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Jealous Of Joe - 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 CumminsA Zombie Killer Survival Truck From the July, 2010 issue of 4Wheel & Off-Road By Fred Williams Photography by Fred Williams
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Joe Salas just needed a tow rig, a nice strong diesel tow rig. But as happens, one thing led to another and now his '03 Dodge 2500 is a dune-jumping, race-chasing, high-performance machine. It also still has enough style for his wife to borrow it for girl's nights out on the town and could probably survive the end of the world if need be.
Whether he's chasing racers,... Whether he's chasing racers, sitting in Southern California traffic, or running down zombies, Joe is in comfort with a Kenwood race radio, a Lowrance GPS, and a Whelen PA and siren system among his factory leather seats. Joe has a diesel shop known as NTG Racing, as in Nuts To Go Racing. It's a Dodge-specific shop and where his own ride went from "just a tow rig" to something ready for just about any adventure (or job) that comes his way. In fact, Joe daily drives the truck, works on the chase crew for KORE Suspension's desert race team, and still has time to take the family out to the dunes on the weekend. It was on one of those family vacations when his son borrowed the keys and put some airtime under the General Tire Grabbers; the truck took it all in stride. With a truck this clean and capable, we're definitely jealous of Joe. Tech Specs
2003 Dodge 2500
Drivetrain
Engine: 5.9L Cummins
Transmission: Stock automatic 48RE
Transfer case: Stock manual NP271
Front Axle: Stock AAM 91/4 4.10 gears
Rear Axle: Stock AAM 111/2 4.10 gears, stock limited slip
Suspension
Springs & Such: Fox 3.0 shocks with KORE Suspension coils, limiting straps, sway bar, and Recon link arms in the front; KORE leaf packs and Fox shocks in the rear
Tires & Wheels: 37-inch General Grabber race tires on 17-inch Moto Metal wheels
Steering: Fox steering stabilizer
Other Stuff: Bradford flatbed, Spitzlift boom, Baja Designs Soltek lights, Lowrance GPS, Smarty programmer, Omega fuel injection pump and injectors, Airaid cold intake system, Air dog 165 pump  The first time we saw Joe...  The first time we saw Joe Salas' Dodge we were driving back from the Baja 1000 and here was this flatbed chase truck cruising up the highway. It was covered in dirt, and it looked like a great post-apocalyptic truck. All the gear on the Bradford flatbed is perfect for keeping a race team moving down the track or surviving in a world infested by zombies. Supplies include multiple PU Products fuel cans, spare tires, jacks, nitrogen tanks, a Spitzlift boom for heavy lifting, and a plethora of tools, parts, and first aid kits in weatherproof Pelican cases.  The truck runs the new 37-inch...  The truck runs the new 37-inch General Grabber tires on Moto Metal 17-inch rims. These are the red-label race tires, but General just released this same tread to the public. (See "Grabber Exclusive," page 84, and find out how you can take home a set in our Nuts & Bolts section.)  To clear the big rubber, Joe...  To clear the big rubber, Joe installed NTG/Hard Kore fiberglass front fenders. Then he took the truck to Cliff at Syndicate Auto for some matching silver paint and the airbrushed flames on the front. The Dodge has no less than 10 Baja Designs Soltek lights across the front light bar and atop the Bradford flatbed. With both HID and LED, there is enough light for Joe to see where he's headed and to light up the pits when he's fixing broken race trucks.  The rear suspension uses 2...  The rear suspension uses 2 1/2-inch Fox shocks and a mini pack to help support the weight of the bed and spare parts while still allowing the AAM 11 1/2-inch axle plenty of controlled movement.  Underhood power is from the...  Underhood power is from the venerable Cummins 5.9L diesel, but it's been upped with an Omega fuel injection pump and injectors, an Airaid cold intake system, a Smarty programmer, and an Air-Dog 165 fuel separation/filtration pump. Above the Cummins is a Shox Speed over-the-engine shock tower brace.  A zombie-killer truck must...  A zombie-killer truck must be fast, strong, and fully enclosed from the elements (and zombies). Joe's truck uses a KORE suspension with Fox 3.0 front shocks, VR race coils, a sway bar, limiting straps, and Recon arms to soak up all the off-road abuse.
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