gun45boat's Build - 2004 Ram 2500 "rock crawler expedition build"

[vanished]

Sounds sweet!!

[gun45boat]

THanks. I had a piece of wood duck taped to the floor below the gas pedal, so that I wouldnt go "all Out" It worked like a charm.

MTR Kevlars are the only way to go if you want highway AND off road capability. I have had almost EVERY brand underneath my off road trucks, and the MTR's (in my opinion) are the best handling, and most durable sidewall on the market.

[05PWrockcrawler]

Are they the old ones or the new Kevlar ones. Just looking at what I want to get next!!!

[gun45boat]

They dont make the old ones any more. I have the new ones with the new Kevlar Sidewalls.

TUBE DOORS..... YOU ALL ARE GOING TO DIG THE DESIGN OF THESE WHEN I AM DONE!!!!!!!!! THEY ARE GOING TO BE SICK,,,, AND I am going to make a JIG for these just in case anyone wants a set for their DOdge ram/Powerwagon

[gun45boat]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuUpdApyAGg

A video from the outside.

[05PWrockcrawler]

You can go ahead and count me in for a set of tube doors. He'll yeah very cool.

[05PWrockcrawler]

Nice video. Also those tube doors will lighten that thing up some and make it easier to see obstacles. Design some back tube doors also lol. Very cool man.

[gun45boat]

No kidding... I couldnt believe how heavy the stock doors were!!!!!! When they dropped off the hinges, I nearly broke my back (not expecting the weight) I am willing to bet that each door weighed in at around 170 pounds each EASILY... Good way to decrease the weight of an already heavy rig. The tube doors (when finished) will weigh in at around 35 to 40 pounds each. I am also going to be integrating soft door fabric WITH zipper windows INTO the tube doors (easily removable and stored under the seat) used to keep the truck dry when needed, then unbuttoned when not needed. Like I said, the tube doors/soft doors are going to be a SICK design to incorporate baddass'ness with dryness when needed, and designed to be used going down the highway during a rainstorm. LOLOLOL

It will be KILLER when complete.

[myoung84]

I just love this thread. So much awesomeness!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4

[FirerescuePW]

I want to come work for you.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4

[gun45boat]

Thanks. You all keep me motivated.

Tube doors complete.

Now off to make the skins for the them to keep the rain out.

[gun45boat]

Let me know if anyone wants a pair. I am sure I could talk one of the guys into building another set. 38ft of 1 3/4" DOM .120 wall Hinge kit with Weld tabs and 2 sets of HD hinges with quick disconnects. Total material $360.00
Labor 2 guys ALL DAY to measure cut/notch and weld together, and paint.

[gun45boat]

Finished doors, with better pictures, The latches finally came in the mail, so they are functioning as they should. New side view mirrors installed, and had to paint the entire door frame section black, to make the doors look right on the truck.

[gun45boat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5whmlQWdjA

[05PWrockcrawler]

Loving those doors. Gotta get you to make me a set for sure. Just come up with total price for a set and let me know and I would love to get a set from you. I don't think shipping would be too bad to Goliad, Texas 77963. I bet you could sell quite a bit of them. Great work! Keep up the awesome build on that Dodge.

[gun45boat]

Hey 05 I am willing to bet that if I did them in HREW it would drop the price dramatically. BUT it is NOT as safe as Chromo or DOM. I personally will NOT wheel in ANY rig built out of HREW, that does SERIOUS wheeling.. Tube doors should not be skimped on, but it can be done. Let me price up some HREW from my Steel rep, and see what's up. A HUGE THANKS for the props on the doors. I would like to get my hands on a 4 door Ram just to build a jig for the rear doors. THAT WOULD BE SICK TO SEE A 4 DOOR RAM WITH BOTH SETS OF TUBE DOORS>>>>>> SICK!!!!!!!!!!

[05PWrockcrawler]

I have a 4 door you can borrow lol! I'm with you DOM only for me. I'm rough on my rigs. They look damn good though.

[gun45boat]

If you want them in DOM, With parts and labor to build, and paint them black. It will take 2 guys most of a day to build a set, so to break even and send you a set of tube doors will run about $700 + about $50 to ship them to you..

HREW doors I can build for about $590.00 for a set. and trust me when I say they are tough, You can hang a 260 pound dude on the end of the doors wide open and jump up and down on them, and they dont even budge..

That includes EVERYTHING to just bolt in and go.

[05PWrockcrawler]

Hey gunboat I have to get a new set of tires before the years up. Want to run at least a 37" but I am going to try to buy a 40" tire and do some serious trimming. Question the MTR kevlars are only a C rated. My truck is pretty damn heavy. How are they on the street? Are they way too soft? Also do they chunk up in the rocks. My junky ass Nitto trail grapplers are tore the hell up and huge chunks are missing out of them.

[gun45boat]

I think you will be fine. I have a set of 37" MTR's for sale 37 x 12.50 x 17 YES THEY WILL FIT ON A STOCK WHEEL (a set of 6) with about 65% tread evenly worn if you want them. I would let them go for $1000 for all 6. The 40's will require MASSSSSSSSIVE trimming to make work on a PW with anything less than 6"to 8" of lift. I think you would be happy with the 37's Yes the C rated tire will hold up to the abuse AND the weight of the truck. I LOVE MTR'S I will never use anything but an MTR Kevlar. Very little chunking of the tires during hard Off road use, then jump on the highway and run them at 100mph all day long.

Let me know about the tires. I can pallet them up on a pallet and ship them to you in Texas for about $125.00

[05PWrockcrawler]

You got any pics? I may be interested. I've found a 6" lift I want but it would still require some trimming to fit 40" tires I think. Would love to have (5) 40" MTR tires but not sure they will fit without pulling the front fenders. I think 40" tires will fit with some fiberglass fenders but think the way I beat on it I don't know if they will hold up. The rear will get a custom flatbed eventually. So tire size is only limited to front end clearance. Of course this is down the road after I beat it up some and find some more cash. Committed to this build but missing my buggy lol!

[gun45boat]

Alright, just finished building the "BALLZ TOUGH" rear drive shaft for the truggy. Made from 3.5" OD .360 wall DOM tube with double Mig welds on BOTH ends. WITH slotted yokes.

Balancing was a *****, but got it perfect... shaft weighs in at 65 pounds LOL

Lets see if I can break this one on a rock LOL WOT on a stroked HEMI, Spraying Nitrous oxide, with a beer in one hand

[05PWrockcrawler]

Nice real nice. I love the name on the driveshaft also. Beat the hell out of it!

[05PWrockcrawler]

Oh yeah hold my beer and watch this shit! Lol

[gun45boat]