Torq's Build - 2017 RAM Power Wagon (Nickname Undecided)

[Torq]

2017 RAM Power Wagon

I've had the truck for a year and a half, but I've been in the midst of relocating and getting my old house up on the market. Things are starting to slow down a bit and I have some cash burning a hole in my pocket. The build started about an hour ago with the order of some White Knuckle rock sliders. I've been keeping a running list of what all I'm going to do with the truck. It has roughly $422,000 in modifications so I'll need to make some tough decisions.

I hope to have the build substantially done by August, in time for my bi-annual family expedition. In the "Planned Modification" section, I'll start with just including what I think is critical for the expedition.

Current picture

Suspension Modifications:
Carli Front Diff Guard
Purple Cranium Rear Diff Guard

Exterior Modifications:
37x12.5x17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers on AEV KATLAs
Frontrunner Bed Rack
RAM box divider kit
White Knuckle Rock Sliders (0.188 DOM, powder coated, no diamond plate)
iKamper Skycamp 2.0 RTT
Wilco Hitchgate Tire Mount (Currently removed)

Engine Modifications:
None yet.

Interior Modifications:
None yet.

Recovery Equipment:
None yet.

Electrical Modifications:
Bed rack lighting
Ram Box Auxiliary Battery

Planned Modifications:
Taller Bed Rack

[NovA ProspekT]

37x12.50x17 Tires (Looking for an aggressive A/T)

Cooper Discoverer S/T MAXX

Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ P3

Dick Cepek Fun Country

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2

I'm partial to the S/T MAXX myself, I've had them on my truck for about 25K miles now and absolutely love them. Relatively quiet and smooth driving with great on-road and off-road performance and a tough 3-ply sidewall. They're a pretty hard tire to beat, when my current set is worn-down I'm going to replace them with the same.

I'm currently trying to decide on tires for my WJ and personally, it's between the S/T MAXX and the BFG KO2's, which are a great tire as well.

[Torq]

Been pretty bad about checking the forum. I ended up going with the Nitto Ridge Grapplers. They're on the truck, but with a little drama. I was able to get the TPMS and shift points calibrated, but the weights used by the shop that balanced them ended up rubbing on the brake caliper. In their defense, the amount of clearance between the wheel and caliper is insanely narrow. I'll probably end up trying to resolve the issue with some internal balancing medium.

Here's some before and after:

Before

After

The attachment DSC_0259.jpg is no longer available

EDIT 1: Hrm. Pictures seem broken. I'll just try the links. What's the best way to post pictures directly to a forum post on PWR?
EDIT 2: Thanks for all the advice! Uploaded pictures.

[Bill2014]

If you are using a browser, select "Full Editor and Preview"
Select the "Attachments" tab and then "Add files"

Browse for the picture(s) you want and then select "Place inline"

And your post will look something like this one...

[olyelr]

Thats how I do it. Often it will tell me the pics are too large, though.

[Will]

I upload directly from Tapatalk.

[Low_Sky]

I upload directly from Tapatalk.

I do too, since most of the pics I share live on my phone. If I want to write a few paragraphs with pics I’ll sometimes do the typing on my laptop, then go edit the post in Tapatalk to add the pics.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Will]

I upload directly from Tapatalk.

I do too, since most of the pics I share live on my phone. If I want to write a few paragraphs with pics I’ll sometimes do the typing on my laptop, then go edit the post in Tapatalk to add the pics.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep, same here.

[Torq]

Alrighty. Added as attachments. Took a few tries and a few of the attachments show as "no longer available," but I think the ones that worked give the general gist of it.

Anyone else have the issue with the weights on the AEV wheels?

[Low_Sky]

It's a tight fit between any 17" wheel and the brake calipers. Your shop should be using the thin stick on weight and being careful about where they put them. If those Nittos need a lot of weight to balance, you might have issues.
My tape weights routinely get scrubbed off when offroading and mud/gravel gets in between the wheel and caliper.

[Torq]

It's a tight fit between any 17" wheel and the brake calipers. Your shop should be using the thin stick on weight and being careful about where they put them. If those Nittos need a lot of weight to balance, you might have issues.
My tape weights routinely get scrubbed off when offroading and mud/gravel gets in between the wheel and caliper.

The weights would have to be really damn skinny. If we can't make the weights work, I might try something like this:

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/
https://www.counteractbalancing.com/

[PWJouster]

my 17 methods have plenty of clearance?

Centramatics work Well, if your willing.

[Torq]

Got the wheels back. Moved the weights to the outside of the wheel and don't have anymore issues.

No I have to figure out the rubbing. Seems to rub around 3/4 lock, but only there. So I'm looking at some dremmel magic, or something more expensive like a Thuren lift (and I'm not sure the lift would fix the issue.

[olyelr]

The lift wont fix it. Only thing that changes with that is ride height... the range of motion is the same as stock as far as compression goes.

Sounds like you are rubbing the small protrusion on the plastic fender liner. Zip that off of there and you may be good... may possibly have to move back a little metal too depending on your circumstance.

[Torq]

Frontrunner bed rack installation is complete (pictures tomorrow when the lighting is better. It was a bit of a bear getting it centered, but I'm in business.

Here are some preview pics of the rack assembly and the tent unwrapped.

[Torq]

And the tent:

[Punishher7]

Anyone else have the issue with the weights on the AEV wheels?

Oh yeah...twice. Discount tire jacked up my brand new wheels this way but made it right by refunding the full price of a 35 inch Toyo MT. The solution is to put the weights toward the inboard edge of the wheel. Was told they won’t balance as well this way but it’s worked fine for the last 10K.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DamageWagon]

That tent packaging is hilarious! Damn that’s effective!!

[Torq]

Anyone else have the issue with the weights on the AEV wheels?

Oh yeah...twice. Discount tire jacked up my brand new wheels this way but made it right by refunding the full price of a 35 inch Toyo MT. The solution is to put the weights toward the inboard edge of the wheel. Was told they won’t balance as well this way but it’s worked fine for the last 10K.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup - that's exactly what we ended up doing and I was told the same thing. I've only got ~500 miles since balancing, but I'll report back if there are any issues.

[Torq]

Bed rack installed:

...and RAM boxes open:

The real test is whether or not the RAM boxes will hit the tent once I get it mounted.

[Torq]

Easy mod, but I get more compartments. Who doesn't love more compartments. The RAM box divider kit:

[DamageWagon]

Nice! So is that rack only going to bear on the accessory rails?

[Torq]

Nice! So is that rack only going to bear on the accessory rails?

That's the claim by Frontrunner. It makes sense though. I think because of the geometry of the rack mounts, the load on the rack is pushing out AND down to increase the load rating.

The dynamic load will only be a RTT and a camping table. I'd guess around 175-190 lbs. With me, wife, and kid, add 360-375 lbs. for the static load.

[DamageWagon]

Sounds steep for brackets rated for 250lbs, might keep an eye on the rivers holding those rails in. It’s probably feasible if needed to remove the ramboxes and drill the rivers and add a reinforcement inside if it’s needed down the road.

[Torq]

Sounds steep for brackets rated for 250lbs, might keep an eye on the rivers holding those rails in. It’s probably feasible if needed to remove the ramboxes and drill the rivers and add a reinforcement inside if it’s needed down the road.

Thanks for the rating - wasn't sure what it was. Is that 250 lbs per side, or 250 lbs total?