.

Still to do:
Fab up the surboard racks (to handle 4 longboards and 1 SUP)
Install the Northern Tool 4' cabinets on each side of the trailer (rear) for extra storage.
Fab up and install the Spare tire for the trailer
Install the 75 gallon water tank on the inside of the trailer (middle to fit under the Side X Side)
Wire and install the LED light strips on the rack of the trailer for light at night with its own switch
Install steps on the front of the trailer to access the camper easily from both sides.

THinking about:
Fold out solar panels (3 150W mono's) on the passenger side of the trailer that will mount in the down position, then fold up on a hinge with a pole to hold them up
An awning system (automatic) like the one on the camper (mounted to the rack) that you can push a button and it slides itself in and out
Stripper pole
Disco Ball

Finished the paint yesterday to match the Dodge:)

Moving right along....

[Colibri]

Holy shit that's awesome!

[gun45boat]

Thanks man. It is not as bad ass as some of the expo trailers on this site, kinda a different approach, but will serve its purpose well I think... hopefully it will handle the beating I will put on it in Baja:)

[2wagons1driveway]

Have you considered a cheap set of shocks for the trailor?
Build looks dope btw! That trailor is looking top notch.

Sent from Canada

[2wagons1driveway]

If you plan on throwing down at anytime with a trailor on I think some Monroe's or white body shocks would work wonders at controlling that weight you have back there might even save a beer or two from cracking lol or dislodging shit from the trailor at high speeds when the "bouncing occurs"


Sent from Canada

[gun45boat]

Jesus,,, I read the above, and was thinking to myself "what,,,, the fucking trailer has no shocks???? Fucking kidding me right,," I walk outside and looked under the trailer and realized quickly how much I love this site!!!!!!!!!! The obvious things seem to escape me sometimes.. Thank you for clue'ing me in on that one.... I noticed when I towed the thing, it leaned around turns, and can start to bounce going down the highway, and it NEVER occurred to me to investigate further..

THanks for the heads up!!!!!

Here is my stupid card,,,, please keep it until I add something intelligent to another members build..... thanks again, I will get on it today

[2wagons1driveway]

Haha no worries man I just know alittle bit of fluid control works wonders on those travel trailors!!! Just keeps the rye bottles from
Breaking that much more lol glad I helped! Id imagine if you could get your old
P.Wagon shocks In there you'd be set their great for higher temps like baja and zero Maintenance. I doubt you'll over heat a 2.0 non resi on a travel trailer like that!

Do some
Searches on the roof top tent buggies like adventure trailors many of them have fox 2.0 reservoir shocks on them maybe give you some mounting ideas!


Sent from Canada

[2wagons1driveway]

I just compare everything to driving with kenadian at Brule lol no way a trailor with no shocks would last! http://youtu.be/6dmZ33SA9-M


Sent from Canada

[05PWrockcrawler]

Sweeeeeeeet enough said!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk/hopefully somewhere Offroad!

[2wagons1driveway]

Any luck getting shocks mounted in that trailor?


Sent from Canada

[gun45boat]

Yes,, I got a set of regular Gabriel shocks set up on the trailer makes a huge difference.. I will post pics next week.

Got the AEV snorkel installed on the Ram Diesel... MAN!!!!! what a great fit and finish, took 2 hours to install (much easier than I thought and the cutting of the fender was dead on and easy..

[2wagons1driveway]

Fack! I want one !!!! Fack! Lol so nice any reason why you didn't get the ram intake?


Sent from Canada

[gun45boat]

Thanks man. After a little research, the "ram" intake has no benefit to the Diesel engine, but DOES benefit a naturally aspirated gas engine while driving down the highway. Also, in Florida, we have these nasty little bugs called "Love Bugs" and they love to hang out on the highways and cover EVERYTHING with their guts, and are a mess to get out of a Ram horn screen, so I pulled the trigger on the pre-filter.