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POOR MAN’S REBEL: 2019 TRADESMAN BUILD PROJECT

spenceroc73

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Welcome to the thread! Here I’ll be posting updates and taking suggestions for my ”Poor Man’s Rebel” build project. Keep reading for a description of the project and a full list of completed and planned mods. All advice is welcome so if you have any thoughts, please share them!
I got my brand new 2019 Tradesman just over a year ago, mostly with settlement money from an accident that totaled my old car. I‘ve always wanted a truck, but I’m not exactly rich, and the cheapest truck on the lot was the only one I could afford. 4WD and a Hemi was my bottom line, but other than that, the truck is as barebones as they come. Of course I had originally planned on keeping it that way, but as every truck owner does, I soon went down the rabbit hole of modifications and eventually got the idea for a fun project.
Most of us would love to have an epic off-road machine, but factory off-road models like the Rebel, Raptor, or TRD are, in my observation, severely overpriced. While I was diving head-first into the world of truck mods, I suddenly got the idea: what if I could build a truck that was better than the Ram Rebel for less than the cost of one?
The lowest trim package for the Rebel comes in at over $44K. I signed for my Tradesman for just over $28K. For the sake of convenience, we’ll round up to $45K and $29K, respectively. That’s a $16K difference. To meet the capabilities of the stock Rebel, the minimum I would need is lift, wheels & tires, skid plates, and a set of gears & lockers. All of that stuff would be (very roughly) $6K, leaving me with $10,000 to continue making the truck as INSANE as possible!

Here are some basic ground rules and clarification:
-No cheaping out. Not having mods at all is better than having crappy mods, and I’m not going to sell myself short on important components for the sake of spending the minimum amount of money.
-Tying into the first point, all parts must be bought new.
-I’m going to be evaluating my build when compared to the Rebel, but I’m not going to be limiting it. I have goals for the truck that I (eventually) plan to meet regardless of how the cost compares to the Rebel. This project is going to be more of a “proof of concept.” If it ends up surpassing the cost of a stock Rebel, then, oh well... I’m still going to continue building it to where I want it to be.
-I don’t have $16K to throw around so obviously this will be more of a long-term project.
-I’ll be including every mod/accessory and their costs in this post, however, items that don’t come stock on any of the Rebel trim packages (example: Oil Catch Can) will not be included when determining whether or not I’ve met my goal.
-Prices posted here will reflect what I paid for them, not necessarily their current MSRP.
-Anything that isn’t physically attached to the vehicle, such as recovery gear or tools, won’t be included here.

Now finally, the good stuff.
TRUCK STATUS AND PROGRESS:
11/16/2020 - Initial Post
My goal for this build is mix of overlanding and rock crawling, with a little bit of mall crawling thrown in there because hey, who doesn’t like riding in style. Mods will be oriented around off-road performance while still keeping it practical for daily driving. Eventually I’ll start getting into fancier stuff, but for right now, everything has a purpose. By the time I decided to post this project on the forum, I had already upgraded my wheels & tires and I don’t have any pictures of it before. Let me just say, though, that the factory 18” steel rims that come on the Tradesman were pretty darn ugly.
A6807DBB-E7B3-445B-A0C2-5E0EAA4DDDAB.jpeg
COMPLETED MODS/ACCESSORIES (in order, with notes):
1. Line-X Spray-In Bed Liner: $500
-This was the first mod I did, back when I was mostly planning on keeping the truck stock. After the first few times I hauled stuff, I noticed the bed getting severely scratched up and wanted to make sure it was protected. I know, I could have done this cheaper using spray cans from Wal-Mart but I appreciate the professional job, quality, and warranty from Line-X.
2. WeatherTech Floor Liners: $279
-In my state we have some particularly nasty winters. I also eat in my truck a lot, and frequently get my boots dirty. All things considered, bucket-style rubber floor mats were a no-brainer. I would have preferred Husky Liners but I got the WeatherTechs as a gift.
3. Line-X Rust Proofing & Undercoating: $500
-Once again, nasty winters. Especially with the knowledge that Rams have had rusting issues in the past, this was something that I decided I wanted done. I know undercoating can be considered a ripoff or even counter-productive, which is why I did a heavy amount of research into the specifics. I ultimately went back to Line-X, as their process does not involve the dodgy methods that leave your vehicle worse off than it was before.
4. Rough Country Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover: $600
-I needed a tonneau cover because I usually move a lot of junk, and I wanted to be able to lock it safely in the bed in order to free up some cab space. I chose a hard tri-fold model because they are secure and can’t be knifed into, and I don’t really like the look of shell-tops. I know one of my personal rules was “no cheaping out” and Rough Country is generally considered cheap, but for something as simple as a tonneau cover, Rough Country does just fine. It looks great and I haven’t had any issues with it.
5. AVS Bugflector II Hood Deflector: $95
-I live in an area where the bugs get really bad, and I mean BAD, in the summer. After it started getting to the point where an hour’s drive would leave me barely able to see out my windshield, I invested in a bug deflector and it works as advertised. I think it adds a nice bit of trim to the front end as well.
6. JLT 3.0 Oil Separator: $150
-I drive all over my state for various reasons, usually on a weekly basis, and I put a ton of miles on my truck. Especially with how much driving I do, there’s really no reason not to get an oil separator/catch can. They‘re easy, relatively inexpensive, and keep your engine clean and running at peak power/gas mileage.
7. AVS Ventvisors: $70
-I like driving with the windows down when it’s nice out, but I hate the noise/echo when the air doesn’t flow easily. Also, I hate how the interior door panel gets soaked when I order at a drive-thru in the rain. Ventvisors were an easy, inexpensive fix to both issues.
8. MOPAR 2” Lift Kit with Fox 2.0 Shocks: $1170
-Now we’re finally getting into the good stuff. After doing a heavy, heavy amount of research on lift kits (because they’re a huge component of your truck but easy to screw up), I eventually settled on the MOPAR. This kit comes with Fox 2.0 shocks for all four corners and raises the truck 2.5“ up front and 2” in the rear, eliminating a half inch of rake. By going with a small lift I was able to keep the center of gravity low, and MOPAR claims it can still fit 35in tires without issue (which I’ll discuss more below). The truck rides like a dream both on- and off-road and I’m very happy with my choice here.
9. Pro Comp Series 33 Wheels 18x9 +0 Offset, packaged with Falken Wildpeak AT3W LT325/65R18 (35x13): $2270
-I spent weeks researching and going back and forth between 33“ and 35” tires. 37s were out of the question because they were way out of my price range and I want to keep this truck practical. I settled on 35s because I wanted to maximize off-road capability (within my limits), they fit with the MOPAR lift kit, and I think they look better too. I chose 18” wheels because more sidewall is safer and more comfortable off-road. 18s are the smallest wheel that fits over the 5th Gen brake calipers, and even then, some still don’t fit. Finding a good set of 18s that fit both my preferences and my truck was a chore. Shameless plug here though, the customer service team at Custom Offsets was absolutely stellar and helped me through the whole process. Choosing a tire brand and model was also a long process, but I ultimately chose the Falken Wildpeak AT3W for a number of reasons. I chose aggressive all-terrains over mud-terrains because of the amount of highway driving that I do, and because of the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating (as far as I know, I couldn’t find any M/Ts that had this rating). My state doesn’t have a winter tire requirement, but driving on the stock H/Ts in winter still felt downright dangerous. After much research I only found a single negative review for the AT3Ws, and it was from a certain genius who tried to go rock crawling with P rated tires. Every other review was nothing but glowing praise. So far, they’ve been great for me as well. As a final note, the 35x13s fit the MOPAR lift on 0 offset wheels, however, I can’t guarantee fitment on the stock -19 offset wheels. You’re probably going to have to go with slightly narrower tires if you plan on keeping your stock wheels.


