They say you only live once, so why not live it to the fullest?
In this article, we tell you how to do it through the eyes of these brave overlanders, as they typically “ram” their fears aside, to explore a world without borders, via their Dodge Ram mods.
COURTNEY & MARSHALL CHAMBERS (@CHAMBERSFAMILYOVERLAND)
When the entire terrain shifts around you, sometimes the best offense is defense. So, if the earth is ready to crush you, Courtney and Marshall’s 2019 Ram 2500 is equipped with one of those suits of armor your vehicle needs to bounce back in one piece.
It has a Trailready Front Bumper that absorbs the right amount of impact during possible collisions which reduces damage to your rig, that come from rocks or any obstacles, that may pop up along the way. It has the aggressiveness in both looks and function that makes it a useful tool.
However, if there’s one modification that’s intimidating on this rig, it would be no other than the fridge slide. That’s because putting everything you need can be tough when things start piling up – from the cutting boards to the bed mat. It’ll probably take a while to get used to it. The good thing is, figuring how it works eventually gets easy because two heads are better than one.
“It would be the winch. There has been more than one time when we’ve been stuck to the point, where we had to self-recover. And if it were not for the winch, it would’ve been very difficult. When you’re going to remote places, having the proper recovery gear is beyond essential.” –Courtney & Marshall
Tips from an Overlander at Heart
Ram Modifications’ Summary
Suspension, Wheels, Tires & Brakes
- Carli 2 1/2” Leveling Kit
- Trailready 17” Beadlocks
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W 37×1250
- Stock Brakes
Armor, Recovery & Mounting Solutions
- Trailready Front Bumper
- Warn VR Evo 12 Winch
Camping & Overland Equipment: Lighting & Electrical
- 4 Rigid E-series Midnight Spot Lights
- Rigid Side Shooter Flood A-pillar Lights
- SwitchPros Switch Panel Power System
Miscellaneous
- Yakima Overhaul HD
- Rhino Rack Platform with Backbone
- CVT Denali Hybrid
Social Media Handles & Contact
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chambersfamilyoverland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChambersFamilyOverland
JASON CRAMER (@ROAMBEARDED)
Leaving the comfort and convenience of your home is scary indeed. But what if you can bring it with you without sacrificing the things you need? Such is Jason’s case with his 2014 Ram 1500 Sport.
What makes his rig special is its OVRLND Camper Pop-up Shell. This gives them enough space to rest or move around, to do their daily chores in the process, wherever they are. Plus, it provides their valuables with the right protection against the unpredictable weather conditions.
Although the hardest part of the modification process would’ve been the winch control box relocation, due to a limited bumper space. Finding the ideal spot on where to mount it isn’t easy to begin with, and Jason had to replace the long wirings, and create a bracket for it under the hood.
“We can’t live without the Dragonfly Tarps awning. It’s a C-channel mounted awning so we mounted a tract on both the driver and passenger side of the camper for versatility. The pole configuration can be changed to adjust the shape of the awning. This allows it to be sloped to accommodate wind or rain. It also has a freestanding option so it can be used separately from the truck.” –Jason
Tips from an Overlander at Heart
Ram Modifications’ Summary
Suspension, Wheels, Tires & Brakes
- 4″ ProComp Lift
- Icon Vehicle Dynamics 1.5″ Dual-rate Rear Springs
- Helwig Rear Sway Bar
- Dick Cepek Matrix Wheels 18″x9″
- ProComp AT Sport 35×12.5 Tires
Armor, Recovery & Mounting Solutions
- Chassis Unlimited Octane winch bumper
- Smittybilt X2O 12,000-lb Comp Series Winch
- KC Hilites C-series Pod lights
- White Knuckle Offroad Rock Sliders
Camping & Overland Equipment: Lighting & Electrical
- OVRLND Campers Pop-up Camper Shell
- 200-watt Renogy Solar, MPPT Controller with 100AH Lithium Battery
- Blackfire 300-watt Portable Power Station
- Dometic CFX3 95 Dual-zone Fridge
- Dragonfly Tarps Awning
Social Media Handles & Contact
Website: https://www.roambearded.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roambearded/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RoamBearded
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roambearded/
BRENDAN MARFLEET (@CARFLEET)
If you don’t want to end up accidentally choking your rig’s engine, while smoothly going over the obstacles as if you’re gliding, then Brendan’s 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 mods hold the key to such a magic trick.
