Don's 2024 Ram 3500

[Flyin6]

Tate,
Thanks for that update.
My takeaway is that Mopar is doing their homework and installing some stout components. That, and now we know for sure that we are back to clutch-type limited slips.
Another takeaway is that this newer carrier is going to be a tad bit more difficult to play with given its pressed-together nature.
I for one will just run this factory setup until Trump leaves office after he completes his second term in 2033.

[Flyin6]

I began the chore day by reinstalling the rear wheel well liners

They are pretty big, but unlike the GM units, these are a lot thinner and floppier. I trimmed four big inside flaps away that were obscuring the part of the overload spring that I like to view to see if they are in contact with my revised pads. Once I did that the liners were easier to handle.

Oh, and the airbags are holding air just fine now. It was the Pac-Air flexible inlet fittings that were the culprit.

[Flyin6]

Before the weather turns foul, I will get up in there with a bunch of 3M cavity wax and spray a good coat over my arms and hair! :-0

The stance is what I was looking for:

[Flyin6]

These two are never far away. The big one was laying against either rear dual wheel just before I started on the liner re-installation. As if the dog knew where not to be!

[Flyin6]

Next up was the front Carli steering stabilizer.

[Flyin6]

I had just had the stocker off so removing it again was pretty straight forward

Carli's piece looks so much more refined.

[Flyin6]

Installing that Carli piece is not all that easy.

The cylinder is gas-charged to around 200 psi, I think. Anyway, compressing it is not for someone recovering from RA!

The tricky part is that there are four little alignment spacers that fit either side of the heim joints. So while compressing that thing and trying to line it up, one needs to somehow slip in the bolt just a little ways, then get it through the first bushing, then the Heim, and then the fun begins. While you are pushing the thing to compress it, with your third and fourth hand you need to force in the lower spacer...to where it aligns with this spring-loaded bear trap, then get that bolt through the second (pinched in place) bushing then through the mounting ear.

If you can do that, well kudos to you because I only got it after some focused praying and zero cursing or bad thoughts.

Get that done and you're nearly finished. I did not torque, just got everything snugged up. The locking nuts will keep everything in place, but if you read of a dually careening off a mountainside with a lop-sided camper on the back, well, I guess it loosened back up!

[JR]

Chore, thought it was fun? Almost can't tell there are 2 dogs there, spot above the nose gives and eye is about it.

Glad the bags aren't leaking, some you don't have to think about now.

At least it has a solid axle, IFSs are worse.

[Flyin6]

Chore, thought it was fun? Almost can't tell there are 2 dogs there, spot above the nose gives and eye is about it.

Glad the bags aren't leaking, some you don't have to think about now.

At least it has a solid axle, IFSs are worse.

Yeah, glad I don't have to revisit those bags.
The alignment is tomorrow, then I'll get to the front bumper.
That may take a bit longer. I'm thinking of welding in a winch mount before I install it. I was thinking I may want a winch to pull trees off the trail for when we get off-road with it.

[Flyin6]

I did a bunch of yard work after the truck work. This time of year I am at the plant beds almost every day. Burning weeds, trimming bushes and trees, grass cutting 2.5 acres, and cutting in the beds...Whew!

[JR]

Why an alignment? Solid front axle and no changes?

Don't remind me about the yard! I need pretty much all new grass since the leaves never got raked up last year, I mean why have kids!!!

[Flyin6]

When you raise the front end, the axle mount beams or control arms or whatever they are now pointed down a little, so that pulled the caster out of there that I need to track straight down the highway.

[JR]

Is it 4 link or radius arm? Radius yes, 4 link no, or so I understand.

[stlaser]

Same for both JR

[JR]

Thought the radius arm pivots and the 4 link keeps it more or less parallel? Maybe the factory arms are way diff lengths, that would account for some pivot.

Not trying to talk D out of anything, just wondering if I'm thinking right.

[stlaser]

You’re moving the axle away from the frame in both instances. On a 4 link you normally buy adjustable lower control arms. Lengthening them will bring your caster back positive if the uppers do not change length.