SO AS OF NOVEMBER 2020, I’ve spent a grand total of $5634 on mods, leaving me with over $10K before I reach the minimum price of a Rebel. I‘m definitely not rivaling Rebel capabilities yet, but I’m halfway there with the suspension and tires.

PLANNED MODS/ACCESSORIES (roughly in the order I want to acquire them, but not set in stone):
1. OE Style Fender Flares, MOPAR Wheel Well Liners, and Husky Mud Guards
-Some relatively inexpensive, basic trim and value protection.
2. Barricade HD Off-Road Rear Bumper
-The only reason I moved this higher up on the priorities list is that somebody put a nasty dent in my rear bumper recently while I was parked on a city street. No reason to pay over $1000 to replace the OE bumper when an aftermarket one costs less and is already on my wishlist.
3. Flowmaster American Thunder Cat-Back Exhaust System
-The Barricade rear bumper has cutouts for the dual rear-exit exhaust, but I have the side-exit stock and I think it would look a little out of place without a new exhaust. Of course the meaner sound a little extra horsepower are a bonus.
4. MOPAR Skid Plate Set (Fuel Tank, Front Suspension, Transfer Case)
-Pretty self explanatory. Mandatory for off-roading.
5. Re-Gear, Rear E-Locker, & Differential Armor
-I don’t have a brand or specifics picked out yet. I do have a rough idea for gear ratio, and I’m debating between 3.55 or 3.73 (I have 3.21 stock). I’m also considering 3.92 but it doesn’t seem entirely necessary and will hurt gas mileage even more.
6. Steel Front Bumper
-I have three criteria for a new front bumper, those being a skid plate, bull/guard bar, and winch mount. I’ve narrowed my search down to three bumpers, but each option is missing one of my criteria. The Barricade HD doesn’t have a winch mount, the ADD Stealth Fighter doesn’t have a guard bar, and the FabFours Matrix doesn’t have a skid plate. Right now I’m leaning heavily towards the Barricade HD, which I can probably modify to accept a winch if all else fails. I’ve pretty much ruled out the Stealth Fighter because it doesn’t offer good impact protection. The Matrix would be flawless if it had a skid plate, but I really want that protection for my front diff.
7. White Knuckle Rock Sliders
-The only true rock sliders available for the 5th Gen Rams. Excellent side protection for hardcore off-roading... and they double as running boards for the short people in my life.
8. AFE Momentum GT Cold Air Intake
-This will give me a little bit of extra horsepower, especially when paired with the cat-back.
9. JMS Terrain PedalMax
-A throttle controller to eliminate that pesky throttle lag.
10. Freedom Off-Road Adjustable Track Bar
-The MOPAR lift kit came with a track bar bracket which will suffice for now, but this one will be much stronger and more accurate to the OE tolerances.
11. Performance Coil Packs
-From the research I’ve done, it sounds like a set of performance coil packs will improve gas mileage and smooth out engine operation, along with a minor performance boost. I’ve heard great things about Ripp Performance and I’m holding out for them to come out with a set for the Hemi (currently they only offer coil packs for the Pentastar V6). If that doesn’t happen I could go with MSD Blasters, but these aren’t a priority so I’m fine with waiting.
12. Nova Series LED Headlights
-Let’s be honest, the stock halogens are just... bleh.

OTHER IDEAS (things that I’ve thought about but haven‘t really planned for):
-Winch
-Undercover Swing Case
-BuiltRight Industries Bedside Rack System
-Full Size Spare Tire and Mounting Solution
-Rock Lights

If you’ve made it this far... YOU ROCK! Please let me know your thoughts and ideas. Thanks for reading!
 

arod412

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I read the whole thing...and loved it. Best part is that you can take your time. You have a great base to start with. I’m actually interested in the bumper ideas. Like tires and rims, there are lots of options and I’m super picky.

What I’m looking for something that just flows and looks flush. Most of the bumpers are very square, rectangular shaped...and not a lot of round corners and edges. It’s tough to find a front bumper that doesn’t stick out as far, yes have room for accessories like either a winch and additional lighting ( or both). Skid plates is also something that my Laramie didn’t come with....so I want to add stuff to my cart, then if a deal pops up during the holidays, that would be great.


Owner of a 2020 Ram Laramie, 16 Dodge Charger scat pack and my wife 21 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara
 

spenceroc73

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Joined
Nov 12, 2020
Messages
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I read the whole thing...and loved it. Best part is that you can take your time. You have a great base to start with. I’m actually interested in the bumper ideas. Like tires and rims, there are lots of options and I’m super picky.

What I’m looking for something that just flows and looks flush. Most of the bumpers are very square, rectangular shaped...and not a lot of round corners and edges. It’s tough to find a front bumper that doesn’t stick out as far, yes have room for accessories like either a winch and additional lighting ( or both). Skid plates is also something that my Laramie didn’t come with....so I want to add stuff to my cart, then if a deal pops up during the holidays, that would be great.


Owner of a 2020 Ram Laramie, 16 Dodge Charger scat pack and my wife 21 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara
Thanks for the feedback! For what you want, it sounds like the ADD Stealth Fighter is the one for you. It hardly sticks out at all and has very clean lines, but that’s exactly the reason I don’t want it. I want something that sticks out a little bit and has a guard bar to protect my front end from things like brush or animal strikes.
 

