Hey everyone..

Need some help throwing around ideas and opinions. I'm trying to convert my 2004 1500 4x4 SLT QC into a ranch truck/storm chase vehicle.

The list of mods that I want to do:
Armor - Rhinoline the whole thing?
Frontbumper/Winch
Suspension Lift - Hardest to search for.. soo many options. I want a lot of travel and would be fine with 6" of lift
Tires/Rims - would really depend on the lift, I suppose
CB Radio/Antenna and placement
PlexiWindow coverings for hail
Laptop mount - anyone done this?? (Wireless Internet)
GPS
Emergency Lights (yellow flashers etc.)
Reflector Tape

Not looking to put a roll cage in and keep the interior mostly stock. I'll probably reupholster the seats b/c the padding is seriously flattened and the seat skeleton is hurting my ***.

Any ideas, brands, or mods that you can suggest would be great!!

Thanks!

 

I think Ali-arc makes an aluminum winch bumper - it'll have to be light with a winch on a 1500, look into buying a pull-pal for a winch point, and a hi-lift jack
I think BDS makes a suspension lift that gives the most clearance and travel, Rancho is known for being very strong.
Probably a mud-terrain or other aggressive tread that works well in all conditions, 35" is about as big as you can go on a 1500
Cobra makes good CB's, Wilson makes good whips, just a mag mount would work best. A good antenna is very important - Any Cobra radio and a Wilson 500 is a good setup
Not sure on the window coverings, keep us posted, I'm interested as well
The rest should be stuff that's universal fit. Look into some skid plates as well to protect the underside of the truck, and an intake that's higher up and less likely to suck in water.
Good luck! Let us all know how it goes

 

I think this pretty much all depends on how much money you are wanting to put into it.
on the lift, procomp, fabtech, or rancho...I think alot of people like the rancho kit
on stormchasers they rhinolined the whole thing and it worked in the middle of a storm
if you have the money a road armor or ranch hand bumper with warn endurance winch
Probably some nice 18 inch rims and a/t tires like Mickey Thompson or Nitto/Toyo
CB and antennae is all according to what you will use it for
I dont know what they used for the plexi window but you can get a covering for your stock windows like a tint but they put it on the white house, if you need it i can find the name
just generic emergency flashers such as LEDs off ebay or rock lights
http://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-dod...b-127-sw1.html MOUNT

All in all Im at around 5k not including rhinoliner and windows

 

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...estige_Series/

i think thats the window treatment

 

I'm looking to prevent any breaking glass in the first place. I think most front windshields have a layer of film (don't quote me on that) that prevents the glass from completely shattering and flying in your face.

What I'm thinking is tying in some sort of 2x2 steel into the front bumper and inserting plexi into it. This is sounding like a more and more crappy idea (and it would probably be cheaper to just replace the glass when it gets hit by hail) because I would lose visibility due to a lack of windshield wipers.

But this is the sort of input that I need!! Thanks Matt!

 

Didn't think of the skid plates.. will have to add that to the list Any ideas for the intake? (are you talking something like the K&N cone looking intake?)

All of the other suggestions are great! Will look into all those products!

 

I think 5k isn't unreasonable. I'd like to save money by installing most of the stuff myself and finding the items cheeeeeappp on ebay or craigslist. I have all winter so I'm not in a rush. I'm going by a couple of off road stores tomorrow, one in West Texas and one in North Dallas to get some prices and get an idea of what products I should be looking for. I don't want to waste the saleman's time but it's nice to have a store to go to to product shop.

I've really only seen a jeep rhinolined and a truck on west coast customs. I don't want it to look ghetto!! haha.. hopefully they don't quote me any more than 1500 for that. (pipedreams)

Will check into those susp lifts you have listed. 18" rims aren't too big? I have 20's on it now and know that I'll have to go smaller but was leaning towards 17" for no particular reason except that I see them mentioned the most.

Thank you!

 

Do you plan on chasing storms or waiting for them to come to you? If you chase, that's a LOT of driving and you don't want to do it while jacked way in the air on huge tires. It'll get expensive real quick.

 

If it were me I would be finding and talking to professional shops that specialize in this. Remember, potentially your life and others depend on it.

 

I have always wanted to do that myself---storm chasing. If it were me, I would go with a 3/4 ton Cummins--simply for the mpg, as you will be puttin mega miles on it. 6" lift & some good MT tires. Lockers front & rear would also be in order, as the roads out west turn to ice when clay gets wet. An exo-skeleton with removeable HD screens on the windows---to keep them from getting broken from hail & fast moving debris. Oh yeah, I have given this some SERIOUS thought. Buckstop front & rear bumpers, winch, & some recovery gear to pull others out.