Biggiehorn's Build Thread

[Biggiehorn]

Decided to push my Strands Siberia Pods back 1/2" to sit more flush within the SKT grille kit. This was very easy to do by taking a couple of 1/2" spacers, and adding them to the existing SKT brackets. I did have to buy longer bolts to accommodate the spacers, but I love the amount of adjustability that is built into the kit to allow adjustments like this to easily be made.

I didn't think it looked bad at all before, but I really wanted to see which look I preferred, and I personally think the flush appearance creates a cleaner look that helps the pods blend in even more.

• SKT Customs Grille Kit with Strands Siberia QB pods pushed back with a 1/2” spacer to create a flush appearance.

Recently had a pretty cool surprise that came from the Ram Trucks Social Team. They sent me out this care package and letter which I thought was really awesome. I personally don't think that I am any more deserving from the next Ram owner, but I did really appreciate their kind gesture. The package actually arrived on my birthday, which I couldn't help but feel like that timing made it even more special lol.




I have a couple things in the works, that I hope to provide an update on soon, but will leave off with a few more recent photos for now.

• Took the truck out to Daytona Beach for Mother’s Day with some family and friends and had a great time. That was actually my first time getting this truck out on the sand and it was a blast cruising along the shoreline. We’ll be visiting again in a few weeks and I hope to get back out there for another cruise.

• Figured I’d drop one I took of my buddy’s Titan Pro4X. I feel like these trucks are so under appreciated. He’s actually rolling on my old Fuel Rebel wheels and man I think they look great on the Titan platform!

• This is probably my new favorite photo that I have taken of the truck. Love that aggressive look.

 

[Biggiehorn]

Hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July holiday! I haven't had too much going on with the truck lately, so no real update from a parts or modification standpoint. I did recently add the Muzzy's AC hack about a month or so ago just to see if it offered any improvement. With my truck being a 2021 model year, I have heard that the improvement is minimal, if any. My truck's AC wasn't bad in my opinion, but with the known issues that the 2019 and 2020 trucks have, I decided to buy the parts and see if there was any difference in performance with my 2021. For the $25 that the part costs, I'd say it is worth it. I did find 3 to 4 degrees cooler with the valve installed and closed, vs when the valve is left open. The improvement is nowhere near what the 2019 and 2020 guys are seeing due to their faulted cooling systems, but the 4 degree difference was definitely felt inside the cab. Money well spent in my opinion.

Below is some recent photos. Several of these were taken while I was out exploring some trails in the Ocala National Forest. I had a blast, but with every bump, I also had a constant reminder that I seriously need to upgrade my suspension .





I take a photo of the truck every single time I park in this warehouse lol.



I do have a couple parts coming soon that I’m really looking forward to. I’ll drop an update on here as soon as I’m able.

 

[Biggiehorn]

Howdy! It has been a month since I last posted and I do have some updates to share. Life has been hectic, but still managing to find time to check off some Ram projects from the list! Bear with me, this will be a rather long one lol.

I'll start off with the Triple A Liners bed mat. I had one of these sent to me a few months ago and I honestly forgot to drop a post about it on here. There are a lot of rubberized bed mats on the market and I think this one is right on par with the others that I have seen. The surface is textured to prevent cargo from sliding around as easily, and the fitment is awesome thanks to them using a 3D scanner to get the sizing perfect. I love how easy it is to clean too. After a recent beach trip, a quick rinse with the hose was all it took to get it cleaned up and looking new. It is dirty in the picture below, but it’s literally the only photo I have of it right now haha. I'm actually going to be doing a giveaway on Instagram relatively soon for these.. Triple A Liners offered to give away two of these bed mats if I was interested in hosting it, and I told them absolutely! Each mat is around a $120 value. Keep an eye out on my Instagram if any interest.