ChadT

Ram Guru
Joined
Oct 20, 2018
Messages
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Welcome to the thread! Here I’ll be posting updates and taking suggestions for my ”Poor Man’s Rebel” build project. Keep reading for a description of the project and a full list of completed and planned mods. All advice is welcome so if you have any thoughts, please share them!
I got my brand new 2019 Tradesman just over a year ago, mostly with settlement money from an accident that totaled my old car. I‘ve always wanted a truck, but I’m not exactly rich, and the cheapest truck on the lot was the only one I could afford. 4WD and a Hemi was my bottom line, but other than that, the truck is as barebones as they come. Of course I had originally planned on keeping it that way, but as every truck owner does, I soon went down the rabbit hole of modifications and eventually got the idea for a fun project.
Most of us would love to have an epic off-road machine, but factory off-road models like the Rebel, Raptor, or TRD are, in my observation, severely overpriced. While I was diving head-first into the world of truck mods, I suddenly got the idea: what if I could build a truck that was better than the Ram Rebel for less than the cost of one?
The lowest trim package for the Rebel comes in at over $44K. I signed for my Tradesman for just over $28K. For the sake of convenience, we’ll round up to $45K and $29K, respectively. That’s a $16K difference. To meet the capabilities of the stock Rebel, the minimum I would need is lift, wheels & tires, skid plates, and a set of gears & lockers. All of that stuff would be (very roughly) $6K, leaving me with $10,000 to continue making the truck as INSANE as possible!

Here are some basic ground rules and clarification:
-No cheaping out. Not having mods at all is better than having crappy mods, and I’m not going to sell myself short on important components for the sake of spending the minimum amount of money.
-Tying into the first point, all parts must be bought new.
-I’m going to be evaluating my build when compared to the Rebel, but I’m not going to be limiting it. I have goals for the truck that I (eventually) plan to meet regardless of how the cost compares to the Rebel. This project is going to be more of a “proof of concept.” If it ends up surpassing the cost of a stock Rebel, then, oh well... I’m still going to continue building it to where I want it to be.
-I don’t have $16K to throw around so obviously this will be more of a long-term project.
-I’ll be including every mod/accessory and their costs in this post, however, items that don’t come stock on any of the Rebel trim packages (example: Oil Catch Can) will not be included when determining whether or not I’ve met my goal.
-Prices posted here will reflect what I paid for them, not necessarily their current MSRP.
-Anything that isn’t physically attached to the vehicle, such as recovery gear or tools, won’t be included here.

Now finally, the good stuff.
TRUCK STATUS AND PROGRESS:
11/16/2020 - Initial Post
My goal for this build is mix of overlanding and rock crawling, with a little bit of mall crawling thrown in there because hey, who doesn’t like riding in style. Mods will be oriented around off-road performance while still keeping it practical for daily driving. Eventually I’ll start getting into fancier stuff, but for right now, everything has a purpose. By the time I decided to post this project on the forum, I had already upgraded my wheels & tires and I don’t have any pictures of it before. Let me just say, though, that the factory 18” steel rims that come on the Tradesman were pretty darn ugly.
View attachment 74143
COMPLETED MODS/ACCESSORIES (in order, with notes):
1. Line-X Spray-In Bed Liner: $500
-This was the first mod I did, back when I was mostly planning on keeping the truck stock. After the first few times I hauled stuff, I noticed the bed getting severely scratched up and wanted to make sure it was protected. I know, I could have done this cheaper using spray cans from Wal-Mart but I appreciate the professional job, quality, and warranty from Line-X.
2. WeatherTech Floor Liners: $279
-In my state we have some particularly nasty winters. I also eat in my truck a lot, and frequently get my boots dirty. All things considered, bucket-style rubber floor mats were a no-brainer. I would have preferred Husky Liners but I got the WeatherTechs as a gift.
3. Line-X Rust Proofing & Undercoating: $500
-Once again, nasty winters. Especially with the knowledge that Rams have had rusting issues in the past, this was something that I decided I wanted done. I know undercoating can be considered a ripoff or even counter-productive, which is why I did a heavy amount of research into the specifics. I ultimately went back to Line-X, as their process does not involve the dodgy methods that leave your vehicle worse off than it was before.
4. Rough Country Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover: $600
-I needed a tonneau cover because I usually move a lot of junk, and I wanted to be able to lock it safely in the bed in order to free up some cab space. I chose a hard tri-fold model because they are secure and can’t be knifed into, and I don’t really like the look of shell-tops. I know one of my personal rules was “no cheaping out” and Rough Country is generally considered cheap, but for something as simple as a tonneau cover, Rough Country does just fine. It looks great and I haven’t had any issues with it.
5. AVS Bugflector II Hood Deflector: $95
-I live in an area where the bugs get really bad, and I mean BAD, in the summer. After it started getting to the point where an hour’s drive would leave me barely able to see out my windshield, I invested in a bug deflector and it works as advertised. I think it adds a nice bit of trim to the front end as well.
6. JLT 3.0 Oil Separator: $150
-I drive all over my state for various reasons, usually on a weekly basis, and I put a ton of miles on my truck. Especially with how much driving I do, there’s really no reason not to get an oil separator/catch can. They‘re easy, relatively inexpensive, and keep your engine clean and running at peak power/gas mileage.
7. AVS Ventvisors: $70
-I like driving with the windows down when it’s nice out, but I hate the noise/echo when the air doesn’t flow easily. Also, I hate how the interior door panel gets soaked when I order at a drive-thru in the rain. Ventvisors were an easy, inexpensive fix to both issues.
8. MOPAR 2” Lift Kit with Fox 2.0 Shocks: $1170
-Now we’re finally getting into the good stuff. After doing a heavy, heavy amount of research on lift kits (because they’re a huge component of your truck but easy to screw up), I eventually settled on the MOPAR. This kit comes with Fox 2.0 shocks for all four corners and raises the truck 2.5“ up front and 2” in the rear, eliminating a half inch of rake. By going with a small lift I was able to keep the center of gravity low, and MOPAR claims it can still fit 35in tires without issue (which I’ll discuss more below). The truck rides like a dream both on- and off-road and I’m very happy with my choice here.
9. Pro Comp Series 33 Wheels 18x9 +0 Offset, packaged with Falken Wildpeak AT3W LT325/65R18 (35x13): $2270
-I spent weeks researching and going back and forth between 33“ and 35” tires. 37s were out of the question because they were way out of my price range and I want to keep this truck practical. I settled on 35s because I wanted to maximize off-road capability (within my limits), they fit with the MOPAR lift kit, and I think they look better too. I chose 18” wheels because more sidewall is safer and more comfortable off-road. 18s are the smallest wheel that fits over the 5th Gen brake calipers, and even then, some still don’t fit. Finding a good set of 18s that fit both my preferences and my truck was a chore. Shameless plug here though, the customer service team at Custom Offsets was absolutely stellar and helped me through the whole process. Choosing a tire brand and model was also a long process, but I ultimately chose the Falken Wildpeak AT3W for a number of reasons. I chose aggressive all-terrains over mud-terrains because of the amount of highway driving that I do, and because of the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating (as far as I know, I couldn’t find any M/Ts that had this rating). My state doesn’t have a winter tire requirement, but driving on the stock H/Ts in winter still felt downright dangerous. After much research I only found a single negative review for the AT3Ws, and it was from a certain genius who tried to go rock crawling with P rated tires. Every other review was nothing but glowing praise. So far, they’ve been great for me as well. As a final note, the 35x13s fit the MOPAR lift on 0 offset wheels, however, I can’t guarantee fitment on the stock -19 offset wheels. You’re probably going to have to go with slightly narrower tires if you plan on keeping your stock wheels.


