A great many of the 2nd generation Dodge Ram pickups ran into a problem where the dash board cracked due to baking in the sun for years. I know…because it happened to more than one Dodge truck Ive driven so I understand how unattractive the dash of the Ram is when it looks like a series of earthquakes rocked the surface. Fortunately, DodgeForum member VARam1500 put together an awesome DIY on how make your dash look like new…and maybe even better than new.
VARam1500 went through the process of covering the dash of his 2g Ram in vinyl and while he states that it isnt “restoration quality” – but it can be argued that the dash board shown covered in vinyl looks better than some of the 2g Ram dash pads did from the factory. He explains what he bought and even includes some tips along the way to make recovering your Ram dash as easy and as successful as possible.
VARam1500 included plenty of pictures so you can follow through each phase while also seeing how great his dash looked when he was done. Click here to head into the 2nd gen Dodge Ram section for a step by step DIY on how to make your dash look like it is brand new again!
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
