hey guys im selling my jeep to get a dodge ram. I was wondering if they do come with solid axles, if they provide the same (more or less) articulation as a jeep?

are there ways to make a dodge ram more rock crawler ready without have to spend thousands?. On my jeep, all I did was buy an ebay 6inch lift, added some sway bar links and better tie rods and that was it. spent about 700 dollars and I got good enough flex out of a jeep.

so I was wondering if the 1500 and 2500 offer decent flex as well if I were to just add a lift kit? I will be doing moderate trails in colorado

 

Yes these generation Rams are solid axle.
Halfton is D44
larger is D60

Generally, takes more money to get a Ram comparable to a Jeep. However, moderate trails in CO is a perception kind of thing. CO has all kinds of trails and vary on season.

If all you did was a lift on your Jeep, then I'm going to assume met rutted out dirt roads and mud for the most part. Minimal rock crawling (need good gearing).

Not enough info to give you reasonable info.

 

There will be moderate rock crawling, nothing too extreme. I will definitely need some flex but nothing like an XJ with coil overs.

I am looking for a flex more or less like this. not sure if that is achievable by just adding a long arm kit and a 6 - 8 inch lift





Anyhow, would you say a solid axle 1500 or 2500 is pretty flexible stock? what are your recommendations to add some flex? I really want to keep my jeep, but i need a truck bed haha

 

I miss my jeep! I needed a v8 to tow the trailer. IMHO, you could get decent flex but no, nothing like a jeep. And, although there seems to aftermarket support, it is nowhere near what is our there for jeeps.


Where are you at, maybe we could trade?

 

No. They aren't. Not a lot of suspension travel, stiff springs on the 2500, come stock with blocks in the rear to achieve desired ride height, front control arms are too limiting for suspension travel.

A long arm kit, with joints on at least one end, better springs, and shocks, dump the sway bar, and you can get there. Of course, you are looking at over a grand JUST for the lift, and the arms would be bushings on both ends.... It would work, but, improvements can be made. (and just the stock kit might be adequate for what you need....)

Of course, most of the kits put additional blocks in the rear... which is something I find highly questionable. I have never been a fan of stacking blocks, even when welded together. All you are doing is giving the rear axle a longer lever to twist the leafs into pretzels.

For durabilities sake, I would be looking for a 3/4 ton truck. The v-8 versions had D60's front and rear. (and the rear is full floating as well.)

 

That truck is the DOR one. It's on bigger tires now, linked with coilovers.

You will spend way more to get to that picture compared to a Jeep. You'll need to add protection given the rocks and your region, whereas the DOR truck could care less in the southeast.

I did pretty well with my factory D44 and the 4.10 gearing in my package. It will come down to driving style for the most part.

You can follow my progression here: https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...-fullsize.html

The direct answer would be to go with a Skyjacker or BDS long arm kit. Those are the bolt-on kits still available today and analogous to Jeep bolt ons.

Drivetrain costs will be next critical ticket with the added weight....regear, regear, regear.

 

Whitenuke, Your brothers 2500 thats green. that is the kind of flex I need haha

what set up is that to get it to flex like that? Truck is a whole new world for me lol
or does he have coil overs? you definitely can not achieve that flex with just a long arm kit huh

 

His is actually a 1500 that got rebadged as a 2500 when Dodge front and rear dana 60s put under it.

I don't know what picture you're looking at since there was a version with the dodge axles that had SJ 5" coils and Dick Cepek 4 link long arms. Then there was a change to looooong radius arms using a Ford 80s kingpin axle and coilovers. Both setups with 5.13 ratio and more unseen mods.

Yes you can with long arm kit, just have to know what to do.

 

thanks for all of this information!!

as far as a lift kit what would you recommend? any links would be great. Also, I noticed you mention he has a 1500. Does the 1500 provide better articulation then the 2500?

 

It's the same basic suspension design, just stiffer/taller springs on the 2500s.....

What size tires do you want to run?