SO AS OF NOVEMBER 2020, I’ve spent a grand total of $5634 on mods, leaving me with over $10K before I reach the minimum price of a Rebel. I‘m definitely not rivaling Rebel capabilities yet, but I’m halfway there with the suspension and tires.

PLANNED MODS/ACCESSORIES (roughly in the order I want to acquire them, but not set in stone):
1. OE Style Fender Flares, MOPAR Wheel Well Liners, and Husky Mud Guards
-Some relatively inexpensive, basic trim and value protection.
2. Barricade HD Off-Road Rear Bumper
-The only reason I moved this higher up on the priorities list is that somebody put a nasty dent in my rear bumper recently while I was parked on a city street. No reason to pay over $1000 to replace the OE bumper when an aftermarket one costs less and is already on my wishlist.
3. Flowmaster American Thunder Cat-Back Exhaust System
-The Barricade rear bumper has cutouts for the dual rear-exit exhaust, but I have the side-exit stock and I think it would look a little out of place without a new exhaust. Of course the meaner sound a little extra horsepower are a bonus.
4. MOPAR Skid Plate Set (Fuel Tank, Front Suspension, Transfer Case)
-Pretty self explanatory. Mandatory for off-roading.
5. Re-Gear, Rear E-Locker, & Differential Armor
-I don’t have a brand or specifics picked out yet. I do have a rough idea for gear ratio, and I’m debating between 3.55 or 3.73 (I have 3.21 stock). I’m also considering 3.92 but it doesn’t seem entirely necessary and will hurt gas mileage even more.
6. Steel Front Bumper
-I have three criteria for a new front bumper, those being a skid plate, bull/guard bar, and winch mount. I’ve narrowed my search down to three bumpers, but each option is missing one of my criteria. The Barricade HD doesn’t have a winch mount, the ADD Stealth Fighter doesn’t have a guard bar, and the FabFours Matrix doesn’t have a skid plate. Right now I’m leaning heavily towards the Barricade HD, which I can probably modify to accept a winch if all else fails. I’ve pretty much ruled out the Stealth Fighter because it doesn’t offer good impact protection. The Matrix would be flawless if it had a skid plate, but I really want that protection for my front diff.
7. White Knuckle Rock Sliders
-The only true rock sliders available for the 5th Gen Rams. Excellent side protection for hardcore off-roading... and they double as running boards for the short people in my life.
8. AFE Momentum GT Cold Air Intake
-This will give me a little bit of extra horsepower, especially when paired with the cat-back.
9. JMS Terrain PedalMax
-A throttle controller to eliminate that pesky throttle lag.
10. Freedom Off-Road Adjustable Track Bar
-The MOPAR lift kit came with a track bar bracket which will suffice for now, but this one will be much stronger and more accurate to the OE tolerances.
11. Performance Coil Packs
-From the research I’ve done, it sounds like a set of performance coil packs will improve gas mileage and smooth out engine operation, along with a minor performance boost. I’ve heard great things about Ripp Performance and I’m holding out for them to come out with a set for the Hemi (currently they only offer coil packs for the Pentastar V6). If that doesn’t happen I could go with MSD Blasters, but these aren’t a priority so I’m fine with waiting.
12. Nova Series LED Headlights
-Let’s be honest, the stock halogens are just... bleh.

OTHER IDEAS (things that I’ve thought about but haven‘t really planned for):
-Winch
-Undercover Swing Case
-BuiltRight Industries Bedside Rack System
-Full Size Spare Tire and Mounting Solution
-Rock Lights

If you’ve made it this far... YOU ROCK! Please let me know your thoughts and ideas. Thanks for reading!

I have a rebel, and this idea is awesome.
I think there was one other gentleman here who did something like this, might have been a year ago or more.
Starting with a stock truck and making their own.

IIRC the Rebel and the tradesman share the robust Borgwarner 48-12 4x4 system. (2H-4H-4L no 4Auto) system.
I believe in terms of the "heart" of the truck, you're closer to that Rebel than any other model!


Things I would consider:
- The mopar Ramair intake, I have one and love it.
- Exhaust wise I have a magnaflow, it's I think the best "I want better exhaust, but I like my neighbors" option noise wise.
SOUND wise/musically speaking, I'd go with a Borla touring.

Here's a curveball and an extra idea.
Katzkin seats. They have a TON of colors and options.
I can't say for sure, but supposedly they're not that expensive.


0e14c9ee71154518558240a4f97b765c.jpg



Grille I'd look at.
F143873889.jpg
 

SD Rebel

Spends too much time on here
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Jun 29, 2019
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San Diego, CA
Already looks better than my Rebel :)

The off-road capabilities you are missing is just an E-locker (not sure if I ever used mine), higher axle ratio and some skid plates. In the real world, your truck doesn't have much down on a Rebel in it's current state. It's going to be even better with your next round of mods.
 

Rexx

Active Member
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Sep 9, 2020
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Alberta, Canada
Very cool idea. Are you planning on upgrading the interior to match/exceed the Rebel as well?

Also, rather minor but if you built out a Rebel to 44k, no one (I hope) is paying that for it. The cost of the Rebel would probably be more like 41-42k (or even less) after some negotiation and discounts.
 

Vilas15

Active Member
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Sep 2, 2020
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Very nice. Sounds like you've got a great plan. I have no doubt you'll exceed the rebel's capability since some of that difference in price is going to be luxuries and options you won't end up buying. Im talking heated seats, dual zone AC, upgraded display. But all the better if you dont need them anyways!
 

spenceroc73

Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2020
Messages
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19
I have a rebel, and this idea is awesome.
I think there was one other gentleman here who did something like this, might have been a year ago or more.
Starting with a stock truck and making their own.

IIRC the Rebel and the tradesman share the robust Borgwarner 48-12 4x4 system. (2H-4H-4L no 4Auto) system.
I believe in terms of the "heart" of the truck, you're closer to that Rebel than any other model!


