Owning your own business and balancing a four-wheeling hobby can be pretty tricky at times. Constantly straddling that line of what mods are just too extreme for a truck that can't miss a day of work but still longs to play in the dirt. Commissioning the help of the crew at Cape Fear 4x4 in Wilmington, North Carolina, Mike Welch approached them with the difficult task of transforming his longbed workhorse into a trail-devouring monster that would be built with functionality in mind.
The Ram has a quad coil suspension that allows the '02 Dodge Ram 2500 to soak up whatever terrain it encounters while maintaining predictable handling characteristics that allow him to load down the bed and pull serious loads during the week. The addition of selectable lockers and hydraulic-assist steering increase this land yacht's ability to maneuver between the Carolina pines and over the rocky terrain. To help the Cummins 24-valve deal with the increased weight of the custom front bumper and height of the 41-inch Iroks, Mike added an Edge power module along with 4.56 gears that resulted in serious tire-spinning power for plowing through the mud or powering up hillclimbs. The end product is a true dual-purpose truck that is happy to work seven days a week both on and off the road.
Engine: 24-valve Cummins I-6
Transmission: 47RE
Transfer Case: 241HD with Skyjacker clocking ring
Front Axle: Dana 60, 4.56 gears, ARB Air Locker
Rear Axle: Dana 70, 4.56 gears, ARB Air Locker
Suspension: Custom four-link front and rear, Skyjacker coils, Pro Comp
Steering: AGR hydraulic-assist with custom bent drag link and tie rod
Tires & Wheels: 41-inch Iroks on 17x10 Beadlock Specialties
Other: 3-inch body lift, Edge box, Cape Fear 4x4 front bumper, 12,000-pound T-Max winch, High Angle Driveline front shaft
The custom crossover steering...
The custom crossover steering connected to the AGR ram-assist kit helps maintain control over the Dana 60 axle, giving Mike the ability to steer the truck more easily through the Carolina mountains. Supporting the weight of the massive diesel is a set of 7-inch Skyjacker coil springs with dual Pro Comp reservoir shocks along with a modified sway-bar system.
With coils at all four corners...
With coils at all four corners and a 155-inch wheelbase, Mike's 2500 longbed walked up short-wheelbase-devouring obstacles with ease. To keep the clocked HD241 from getting too banged up, a custom crossmember was built to protect the drivetrain and add support for the control arms.
Under the hood lies the heart...
Under the hood lies the heart of the monster, a mostly stock 24-valve Cummins I-6 with more than 140,000 miles on her. In addition to the factory grunt, an Edge module was installed to give this beast a little extra boost for those power-pounding moments both on and off the road.
Stuffed inside of the Dana...
Stuffed inside of the Dana 70 rear axle are 4.56 gears mounted to an ARB Air Locker to keep the traction up and put power to the ground. The raised shock tabs and spring perches in conjunction with the 41-inch Iroks provide the truck with ample ground clearance, and finishing out the protection is a rock-smashing Dynatrac differential cover.