My 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Slow Build

[rikinwyoming]

Well, after lurking here for a bit, I thought it about time to introduce myself. I live in the windy wilds of Casper, Wyoming. As I write this, the wind at 38 mph is about to tip my trailer over! :wings:

Enough about that. I recently purchased a 2001 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 1500 4x4 to build into an expedition vehicle. I am amazed at the build threads here, and though my build will be slow, I endevour to build something that will be suitable for my family for camping trips and escape from zombies:Wow1:. The truck has a 5.9 gas motor with 76k on the clock original. Got in a fight with a pole before I got her, but no frame damage and the price was right!

Pics of when I got her last week...a little bit of front end damage...

new headlight assembly on the way...fixed the tailgate so it opens fine now...and I picked up this bumper from the junkyard today, made for a chevy, but within one inch of my total width so now it's time to weld up some new brackets...

All I have added otherwise is a bedrail mounted toolbox which I got for free from a local fellow 4x4 club member (backcountrycrawlers), and deleted the factory battery for a Deka Intimidator agm battery...also added a tomtom gen1 gps unit...

Future plans call for a 3 inch lift front/rear, 12K winch with dual battery setup, a 105 gallon transfer flow fuel tank in the bed, 4.56 gearing, rear locker and 35 inch tires. I still also need to fab some roof mounts so I can mount a safari rack up there, and will possibly fab a snorkle (though I am not sure on that one yet).

Beautiful rigs here, alot of though goes into them... that's it for now, will update as things happen!

 

[chilliwak]

Looks like a nice truck even though it has some front end damage. Can you tell us how much you payed for the truck?:victory:

 

[rikinwyoming]

Looks like a nice truck even though it has some front end damage. Can you tell us how much you payed for the truck?:victory:

I could but you wouldn't believe me... actually I traded a jeep cherokee for it that I had,, but considering I had about $1200 into the cherokee,,, I can't complain in the least!

 

[chilliwak]

Wow, what a deal! What would a 2nd gen 1 ton diesel with club cab cost in your area?:coffeedrink:

 

[rikinwyoming]

Wow, what a deal! What would a 2nd gen 1 ton diesel with club cab cost in your area?:coffeedrink:

I got a great deal on my truck from a good friend...taking a short look at craigslist, locally looks like 10-12k for what you are looking for in a 4x4.

Back to topic

 

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

Welcome from another Dodge guy. Lookin' forward to your build. :sombrero:

 

[805gregg]

Another Mopar guy here " Mopar or nopower".

 

[turbolab]

Another Mopar guy here " Mopar or nopower".

mopar or nopower did you mean to type mopar or no car?

 

[rikinwyoming]

a hint of what I did today with my $20 junkyard bumper find...
also, replaced the hood hinges, slotted the hood catch pin to adjust it over so it would lock down, put in a replacement drivers headlight assembly, new air filter, and a toolbox in the bed...
still have to put some more bracing on the bumper, picked up some 4 inch heavy wall oilfield pipe so I can get rid of the rear bumper as well and put a good heavy duty bumper in the back,,,, have a lead on a headache rack for free as well, but it's two inches too wide for the bed and two feet too long,,, so once I get that I will have to mod it as well!!

 

[ktn00000]

Very cool and very Wyoming!

 

[rikinwyoming]

Very cool and very Wyoming!

thanks,,, I have an opportunity to get a free headache rack,,, but I am not sure yet,,,, thinking of maybe putting some angle iron on the top of the bed in back of the cab and down the sides,,, and bending some 2 inch tubing into hoops like on a military cargo truck, thus I could fab up a canvas top ,,,, but thats just one idea swimming in my head at the moment,,,lol

 

[haroldbrock]

Dodge ram 1500 parts

Nice project rikinwyoming. That's awesome. it looks like your Dodge ram 1500 is in total makeover. There are some parts that seem to be adjusted/upgraded such as the Dodge grill, bumper cover and shocks. I hope I can help you on adjusting some parts.