Things I would consider:
- The mopar Ramair intake, I have one and love it.
- Exhaust wise I have a magnaflow, it's I think the best "I want better exhaust, but I like my neighbors" option noise wise.
SOUND wise/musically speaking, I'd go with a Borla touring.

Here's a curveball and an extra idea.
Katzkin seats. They have a TON of colors and options.
I can't say for sure, but supposedly they're not that expensive.


0e14c9ee71154518558240a4f97b765c.jpg



Grille I'd look at.
F143873889.jpg
Thank you for the feed back and all of your suggestions! I was looking for ways to spice up the interior and those seats would be perfect. Aftermarket seats hadn’t even crossed my mind.

I had kind of ruled out the Ram Airflow since it was nearly twice the price of a good aftermarket CAI, which I assumed was just the usual MOPAR markup. But now that you say that, I’ll keep it in mind. I picked out the American Thunder exhaust because it seemed like the perfect level of throaty-but-not-obnoxious, but I’ll definitely consider the ones you suggested. If I end up doing a grille, it will probably be the very last thing, but I think that one would look awesome when paired with a new bumper and headlights. I’ll check it out!

Thanks again!
 

mikeru82

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Great thread. I'll be following for sure. This sort of thing used to be right up my alley, but as I'm getting older I'm more interested in the comfort factor than off-road capability LOL.

Rebels are nice trucks (I owned a 2017) but they aren't really much more capable than any other Ram 1500 with the ORG.
 

TheMadDutchDude

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Premium lights would be on the list for me. I modded mine as I was left very disappointed with the look and the light output from factory. Since changing mine, it’s a totally different looking truck and it just looks amazing! Worth the $2k swap alone for its looks and how it makes the roads light up at night alone.
 

spenceroc73

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Very cool idea. Are you planning on upgrading the interior to match/exceed the Rebel as well?

Also, rather minor but if you built out a Rebel to 44k, no one (I hope) is paying that for it. The cost of the Rebel would probably be more like 41-42k (or even less) after some negotiation and discounts.
I have a few ideas for the interior, nothing too crazy since I’m not going to spend a fortune ripping it apart. The biggest thing I might end up doing to the interior is those Katzkin seats that ChadT recommended. Mainly I was just going to do some small Amazon-level trinkets like a trim piece for the dial shifter, a steering wheel cover and some branded cup holder inserts. Another fun idea that I had was those colored interior atmosphere lights you can get at AutoZone. I could also do a new infotainment system but that will be pretty far off into the future.
 

laramie4x4

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wondering if you had the money in the first place, would you prefer to buy a rebel outright or still prefer the custom build?
 

spenceroc73

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wondering if you had the money in the first place, would you prefer to buy a rebel outright or still prefer the custom build?
Well if I had unlimited money, then I’d get a TRX. But between my Tradesman build and the Rebel, I think I still prefer my build. The fun of seeing it all come together over time really can’t be bought. And I’d still probably end up wanting to make alot of mods to the Rebel anyways so starting with a barebones truck just makes more sense.
 

ksn240

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Why not add the Rebel style grill? Pretty affordable. I'll likely be adding it to my truck at some point.


Truck looks great so far. Definitely a good way to go about things.
 

EEnginerd

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Welcome to the thread! Here I’ll be posting updates and taking suggestions for my ”Poor Man’s Rebel” build project. Keep reading for a description of the project and a full list of completed and planned mods. All advice is welcome so if you have any thoughts, please share them!
I got my brand new 2019 Tradesman just over a year ago, mostly with settlement money from an accident that totaled my old car. I‘ve always wanted a truck, but I’m not exactly rich, and the cheapest truck on the lot was the only one I could afford. 4WD and a Hemi was my bottom line, but other than that, the truck is as barebones as they come. Of course I had originally planned on keeping it that way, but as every truck owner does, I soon went down the rabbit hole of modifications and eventually got the idea for a fun project.
Most of us would love to have an epic off-road machine, but factory off-road models like the Rebel, Raptor, or TRD are, in my observation, severely overpriced. While I was diving head-first into the world of truck mods, I suddenly got the idea: what if I could build a truck that was better than the Ram Rebel for less than the cost of one?
The lowest trim package for the Rebel comes in at over $44K. I signed for my Tradesman for just over $28K. For the sake of convenience, we’ll round up to $45K and $29K, respectively. That’s a $16K difference. To meet the capabilities of the stock Rebel, the minimum I would need is lift, wheels & tires, skid plates, and a set of gears & lockers. All of that stuff would be (very roughly) $6K, leaving me with $10,000 to continue making the truck as INSANE as possible!

Here are some basic ground rules and clarification:
-No cheaping out. Not having mods at all is better than having crappy mods, and I’m not going to sell myself short on important components for the sake of spending the minimum amount of money.
-Tying into the first point, all parts must be bought new.
-I’m going to be evaluating my build when compared to the Rebel, but I’m not going to be limiting it. I have goals for the truck that I (eventually) plan to meet regardless of how the cost compares to the Rebel. This project is going to be more of a “proof of concept.” If it ends up surpassing the cost of a stock Rebel, then, oh well... I’m still going to continue building it to where I want it to be.
-I don’t have $16K to throw around so obviously this will be more of a long-term project.
-I’ll be including every mod/accessory and their costs in this post, however, items that don’t come stock on any of the Rebel trim packages (example: Oil Catch Can) will not be included when determining whether or not I’ve met my goal.
-Prices posted here will reflect what I paid for them, not necessarily their current MSRP.
-Anything that isn’t physically attached to the vehicle, such as recovery gear or tools, won’t be included here.