The next upgrade I recently made was switching my existing Lasfit fog light bulbs out with their switchback capable version. The switchback bulbs allow you to quickly select from a 6000K white or a 3000K warm yellow. For one, I think these look awesome, but I'm also looking forward to trying these out to see how much of a difference the amber make in various weather and lighting conditions. To change the color setting, you simply cycle your fog light switch off and then back on. One minor inconvenience worth noting is that due to our trucks turning the corresponding fog light on when making a turn at night, there is a chance that your bulbs will fall out of sync when you do power them back on. I knew this going into the install, but it wasn't a huge concern for me. As long as you leave your fog lights on so that they automatically turn on with your regular headlights at night, this seems to be a non-issue. Personally, I leave my fog lights on all the time anyways, and after 2+ years of running the previous Lasfit bulbs that way, they still work just fine. I'll update if anything changes, but as of now there are no concerns with their operation or bulb life longevity.




Next up is an upgrade that was in the works for quite some time, and I'm so happy with how it turned out. GODZMFG created an underbody skid plate system for our trucks and they asked me if I would be willing to install their first kit from post production just to make sure everything aligned and fit properly. I helped them initially with this project by providing some videos and measurements for the underbody, just so they could compare it and confirm that their design would fit on all 5.7L trim levels. The kit is available in a steel or aluminum version and both will come finished with a durable black powder coating. The kit includes an engine/diff plate, a transmission plate, and a hardware kit. They also offer catalytic converter shields as an option, but those weren't ready in time when they sent this out to me. If GODZMFG sends me a set, I'll be sure to drop an update. I'm so thrilled with how this kit turned out and the fitment is incredible. I do have a discount code available if anyone is interested in grabbing one of these. Just shoot me a DM and I'd be happy to share it with you. This upgrade has motivated me to get my fuel tank skid plate installed too. I’ve had it sitting in the garage for ages now, and there is really zero excuse for that lol.





The last one is still a work in progress, and it may be a little while before it is ready to go, but I'll leave this as a cliffhanger to help build anticipation lol. The box was absolutely massive!



And one more from a recent trip to the National Forest!

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

Howdy! It has been a month since I last posted and I do have some updates to share. Life has been hectic, but still managing to find time to check off some Ram projects from the list! Bear with me, this will be a rather long one lol.

I'll start off with the Triple A Liners bed mat. I had one of these sent to me a few months ago and I honestly forgot to drop a post about it on here. There are a lot of rubberized bed mats on the market and I think this one is right on par with the others that I have seen. The surface is textured to prevent cargo from sliding around as easily, and the fitment is awesome thanks to them using a 3D scanner to get the sizing perfect. I love how easy it is to clean too. After a recent beach trip, a quick rinse with the hose was all it took to get it cleaned up and looking new. It is dirty in the picture below, but it’s literally the only photo I have of it right now haha. I'm actually going to be doing a giveaway on Instagram relatively soon for these.. Triple A Liners offered to give away two of these bed mats if I was interested in hosting it, and I told them absolutely! Each mat is around a $120 value. Keep an eye out on my Instagram if any interest.
View attachment 187638
The next upgrade I recently made was switching my existing Lasfit fog light bulbs out with their switchback capable version. The switchback bulbs allow you to quickly select from a 6000K white or a 3000K warm yellow. For one, I think these look awesome, but I'm also looking forward to trying these out to see how much of a difference the amber make in various weather and lighting conditions. To change the color setting, you simply cycle your fog light switch off and then back on. One minor inconvenience worth noting is that due to our trucks turning the corresponding fog light on when making a turn at night, there is a chance that your bulbs will fall out of sync when you do power them back on. I knew this going into the install, but it wasn't a huge concern for me. As long as you leave your fog lights on so that they automatically turn on with your regular headlights at night, this seems to be a non-issue. Personally, I leave my fog lights on all the time anyways, and after 2+ years of running the previous Lasfit bulbs that way, they still work just fine. I'll update if anything changes, but as of now there are no concerns with their operation or bulb life longevity.
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Next up is an upgrade that was in the works for quite some time, and I'm so happy with how it turned out. GODZMFG created an underbody skid plate system for our trucks and they asked me if I would be willing to install their first kit from post production just to make sure everything aligned and fit properly. I helped them initially with this project by providing some videos and measurements for the underbody, just so they could compare it and confirm that their design would fit on all 5.7L trim levels. The kit is available in a steel or aluminum version and both will come finished with a durable black powder coating. The kit includes an engine/diff plate, a transmission plate, and a hardware kit. They also offer catalytic converter shields as an option, but those weren't ready in time when they sent this out to me. If GODZMFG sends me a set, I'll be sure to drop an update. I'm so thrilled with how this kit turned out and the fitment is incredible. I do have a discount code available if anyone is interested in grabbing one of these. Just shoot me a DM and I'd be happy to share it with you. This upgrade has motivated me to get my fuel tank skid plate installed too. I’ve had it sitting in the garage for ages now, and there is really zero excuse for that lol.