On a radius arm setup you normally lower the rear mount down to bring caster back positive. There are also after market arm setups which have adjustment with the latter being the same idea as a 4 link.

[TexasRedNeck]

Don, i should probably be fired, but the first thing I did when I got my airbags for the dually was lose all the push connect fittings for proper brass ferrule compression fittings and teflon.  I don’t care what DOT says, I won’t run them.  Never had a leak.


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[Flyin6]

Thanks all for the discussion and tips...

The test drive yesterday was amazing!

I have the suspension I was looking for and the power along with the extended gear from the larger tires.

It is just so perfect right now!

The ride is firm but not harsh. You hit a pothole expecting a jarring but instead you get a modulated bounce that stops mid stream. The cornering is nothing short of spectacular. Cutting the gear back with the 2" larger diameter tire makes the torque surge instead of leap. It's so useable and darned quick too.

I have zero complaints at the moment, and I drove it over 100 miles to be sure.

When the speedo says 70, I am keeping up with traffic and speeding past the semis. In KY most folks drive 75-80 and the trucks at 65. Without knowing for sure I am 5mph off or perhaps a tad more. I'll have to get that dialed in.

[TexasRedNeck]

Divide your new tire height by the old tire height. That will give you the percentage you are off.


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[JR]

I just verify with my phone. 4mph under at 70 for dmax, tahoe is dead on.

[Flyin6]

Divide your new tire height by the old tire height. That will give you the percentage you are off.


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Copy that...4%

33.1/31.8=1.04xxx

65 indicated X 1.04 = 67.6
70 indicated X 1.04 = 72.8

Closer than I thought

...And thanks

[Flyin6]

Yesterday I was into pretty deep mud and spinning 5-6 tires near my farm. After all the rains, the road to my place is just about impassible. I went to fetch my dump trailer so I could haul in some stones to get a few more beds done during my spring cleanup. I am trying to transform the plant beds from mulch to stone over a several-year transformation. I am in the middle of that right now.

Afterward, I had the blue beacon wash it thoroughly. $56 later it was looking pretty good!

[Flyin6]

Today was front bumper day

The thing was well packaged although I later discovered some damage.

There were a lot of parts needed to fully install this thing.

[Flyin6]

I unpacked it then hung it from the front loader of my tractor

[Flyin6]

And then I pulled the front tow hooks and then the factory bumper.

THere is nothing there to provide any protection. All that front end does is to manage airflow. If you hit anything semi significant, you are not going anywhere else.

[Flyin6]

The work then got pretty tedious. I had to strip the factory wiring harness, then the fog lights, then transfer all that to the new bumper. The new bumper was already set up for the front sensors which went in with a bunch of custom gaskets and holders.

[Flyin6]

I coated the frame and the new brackets with 3M cavity wax and used grease on all bolts.

[Flyin6]

after all that, it was time to reinstall

This took some time. There were four through-the-frame bolts and eight 12mm bolts facing forward

At this point the bumper has had everything swapped over and the factory bumper hooks reinstalled.

[Flyin6]

The actual marrying of the new bumper to the truck took a couple of hours. I did this in the blazing sun in my driveway. I about burned up! In the end, however, it was done and I have a new bumper.

A couple of thoughts:

This thing will protect against a deer-sized animal impact

It is butt ugly

I do not like it

which

means

it will have a short lifespan, but will protect the truck and occupants for the upcoming trip.

[JR]

Sensors tell you you really hit things!

I agree, butt ugly, sticks out too far and looks like you lost a lot of attack angle (but this is not for rock climbing?).

Time to break out the CAD design.

[Bigdave_185]

Should have plenty of room to mount a winch under that behemoth


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[Flyin6]

I'm sick to my stomach over installing this bumper onto my cool truck. What a mess...

I'll have to take it off and bolt on something that doesn't make me feel like I just voted for Joe Biden.

oh, the misery...

[stlaser]

I agree it doesn’t compliment the front of that truck very well. Big in wrong places etc, try buckstop.com in the future. Get it bare and have it zinc and powdered locally is my suggestion.

[Flyin6]

I agree it doesn’t compliment the front of that truck very well. Big in wrong places etc, try buckstop.com in the future. Get it bare and have it zinc and powdered locally is my suggestion.