Now finally, the good stuff.
TRUCK STATUS AND PROGRESS:
11/16/2020 - Initial Post
My goal for this build is mix of overlanding and rock crawling, with a little bit of mall crawling thrown in there because hey, who doesn’t like riding in style. Mods will be oriented around off-road performance while still keeping it practical for daily driving. Eventually I’ll start getting into fancier stuff, but for right now, everything has a purpose. By the time I decided to post this project on the forum, I had already upgraded my wheels & tires and I don’t have any pictures of it before. Let me just say, though, that the factory 18” steel rims that come on the Tradesman were pretty darn ugly.
View attachment 74143
COMPLETED MODS/ACCESSORIES (in order, with notes):
1. Line-X Spray-In Bed Liner: $500
-This was the first mod I did, back when I was mostly planning on keeping the truck stock. After the first few times I hauled stuff, I noticed the bed getting severely scratched up and wanted to make sure it was protected. I know, I could have done this cheaper using spray cans from Wal-Mart but I appreciate the professional job, quality, and warranty from Line-X.
2. WeatherTech Floor Liners: $279
-In my state we have some particularly nasty winters. I also eat in my truck a lot, and frequently get my boots dirty. All things considered, bucket-style rubber floor mats were a no-brainer. I would have preferred Husky Liners but I got the WeatherTechs as a gift.
3. Line-X Rust Proofing & Undercoating: $500
-Once again, nasty winters. Especially with the knowledge that Rams have had rusting issues in the past, this was something that I decided I wanted done. I know undercoating can be considered a ripoff or even counter-productive, which is why I did a heavy amount of research into the specifics. I ultimately went back to Line-X, as their process does not involve the dodgy methods that leave your vehicle worse off than it was before.
4. Rough Country Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover: $600
-I needed a tonneau cover because I usually move a lot of junk, and I wanted to be able to lock it safely in the bed in order to free up some cab space. I chose a hard tri-fold model because they are secure and can’t be knifed into, and I don’t really like the look of shell-tops. I know one of my personal rules was “no cheaping out” and Rough Country is generally considered cheap, but for something as simple as a tonneau cover, Rough Country does just fine. It looks great and I haven’t had any issues with it.
5. AVS Bugflector II Hood Deflector: $95
-I live in an area where the bugs get really bad, and I mean BAD, in the summer. After it started getting to the point where an hour’s drive would leave me barely able to see out my windshield, I invested in a bug deflector and it works as advertised. I think it adds a nice bit of trim to the front end as well.
6. JLT 3.0 Oil Separator: $150
-I drive all over my state for various reasons, usually on a weekly basis, and I put a ton of miles on my truck. Especially with how much driving I do, there’s really no reason not to get an oil separator/catch can. They‘re easy, relatively inexpensive, and keep your engine clean and running at peak power/gas mileage.
7. AVS Ventvisors: $70
-I like driving with the windows down when it’s nice out, but I hate the noise/echo when the air doesn’t flow easily. Also, I hate how the interior door panel gets soaked when I order at a drive-thru in the rain. Ventvisors were an easy, inexpensive fix to both issues.
8. MOPAR 2” Lift Kit with Fox 2.0 Shocks: $1170
-Now we’re finally getting into the good stuff. After doing a heavy, heavy amount of research on lift kits (because they’re a huge component of your truck but easy to screw up), I eventually settled on the MOPAR. This kit comes with Fox 2.0 shocks for all four corners and raises the truck 2.5“ up front and 2” in the rear, eliminating a half inch of rake. By going with a small lift I was able to keep the center of gravity low, and MOPAR claims it can still fit 35in tires without issue (which I’ll discuss more below). The truck rides like a dream both on- and off-road and I’m very happy with my choice here.
9. Pro Comp Series 33 Wheels 18x9 +0 Offset, packaged with Falken Wildpeak AT3W LT325/65R18 (35x13): $2270
-I spent weeks researching and going back and forth between 33“ and 35” tires. 37s were out of the question because they were way out of my price range and I want to keep this truck practical. I settled on 35s because I wanted to maximize off-road capability (within my limits), they fit with the MOPAR lift kit, and I think they look better too. I chose 18” wheels because more sidewall is safer and more comfortable off-road. 18s are the smallest wheel that fits over the 5th Gen brake calipers, and even then, some still don’t fit. Finding a good set of 18s that fit both my preferences and my truck was a chore. Shameless plug here though, the customer service team at Custom Offsets was absolutely stellar and helped me through the whole process. Choosing a tire brand and model was also a long process, but I ultimately chose the Falken Wildpeak AT3W for a number of reasons. I chose aggressive all-terrains over mud-terrains because of the amount of highway driving that I do, and because of the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating (as far as I know, I couldn’t find any M/Ts that had this rating). My state doesn’t have a winter tire requirement, but driving on the stock H/Ts in winter still felt downright dangerous. After much research I only found a single negative review for the AT3Ws, and it was from a certain genius who tried to go rock crawling with P rated tires. Every other review was nothing but glowing praise. So far, they’ve been great for me as well. As a final note, the 35x13s fit the MOPAR lift on 0 offset wheels, however, I can’t guarantee fitment on the stock -19 offset wheels. You’re probably going to have to go with slightly narrower tires if you plan on keeping your stock wheels.


SO AS OF NOVEMBER 2020, I’ve spent a grand total of $5634 on mods, leaving me with over $10K before I reach the minimum price of a Rebel. I‘m definitely not rivaling Rebel capabilities yet, but I’m halfway there with the suspension and tires.

PLANNED MODS/ACCESSORIES (roughly in the order I want to acquire them, but not set in stone):
1. OE Style Fender Flares, MOPAR Wheel Well Liners, and Husky Mud Guards
-Some relatively inexpensive, basic trim and value protection.
2. Barricade HD Off-Road Rear Bumper
-The only reason I moved this higher up on the priorities list is that somebody put a nasty dent in my rear bumper recently while I was parked on a city street. No reason to pay over $1000 to replace the OE bumper when an aftermarket one costs less and is already on my wishlist.
3. Flowmaster American Thunder Cat-Back Exhaust System
-The Barricade rear bumper has cutouts for the dual rear-exit exhaust, but I have the side-exit stock and I think it would look a little out of place without a new exhaust. Of course the meaner sound a little extra horsepower are a bonus.
4. MOPAR Skid Plate Set (Fuel Tank, Front Suspension, Transfer Case)
-Pretty self explanatory. Mandatory for off-roading.
5. Re-Gear, Rear E-Locker, & Differential Armor
-I don’t have a brand or specifics picked out yet. I do have a rough idea for gear ratio, and I’m debating between 3.55 or 3.73 (I have 3.21 stock). I’m also considering 3.92 but it doesn’t seem entirely necessary and will hurt gas mileage even more.
6. Steel Front Bumper
-I have three criteria for a new front bumper, those being a skid plate, bull/guard bar, and winch mount. I’ve narrowed my search down to three bumpers, but each option is missing one of my criteria. The Barricade HD doesn’t have a winch mount, the ADD Stealth Fighter doesn’t have a guard bar, and the FabFours Matrix doesn’t have a skid plate. Right now I’m leaning heavily towards the Barricade HD, which I can probably modify to accept a winch if all else fails. I’ve pretty much ruled out the Stealth Fighter because it doesn’t offer good impact protection. The Matrix would be flawless if it had a skid plate, but I really want that protection for my front diff.
7. White Knuckle Rock Sliders
-The only true rock sliders available for the 5th Gen Rams. Excellent side protection for hardcore off-roading... and they double as running boards for the short people in my life.
8. AFE Momentum GT Cold Air Intake
-This will give me a little bit of extra horsepower, especially when paired with the cat-back.
9. JMS Terrain PedalMax
-A throttle controller to eliminate that pesky throttle lag.
10. Freedom Off-Road Adjustable Track Bar
-The MOPAR lift kit came with a track bar bracket which will suffice for now, but this one will be much stronger and more accurate to the OE tolerances.
11. Performance Coil Packs
-From the research I’ve done, it sounds like a set of performance coil packs will improve gas mileage and smooth out engine operation, along with a minor performance boost. I’ve heard great things about Ripp Performance and I’m holding out for them to come out with a set for the Hemi (currently they only offer coil packs for the Pentastar V6). If that doesn’t happen I could go with MSD Blasters, but these aren’t a priority so I’m fine with waiting.
12. Nova Series LED Headlights
-Let’s be honest, the stock halogens are just... bleh.

