OL Red Dodge Kansas Built

[KansasKrawler]

Well finally getting around to posting some build pics up on here of my latest rig. Its a 1997 Dodge ram extended cab 2500 4wheel drive with a V-10 under the hood. Im putting 2.5 ton rocks under it and im putting a second T-case in behind the stock one a 2.5 ton airshift. The truck is gonna be a parallel link bar truck running styner4x4 1"x 1-1/4" hiems on my own custom milled tube adapters to fit in 2" ID - 1/4 wall tubbing. The axles are welded spyders in the rear axle and an overson locker in the front. With custom disc brakes.The coil springs are 05 ford super duty 8" lift coils set in cudtom buckets. The whole truck looking to roll around on some 18.4-26 but that might change here soon depending on what i get my hands on.
So let me know what ya all think.
Here is the truck before it goes under the knife
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/olred.jpg
Here is some of the parts going on ol red
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/rearaxlepic8.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/rearaxlepic2.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/upperbucket.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/reinforcednuckle1-1.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/reinforcdednuckle2-1.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/transfercasecradle1.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/transfercasecradle2.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/swaybaras1.jpg
Let the buld begin
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/03191121001.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/03191120462.jpg
Rear end done
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/0320111852a1-1.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/03201118521.jpg
Front end done
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/03261111271.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/0326111127a1.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/03261111251.jpg

[KansasKrawler]

Well here is some new pics more progress, got the sway bar done and limiting chains on. Also picked up a bumper on a straight trade for my 14 year old stock one and one super sized tow HOOK.
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/1301525131.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/1301525132.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/1301525152.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/1301525154.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/1301525195.jpg

[Want2Wheel]

Thats some big stuff.

[tnzuk]

I would like a tow hook like that but then I would have to rear gear the Samurai!!!
Nice work looks good.

[95Ram]

That thing looks nice. Wish mine was lookin that good.

[KansasKrawler]

Thanks guys for all the complaments i really appricate it keep em coming and ram send me ur truck and ill send back to ya just the way you want it :cool:

[96 coutry cherokee]

man this thing is sweet!!!!!!!!!

[Hadfield4WD]

I believe that is what they cal gihugantic.

[95Ram]

KansasKrawler wish i could let ya do mine but its my daily and I ain't got any thing else to drive. Hopefully mine will be heading down that road soon though.

[KansasKrawler]

Here is some more pics now sitting on roll arounds just got little things left to finish then its mud time
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/1301614214.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/1301614132.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/1301614344.jpg
Roof highth so it will clear my door on tires SWEET
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/1301614251.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/1301614343.jpg
Bottom of door on roll arounds
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/1301614160.jpg

[BroncoMike]

Dang that's HUGE!!!!!

[KansasKrawler]

Yeah and its just on 40" roll arounds the other tires will add quite a bit more higth to it since they are around 55" tall

[96 coutry cherokee]

WOWOWOWOW THATS THING IS CRAZY BIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep the pics comin this is going to be great!!!

[KansasKrawler]

Thanks everyone for there input, here is some more updates and progress from today. The bumper is ON and one heavy sob!
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/1301698614.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/1301698612.jpg

[95Ram]

Man that thing is looking good. I like the bumper did you make it or buy it?

[KansasKrawler]

Well i was getting ready to build one then out of no were a guy called about some other parts i had for sale and he asked if i had a stock bumper cuz he didnt like that big heavy one so i said yea and he traded me straight across for my stock bumper, not a bad deal :cool:

[garlandg]

that truck makes 2.5 tons look tiny. is it going to be a car crusher or a mud bogger?

[KansasKrawler]

Its gona be a mud bogger more the most part and ya it does make 2.5 tons look tiny wish i woulda went with planetaries now

[garlandg]

nice truck keep up the good work.

[KansasKrawler]

Here is a couple pics from a problem i ran in to earlier last week but all is good no one was hurt and nothing was damaged on the truck, Good suspension travel and flex for a big truck LOL
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/oops2.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/oops1.jpg

[Bluegill]

:icon_eek: Glad that no one was hurt! That thing will make an awesome Bigfoot-style truck, it has clearance for the monster tires! I do see a couple things that concern me though: first, as big & heavy as those tires will be, it will need more than 1 coil and 1 shock at each corner. Second, when flexed it looks like the passenger side limiting chain could possibly get into the rotating pinion. Bad things will ensue if that happens.

Nice vision & craftsmanship though! :kewl:

[KansasKrawler]

Well guys to set the record straight as to why the truck went over on its side in the previous pics. I was working in the driver side front wheel well squaring up the last uper coil bucket prior to final welding and to put it simple i let what i do all the time get the best of me and got way to comfortable and didnt put a support stand under the front frame rail and as i was tapping on the upper buck to finish btining it square the tack welds popped and the coil shifted sending the bucket off the frame and with no coil spring holding it up over the truck went and yes i know that i was lucky to get out of the way in time and not get knocked out by the spring or bucket. Also like i said previous the axles stayed were they were cuz when i picked the truck back up and put the springs back the axles were square to the frame.

