RickWaz
Well-Known Member
VERY sweet! And hello Zombie Apocalypse OR 11/04/20!!!
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What did you do to your Ram today???
- Thread starter 19BlkRam
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thrillracing
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That is a super nice setup. Are the boxes on the outside of the drawers only as waterproof as your tonneau cover or do they seal by themselves?
Hydro-Blue Laramie Lvl 2, Sport, Off-Road Group, Advanced Safety Group, Bed Utility Group, Pano, 3.92, E-Torque, Air-Suspension, Power Boards
The outside cubby holes are not waterproof so most people just store misc hardware, but my hard cover makes the entire bed weather proof.
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LamboTexas
Active Member
That looks great! Very useful and practical!! I just ordered a Decked system today. All the naysayers that say- you lose too much of your bed space- that’s why we have flatbed trailers, cargo trailers, horse trailers, etc.
The gear you see is about all I’ve carried in mine since I bought the truck, so I figured I wouldn’t miss the space difference. There is still a good amount of space above with standard height drawers.
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Skater
Well-Known Member
If you have been keeping up with my saga (probably not), I ordered my Ram Limited on February 29, 2020. I made a change while it was in D1 on May 29, 2020 to get the 33-gallon fuel tank. That put my build at the end of the line and honestly, I did not mind waiting through the COVID-19 shutdown of FCA. Those FCA line workers laboriously work shifts with which I would not wish to be tasked, so I was more than happy to have those folks stay safe at home with their families and not build my Ram until they felt safe on the line.
So, after almost six months of waiting, on Wednesday, what I did to my Ram was pick it up and drive it home.
On Friday, what I did to my Ram was install the OPT7 light bar under my multifunction tailgate thanks to the expert instruction, assistance, direction, and tutelage of RamVader. I also installed the Carven cat back exhaust that evening, but used the stock tips because the Carven tips extend out past the bumper too far for my liking. I know the Carven needs to break in a little, but it sounds amazing. Sort of quiet when driving easy, but deep and throaty, and aggressive when you put your foot into it. I also installed a BlendMount radar detector mount for my Escort Redline and hardwired it into the windshield camera; again, thanks to the folks in here in a thread entitled something like hardwire radar detectors.
Today, I got the windows tinted all the way around, except windshield. Heat shield on the windshield is a waste of money for me, so I opted not to get that done. I also installed the RamAir CAI and a small, but important mod, RAM valve stem covers.
Tomorrow, after 18 holes with my buddies at dawn as I have been doing for about 25 years, Husky mud flaps, LASFIT third brake light replacement bulbs, SprintBooster, and Hellwig sway bar go on!
So, after almost six months of waiting, on Wednesday, what I did to my Ram was pick it up and drive it home.
On Friday, what I did to my Ram was install the OPT7 light bar under my multifunction tailgate thanks to the expert instruction, assistance, direction, and tutelage of RamVader. I also installed the Carven cat back exhaust that evening, but used the stock tips because the Carven tips extend out past the bumper too far for my liking. I know the Carven needs to break in a little, but it sounds amazing. Sort of quiet when driving easy, but deep and throaty, and aggressive when you put your foot into it. I also installed a BlendMount radar detector mount for my Escort Redline and hardwired it into the windshield camera; again, thanks to the folks in here in a thread entitled something like hardwire radar detectors.
Today, I got the windows tinted all the way around, except windshield. Heat shield on the windshield is a waste of money for me, so I opted not to get that done. I also installed the RamAir CAI and a small, but important mod, RAM valve stem covers.
Tomorrow, after 18 holes with my buddies at dawn as I have been doing for about 25 years, Husky mud flaps, LASFIT third brake light replacement bulbs, SprintBooster, and Hellwig sway bar go on!
Attachments
Jako
Spends too much time on here
Nice work
FYI if valve stems are aluminum:
Valve stem caps - beware of aluminum
Purchased a second hand set of 20" Laramie wheels for my Bighorn. The tires came with aluminum valve stem covers. Didn't put any thought into the valve stems at the time. Today I went to check the air pressure and "galvanic reaction" had set in. Not a good moment. I managed to get them off...
5thgenrams.com
Skater
Well-Known Member
I had no idea that could be an issue. I have had what I believe to be aluminum valve stem caps on just about every vehicle I have owned for the past 10 years. Thanks for the insight. I will check to see if they are in fact aluminum, but I bet they are.Nice work
FYI if valve stems are aluminum:
Valve stem caps - beware of aluminum
Purchased a second hand set of 20" Laramie wheels for my Bighorn. The tires came with aluminum valve stem covers. Didn't put any thought into the valve stems at the time. Today I went to check the air pressure and "galvanic reaction" had set in. Not a good moment. I managed to get them off...
I recently bought a 2020 Ram Big Horn BTS. Want to make some upgrades. Thinking tri fold tonneau and bed liner. If I am going tonneau do I really even need a liner? Also what are the best covers? I live in Las Vegas.
Night Rebel
Well-Known Member
Got some tint. 5% around and 40% on windshield. 
4x4Rebel
Active Member
Bed liner is great if use the bed at all. I got the line-x and it's been great. I take my tonneau cover off and actually use the bed a bit so it has come in handy. Than again, maybe a bed mat would work for you. I think the line-x has UV protectant in it that should prevent fading there in Vegas. I also bought the Lomax cover and it's been the perfect combo for me.