OTHER IDEAS (things that I’ve thought about but haven‘t really planned for):
-Winch
-Undercover Swing Case
-BuiltRight Industries Bedside Rack System
-Full Size Spare Tire and Mounting Solution
-Rock Lights

If you’ve made it this far... YOU ROCK! Please let me know your thoughts and ideas. Thanks for reading!
006c259106d5d1beabae3f6364a332c9.jpg
 

EEnginerd

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I didn't see tow hooks in your wishlist, but I could have missed it. Seems important for a rock crawler. Lol
 

PowerJrod

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Welcome to the thread! Here I’ll be posting updates and taking suggestions for my ”Poor Man’s Rebel” build project. Keep reading for a description of the project and a full list of completed and planned mods. All advice is welcome so if you have any thoughts, please share them!
I got my brand new 2019 Tradesman just over a year ago, mostly with settlement money from an accident that totaled my old car. I‘ve always wanted a truck, but I’m not exactly rich, and the cheapest truck on the lot was the only one I could afford. 4WD and a Hemi was my bottom line, but other than that, the truck is as barebones as they come. Of course I had originally planned on keeping it that way, but as every truck owner does, I soon went down the rabbit hole of modifications and eventually got the idea for a fun project.
Most of us would love to have an epic off-road machine, but factory off-road models like the Rebel, Raptor, or TRD are, in my observation, severely overpriced. While I was diving head-first into the world of truck mods, I suddenly got the idea: what if I could build a truck that was better than the Ram Rebel for less than the cost of one?
The lowest trim package for the Rebel comes in at over $44K. I signed for my Tradesman for just over $28K. For the sake of convenience, we’ll round up to $45K and $29K, respectively. That’s a $16K difference. To meet the capabilities of the stock Rebel, the minimum I would need is lift, wheels & tires, skid plates, and a set of gears & lockers. All of that stuff would be (very roughly) $6K, leaving me with $10,000 to continue making the truck as INSANE as possible!

Here are some basic ground rules and clarification:
-No cheaping out. Not having mods at all is better than having crappy mods, and I’m not going to sell myself short on important components for the sake of spending the minimum amount of money.
-Tying into the first point, all parts must be bought new.
-I’m going to be evaluating my build when compared to the Rebel, but I’m not going to be limiting it. I have goals for the truck that I (eventually) plan to meet regardless of how the cost compares to the Rebel. This project is going to be more of a “proof of concept.” If it ends up surpassing the cost of a stock Rebel, then, oh well... I’m still going to continue building it to where I want it to be.
-I don’t have $16K to throw around so obviously this will be more of a long-term project.
-I’ll be including every mod/accessory and their costs in this post, however, items that don’t come stock on any of the Rebel trim packages (example: Oil Catch Can) will not be included when determining whether or not I’ve met my goal.
-Prices posted here will reflect what I paid for them, not necessarily their current MSRP.
-Anything that isn’t physically attached to the vehicle, such as recovery gear or tools, won’t be included here.

Now finally, the good stuff.
TRUCK STATUS AND PROGRESS:
11/16/2020 - Initial Post
My goal for this build is mix of overlanding and rock crawling, with a little bit of mall crawling thrown in there because hey, who doesn’t like riding in style. Mods will be oriented around off-road performance while still keeping it practical for daily driving. Eventually I’ll start getting into fancier stuff, but for right now, everything has a purpose. By the time I decided to post this project on the forum, I had already upgraded my wheels & tires and I don’t have any pictures of it before. Let me just say, though, that the factory 18” steel rims that come on the Tradesman were pretty darn ugly.
View attachment 74143
COMPLETED MODS/ACCESSORIES (in order, with notes):
1. Line-X Spray-In Bed Liner: $500
-This was the first mod I did, back when I was mostly planning on keeping the truck stock. After the first few times I hauled stuff, I noticed the bed getting severely scratched up and wanted to make sure it was protected. I know, I could have done this cheaper using spray cans from Wal-Mart but I appreciate the professional job, quality, and warranty from Line-X.
2. WeatherTech Floor Liners: $279
-In my state we have some particularly nasty winters. I also eat in my truck a lot, and frequently get my boots dirty. All things considered, bucket-style rubber floor mats were a no-brainer. I would have preferred Husky Liners but I got the WeatherTechs as a gift.
3. Line-X Rust Proofing & Undercoating: $500
-Once again, nasty winters. Especially with the knowledge that Rams have had rusting issues in the past, this was something that I decided I wanted done. I know undercoating can be considered a ripoff or even counter-productive, which is why I did a heavy amount of research into the specifics. I ultimately went back to Line-X, as their process does not involve the dodgy methods that leave your vehicle worse off than it was before.
4. Rough Country Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover: $600
-I needed a tonneau cover because I usually move a lot of junk, and I wanted to be able to lock it safely in the bed in order to free up some cab space. I chose a hard tri-fold model because they are secure and can’t be knifed into, and I don’t really like the look of shell-tops. I know one of my personal rules was “no cheaping out” and Rough Country is generally considered cheap, but for something as simple as a tonneau cover, Rough Country does just fine. It looks great and I haven’t had any issues with it.
5. AVS Bugflector II Hood Deflector: $95
-I live in an area where the bugs get really bad, and I mean BAD, in the summer. After it started getting to the point where an hour’s drive would leave me barely able to see out my windshield, I invested in a bug deflector and it works as advertised. I think it adds a nice bit of trim to the front end as well.
6. JLT 3.0 Oil Separator: $150
-I drive all over my state for various reasons, usually on a weekly basis, and I put a ton of miles on my truck. Especially with how much driving I do, there’s really no reason not to get an oil separator/catch can. They‘re easy, relatively inexpensive, and keep your engine clean and running at peak power/gas mileage.
7. AVS Ventvisors: $70
-I like driving with the windows down when it’s nice out, but I hate the noise/echo when the air doesn’t flow easily. Also, I hate how the interior door panel gets soaked when I order at a drive-thru in the rain. Ventvisors were an easy, inexpensive fix to both issues.
8. MOPAR 2” Lift Kit with Fox 2.0 Shocks: $1170
-Now we’re finally getting into the good stuff. After doing a heavy, heavy amount of research on lift kits (because they’re a huge component of your truck but easy to screw up), I eventually settled on the MOPAR. This kit comes with Fox 2.0 shocks for all four corners and raises the truck 2.5“ up front and 2” in the rear, eliminating a half inch of rake. By going with a small lift I was able to keep the center of gravity low, and MOPAR claims it can still fit 35in tires without issue (which I’ll discuss more below). The truck rides like a dream both on- and off-road and I’m very happy with my choice here.
9. Pro Comp Series 33 Wheels 18x9 +0 Offset, packaged with Falken Wildpeak AT3W LT325/65R18 (35x13): $2270
-I spent weeks researching and going back and forth between 33“ and 35” tires. 37s were out of the question because they were way out of my price range and I want to keep this truck practical. I settled on 35s because I wanted to maximize off-road capability (within my limits), they fit with the MOPAR lift kit, and I think they look better too. I chose 18” wheels because more sidewall is safer and more comfortable off-road. 18s are the smallest wheel that fits over the 5th Gen brake calipers, and even then, some still don’t fit. Finding a good set of 18s that fit both my preferences and my truck was a chore. Shameless plug here though, the customer service team at Custom Offsets was absolutely stellar and helped me through the whole process. Choosing a tire brand and model was also a long process, but I ultimately chose the Falken Wildpeak AT3W for a number of reasons. I chose aggressive all-terrains over mud-terrains because of the amount of highway driving that I do, and because of the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating (as far as I know, I couldn’t find any M/Ts that had this rating). My state doesn’t have a winter tire requirement, but driving on the stock H/Ts in winter still felt downright dangerous. After much research I only found a single negative review for the AT3Ws, and it was from a certain genius who tried to go rock crawling with P rated tires. Every other review was nothing but glowing praise. So far, they’ve been great for me as well. As a final note, the 35x13s fit the MOPAR lift on 0 offset wheels, however, I can’t guarantee fitment on the stock -19 offset wheels. You’re probably going to have to go with slightly narrower tires if you plan on keeping your stock wheels.


