BoldAdventures 2015 Ram Power Wagon Build

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Torq

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I just picked up a 2017 PW (time to replace the 80 series LC) and you've done a lot with your 2016 that I'm interested in doing. I'm of the same mind as you regarding the Nuthouse rack. Way too expensive, but it fits all the requirements, including maintaining full Ram Box functionallity. Would your friend be willing to fabricate another one of these racks? I suspect the geometry would be near identical.

Also, have you had any issues with rubbing on on the 37" tires? The only reputable option I've found for tire upgrades is AEV, but I really don't like the idea of moving the axle forward. Do the Thuren suspension mods seem to do the trick?

I'll be subscribed to this thread.
 
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Torq said:
I just picked up a 2017 PW (time to replace the 80 series LC) and you've done a lot with your 2016 that I'm interested in doing. I'm of the same mind as you regarding the Nuthouse rack. Way too expensive, but it fits all the requirements, including maintaining full Ram Box functionallity. Would your friend be willing to fabricate another one of these racks? I suspect the geometry would be near identical.

Also, have you had any issues with rubbing on on the 37" tires? The only reputable option I've found for tire upgrades is AEV, but I really don't like the idea of moving the axle forward. Do the Thuren suspension mods seem to do the trick?

I'll be subscribed to this thread.
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Marcus just moved to his new shop and is ready to start making the racks:

https://dethloffmfg.com/shop/rambox-truck-rack/

But best to email him at sales@dethloffmfg.com to discuss your wants and any customizations.

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37's rub at full lock on the sway bar. You can run them without a lift, they'll always rub in that spot unless you adjust the offset. Guys who run AT's have less rub than M/T's. Seems to be a tire per-tire kinda thing with the amount. I only have it at full lock on the sway bar. If you go with a softer aftermarket sway bar, it will stop rubbing too, since they are designed a bit different. Or you could do something like a 1 inch spacer. Doesn't bother me personally.

AEV's lift is to crappy for what you pay. It's a spacer kit with brackets that are known to break and crap shocks. Much happier having real performance parts from Thuren.

I have a friend with an AEV truck on 37's are our trucks sit the same height. The funny thing is that AEV lift for the Power Wagon just puts you at level'd height. Kinda pointless, especially since it's asking you to replace your PW springs with stock 2500 springs. Giving up that ride and flex. It's not a good kit at all for PW owners, IMO.

$350 from Thuren will get you new front coils. And if you want, you can use the money saved towards real shocks like a set of King 2.5's.

I'll eventually upgrade to those after the new year.
 
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project_ajax said:
Love this rig! Whats fuel capacity and mpg though?
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33 gallons - It's 28+5 gallon reserve according to the manual. I've run it down to the light a few times, most I've ever put in was 31. I usually fill up before light.

It really varies on mpg - towing I feel I was doing well pulling the Airstream on 35's getting 12.50mpg. We saw some decent numbers this summer on summer blend averaging 16mpg highway and a high of 17 heading from Boise, Idaho to Moab, Utah (but it's kinda downhill a lot that direction)

I haven't really done a long enough offroad trip to know what the range is off the pavement in 4low or 4hi. That would be worth knowing.

So it's a pretty wide variance for me. That being said, I've never been one of these dudes who is getting 8, 9, 10 mpg in their wagons. I think they have lead foots. I don't race stop light to stop light, so problems I don't have.
 
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Torq

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Nic
BoldAdventure said:
Marcus just moved to his new shop and is ready to start making the racks:

https://dethloffmfg.com/shop/rambox-truck-rack/

But best to email him at sales@dethloffmfg.com to discuss your wants and any customizations.

---

37's rub at full lock on the sway bar. You can run them without a lift, they'll always rub in that spot unless you adjust the offset. Guys who run AT's have less rub than M/T's. Seems to be a tire per-tire kinda thing with the amount. I only have it at full lock on the sway bar. If you go with a softer aftermarket sway bar, it will stop rubbing too, since they are designed a bit different. Or you could do something like a 1 inch spacer. Doesn't bother me personally.

AEV's lift is to crappy for what you pay. It's a spacer kit with brackets that are known to break and crap shocks. Much happier having real performance parts from Thuren.

I have a friend with an AEV truck on 37's are our trucks sit the same height. The funny thing is that AEV lift for the Power Wagon just puts you at level'd height. Kinda pointless, especially since it's asking you to replace your PW springs with stock 2500 springs. Giving up that ride and flex. It's not a good kit at all for PW owners, IMO.

$350 from Thuren will get you new front coils. And if you want, you can use the money saved towards real shocks like a set of King 2.5's.

I'll eventually upgrade to those after the new year.
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That bed rack is nice. And as far as I can tell, $500 cheaper that the Nuthouse rack for similar functionality. It's on my buy list.

Do you think a wheel with different backspacing could solve the rubbing issue? I'm not a huge fan of spacer. Might be a non-issue if I go with an aggressive A/T rather than a M/T. But I'm on the same page as you as far as AEV lifts for PWs go.

So, what do the Thuren coils and King springs get you? Better articulation and ride quality?
 