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The last one is still a work in progress, and it may be a little while before it is ready to go, but I'll leave this as a cliffhanger to help build anticipation lol. The box was absolutely massive!

View attachment 187633

And one more from a recent trip to the National Forest!
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Nice update the drop in bed liner looks a lot like lasfit

Does the skid plate kit also cover the engine? (From the front most part of the bumper to the cross member?

 

[Biggiehorn]

Nice update the drop in bed liner looks a lot like lasfit
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Does the skid plate kit also cover the engine? (From the front most part of the bumper to the cross member?

Agreed! I honestly think it is the exact same bed mat minus the Lasfit branding lol. Lasfit dropped theirs like a month or two after Triple A released their mat and they look to be identical from what I can tell.

As far as the skid plates go, it doesn’t extend beyond the front crossmember unfortunately. I wish it did because after pulling my active air dam and fixed valance off, I’m left with that large void underneath too. GODZ main focus on this kit was under the engine, diff and transmission to protect those vulnerable areas. I also forgot to mention that the kit will not work on any drop bracket style lifts. The frame and cross members need to be original and unmodified for this to be compatible.

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

May

Agreed! I honestly think it is the exact same bed mat minus the Lasfit branding lol. Lasfit dropped theirs like a month or two after Triple A released their mat and they look to be identical from what I can tell.

As far as the skid plates go, it doesn’t extend beyond the front crossmember unfortunately. I wish it did because after pulling my active air dam and fixed valance off, I’m left with that large void underneath too. GODZ main focus on this kit was under the engine, diff and transmission to protect those vulnerable areas. I also forgot to mention that the kit will not work on any drop bracket style lifts. The frame and cross members need to be original and unmodified for this to be compatible.

Maybe since you have a relationship with Godz you can suggest a full kit from the bumper back!? In the grand scheme of things I like the look of their kit vs the others on the market.

 

[Biggiehorn]

May

Maybe since you have a relationship with Godz you can suggest a full kit from the bumper back!? In the grand scheme of things I like the look of their kit vs the others on the market.

I can definitely mention it to them and see if it is something that they'll consider. I'd love to have a solution for the front bumper back to the cross member.

 

[Biggiehorn]

Took this photo a couple weeks ago. The background lighting was perfect. Really like how it turned out so figured I’d share.

I do have an update for the build coming very soon. The shop is completing the work now and I’m hoping to have the truck back in a day or two.

 

[Biggiehorn]

I typically drop updates on my social media accounts before transferring them here, but figured I’ll change things up for once.

The truck has been at a local paint and body shop for the last week getting some attention. I had them paint and install RK Sports new TRX replica fiberglass hood. I’ve had this hood for nearly two months now, and man did it take some time for me to find a paint shop that I could trust. That factor held up this project for several weeks as I worked to find a reputable business to do the job.

I finally landed at Central Florida Paint and Body, and man did they knock it out of the park in my opinion. The shop’s staff were super friendly and welcoming. They spent nearly an hour talking with me and showing me around their building when I showed up for my appointment. They did inform me upfront how tricky fiberglass products can be to paint and align, but they were willing to take on the challenge. These guys had amazing reviews and were one of the few shops in my area that held FCA specific collision repair certifications on top of the standard certificates in the industry, so I felt comfortable leaving the truck in their hands to get the job done.

I’ll be upfront… As happy as I am with the product and the work that CFPAB did, the overall process with this entire hood project was costly, time consuming, and a bit nerve racking. I say this just to let anyone interested in going a similar route know of the obstacles ahead of time. In my experience, many paint shops don’t want to touch aftermarket parts (especially fiberglass). They prefer OEM parts and panels. I had several (including CFPAB) tell me that shops are hesitant because many aftermarket products are junk, poor fitting, and require countless hours of time and labor to get right. They say it can also be a risk to their name and reputation because the paint job is a direct reflection of their work, yet the product they’re spraying the paint on may be total junk to begin with. If the customer isn’t happy with the result, it creates unnecessary conflict, payment disputes, and bad reviews for their name.