SO AS OF NOVEMBER 2020, I’ve spent a grand total of $5634 on mods, leaving me with over $10K before I reach the minimum price of a Rebel. I‘m definitely not rivaling Rebel capabilities yet, but I’m halfway there with the suspension and tires.

PLANNED MODS/ACCESSORIES (roughly in the order I want to acquire them, but not set in stone):
1. OE Style Fender Flares, MOPAR Wheel Well Liners, and Husky Mud Guards
-Some relatively inexpensive, basic trim and value protection.
2. Barricade HD Off-Road Rear Bumper
-The only reason I moved this higher up on the priorities list is that somebody put a nasty dent in my rear bumper recently while I was parked on a city street. No reason to pay over $1000 to replace the OE bumper when an aftermarket one costs less and is already on my wishlist.
3. Flowmaster American Thunder Cat-Back Exhaust System
-The Barricade rear bumper has cutouts for the dual rear-exit exhaust, but I have the side-exit stock and I think it would look a little out of place without a new exhaust. Of course the meaner sound a little extra horsepower are a bonus.
4. MOPAR Skid Plate Set (Fuel Tank, Front Suspension, Transfer Case)
-Pretty self explanatory. Mandatory for off-roading.
5. Re-Gear, Rear E-Locker, & Differential Armor
-I don’t have a brand or specifics picked out yet. I do have a rough idea for gear ratio, and I’m debating between 3.55 or 3.73 (I have 3.21 stock). I’m also considering 3.92 but it doesn’t seem entirely necessary and will hurt gas mileage even more.
6. Steel Front Bumper
-I have three criteria for a new front bumper, those being a skid plate, bull/guard bar, and winch mount. I’ve narrowed my search down to three bumpers, but each option is missing one of my criteria. The Barricade HD doesn’t have a winch mount, the ADD Stealth Fighter doesn’t have a guard bar, and the FabFours Matrix doesn’t have a skid plate. Right now I’m leaning heavily towards the Barricade HD, which I can probably modify to accept a winch if all else fails. I’ve pretty much ruled out the Stealth Fighter because it doesn’t offer good impact protection. The Matrix would be flawless if it had a skid plate, but I really want that protection for my front diff.
7. White Knuckle Rock Sliders
-The only true rock sliders available for the 5th Gen Rams. Excellent side protection for hardcore off-roading... and they double as running boards for the short people in my life.
8. AFE Momentum GT Cold Air Intake
-This will give me a little bit of extra horsepower, especially when paired with the cat-back.
9. JMS Terrain PedalMax
-A throttle controller to eliminate that pesky throttle lag.
10. Freedom Off-Road Adjustable Track Bar
-The MOPAR lift kit came with a track bar bracket which will suffice for now, but this one will be much stronger and more accurate to the OE tolerances.
11. Performance Coil Packs
-From the research I’ve done, it sounds like a set of performance coil packs will improve gas mileage and smooth out engine operation, along with a minor performance boost. I’ve heard great things about Ripp Performance and I’m holding out for them to come out with a set for the Hemi (currently they only offer coil packs for the Pentastar V6). If that doesn’t happen I could go with MSD Blasters, but these aren’t a priority so I’m fine with waiting.
12. Nova Series LED Headlights
-Let’s be honest, the stock halogens are just... bleh.

OTHER IDEAS (things that I’ve thought about but haven‘t really planned for):
-Winch
-Undercover Swing Case
-BuiltRight Industries Bedside Rack System
-Full Size Spare Tire and Mounting Solution
-Rock Lights

If you’ve made it this far... YOU ROCK! Please let me know your thoughts and ideas. Thanks for reading!
Nice! Wildpeak tires are the way to go! Never heard of Nova LED though...might have to look into them. I always thought the Warlock trim was the poor man's Rebel...is that not correct?
 

spenceroc73

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Nice! Wildpeak tires are the way to go! Never heard of Nova LED though...might have to look into them. I always thought the Warlock trim was the poor man's Rebel...is that not correct?
Haha yes, you’d be correct that the Warlock is one version of a poor man’s Rebel. However it only comes on the Classic body style... and with 4x4 and a Hemi it still comes out to almost $40k. Here’s a link to the Novas:
 

PowerJrod

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Haha yes, you’d be correct that the Warlock is one version of a poor man’s Rebel. However it only comes on the Classic body style... and with 4x4 and a Hemi it still comes out to almost $40k. Here’s a link to the Novas:
Ah ok, I see what you mean. Thanks for posting the link too! They look nice.
 

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