This is because it comes with a bedside exhaust which means no dangling parts underneath the chassis for extra ground clearance. At the same time, your rig’s capability to breathe will not be forced to work double time, due to the exhaust skipping the rear end and battery.
But just like any other overland rig, there exists a love-hate relationship between the modifications particularly, the rock sliders. Brendan shares he struggled looking for the right area to install his rock sliders in the beginning. Eventually, he decided to weld them on a secure spot on the frame, where they can endure both the truck’s weight and varying forms of abuse.
“That’ll be my front bumper! The front bumper gives me a better approach angle and a lot more clearance compared to the stock bumper. Additionally, it has a skid plate that protects my engine and has saved my butt more than once.” –Brendan
Tips from an Overlander at Heart
Ram Modifications’ Summary
Suspension, Wheels, Tires & Brakes
- Bilstein 5100 Front & Rear Suspension
- 37/12.50R17 Nexen Roadian Tires
- Mevotech HD Upper Control Arms
- Mevotech HD Tie Rods
- 3″ Performance Accessories Body Lift
Armor, Recovery & Mounting Solutions
- Custom Rock Sliders
- Custom Fender Rails
- Traction Boards
- Tow Straps
- Hi-Lift Jack
Camping & Overland Equipment: Lighting & Electrical
- Backroadz Bed Tent
- 52″ Curved LED Light Bar
- 4 Front LED Pod Lights
- 2 LED Rear Reverse Pod Lights
- Bed Mounted Toolbox
Miscellaneous
- CB Radio
- Inclinometer
- Cold Air Intake
Social Media Handles & Contact
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Carfleet
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carfleet_/
BRIAN TOME (@BRIANTOME)
When obstacles become one giant hurdle that’s not so easy to pass, you could learn some tactical tips straight from Brian’s 2021 7th Anniversary Ram Powerwagon.
The thing that makes his rig unique from other Ram modifications is the fact that it consists of a fabricated holster, which houses his Stihl Chainsaw in his Leitner XL Gearbox. Since the chainsaw won’t easily fit in the decked drawers and hard to reach on the truck bed’s rear, it makes his tool accessible in just about a minute during emergencies – whether for chopping firewood or clearing away fallen trees.
However, the biggest challenge in modification is the part when the secondary battery needed to be run in conjunction with the rest of the electrical components, for the fridge and ARB Dual Compressor, fuse box, and RedArc Battery Isolation, in one of Brian’s Leitner boxes. The only way out of it was critical thinking accompanied by time dedication.
“My answer is the ARB Element Fridge. Overlanding isn’t 4 wheeling even though we get into some very gnarly spots, as my bashed-in bumpers and scraped rock sliders will attest to. For us, Overlanding is glamping with adventure. It took me a long time to see the benefit of a fridge over a yeti. Since we have had one, we will never go back. Not having to worry about ice running out and never having water in your food is a comfort that we won’t live without.” –Brian
Tips from an Overlander at Heart
Ram Modifications’ Summary
Suspension, Wheels, Tires & Brakes
- Carli R2 Rear Coil
- 35” BFGoodrich K02 Tires
- ARB Dual Compressor
Armor, Recovery & Mounting Solutions
- White Knuckle Rock Sliders
- Leitner System
- MaxTrax
- Kinetic Rope
- Stock Winch
Camping & Overland Equipment: Lighting & Electrical
- IKamper King-sized Tent
- Carpet Runner for our Bull Mastiff
- Yeti Trailhead Camp Chairs
- Multipurpose Collapsible Lightweight Aluminum Step
Miscellaneous
- The Decked System
- Standard 7-gallon Plastic Water Container
- Garmin Tread GPS and Communicator
Social Media Handles & Contact
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briantome/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briandtome/
Website: https://www.briantome.com/
CONCLUSION
Don’t be afraid to go where your heart takes you as long as you don’t end up putting your life at risk. Being adventurous means properly building your rig and avoiding recklessness. Share us your other overlanding experiences by commenting below. For F150 modification ideas, see our article on Top 3 Ford F150 Overland Builds.
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