@Socalexpeditions Ram 2500 Regular Cab Camper Build

Instagram: @socalexpeditions
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2-zEw3n14WcGnvdBV8vdWg

Current Status of the Build:

https://youtu.be/R2opO2oJkhI

Whelp...I've had a ton of fun building up Tacoma's over the last few years and was just ready to try something new with more power and more bed space. My last 2019 Tacoma was fantastic to me, but it suffered from a few things: being slow and gutless, getting rocked in the wind, and constantly shifting to maintain highway speed. Gears, tuned, weight removed...some may disagree with me, but the Tacoma was not the best choice for the build that I wanted to do.

With that out of the way, let me introduce the new truck! She's a 2018 Ram 2500 Regular Cab Tradesman 4x4 with a 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel with 24k at time of purchase. When my truck was listed for sale, I was searching all across the U.S for a regular cab with an 8' bed. Who knew this configuration would have taken me all the way to Fort Worth, Texas to buy. It popped up on a Friday evening with no pictures. I had a salesman shoot over a few and I set a deposit on it immediately. Paid 8k under KBB, so I scored! A call to a buddy later and we both had flights to Texas!

 

Here are the pictures I received…

At first I was thinking to myself “Is this a bad idea?” I mean, look at it.



With my better judgement, I decided to go ahead and buy it. One flight to Texas later, and there I was!

Also, it was POURING rain the whole time. Couldn’t tell if the truck had scratches or dents, so just trusted my judgement and went for it!



Hotel for the night in DFW…



Early the next morning, the journey home began. I love Texas politics and beliefs, but boy…what a boring state to drive through! Stopped for some Waffle House and went through Texas and into New Mexico. Had to make a quick pitstop…



If you were wondering, the border is not very secure. At all. Moving on…

My buddy (and co-driver) had me order a Rough Country leveling kit so we could install it as soon as we got back to Arizona, the last stop before driving home. I ordered it and the next day after making it back from Texas, we had already lifted the truck! It stayed stock for maybe two days, lol! New record.



That’s it for this chapter…To home we go

 

Finally made it home with the truck and it was time to start ordering parts to make it less look…landscaper. I wanted to do everything thats a big expense on this truck once: wheels, tires, suspension, camper, etc. I’ve learned from the Tacoma builds to spend the money once and be done.

First thing was putting seat covers in the truck. I loved the set of Clazzio’s for the Tacoma, and luckily they made a set for the Ram! Score!



Second thing to address was the stock wheels and tires. Nitto Ridge Grapplers are one of my least favorite tires due to their poor grip (lack of siping) in snow/ice/rain, so I began searching for alternatives. Finding a decent priced 37x12.50r17 was near impossible, and even if it was well priced, it wasn’t in stock. I ultimately settled in trying a new tire: Maxxis Razr AT. The only reviews on them were from people in Australia who run them on trucks that are much lighter. Slight gamble, but I was willing to risk it. For the wheel choice, I chose to keep it simple and aesthetically pleasing with the AEV Salta’s in a matte black. These wheels had the perfect offset and BS for the Ram, and I am very happy with my choice.



The truck was also ready to lose some of its chrome. Gosh I hate chrome and adding the chrome appearance package from factory was a terrible decision. I found a grille I didn’t really like on eBay, a color matched front bumper in “Eh” condition from Craigslist, and ordered TYC Projector Headlights (OEM style) from Rockauto…Front end was beginning to look bitchin from where it started from!

 

Finally got the truck out for its first camping adventure in Big Bear. I was nervous about fitting on tighter trails and making U-turns, and I definitely was right - this thing is a UNIT to drive through trails. It’s tall and wide. Very…tall. More on that later.



And here was when the first issue occurred…DEF sensor read an error and gave me a 100 mile countdown before limiting me to 5mph in limp mode. My biggest concern with the truck is the entire emissions/DEF system so if it proves to be a pain before my 100k warranty is up, I’ll have to make a few changes to it *cough*

Dont get me wrong though, I like this truck. More than I liked my Tacoma’s by far. The power, the torque, the fact I get 18+ mpg…It’s fantastic.

 

Alright, SUSPENSION TIME.

I debated this for a long time - do I go with AEV and save the money to do a flatbed build, or go with Carli and settle for just a bed camper?

I chose go with Carli, and not a single regret.

Pictured here is the Carli Pintop 2.5 Kit (3.25” lift) with the Radius Arms, Sway Bar, High-Mount Steering Stabilizer…pretty much the whole catalog. The kit is strapped at ~9.25” and the bump travel I gained over the Tacoma is significant. I can talk for days about how well this kit rides. It parties. Way, way, WAY better than any of my previous trucks…








The only problem I encountered was a little rocking motion due to the design of the coil sprung rear and improper angle of the rear track bar, but nothing the Thuren Rear Track Bar couldn’t fix!

 

Suspension is 100% dialed in, strapped, and ready to rock. Only things left were lighting, a new grille, and a rear bumper.

I wanted to run a quad light setup in the fog pockets. I opted for Amazon fogs to save money for the camper, and used eBay brackets. To wire everything up, I chose the VoSwitch (off Amazon too) and have been very happy with it!



Last was a powdercoated black rear bumper to replace the chrome. I don’t think I’ll be doing a high clearance rear on this truck (key word: think), so this will do for now.



The 5th gen Ram grille wasn’t doing it for me, so I found a stock Tradesman grille off Offerup and snagged it. Win!

 

And thread is up to date

 

Can’t wait to see the future of this TRUCK! I miss my diesel.

 

Thank you! I’m very excited. Love this thing!!

 

GOD DAMN ITS FKN HUGE. What a difference coming from the tacomas

 

what kind of camper do you have planned for the bed of the truck ?

 

Yeah this thing is giant next to a Tacoma, even one with a 6” lift on 37s haha.

 

Vagabond will be making their first “8’ model” for my truck.

 

Beautiful. Eventually I'll be making the same swap, moving into an HD Ram. SUB'D.

 

Beast!!! Really happy with these tires. I dont know how long they will last though…

 

Took the Ram out for a little sunset cruise up a local trail.

 

Been MIA on here but truck is doing great!

Love the switch from a Tacoma and wont be back anytime soon. The full size is more comfortable, better offroad/onroad, doesn’t get blown around the road when its windy, and has been nothing but fun.

Taken it to Glamis twice now and ran a smaller trail in Big Bear. Still waiting on the camper, but not in any rush.

 

itching for a full size now that baby #2 is almost here. as much as i want a regular cab my wife would probably divorce me. beautiful pickup and sub for drooling over it in the future!

 

Great to see you're enjoying the new rig! Let's go wheeling soon!

 

Thanks! I’d definitely check out the full size trucks. Can’t beat the space and power!