Boxerrider's 2024 2500

[Boxerrider]

My third Ram truck. In 1998 I bought a used 1996 1500 with a 318 and drove it for 11 years and many miles. Traded that for a used 2004 2500 with a Cummins. Drove it for 17 years, and traded it in this week with over 301k miles on the clock. It had been a great truck. We raised our kids in and and around it; carried them and others all over Texas and half of the United States, hauled chickens, pigs, cows, horses, ag. mechanics projects, construction materials, travel trailers, and tons of other stuff. A little sad to drive away from, but this new one sure is nice!



2024 Tradesman, a pretty basic truck, but plenty nice enough for my uses, and my first 4x4. While I really liked my 3rd gen Cummins, for the things I haul and pull the math just doesn't support the extra cost and complication of a new one, so there's a 6.4 Hemi in this one.

 

[Boxerrider]

First mod . . . N-Fab Podium steps. The bed will get a topper soon, so I went with their cab-length version. They bolted right up, are sturdy, grippy, and I think they look nice.
The top of the step is about 12" lower than the inside floor and 15" from the ground. Now Dear-Sweet-Wife and I can get in and out safely!

 

[Boxerrider]

One afternoon of stepping up on the rear wheel and climbing over the side of the bed was more than enough for me.
Second addition, also step related, Kassen bed step from Amazon.
Bolted up easily enough and seems to work well.

 

[whitexc]

That’s a nice bed step….for an Amazon piece. How much was it?

Cancel call. $83 in your next post lol


Sent from me

 

[Boxerrider]

That’s a nice bed step….for an Amazon piece. How much was it?

Cancel call. $83 in your next post lol


Sent from me

I followed the link in the comparison thread; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NN114G6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It came up as $115, not $83. I didn't spend time searching for a cheaper one since the reviews were mostly favorable and the price seemed pretty fair.

 

[Boxerrider]

I freely admit to being a tightwad. If a little patience and extra work will save me some money, then that is usually the route I will take. I found this Ranch camper shell for $1000, and Dear-Sweet-Wife and I road-tripped across the Red River to get it. This winter I will probably get it painted to match - for now the black is a nice look. New gas springs on the door, so it stays up now, and I will replace the door weather-stripping after it gets new paint.

 

[Boxerrider]

While I don't anticipate removing the camper often, I don't want the wiring to be a problem when I do. It only has one interior light and the center brake light, both at the same location but pointing in opposite directions (obviously). I used the upfitter wire under the bed for the brake light, and tapped the trailer lights for 12v+ and ground. Ran the wires up behind the taillight and out one of the existing holes in the bed. Picked up a panel mount connector. I only needed three pins, but that didn't appear to be in stock, and an extra one won't hurt. It's enough smaller than the opening to require a backing plate and escutcheon, which I made from plastic laminate (Wilsonart) left over from a cabinet job.

 

[Boxerrider]

The right angle plug points the wires up, although they still needed some bending to stay out of the way. I used up my split wire loom wiring the outlet. Instead of going to town, I used spiral wrap on the plug wiring. I'm not really proud of it, and may change that one of these days.

 

[dieselscout80]

The right angle plug points the wires up, although they still needed some bending to stay out of the way. I used up my split wire loom wiring the outlet. Instead of going to town, I used spiral wrap on the plug wiring. I'm not really proud of it, and may change that one of these days.

View attachment 78403 View attachment 78402

Cool wiring setup.

What kind of a plug setup is that and what’s the link to it?

 

[Boxerrider]

2200 miles, 51 hours, and the oil life display says 73% remaining. I was raised on 3k mile oil changes, and am willing to stretch that some with synthetic oils, but I can't make myself go 8k miles with MDS, especially right out of the box. Mobile 1, which happens to be the only 0w-40 I found in stock. I have family in aviation, and I have poured oil while standing on a ladder before, although this is the first time I've had to do so on a ground vehicle!



Enjoy!
Jeff

 

[Boxerrider]

Cool wiring setup.

What kind of a plug setup is that and what’s the link to it?

Thanks!
I tried to link the text in my post, but I don't always get that to function correctly. Here's the full link to the amazon listing, which I may, or may not, post correctly either! It appears to be reasonable water-tight and robust.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BL13PL...ZTPLBya0wUtBCuSv51piu4l2TYe0tBJWDs63766dfHJ7R

 

[Boxerrider]

Dear Sweet Wife and I took the truck to Estes Park, Colorado to help her cousin with some cabin remodeling. Other than some unpleasant sections of concrete highway, the truck was a joy to travel in. Didn't tow anything, and we were not loaded very heavily; 16.8 mpg on the highway, and 14.5 mpg tootling around in the mountains.
Just over 4k miles on the truck when we got back, and I did the second oil change. Probably a waste of money and time, but I don't have it in me to run a new engine 8k miles on the same oil and filter. Dealership says the first ones free, so I'll have them change it at 8k.

Enjoy!

 

[Boxerrider]

A couple of convenience items and another CO trip!
I tried hanging clothes to the interior hooks with string on the last trip. It seemed to function well enough, so I implemented a nicer version. Leather strips, split and sewn into a loop at each end.

Maybe "slumping" is a more accurate term than "hanging". We have a his & hers, each holds a week's worth of stuff, and they are low enough to not block the rear view.

Turning this long truck around in some of these little mountain areas takes some effort, and apparently I shouldn't do that without a spotter. I dinged the front passenger step on a rock. The joys of a matte black finish - a little effort with some sandpaper and spray paint will do a decent job of hiding that.


Enjoy!