Well, I'm still looking for a capable 4x4 vehicle, and I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place (or a rubicon and a ram to be exact).

But I was wondering if it would be possible to make a 2nd gen ram able to follow jeeps to 99% of the places they can go. I would really like to make a Power Wagon equivalent, with lockers, a winch, and a flexy suspension (stock with poss. sway bar dissconnects if possible and a small lift). Can this be done? I should add, on a reasonable budget (about + or - 1k)?

Thanks.

 

A full size truck will never be able to follow a Jeep around in the tight stuff, I hope you're comfortable with body damage (it's more fun to wheel when you don't care about your rig anyways ). Definitely lockers front and rear and a set of 35s with 0-3" of lift on a regular cab short bed would work well.

 

I understand the length issue, but to me, a power wagon more or less can follow a jeep, and it's a 2500 quad cab short bed, a pretty long truck. I was just wondering if a QCSB 4x4 w/ or w/o off road package and upgrades (lift (inch #?), winch, bumper, and lockers) could perform almost as well.
Could it do that on a limited budget, as I said?

 

The cheapest set of lockers will run you ~$600 themselves. Lockers are the biggest ticket to making it capable. With such a long wheelbase you also give up a lot of breakover angle and will get hung up much easier than a short wheelbase rig.

It's not just length (long wheel base can actually be a big advantage in many climbing situations) but width too. It all depends where you wheel too, wide open rocks, trails and mudpits, sure, tight stuff in the woods, not so much. Check out this video of our Bronco II run from last weekend, you'd never get a fullsize through most of that stuff, not without some pretty good damage at least. And at the 4:00 minute mark I was literaly 1/4" away from dragging my door along that tree and the last time I wheeled there I used my bumper against that tree to steer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-OMn_XmryI

 

Nice rig. I understand what you mean, the only reason I would take the ram over a rubicon is that I really like having a bed with me and full size seating for 5 and gear. I would love to make one an expedition vehicle of sorts.

Thanks Though, anyone else know if it's possible?

 

You will never make a full sized truck as maneuverable as a stubby little jeep.... that said...... Lockers, flexy suspension, tires, gears, and some assorted underside armor..... you can make one that is pretty close in capability. Size and weight are going to be the biggest problems.

One thing for sure though, is "cheap" won't enter into the picture. How much do you want to spend? (not including the truck)

 

I can only spend about 1k max. So it would be on the cheap. But craigslist is my friend and I've found cheap premium parts there. I would think a pair of 2500 springs and disconnecting the sway bar would be flexy enough for the front. The back, I'll figure something out for.

Like I said, I just really like the Ram's capacity for hauling my stuff when I go camping, and it might allow me to build a rig to hang my hammock from, independent of surroundings.

Thanks, keep them coming

 

well seeing how your lookin at just a trail rig a little rubbin wont bother you a 2" or 2.5" spacer in front and you can run 35's with light rubbing at full lock and maybe moderate rubbing flexed out, taking out inner plastics and trimming bumper some can solve this.

Also take out the sway bar, alot of people run there trucks without it, my friend has his off and you you cant really tell until you try to take turns at 30

Lockers will be the money pit....or you spool the rear and lock the front, or....just throwing it up weld the rear and it cost you nothin

Capable as a jeep no but add a quality winch, and you can go pretty much everywhere, and rubbin trees is all good

 

Thats the exact setup I had on my 2ng gen... diesel springs up front and add-a-leafs out back. Never missed the sway bar once (hardly knew it was gone), and it was my DD. Without the sway bar or any limiting straps, it would flex so well the coils would fall out of the buckets.

As others have stated, the best thing you can add for off road prowess is a set of lockers. Unfortunately, that will run you somewhere around $1500-2000 if you pay for labor. You could simply weld the spiders on the cheap, but that is a recipe for disaster with half tons on a full size truck.

I also had a 3" body lift which allowed room for 35's.

 

If you drive it on the street, welding the diffs is a very bad plan....... You WILL grenade the diffs. (it does make a really cool sound when it blows though......)