My 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 Off Road Edition


Click here for some awesome offroad pictures!


This is what I started out with, a stock Offroad edition Ram 1500.  It already had a 2 inch lift
from the factory as part of the Offroad package, which also includes an extra skid plate and
4.10 gears as opposed to 3.55 gears.  It has larger shocks and 17x8 aluminum wheels also.



Then I put some new wheels and tires on.  I fit 35 inch MT/R's on with no extra lift!
Not bad for a stock vehicle.  I had a lot of fun with the truck like this.


Then I added another 2 inches of lift on top of what I had for a 4 inch suspension
lift to easily clear the 35 inch MT/R's and later the 35 inch Xterrains.


Then I found out that body lifts were not as evil as I had originally thought, so I put one on.
3 inches of body lift, 4 inches of suspension, and 37 inch MT/R's on Weld Racing Cheyenne
17x10 wheels.  These wheels were the coolest ever.


Well, then I realized that having 4 inches of suspension lift on stock
control arms wasn't a good idea, so I got a complete Skyjacker 5 inch
lift kit.  Except I lifted the rear higher on accident.


To correct the rear sitting up higher, I either had to drop the rear lift or raise
the front.  The first rule of 4x4's is never go lower!  So I lifted the front with my
2 inch Daystar spacers on top of the 5 inch Skyjacker coils.  7 inch suspension,
3 inch body, 10 inches total with 37 inch MT/R's.




Then I realized how stupid the 37's looked with that much lift, so I had to
get new tires.  I was unhappy with the MT/R's anyway, they are good all
terrain tires but for mud, they freaking suck.  So I went with a true mud
tire, a Super Swamper.  38x15.50r17 SSR's.






I was really happy with the truck at this point, it looked great and was
pretty big.  However, after a while, the new wore off and I was ready
to modify again.  Here are some more pictures with 10 inches of lift
and 38 inch tires.  This is a great setup.


I started buying used parts as they became available.  I purchased some
7 inch coil springs, 6 inch leaf packs, bought some new Dick Cepek
long arms, and bought some new Rancho shocks on sale.  First I put on
the long arms and the truck rode SO good with 7 inches of suspension
lift and these arms!  It was great!

Then I put on the lift.  I was also getting ready for my one ton axle swap,
so I decided to lift the truck as high as I was wanting to go and not have
to create more work for myself later.  So I put on a 10 inch suspension
lift which bumped me up to 13 inches of lift total.  I also put on a new front
bumper from Road Armor.





The above pictures were of the 13 inch lift and 38 inch tires.  Like having
the 37's on 10 inches of lift, this looked dorky.  I knew I needed bigger
tires, so I planned to run 40 inch tires, but didn't know what tires to get.
I wanted SSR's again but they were not available in that size.  


Now it was time for the one ton axle swap.  At this time, I put some 42 inch
Swamper TSL's on the truck on 16.5x12 wheels.  8 lug, of course.  :-)


Then the TSL's got worn down and I wanted something that cleaned
out better... the only choice, Swamper Boggers.  But, they don't make
them in a 42 inch size, and I couldn't fit 44's, so I had to get some 40's.


After the 40 inch Boggers got worn out about halfway, I had the
funds to get a little more lift and some bigger tires.  The only tire
I wanted was a 44 inch Bogger.  So I got them, put them on the
same wheels as the 40's, and tried to make them fit.  Part of the
reason I thought I might be able to pull that off is because I had
some custom long arms made that were 3 inches longer than
normal.  Without those longer arms and the high clearance
design of the Road Armor bumper, this would not have been
possible.

Then I ordered up a set of Full Throttle 10" coils and took the lift up to
16 inches instead of the 13 inches I had.  This is where I'm at today.

As you can see, I have really good suspension travel up front.  The tires
stuff into the fenders really well, and there is a ton of droop.  The truck
works great, but you know me, I'm never satisfied.

Up next, I'll have dual steering 2.5 ton Rockwells under here with disc
brakes on each wheel, Trailready beadlocks, cut Boggers, full hydro
steering front and rear, King 16 inch travel coilovers front and rear
with a 4 link up front and a 3 link in the rear.  The Rockwells will give
me a 6.72 gear ratio, which is awesome, and ARB is releasing an air
locker for the 2.5 ton axle, which I will be purchasing two of.  The idea
is to have brute strength, amazing articulation, and an excellent turning
radius, all with a long wheelbase full size truck.  


Copyright: Danny Gaston, 2003-2007
Last Updated: February 09, 2007