This was also prior to me installing the swaybar and limiting chains which if you look in some prior pics they are on the truck now in the rear. The truck is very stable now sitting on tires and i have been bouncing it and cycling the suspension with no problems and climbing all over it with absolutly no problems or feel of unstableness.

[RamAford]

Looks like alot of time and work in it. To big for my tastes but it should do good for mud boggin!

[KansasKrawler]

RamAFord, thanks for the complament and yes that basicly all its for is big deep mud. I already have a trail rig for the rocks and trails and the pics of its on another build page on this sight check it out and let me know what ya think

[RamAford]

It really reminds me of those huge trucks from Florida that run the 50 and 60" Ag tires. Ive just never really thought of Kansas as having alot of mud, but im sure there is plenty though! Cant wait to see some pics of it buried :)

[96 coutry cherokee]

Any updates?

[KansasKrawler]

Yeah iv got a little bit of stuff done its out of the shop for now to give me some more space but all the safety chains are on and i also built some step bars and the rear drive shaft is in it and heavy too its built from some 3" ID seamless 1/4 wall tube. Now im working on the wheels and tires. Recentering some tractor rims to my bolt pattern while im waiting on my steering and brake parts to finish getting here.
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/olredoutside1.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/olredoutside2.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/olredtires.jpg

[KansasKrawler]

Well here is some progress, I got the 14.9-26 tires and wheels mounted up on the truck today now just brakes and steering then play time
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/olredtiresmounted.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/0413111015a.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/Dodge%20ram%20build/0413111015b.jpg

[RamAford]

I think it needs bigger tires :)

Looks good!!!!

[Hadfield4WD]

Everybody loves a big mud truck.

[96 coutry cherokee]

your going to have to post video or pics whenever you run it and let us know how it does!!!!!!!!!

[Derrickalda]

good thing its a long bed to store your ladder :icon_lol:

[dixieland delight]

Oh wow that sucks.nice build though.

[KansasKrawler]

Steering done and second transfer case shifter installed. Truck drives great video coming soon
But for now here is a link to the videos on my face book page.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1351110794606

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1351125754980

[dmoore714]

Good lookin truck. I was sortof hoping that you would drive over that car in the foreground.

[96 coutry cherokee]

Good lookin truck. I was sortof hoping that you would drive over that car in the foreground.


Me too lol and I was wanting to see him get in or out of it!!:tongue3:

Looks great!!!! cant wait to see it in action!!

[KansasKrawler]

Sorry guys its been a while since i posted any updates on Ol Red but he is now done with on boared air new paint and som free flowing exhaust and ripin through pits and taken cash here is some pics and videos from the last two races
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/1314674048.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/1314674570.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/1314674330.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/1314674356.jpg
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/1314674376.jpg

video from first race and yes i forgot to shut my over drive off so i cruised the pit with od on
1314669711.mp4 video by kansaskrawler - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@http://vid790.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/1314669711.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@vid790@@AMEPARAM@@790@@A MEPARAM@@yy190/kansaskrawler/1314669711@@AMEPARAM@@mp4

video from second race this pit was really rough and breaken trucks almost every run so thats why i took it slow till the end were everyone was getting stuck at
1315272426.mp4 video by kansaskrawler - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@http://vid790.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid790.photobucket.com/albums/yy190/kansaskrawler/1315272426.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@vid790@@AMEPARAM@@790@@A MEPARAM@@yy190/kansaskrawler/1315272426@@AMEPARAM@@mp4

[Want2Wheel]

It makes those pits look easy. Good job.

[Bdt00buckshot]

Nice looking truck!!! I got excited seeing the stacks, disappointed it's not a coal roller that pays my bills. (I work for cummins)

Haven't watched the movies yet. I can only imagine how easy this thing walks though holes. I have a few buddies in Michigan that bog. I've done it once. There is really a sense of accomplishment when you win, let alone finish.

I'm willing to bet D^3, my slammed sTen, could drive under this thing.

My next project will have 40's or larger. Great looking fab skills! Truck flipping on the side reminds us all that it could be that one time. Safety first always!!! Thanks for sharing!

[96 coutry cherokee]

this thing is sweet!!! Is there anything that you would do differently? Looks like it does everything you built it to do!!!!

[KansasKrawler]

Guys thanks alot for all the complaments its been a fun build for me and ya haven it fall over was a nice wake up call for me to stop taking everything so easy and thimk of the bad side of the coin first all the what ifs before i do anything cuz that coulda been my last.
Has far as if there woulda been anything i done differnt with this build if i could???? Well i have to say yes i would have went with planetary axles or 5 ton rockwells instead of 2.5 tons and i woulda saved up and ordered a set of coilover shocks from jarod at bigshocks.com. Other then that some bigger tires for sure cuz 72s will fit i already checked :icon_mrgreen: