AEV Ram!

[04Ram2500Hemi]

Is engine heat a problem?

From what I understand it's more for the CTD when it sits and idles for a long time.

[yooper68]

just picked up a copy of "WHEELS afield" magazine at the newstand, spring 2016 issue - has an article about Overlanding the Lewis and Clark Trail in an AEV powerwagon "Border to Border Season 002". Haven't read the article yet, cool pictures anyways..... Looks like an orange powerwagon tradesman with a bunch of AEV conversion parts....

[Ducky's Dad]

Is engine heat a problem?

Does not seem to be an issue on my 3G. My grill is partially blocked by a light bar with four big round Hellas on it, and I have a large Warn compressor mounted behind the grill, sitting in front of the radiator. Truck is driven a lot in AZ, late summers, has seen ambients up to 128F with no problems. My gauge pod usually shows coolant temp at 206, even in those conditions. I have an aux electric fan mounted in front of the radiator to move more air at low speeds, but I never need to use it.

[Reloaderguy]

Is engine heat a problem?

Does not seem to be an issue on my 3G. My grill is partially blocked by a light bar with four big round Hellas on it, and I have a large Warn compressor mounted behind the grill, sitting in front of the radiator. Truck is driven a lot in AZ, late summers, has seen ambients up to 128F with no problems. My gauge pod usually shows coolant temp at 206, even in those conditions. I have an aux electric fan mounted in front of the radiator to move more air at low speeds, but I never need to use it.

Exactly what I was thinking. AEV appears to be very good at producing parts that appeal to dealerships but have questionable actual utility. The parts they do make that would address users needs besides aesthetics (fender flares) are limited and unavailable in the aftermarket.

File the hood in the ever growing pile of "meh" parts from AEV.

[MoparToYou]

I think you are defining a "meh" part differently than me. I consider a "meh" part to be a part with mediocre quality, and I'll bet this hood is actually of very good quailty. It is a carry over from their Jeep product line. Wranglers that have a 5.7 or 6.4 Hemi conversion do have a heat problem under the hood. AEV developed the heat reduction hood to help address that problem with V8 conversion Wranglers, and because it is a good looking, high quality hood, a number of them are sold to Wrangler owners that don't even have the V8 conversion. Because the heat reduction hood has been a big seller with Wranglers AEV built one for the Ram as well. It isn't needed in 3.8 or 3.6 liter Jeeps, but people buy it anyway. I had a 6.4 Wrangler with an AEV heat reduction hood, and it doesn't help with V8 conversion Jeeps, but AEV does a pretty good job of marketing it as such. It isn't needed with the Ram trucks either, but I'll bet they sell quite a few of them.

Wait, I think I just made your argument, that it is a "meh" product. But I'll bet it is good quality.

[Reloaderguy]

I'm sure the quality is better than a junky fiberglass hood but without any of the functional benefits. Meh...like a 3" lift with the same or less suspension travel than stock...or a snorkel that isn't recommended for use in water. You get the idea, high quality lame-sauce.

[04Ram2500Hemi]

I'm probably one of the few on this forum who has seen the AEV Ram's up close (both the 37" and 40" tire setup), or had a chance to ride in one (it was the 40" concept truck). Living in Missoula and being to the AEV shop multiple times I've learned a lot and been able to ask a lot of questions. I honestly think AEV makes quality products that you can buy through a dealership that won't void the factory warranty. That doesn't mean it's better or worse than Carli, but AEV understands its customer base and who they are marketing to. There are a lot of guys on this forum who are more extreme, and they are obviously not the market AEV is after. Honestly, I'm the kind of customer AEV is after because I want a little more ground clearance for my truck without compromising the factory ride. 95% of the time my truck is my daily driver, and rarely do I see anything more extreme than washboard dirt roads. If AEV supported the suspension for my 2012 I'd probably be running that setup with 37" tires right now. It all comes down to what your needs are, and AEV might not be for you.