Buckstop...I'll have a look-see

I went with this because there was a good lead time for everything else. I recall looking at Buckstop but didn't like the steel tread pattern of the sheet stock.

I know the one I want, but it had a 6-8 week lead time and was twice the cost

So what did I learn? You do not settle, but wait for what you really want. Now the bumper I cost will cost me $4500 considering what I paid for this monstrosity.

Did I mention I am just sick about this decision???

:-((

[JR]

Twice the cost? That thing you got had to be 3k easy.

[Flyin6]

Twice the cost? That thing you got had to be 3k easy.

Lucky for me it was on sale for around 1600


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[Flyin6]

I couldn’t stand that bumper so much that I just went and ordered the bumper that I wanted. Normally it has a 10 week lead time but some fella was having it built for his truck for in Alaska expedition and he already left. They are willing to finish that bumper and ship it to me and then create him a whole new one. This thing looks awesome, nothing like the piece of junk. I will be pulling off. I’m off to Harbor freight to find a big tarp that I can wrap around the nose on my truck so that nobody will notice that big fat lip I have sticking out from the grill :-)


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[JR]

We know,,,,,,,,,,,

Pictures?

[Flyin6]

I ordered a new Expedition One ultra-HD bumper for my Ram.

When Andy from E-O looked at the pics of my current truck bumper, he told me, "Man, that thing is butt-ugly!"

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Although there is currently a 10-week lead time, I was in luck. There is a gentleman, ahead of me currently in queue who was having the bumper built for his upcoming Alaska expedition. Well he did not wait for it to be completed, so they pulled it out of production and was going to get back on it when he returned. The owner agreed to allow me to have that unit and they would just create another bumper for Mr. Alaska.

Mine will look like the one in the photos that is bare metal. That one has the added bar across the lower grill area for more protection. Mine too, will come bare metal. I will refinish it here to save another two weeks on build time.

I should have it around the 18th of June, which is in time for me to paint it, and then hang it on the Ram for the Wyoming trip, in early July.

[JR]

That is a much better looking bumper. You going to add a screen to save radiator area?

[stlaser]

That definitely makes the truck look better and we know Dodges need all the help they can get! 

[Flyin6]

That is a much better looking bumper. You going to add a screen to save radiator area?

No screen, JR. But I may try and add a winch

I was thinking I just may need a way to move downed trees on the trail.

[JR]

Both are easy. Just don't need a dear or liberal ending your trip early.

Hopefully you sell the other quick!

[oklawall]

Looked good

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[Flyin6]

Both are easy. Just don't need a dear or liberal ending your trip early.

Hopefully you sell the other quick!

JR, I'll make ya a deal...Bet it would fit that S10! ;-)

[JR]

The Sonoma just weighs 3k, that would kill it.

[Sammconn]

That is a much better looking bumper. You going to add a screen to save radiator area?

No screen, JR. But I may try and add a winch

I was thinking I just may need a way to move downed trees on the trail.

This looks way better boss.

Get a winch.
The few times I’ve actually needed mine it was a godsend to have.
Sunk to the frame rails once…would have been bad without the winch.
Weekday workday, no cell, no signal anyhow, and nothing but me and my winch.

It’ll also move said trees and anything needed moved.
Just get a cheap harbor freight unit and for the three or four times you’ll need it it will be well worth the effort.

[Flyin6]

That is a much better looking bumper. You going to add a screen to save radiator area?

No screen, JR. But I may try and add a winch

I was thinking I just may need a way to move downed trees on the trail.

This looks way better boss.

Get a winch.
The few times I’ve actually needed mine it was a godsend to have.
Sunk to the frame rails once…would have been bad without the winch.
Weekday workday, no cell, no signal anyhow, and nothing but me and my winch.

It’ll also move said trees and anything needed moved.
Just get a cheap harbor freight unit and for the three or four times you’ll need it it will be well worth the effort.

Good advice...

[Flyin6]

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Added a poll

How should I coat the new bumper?

[stlaser]

Zinc plated and powdered, do it right