I do have a small amount of paint and bodywork experience, but these were factors that I honestly hadn’t considered when I purchased the hood initially. After having a couple shops ignore me, give me uneasy feelings, turn me away, and after CFPAB explained this to me in detail, I completely understand why many shops do it. They have to protect their name and business at the end of the day. I’m just glad CFPAB gave me the customer service I was looking for. They let me know of the potential challenges, showed me my options, and then kept me informed daily from start to finish. I can’t speak highly enough about my experience.

Now on to the good stuff! CFPAB was very impressed with the overall quality and fitment from RK Sport. I know RK Sport has decent reviews claiming excellent product fitment, but I also know every vehicle is different and results will vary. CFPAB told me it fit extremely well compared to many of the other brands they have worked on. The hood did require minor labor and prep work, but man did it turn out great. I went with the factory Black Diamond Pearl on the hood, and then had the venting sprayed matte black to help add contrast and keep with the overall theme of the truck. The paint shop and I talked through several ideas, but we both think we landed on the best decision. I did pay a bit of a premium going with this shop, but they guarantee their work for as long as I own the vehicle. They told me if the hood flakes, chips, peels, or has any paint/clear related issues whatsoever, they will fix it completely free of charge. That was another huge selling point.

The shop manager told me that pretty much his entire crew was obsessed with my build and that the truck was turning heads all week long. The worker at the front desk also gave me a laugh because he said several of the guys in the shop were already following my build on Instagram and they were excited to see the truck show up there to get some work done lol.

Last thing I’ll add is that the shop’s social media guy supposedly documented the paint process for the hood and they are going to share that with me once the content is ready. I’ll drop those photos whenever I get my hands on them.

Let me know what you guys think!

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

I typically drop updates on my social media accounts before transferring them here, but figured I’ll change things up for once.

The truck has been at a local paint and body shop for the last week getting some attention. I had them paint and install RK Sports new TRX replica fiberglass hood. I’ve had this hood for nearly two months now, and man did it take some time for me to find a paint shop that I could trust. That factor held up this project for several weeks as I worked to find a reputable business to do the job.

I finally landed at Central Florida Paint and Body, and man did they knock it out of the park in my opinion. The shop’s staff were super friendly and welcoming. They spent nearly an hour talking with me and showing me around their building when I showed up for my appointment. They did inform me upfront how tricky fiberglass products can be to paint and align, but they were willing to take on the challenge. These guys had amazing reviews and were one of the few shops in my area that held FCA specific collision repair certifications on top of the standard certificates in the industry, so I felt comfortable leaving the truck in their hands to get the job done.

I’ll be upfront… As happy as I am with the product and the work that CFPAB did, the overall process with this entire hood project was costly, time consuming, and a bit nerve racking. I say this just to let anyone interested in going a similar route know of the obstacles ahead of time. In my experience, many paint shops don’t want to touch aftermarket parts (especially fiberglass). They prefer OEM parts and panels. I had several (including CFPAB) tell me that shops are hesitant because many aftermarket products are junk, poor fitting, and require countless hours of time and labor to get right. They say it can also be a risk to their name and reputation because the paint job is a direct reflection of their work, yet the product they’re spraying the paint on may be total junk to begin with. If the customer isn’t happy with the result, it creates unnecessary conflict, payment disputes, and bad reviews for their name.

I do have a small amount of paint and bodywork experience, but these were factors that I honestly hadn’t considered when I purchased the hood initially. After having a couple shops ignore me, give me uneasy feelings, turn me away, and after CFPAB explained this to me in detail, I completely understand why many shops do it. They have to protect their name and business at the end of the day. I’m just glad CFPAB gave me the customer service I was looking for. They let me know of the potential challenges, showed me my options, and then kept me informed daily from start to finish. I can’t speak highly enough about my experience.