[MoparToYou]

I just got an email from my dealer, and the AEV Prospector I ordered a few months ago has been delivered. Now I just need to find time to go get it. I am on call at work for the next week, and I can't leave town when I am on call. So it might be the weekend after this weekend before I can go pick it up. Here is a picture he sent me. Starting to get excited, now that I've actually seen it.

[RamGentry]

that looks awesome, a mega cab? I havent seen a prospector version of those. sweet!

[04Ram2500Hemi]

I just got an email from my dealer, and the AEV Prospector I ordered a few months ago has been delivered. Now I just need to find time to go get it. I am on call at work for the next week, and I can't leave town when I am on call. So it might be the weekend after this weekend before I can go pick it up. Here is a picture he sent me. Starting to get excited, now that I've actually seen it.

That's awesome!

[MoparToYou]

Thanks guys. I think it is going to be a nice truck. I'm really looking forward to getting back into a Cummins truck. The only thing I wasn't real happy to see is that AEV sent the truck with the wrong tires. I ordered it with KM2s and they sent it with KO2s, so the dealer is going to take care of that for me. They had to order the tires from a local tire store, that won't have them until Monday or Tuesday. Then they can switch the tires over, and I can pick up the truck.

[laramieskibum]

You will love it.

[MSCH2112]

The new AEV Ram Heat Reduction Hood is available. It's not in my price range, but I like that it's different than what's out there.

http://www.aev-conversions.com/shop/veh ... ction-hood

i wonder how much water/debri would build up in the 'crevis' of the hood with nowhere to drain? could create some permanent spots/marks being baked in the sun. etc.

mike

[olyelr]

I'm sure the quality is better than a junky fiberglass hood but without any of the functional benefits. Meh...like a 3" lift with the same or less suspension travel than stock...or a snorkel that isn't recommended for use in water. You get the idea, high quality lame-sauce.

According to AEV there spacer kit gains an extra inch of up-travel (compression) over stock. Moving the axle forward one inch, which their kit does, apparently allowed them to do this. So BOOM

[laramieskibum]

I'm sure the quality is better than a junky fiberglass hood but without any of the functional benefits. Meh...like a 3" lift with the same or less suspension travel than stock...or a snorkel that isn't recommended for use in water. You get the idea, high quality lame-sauce.

According to AEV there spacer kit gains an extra inch of up-travel (compression) over stock. Moving the axle forward one inch, which their kit does, apparently allowed them to do this. So BOOM

In all seriousness it's not the suspension but the track bar that allows 1" more up travel. It's bent and clears the frame that much more.



The suspension just makes it possible to maintain load capacity with out air bags and easily fit 37" tires with only 3" lift in the front (LCG before travel / flex for me). Call it what you will, we all use our trucks differently, and there are suspensions to match. Most of us need the clearance/break over/approach departure, but not the flex. Aev is the only one to correct the steering angles too. If this is a glorified leveling kit than so be it, it will go anywhere a wagon will or for that matter a $10k Carli truck, maybe a bit slower, but I'm not toting a trussed axle either. Maybe some day

Snorkle is recommended for water on the gas trucks. I did some testing on my truck and believe it will give splash and slight /quick immersion but not for long due to the active air box . Easy to defeat it and seal it though if your going to get serious. It's easy to do. Watched my bil hydro his 3G wagon. I was behind him. Slow speed 3rd gear low range puddle.im going aev intake specifically because of that incident. And my kids love the water fall we were heading to (been doing that trail every spring wo issue until this freak puddle incident) a bit of a spring tradition now. My hose at full pressure spray into active air box for 30 seconds resulted in only marginal water in the box. $500 is cheap insurance and better filter life to boot. Here is my filter at 25k:


Edit: front lift is 3" not 2.5". Rear is 2.5"

[laramieskibum]

Is engine heat a problem?

From what I understand it's more for the CTD when it sits and idles for a long time.

Maybe. If anything you cannot keep them warm enough when not towing.

I run 230f oil temp when towing into hard head winds with high profile trailer. Truck is cool with it, but maybe with 40" tires or 41" tires things change. Don't think so. But hopefully I'll find out soon .

