When you hear "fullsize trail truck," the first thoughts that pop into mind are a rolled-over, beaten-down Blazer that could barely pass for legal on the street. Hank Slocum of Golden, Colorado, took his perfectlygood V-10 Dodge Ram and started wheeling it, and then he bought another one to tow the first one with. And some people say we obsess about our trucks
But we understand why Hank would build such a rig. He's not exactly the kinda guy that'll fit into a buggy; he's more the kinda guy that'd rip the front seats out of a Japanese car and drive it sitting on the rear bench. And we don't blame Hank for wanting to wheel in comfort. There's many a day we'd take the nice, big, plush leather on our butts and carpet on our feet over the burning oil smell and scorching exhaust-heated floorpan of our own rides.
But such a luxury rock ride comes at no small price. At 7,200 pounds, Hank's Dodge is probably one of the heavier things you'll find moving through the Moab slickrock. And being one of the heaviest 4x4s around earns you the responsibility of recovery vehicle. Luckily, Hank is the kind of guy that'll lend a hand, as we witnessed earlier this year in Moab, when a cherry Commando took a dump on Potato Salad Hill and Hank continued to winch it out of the ravine until he burned up an alternator. And don't think he asked the guy for a new one. Hank is an example of the good kind of people that keep four-wheeling friendly and make it so great for everyone.
Tech SpecsVehicle: '97 Dodge Ram 2500Engine: 488ci, 8.0L V-10 gasTransmission: 518 four-speed auto trannyTransfer Case: NP241 (with a Klune-V Goliath Crawl Box)Front Axle: High-pinion Ford Dana 60, 35-spline axles, 4.88 gears, Detroit LockerRear Axle: Factory Dana 70, 4.88 gears, Detroit LockerTires & Wheels: 42x15-16.5 Swamper TSLs on 16.5x10 USA 6x6 double bead-lock wheelsSuspension: Skyjacker coils and leaves, custom control arms, rear shackle flip and remounting of front spring eye, Rancho 9000 shocks