Now on to the good stuff! CFPAB was very impressed with the overall quality and fitment from RK Sport. I know RK Sport has decent reviews claiming excellent product fitment, but I also know every vehicle is different and results will vary. CFPAB told me it fit extremely well compared to many of the other brands they have worked on. The hood did require minor labor and prep work, but man did it turn out great. I went with the factory Black Diamond Pearl on the hood, and then had the venting sprayed matte black to help add contrast and keep with the overall theme of the truck. The paint shop and I talked through several ideas, but we both think we landed on the best decision. I did pay a bit of a premium going with this shop, but they guarantee their work for as long as I own the vehicle. They told me if the hood flakes, chips, peels, or has any paint/clear related issues whatsoever, they will fix it completely free of charge. That was another huge selling point.

The shop manager told me that pretty much his entire crew was obsessed with my build and that the truck was turning heads all week long. The worker at the front desk also gave me a laugh because he said several of the guys in the shop were already following my build on Instagram and they were excited to see the truck show up there to get some work done lol.

Last thing I’ll add is that the shop’s social media guy supposedly documented the paint process for the hood and they are going to share that with me once the content is ready. I’ll drop those photos whenever I get my hands on them.

Let me know what you guys think!

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Dude, freaking money! That thing looks spectacular!

Can you elaborate on what “work “ needed to be done to get it ready for paint? Alignment of course but did they need to modify mounting points or removed dents, body fill or work edges? I’m definitely interested in doing this when I get around to paint matching my bumpers.

 

[Biggiehorn]

Dude, freaking money! That thing looks spectacular!

Can you elaborate on what “work “ needed to be done to get it ready for paint? Alignment of course but did they need to modify mounting points or removed dents, body fill or work edges? I’m definitely interested in doing this when I get around to paint matching my bumpers.

THANK YOU! I really appreciate it! I assumed it was going to look good, but when they pulled it out of their shop and into the parking lot my jaw literally dropped haha. It adds such an aggressive look up front, but could also easily pass as OEM which is what I love most about it. I also really like that the vents are functional, and the bulge on the hood isn't much taller than my factory hood. It doesn't obstruct your view or field of visibility whatsoever.

So, from a prep standpoint, they told me fiberglass and the gelcoat finish that it came with aren't typically flat and smooth. The shop manager showed me what he meant when he told me to look down the hood at eye level. It was very slight, but there was a bit of a wavy finish to it. He told me without any prep work, the waves would be extremely visible once the hood was gloss black, and that it would stick out a ton when sitting behind the wheel.

Aside from the general alignment, they told me that they hit it with a couple rounds of primer, and spent a few hours sanding and blocking to get a truly flat and smooth finish. We did find a very tiny chip in the finish on the hood (probably happened during freight transport) so they did have to use some body filler to repair that small spot as well. Mounting points were not modified, and to my knowledge, there weren't any dents or dings that needed repair either.

As long as you have a decent shop do the work, I don't think you'll have any major issues with fitment.

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

THANK YOU! I really appreciate it! I assumed it was going to look good, but when they pulled it out of their shop and into the parking lot my jaw literally dropped haha. It adds such an aggressive look up front, but could also easily pass as OEM which is what I love most about it. I also really like that the vents are functional, and the bulge on the hood isn't much taller than my factory hood. It doesn't obstruct your view or field of visibility whatsoever.

So, from a prep standpoint, they told me fiberglass and the gelcoat finish that it came with aren't typically flat and smooth. The shop manager showed me what he meant when he told me to look down the hood at eye level. It was very slight, but there was a bit of a wavy finish to it. He told me without any prep work, the waves would be extremely visible once the hood was gloss black, and that it would stick out a ton when sitting behind the wheel.

Aside from the general alignment, they told me that they hit it with a couple rounds of primer, and spent a few hours sanding and blocking to get a truly flat and smooth finish. We did find a very tiny chip in the finish on the hood (probably happened during freight transport) so they did have to use some body filler to repair that small spot as well. Mounting points were not modified, and to my knowledge, there weren't any dents or dings that needed repair either.

As long as you have a decent shop do the work, I don't think you'll have any major issues with fitment.

Thanks for the feed back . It came out great!