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Torq said:
Nic


That bed rack is nice. And as far as I can tell, $500 cheaper that the Nuthouse rack for similar functionality. It's on my buy list.

Do you think a wheel with different backspacing could solve the rubbing issue? I'm not a huge fan of spacer. Might be a non-issue if I go with an aggressive A/T rather than a M/T. But I'm on the same page as you as far as AEV lifts for PWs go.

So, what do the Thuren coils and King springs get you? Better articulation and ride quality?
Click to expand...
At some point, that price is going to come down some more, I just think he's been busy working on skid plates, but we've discussed making it more attractive.

A wheel spacer or different offset should in theory help with that. I've mostly avoided different wheels because the factory wheels are really good, and most of the offsets create their own problems. Not a huge fan of tire poke. I have thought about a 1 inch spacer though myself.

Thuren's front coil is a rate than the factory. Just rides better overall and I gained a little over about 1.75 upfront. I don't have the Kings yet, but they are longer and a limit in flex is shock length. So yes, they'll increase flex. The Kings for the fronts go from 10 inches travel to 12 inches if my memory is correct.
 
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BoldAdventure said:
At some point, that price is going to come down some more, I just think he's been busy working on skid plates, but we've discussed making it more attractive.

A wheel spacer or different offset should in theory help with that. I've mostly avoided different wheels because the factory wheels are really good, and most of the offsets create their own problems. Not a huge fan of tire poke. I have thought about a 1 inch spacer though myself.

Thuren's front coil is a rate than the factory. Just rides better overall and I gained a little over about 1.75 upfront. I don't have the Kings yet, but they are longer and a limit in flex is shock length. So yes, they'll increase flex. The Kings for the fronts go from 10 inches travel to 12 inches if my memory is correct.
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Have you had any poor handling or alignment quirks since installing the Thuren springs? I imagine caster may be an issue which could cause wandering on the highway and such. Any feedback in that regard?


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gtomike

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BigDogKona said:
Have you had any poor handling or alignment quirks since installing the Thuren springs? I imagine caster may be an issue which could cause wandering on the highway and such. Any feedback in that regard?


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk
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Get it aligned to Thuren's specs and it'll be good.
He has a Tech page with the specs for all years of trucks
 
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BigDogKona said:
Have you had any poor handling or alignment quirks since installing the Thuren springs? I imagine caster may be an issue which could cause wandering on the highway and such. Any feedback in that regard?
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Like GTOMike said, Thuren alignment specs, zero problems, perfectly even wear on my tires, no wandering what so ever. No caster issues. The factory specs are actually quite bad on these trucks, and a lot of shops will make it worse. The first place I took it too caused binding and gave the truck serious drivers side lean. I got that fixed with Thuren's specs.

https://www.thurenfabrication.com/tech/alignment-and-handling.html
 
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BoldAdventure said:
ARMOR - Rock Sliders

Well, I finally had access to a lift, and installed the sliders on the PW. These things are beefy and very well built.



Installation on the passenger side was a breeze. The drivers side, will make you curse more than once. But the lift made the work easier. I was done with the installation in 3 hours.

Also made sure to use red Loctite on all the bolts. Now for the photos:









SHOP RECOMMENDATION

If you're ever in Moab and need a garage to work on your vehicle, you are in luck. Gotomoab Garage has you covered!

It's a DIY hobby shop and really convenient when you are traveling and need to work on your vehicle. All you gotta do is go online and schedule your shop time. Really easy to do.

Today was our first visit, and we meet with the owner Joe who is a really friendly guy. The shop has tools, including a welder and plasma torch and two 2-post lifts, jack stands, etc. Most everything you'll need.

Be sure to check them out if you're in the area!

The name of the place is GOTOMOAB GARAGE http://www.gotomoabgarage.com/



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Great post and great pictures. Love the pumpkin guards and sliders!
 
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Highlight reel from our most recent VLOG of just the Power Wagon wheeling in the snow up at Stanley Lake in Stanley, Idaho, along with a recovery and my thoughts on our 37-inch Toyo Open Country MT's in the snow.

 
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In other news, we've been pulling people out of the snow and the mud here lately. After the Jeep recovery in my video above, we came across this fellow who got stuck the next day.



After that, I decided to pick up soem soft shackles and a Factor55 Hitchlink 2.5. I had planned on building a rear bumper, but that didn't happen, and it's going to probably be awhile, so this should cover me for a good amount of time on the rear recovery point.

And then today I saw a guy stuck on the SW Idaho 4x4 Recovery FB Group, so we drove out to give him a hand and used the new gear.

Today's recovery made me think that their shorty strap would actually come in handy. I need to go over my kit, but getting more practice is always a good thing.



 
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Bob Levenhagen

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Kenslittle72 said:
What shocks are you going to pair with them?
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Already have King 2.5" remote res shocks on it with stock OEM diesel springs and a Pro Comp Leveling kit. That's why I am going to a true lift coil. The 2.5" shocks bind horribly going thru the leveling kit at full droop - especially with short arms. Ok to do for a pavement queen but that's not the purpose of the #megalander
 
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