LoNeStAr
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That looks amazing!!!
TNSmokee
Active Member
Got started on the PowerStep Light install yesterday with my son-in-law. He had a wire tester and I wanted to verify the wire from the bed light to connect to. RamVader said it was white but mine looked more of a brownish color. Anyway it was the same as RamVader's and I used a wire tap to connect to that wire.
The wire tap I had and used was probably the wrong one, too big. We had trouble getting a reading from the tester and couldn't get a continuity reading either. I ended up shaving some of the wire insulation off and striped my added power wire (blue wire). Once I did that everything tested hot. Now I'm committed I guess.
Tucked the wire tap back into the factory sheathing and taped it in place. Reconnected the plug and reattached it to it's mounting location.
This picture shows the harness and factory mounting location. The blue wire has a butt connector on it and this is where it will terminate at. The white wire is my ground. I have the curt trailer harness setup for my add-on reverse lights. This made it easier for me to ground and be able to use a butt connector.
The lights are magnetic and are attached to this rail halfway between the doors. This is the front door. I looped the wire under the rail to the backside where I attached it.
Right now I'm using black gorilla tape. I put a base strip down and then covered the wire with another. I'm going to keep an eye on this and think about a better way.
Passenger side.
The two wires meet here and route behind the bar for the PowerStep. I used zip ties to attach to some factory wiring and followed that around the the rear of the felt covered box for our floor boxes.
The wires drop behind the floor box cubby in-line with this frame rail. This is my crossing point to the driver's side.
I don't have a fish tape so I had to use a wire hanger to guide the wires across. The hanger was perfect and you can see the wires dangling on the driver's side. This is my stopping point for the day though. It seems like it's 110 degrees in my garage. I'll pick back up on Tuesday.
The wire tap I had and used was probably the wrong one, too big. We had trouble getting a reading from the tester and couldn't get a continuity reading either. I ended up shaving some of the wire insulation off and striped my added power wire (blue wire). Once I did that everything tested hot. Now I'm committed I guess.
Tucked the wire tap back into the factory sheathing and taped it in place. Reconnected the plug and reattached it to it's mounting location.
This picture shows the harness and factory mounting location. The blue wire has a butt connector on it and this is where it will terminate at. The white wire is my ground. I have the curt trailer harness setup for my add-on reverse lights. This made it easier for me to ground and be able to use a butt connector.
The lights are magnetic and are attached to this rail halfway between the doors. This is the front door. I looped the wire under the rail to the backside where I attached it.
Right now I'm using black gorilla tape. I put a base strip down and then covered the wire with another. I'm going to keep an eye on this and think about a better way.
Passenger side.
The two wires meet here and route behind the bar for the PowerStep. I used zip ties to attach to some factory wiring and followed that around the the rear of the felt covered box for our floor boxes.
The wires drop behind the floor box cubby in-line with this frame rail. This is my crossing point to the driver's side.
I don't have a fish tape so I had to use a wire hanger to guide the wires across. The hanger was perfect and you can see the wires dangling on the driver's side. This is my stopping point for the day though. It seems like it's 110 degrees in my garage. I'll pick back up on Tuesday.
Grape_Ape
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Not so much what I did to it but what I did for it and my other vehicles. Shell Rotella Gas Truck Full Synthetic is on sale at advance auto for $10.49 per 5qt and $2.49 per 1qt. $160 later and I have 5 oil changes in the ram, 4 in my commuter, and 2 in my wife's car covered lol.
Ellisstrong
Spends too much time on here
This deserves its on post.
LamboTexas
Active Member
Bought the Decked Truck Bed System
tedsterbv
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I see you are planning on LASFIT 3rd brake light LED bulbs. I'm not sure if the Limited comes with LED lights in the cab, but if not, I would highly recommend changing all your cab lights to LEDs at the same time. The LED bulbs made a huge difference in my Big Horn's cab, which I notice all the time. I rarely notice the 3rd brake light, but there is a difference there too.
Skater
Well-Known Member
Yeah, all of the bulbs in the cab, save and except the vanity mirror and I believe maybe the under dash courtesy lights, are LEDs and cannot be changed or replaced to my knowledge without removing the entire light fixture. Nevertheless, they are all LEDs. Although I have to check the glove boxes. I am not sure if they are LEDs or not. I can tell you the LASFIT LEDs in the third brake light (I got the red for the brake light and cargo white for the cargo lights) makes a huge difference. The stock incandescent bulbs are junk.
Skater
Well-Known Member
I have not installed my running board lights yet on my Ram, but when I put them on my prior F-150, I used clear silicone to adhere them to the body after using the standard 3M tape (your gorilla tape). I covered the light strip in clear silicone and I covered the wires (laid them in a bed of silicone) at any place where they traversed a corner of metal or made a hard direction change. Wires have a tendency to rub and eventually will rub raw and expose copper leading to a possible short. If you do not cover them in silicone, my suggestion would be for you wrap them in wire harness tape, then corrugated wire loom to protect them from rubbing on the frame or body and shorting out eventually.
I know RamVader used sprinkler wire, which is covered in rubber and designed to run underground, so I am sure it is well insulated and prepared to deal with adverse conditions under your Ram.
Good work so far. Looks great. RamVader is a really good source of information.
