Dodge 2500 project

[Fish]

I swore that I'd keep this one stock. Yeah, right...

I picked up this Dodge at a dealer in Grass Valley, CA last summer. It's a used 2007 2500 Quad Cab long bed 4X4 with the absolute last of the 5.9 Cummins to go in a Dodge. I wanted a little more room in the bed/bedroom than my Ford had and a little update all around.



The shell is a Callen that I customized a bit. I had some of the same problems with Scott that others have had, but I finally got it built. I had a single door put in the rear instead of the barn doors. I then had them build cabinets on either side of the door behind the dual pane windows. I put more cabinets above the windows. There's a switch for the lights by the rear door so that I don't have to climb in to turn on the lights. And a Fantastik fan. Other amenities include a Swampy swamp cooler and a 1000 watt Xantrax inverter. Of of my favorite additions so far is the Bed Rug. Boy is that thing plush!

Sometime this week, I'll modify the (sleeping) bed from the Ford to fit the Dodge. This shell is 1" narrower inside. Ooops. My bed fits transverse at the front of the shell and is made of angle iron and plywood, with a yoga mat on top.





I mostly use this truck in fire camp. I travel with an interagency Incident Management Team to large fires. My job usually entails being up late at night, so I like having someplace to sleep during the day. To that end, I'll be putting a few radios in the truck as well. It'll get a commercial VHF and UHF as well as a scanner and cell amp.

I still haven't decided what, if anything, to do to the suspension or drivetrain. I'm trying to leave well enough alone, but you know how that goes.

Well, that's my story...

[theMec]

Fish - We are thinking similarly. I have a Dodge w/ a Callen also. Just got the Callen a few months back. I have the short bed though. I have a bed setup but still have a lot of customizing to go. Yep - I have a bed rug too. Keep us up to date on your mods.

My thread is in the "Other Custom Expedition Camper" thread. See my build thread below.

I'm suprised you still have your front air dam. Better to take it off than halfway rip it off and drag it home. ;-)

[Fish]

Good tip on the air dam. I guess I'm trying to squeeze every mile per gallon I can out.

How do you like the Toyo 285/75's on that rig? I'm thinking of going that direction when my 285/70's wear out.

[theMec]

I did notice a drop in mileage w/o the air dam. About 1/4 mpg - which is quite a bit. I was calculating every tank at that time. Shortly after I pulled it off, I got stuck in a Utah wash and would have ripped it off anyway. I don't make it a point to do hard 4x4. Sometimes the rough stuff just gets in the way of where I'm going.

If I was staying mostly on pavement, I'd keep it on for the mpgs. If you don't take it off, scope the removal out ahead of time. It's hard enough to take off lying on your back in your driveway. Small hands are good.

I really like the Toyo 285/75's. I could not tell a drop in mpgs w/ the switch from stock Michelin 265/70/17s. I was still calculating mpgs at this time also. For the driving I do, the tire wear did drop from about 45k to about 39k miles. I'm on my 2nd pair now and plan to continue. I haven't hit either diff since I switched.

You're not associated w/ Fish climbing gear are you?

[Fish]

You're not associated w/ Fish climbing gear are you?

Nope.

I probably will remove the air dam. I don't do any hardcore wheeling with this rig, but you never know.

I definitely like the 285's. I'm debating a leveling kit and 315's, but I'm not sure I want to go that route again.

[tlbrewer]

I mostly use this truck in fire camp. I travel with an interagency Incident Management Team to large fires. My job usually entails being up late at night, so I like having someplace to sleep during the day. To that end, I'll be putting a few radios in the truck as well. It'll get a commercial VHF and UHF as well as a scanner and cell amp.

What a coincidence. Which department? Like the truck. Your setup will serve it's intended purpose well.

Tom

[theMec]

FOR SALE: 1999 F-250 Supercap shortbed 6" lift, 315's, 46 gallon Transferflow tank, chipped and injected, Callen shell

Why are you selling your Ford? That's the 7.3 liter, right? Looks like a nice rig.

[Fish]

Why are you selling your Ford? That's the 7.3 liter, right? Looks like a nice rig.

It is a nice rig. I'm buying a house and need the cash. The Dodge is newer and has a nicer shell. I'm not getting rid of the Bronco. Therefore, the Ford must go. And yeah, the Ford is a 7.3.

[Fish]

What a coincidence. Which department? Like the truck. Your setup will serve it's intended purpose well.

Tom

Tom, I'm a BC for San Diego Fire, a Planning Section Chief for an Interagency IMT and a Planning Team Manager for CA-TF8.

The Dodge is a build based on using the Ford in fire camp for the past 10 years. There's nothing wrong with the Ford... just wanted a new truck and a nicer Callen.

[tlbrewer]

Tom, I'm a BC for San Diego Fire, a Planning Section Chief for an Interagency IMT and a Planning Team Manager for CA-TF8.

Sounds like you mostly work in CA then? Bet you stay pretty busy. The onset of the monsoons seems to have helped get everything under control in NM. We had one that was up to 93,000+ in SW NM a few weeks ago.

I know having a comfortable place to sleep is nice after a long day in the field.

Tom