I'm Thinking to buy a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 (2 door extended if they make it) 4 door with a hemi.The Thing is i'm new to off roading and wanted to lift my truck add in some big tires, wheels, suspension etc. What brand should I be buying for each part and where to buy it. I'm planning to spend up to 5-10 (depends how addicted i get) grand on parts.I'm new to the off roading world and feel this is the best place to go to for help.Any questions comments or concerns please feel free to ask.

Would It matter if I get a hemi engine instead of the cumming?

1) you're probably going to get flamed on pretty quickly and consistently. Hate to do it, but I must point out the irony of the fact that you're registered as OffroadMaster and a self-professes newbie.

2) if you're really interested in getting into offroading, really think about your intended uses for your vehicle. This is an 'extreme rockcrawling' site. There's room in the world for full sizes in this category but they are more the exception than the rule. Few people on here would consider purchasing a $30K full size to start as a platform.

3) the type of advice, input and opinions you will receive on this board gravitate to extreme rock crawling, and people might not want to start off by educating you about all of the details of beginning off roading. But, there is a lot of information like this to be gained by searching the board first.

4) My honest advice would be, if you are serious, to leave your new truck well enough alone and purchase a vehicle for some of the $5-10K you plan to spend on blingin' accessories and learn more about the sport and what you really want/need.

5) if you want to build a big fairgrounds cruiser show truck, you will catch a lot of hell here.

6) Good luck and have fun.

For 10k you can build a super trick rig, and that includes the purchase price of the rig. Then you can use your new 3/4 ton truck like it is supposed to be used, to tow with.

Originally posted by 44Runner
For 10k you can build a super trick rig, and that includes the purchase price of the rig. Then you can use your new 3/4 ton truck like it is supposed to be used, to tow with.

1. Buy Ram.

2. Buy Trailer.

3. Build Rig.

4. Tow Rig.

;)

I'd like to see the trails you can fit a 4 door Dodge on.
Also, if you can afford the Cummins, get it. A buddy has an '03 half ton 4 door 8' bed w/ the Hemi and it tows ok.. It boggs down and MPGs suck...To and from Rausch Creek, we got an average of 8 mpg towing about 5.5K lbs between truck and trailer. Dodge's marketing department definately did their job selling those trucks.

I don't think any insurance company is going to cover damage done while four wheeling. Get a 70's ramcharger with a *real* hemi if that's what you think you want.

just get a toyota they are cheap and reliable and make great wheelers

Originally posted by ryan_ackerman
just get a toyota they are cheap and reliable and make great wheelers You guys convinced me to get a toyota tundra. Where is the best place to buy off road mods for the tundra?

For trail rig you would want something older to beat up
Any solid axled Chevy, Ford, Dodge.

Can't go wrong with a early 90s F-350 with comes with a Dana 60 front.

The Tundra is more of a prerunner.

Get a sammi they're dirt cheap easy to mod and they'll fit in the bed of your dodge so you can save $ on a trailer.:flipoff2:

No matter what you buy you are not going to really 4wheel it, so leave it stock and buy a old piece of shiat to spend 10 grand and you will be set to go 4wheelin.

:vader2: :vader:

I you insist on trashing a new vehicle with off-road mods,
and trail dents, get a Tacoma with TRD off-road package.
Should wheel pretty good out of the box.

Wheel it a little, then start the mods.

Originally posted by OffroadMaster
The Thing is i'm new to off roading
Heh your name contradicts that statement:flipoff2:

Before you choose a different vehicle, where do you plan to wheel the truck? It makes a huge difference in what you should look at as well as how you build it.

For large fire roads a full size dodge can be a fine vehicle, For going fast offroad a Tundra with IFS is a better choice.

Do any of you friends wheel? What type of trucks and/or terrain do they drive?

Just some thoughts.

Originally posted by whitetoy
I you insist on trashing a new vehicle with off-road mods,
and trail dents, get a Tacoma with TRD off-road package.
Should wheel pretty good out of the box.

Wheel it a little, then start the mods.

The last wheeling trip I was on a guy in my group pulled up to the first obstacle, got halfway up the hill and his pinion snapped. Probably just a fluke but still didn't inspire much confidence.:flipoff2:

Originally posted by Beat95YJ
Before you choose a different vehicle, where do you plan to wheel the truck? It makes a huge difference in what you should look at as well as how you build it.

For large fire roads a full size dodge can be a fine vehicle, For going fast offroad a Tundra with IFS is a better choice.

Do any of you friends wheel? What type of trucks and/or terrain do they drive?

Just some thoughts. Well I'm from Southern california I guess for places like gorman,glamis,places with lots of mud. No I don't have friends that go wheeling.Mostly dirt and mud. I would want some kind of speed when I go wheeling.

well if i were to get a fullsize pickup ot wouldent be a tundra, cause even though they market it as a full size, it's actually smaller than the competition. id get the new f150. but if you wanna go offroad, i wouldent get a new truck unless your only gonn go and do easy stuff in a big field.get a rubicon if you wanna wheel good out of the box. i think you need to get your priorities straight, before you buy a new vehicle, cause offroading doesent sound like your primary objective, due to your previous vehicle selections. have fun mastering the offroad :flipoff2:

The '90-'97 Ford Rangers with the 4.0L V6 are good little trucks that take well to modifying. I'm pretty happy with mine.

Crawler gears for the stock T-case are slim-to-none, though (gotta go homemade or swap in the Atlas) :(
Doesn't sound like you'll be concerned with that though.

Originally posted by Lowtorious
I'd like to see the trails you can fit a 4 door Dodge on.


My stock 96 1/2 ton did Engineer's Pass...8/10 trail rating!!


Yeah I know...it's no big deal.

Originally posted by Fearnothing

Heh your name contradicts that statement:flipoff2:

Originally posted by stocker75
Hate to do it, but I must point out the irony of the fact that you're registered as OffroadMaster and a self-professes newbie.


lookie boys, its the same thing, only in different words:eek:

Although i must admit, the latter of the two sounds more intelligent.

as for fullsized and offroad....well, you are going to beat the fawk out of it when its full sized, its just too long and wide to be effective. and scrap the "new" truck thing and buy an 85 toy for 3k, and put 10k into it and you will have the shiznit!

You could also buy my Jeep (so I can continue working on my current project) and start wheeln' right away!!\

http://community.webshots.com/user/rockcrawler304

By the dodge as a tow rig.

Go to the for sale section here and see what catches your eye as a play toy.

With being new to wheelin you will be way happier taking this route.

Originally posted by The Joker
Go to the for sale section here and see what catches your eye as a play toy.


Like THIS JEEP (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=180414)