[olyelr]

I'm sure the quality is better than a junky fiberglass hood but without any of the functional benefits. Meh...like a 3" lift with the same or less suspension travel than stock...or a snorkel that isn't recommended for use in water. You get the idea, high quality lame-sauce.

According to AEV there spacer kit gains an extra inch of up-travel (compression) over stock. Moving the axle forward one inch, which their kit does, apparently allowed them to do this. So BOOM

In all seriousness it's not the suspension but the track bar that allows 1" more up travel. It's bent and clears the frame that much more.



The suspension just makes it possible to maintain load capacity with out air bags and easily fit 37" tires with only 2.5" lift in the front (LCG before travel / flex for me). Call it what you will, we all use our trucks differently, and there are suspensions to match. Most of us need the clearance/break over/approach departure, but not the flex. Aev is the only one to correct the steering angles too. If this is a glorified leveling kit than so be it, it will go anywhere a wagon will or for that matter a $10k Carli truck, maybe a bit slower, but I'm not toting a trussed axle either. Maybe some day

Snorkle is recommended for water on the gas trucks. I did some testing on my truck and believe it will give splash and slight /quick immersion but not for long due to the active air box . Easy to defeat it and seal it though if your going to get serious. It's easy to do. Watched my bil hydro his 3G wagon. I was behind him. Slow speed 3rd gear low range puddle.im going aev intake specifically because of that incident. And my kids love the water fall we were heading to (been doing that trail every spring wo issue until this freak puddle incident) a bit of a spring tradition now. My hose at full pressure spray into active air box for 30 seconds resulted in only marginal water in the box. $500 is cheap insurance and better filter life to boot. Here is my filter at 25k:

According to aev dave, moving the axle forward was one of the keys of allowing for an extra inch of uptravel. The trackbar may also be part of it.

And its 3" in the front. 2" in the back.

[Reloaderguy]

How do you gain up travel when you contact the bumpstops and reach coil bind in the same distance? That's the limitation of spacer lifts; you're still working with the same range.

[FirerescuePW]

Maybe the stock geometry isn't optimized to use all of the up travel the coil springs are capable of.

[olyelr]

Yep exactly. The spacer is 3", so my guess is the bumpstop drop is only 2". Apparently the coils could allow for more uptravel, but the axle had to be moved forward an inch along with the arched trackbar.

[olyelr]

They advised against me using their kit with the stock pw springs, because they had not done any testing with them and dis not know if the coils would bind or not.

[Reloaderguy]

Yep exactly. The spacer is 3", so my guess is the bumpstop drop is only 2". Apparently the coils could allow for more uptravel, but the axle had to be moved forward an inch along with the arched trackbar.

The track bar bracket can only contact the coil bucket if the track bar is too long. Under standard movement, you can contact the bumpstops with the stock track bar. The stock suspension does not have 1" of spring compression left over when the axle contacts the bump stops.

[laramieskibum]

Yep exactly. The spacer is 3", so my guess is the bumpstop drop is only 2". Apparently the coils could allow for more uptravel, but the axle had to be moved forward an inch along with the arched trackbar.

Front 3", rear 2.5" on lift. I was wrong. I'll measure my bumps tonight and report back. Also have a stock and aev trackbar off the truck I can compare and send photo.

[laramieskibum]

Yep exactly. The spacer is 3", so my guess is the bumpstop drop is only 2". Apparently the coils could allow for more uptravel, but the axle had to be moved forward an inch along with the arched trackbar.

Front 3", rear 2" on lift. I was wrong. I'll measure my bumps tonight and report back. Also have a stock and aev trackbar off the truck I can compare and send photo.

Edit. 2" not 2.5". Full of misinformation. Should have stayed in holiday inn express.

[laramieskibum]

[


According to aev dave, moving the axle forward was one of the keys of allowing for an extra inch of uptravel. The trackbar may also be part of it.

And its 3" in the front. 2" in the back.

Didn't gather that from his post, might be reading it wrong:

http://forum.aev-conversions.com/showth ... 335&page=6