Previous Dodge truck guy here...

Had a little agreement with my wife last summer that.... if I built our backyard pool (saving us BIG $) as opposed to using a pool builder, and continued driving a Scion Xb to save gas and more $..... then this summer I would get a truck and some manhood back!

Decided this time I would get a loaded Laramie so that it would have everything I wanted... Fat chance of that.... I am going crazy with the mods and I cannot stop...

I have added..

1. Chrome side bars.
2. 2" level kit on front
3. 35" Toyo Open Country m/t
4. Air ride air bags for towing

Somebody DARE ME to buy the rancho 4" suspension lift... PLEASE.. Dare me...I cannot wait to order that thing, get my tools out, and install it.

Anyways, here is a pic or two... and its nothing more than a coincidence that the boat just happened to be hooked up when I took the pics


1. Backyard dirt and weeds. 2. Pool after a couple of broken fingers and a very sore back
3, 4, & 5... all Dodge Ram and I am not looking back.

 

that is really nice and interesting tires. It will look better with the lift. Where did you get those roof racks?

 

Look like regular Yakima racks with Q towers

 

Man, you did an awesome job on that backyard. The truck looks real nice as well, i have been wondering what 35's would look like on the ram.

 

If you don't mind me asking you, how much money did you save doing the pool yourself vs a builder? How long did it take? The pool looks really good. My wife liked it as wel....

 

Thanks for the compliments... I am not much of an internet guy but it is fun to show off some of my hard work!

ram09red- Yep, Yakima racks with standard Q towers. My wife and I have carbon bikes. Too expensive to throw in the back so they go safely on top, and the kids bikes get tossed in the back. Truck looks better without them... but function over form wins on this one. I will be installing the permanent rails for the towers whenever they arrive.

Truck will DEFINITELY look better with the lift.

lil_jo- I will preempt what I am about to say with; the cost of building a pool is a relative term. You could build the EXACT same pool I did and you will pay more/less because of so many variables.

With that said I saved about 75k from what pool builders quoted me. I can say this with accuracy because I poorly sketched the design, and then had engineered plans done (right down to plumbing sizes, pumps, lights, every detail...) and then submitted the same plans to every pool builder. Whether or not I was going to build the pool myself or use a pool builder... the engineered plans was what was going to be used.

Now the reason I saved so much is because I literally did as much of the work as I could myself. I didn't just contract the work out.... if I could do it, I did. I contracted out things like gunite, decking, excavation but I saved tens of thousands doing other things myself. I often had pros come in and evaluate my work to make sure it was done right.

It took me about 6 months and I would NEVER do it again. I love the result, but absolutely the hardest thing I have ever done. I would easily do an owner/builder again if I contracted out the entire thing, but as much labor as I did.... UGH! But if you got the fight in you to take on the project just once for your own backyard, you can save a ton of dough.

My justification was as follows...

1. Use a pool builder= nice pool, no boat no truck
2.Build it myself= even nicer pool, + boat + truck.... same price if I used builder...almost!

Hope that helps.... I have TONS if information on the subject if you have any more questions, but I digress...

 

hey man nice truck....well does the 35"'s rub or they r just fine? i was looking around for someone who has he same set up and i need to do the same.

 

AhmedRam,

As far as for my truck, I get a slightt rub when I do a full lock turn in reverse. Full lock turn going foward has no rub. But it is very, very close... There is very little clearance, but enough for me....No spacers.... wanted to avoid that can of worms.

When I do my lift, (cannot decide between a 4" or 6") I did not want to have to change tires, so I can deal with some 3 point turns until I get my lift done.

 

Wow nice pool, and I love the look of the wheel wells filled up with tires? Do they rub and what size are they exactly. Would those tire fit in a standard 4x4 Sport without levelling kit or lift?

 

That pool is pretty awesome, I cant even imagine taking a project like that myself. But I guess if it was a choice between driving a Scion or building the pool I would try building the pool