Make Your Own TRX!

[ereeber]

What if you just buy an actual TRX front Bumper? Of have a custom Desert Runner bumper made?

We looked into the TRX bumper and, believe it or not, it's the same size as the regular Rebel's. If you look at pictures, Ram was able to create a front bumper "flare" to fit to the wider front panels. We're, sort of, doing a similar thing to this one.

 

[REBELmtnbiker]

I just looked at my picture of a TRX here at a local dealer..it appears so...but also the OE TRX fenders come back in to meet the front bumper. It appears that the kit fender stay wide and isn't the same profile..? Dilemma for sure.. I'll post a pic of the TRX side profile.


Keep up the great work!! Looks good.

 

[ereeber]

I just looked at my picture of a TRX here at a local dealer..it appears so...but also the OE TRX fenders come back in to meet the front bumper. It appears that the kit fender stay wide and isn't the same profile..? Dilemma for sure.. I'll post a pic of the TRX side profile.


Keep up the great work!! Looks good.

Thanks! This certainly helps.

 

[devildodge]

DODGE RAM TRX KIT

As I mentioned in another post in the engine section (2014 Ram RC SWB Rebuild), I had original ordered a TRX but decided to back out, rebuild the one I have and save tons of cash. Well I just purchased the kit. Should get it in about 5 weeks. 2009-2018 Dodge Ram TRX Kit | Fenders, Headlight...

www.ramforum.com

You might want to share notes with this guy.

His is a 4th Gen though I think.

Gonna be awesome looking trucks when you guys are done.

 

[ServoFides35]

If the bumpers are the same I bet that plastic trim around it is the difference. Instead of being flat like on the Rebel it's probably "flared" to match the fender on the TRX. That being said I wonder if it's a part that can be found and ordered or if it's part of the bumper as an assembly... hmmm.

 

[ereeber]

Using a bit of body filler to get tolerance as close as possible, as shown in the below pictures. Almost finish fabricating a lower extension of the front fenders to line up better with the bumper. We're getting there. Slowly, but surely...

 

[ServoFides35]

Using a bit of body filler to get tolerance as close as possible, as shown in the below pictures. Almost finish fabricating a lower extension of the front fenders to line up better with the bumper. We're getting there. Slowly, but surely...

Looks good. Curious on how you are going to tackle the hood? Leave it, Try to cut it and fab yourself or have you got your hands on something else? The TRX hood is one of the coolest looking parts on the body to me.

 

[ereeber]

Looks good. Curious on how you are going to tackle the hood? Leave it, Try to cut it and fab yourself or have you got your hands on something else? The TRX hood is one of the coolest looking parts on the body to me.

For now, we're going to leave it, as is, and see what it may need to be enhanced. I'm trying to stay away from the factory TRX stuff, as I'm doing my best to design the truck as if I had the opportunity to do so. However, I do love that TRX hood! Can't lie there... LOL.

 

[90goldtsiawd]

How much are you into all this for so far? Seems like a nightmare vs just ordering a TRX?

 

[ereeber]

How much are you into all this for so far? Seems like a nightmare vs just ordering a TRX?

The Rebel cost, plus improvements would still be cheaper, in the end, than buying a TRX. Probably by about $15-$20K.

 

[90goldtsiawd]

The Rebel cost, plus improvements would still be cheaper, in the end, than buying a TRX. Probably by about $15-$20K.

So how much in improvements? I'm a dealer, I know what the trucks cost.

 

[RamRebelSteel]

Would you happen to know if the trx fenders fit on the rebels?

 

[REBELmtnbiker]

Would you happen to know if the trx fenders fit on the rebels?

I was thinking the same thing...I'm sure parts will be available in about a 6 months to a year for the TRX when people start crashing them! LOL. Junk yard and dealership fenders, hood and bed might be available for roughly the same price = Body kit+ labor

 

[RamRebelSteel]

I was thinking the same thing...I'm sure parts will be available in about a 6 months to a year for the TRX when people start crashing them! LOL. Junk yard and dealership fenders, hood and bed might be available for roughly the same price = Body kit+ labor

I would love to get a perfect fit on the flares. Not to mention they have pretty cool looking vents and amber lights.

 

[PurpleRT]

Subscribed. That’s awesome I’m surprised your doing this to such a new truck lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[REBELmtnbiker]

How's this RIG coming along?

 

[ereeber]

It's slowly coming along. If you want to make this look stock, you have to fabricate new mounting points for all fenders, build out a new rear wheel well to help settle and fibration to the wider bed panels, steel plates for the bed to catch the tonneau cover, the front fender headlight extension sat about 3 inches away from the bumper. So, we had to fabricate a lower fiberglass piece to properly blend in and make it fit against the front bumper. Lots of building up with filler to tighten tolerances, cracks, air holes in the fiberglass set us back a few days too. You really don't know you have an issue until you sand down enough for them to pop. We're at about 134 hours of labor and still going. The bottom line is that these fenders are probably a $10K job if you want it done correctly by a body shop. Hopefully, we'll be ready to sand and prime this week, hoping no more pitting or air holes pop up.

 

[ereeber]

In order to fit the filler cap, we also had to weld an extension to the filler pipe. It was 3" short.

 

[ereeber]

In this picture, you'll notice the tolerances on the brake lights and tail gate. Another task that took over a week to complete. The bed sides were about 1" off on each side. So, we had to build it up to get back to stock tolerances against the tailgate. Same with the brake lights. Everywhere you see "green", is fabricated glass and body filler.

 

[ereeber]

One last picture of the drivers side in it's current state showing a wide shot with tolerances all corrected (for the most part)