New 2014 Ram truck for our TC

GpnAZ - Nice work with the lens! Living in AZ for 15 years, I've seen many of the areas you've shot, but your work makes it a whole new experience. Congrats on the new TC hauler, nothing like a new hauler to get one enthused to get out and use it. Also, if you haven't already, please do write up on your jeep, mods, equip, powerplant etc... that looks just like the kind of thing I'd love to hitch to the back of my 3500HD & AF996.

CAJW - Thank you and Arizona does has some really awesome views to photograph. My Jeep is a 1997 TJ Wrangler, I have modified with the following: 4:56 front and rear gears, 4:1 transfer case gearing, Currie reverse cut pinion Dana 44 rear differential, ARB front and rear air lockers, Rubicon Express long arm 4 1/2" suspension lift, 35x12.50x15 BFG KM2 Mud Terrain tires, Dick Cepek 15"x8" wheels, the front and rear bumpers were custom built by one of the local 4x4 shops. It has the original 6 cylinder with a Turbo City throttle injection, headers and a Magna Flow muffler. It is a 3 speed automatic transmission with an 1800rpm stall speed torque converter. It has 2 onboard air systems - 1 for the air lockers and 1 for airing up tires. I just picked it up from the paint shop where it got a new coat of silver paint, so I am in the process of putting the bumpers and rocker panel protectors back on. I have probably towed it behind our MH 30,000 miles and hoping to tow it more behind our new truck and camper now that I have a little more power and GVWR.

I've heard of a lot of off road mishaps with various vehicles, but I've yet to hear of a punctured pee can ruining one's day while four-wheeling it.

GpnAZ - Nice work with the lens! Living in AZ for 15 years, I've seen many of the areas you've shot, but your work makes it a whole new experience. Congrats on the new TC hauler, nothing like a new hauler to get one enthused to get out and use it. Also, if you haven't already, please do write up on your jeep, mods, equip, powerplant etc... that looks just like the kind of thing I'd love to hitch to the back of my 3500HD & AF996.

Sidebar - DEF Tank discussion - True fact that Chevy does have a lousy location for their DEF tank, but after installing one of these DEF Tank skid plate
I have lesser worries about getting it punctured. In reality, even with the skid plate installed, it has 1/2" more ground clearance than the transmission cross-member, although it does run longitudinally with the frame rail so more area is exposed. Regarding mileage from a tank, 5,000 miles is the story I got from the dealer, but with a 5,000 lb. camper and 6'X10' enclosed trailer in tow, DEF mileage falls like a stone. I've had as little as 2,200 miles from a tank. I'm not crazy about having to run to Walmart or a auto parts store during a camp trip to get a jug of DEF, but as noted prior, the tailpipe is uber clean so guess that it does it's job. Not as big a pain as I thought it would be prior to purchase and to those that poo poo the system that will degrade your performance if you run out, the same thing happens if you run out of diesel! ;)

Are all people that actually go off road and over rock PARANIOD? Or do just paranoid people the ones that actually go off road and over rock?

Chevy has/ Had a horrible location for def tank. Right under passenger door just looking to be torn off. Im more of a fan of the def system than the older EGR/Cooler pumping soot back into the intake.

My 4500 cab and chassis is nothing like the 3500. Mine hangs at least 6 inches below the rocker panel. And below my running boards. I could easily see my truck coming to rest on the DEF skid plate. I hope the engineers figured that in on the skid plate design.

mena661 wrote:

Redsky wrote:

DEF and the filter reduces soot and other******out the tailpipe by 99%. How is that a bad thing?

What's immature about worrying if the DEF tank hangs down too low?

If you are rock crawling with a heavy truck with a camper in the bed the low point is going to be the differentials and the shock mounts and with an Allison transmission the external filter is also more exposed than the DEF tank. And there are shields for the DEF tank for the paranoid people who actually go off road and over the rocks.

I read the same sort of comments about catalytic converters in the 1970's. People got over it then and need to stop obsessing about DEF now.

No need to buy a diesel to haul a truck camper in the first place. A gas engine with the right gears will be as effective and save the buyer $10,000 and provide no problems as to where to find diesel being pumped when out in the boonies. No worries about bio-diesel and fuel gelling and water in the fuel other problems unique to diesels.

Modern emissions systems are part of the cost of living in the modern world with other people and sharing the air.

mena661 wrote:

Redsky wrote:

DEF and the filter reduces soot and other******out the tailpipe by 99%. How is that a bad thing?

What's immature about worrying if the DEF tank hangs down too low?

Nothing if there was a REASON to be concerned. I have had my truck scraping the frame as I have climbed some steep embankments and NO PROBLEM so far. I think you can see where one of the scrapes was made on the plate.

Some of you people have either lead a real protected life or have just not gotten out enough. I don't routinely abuse my stuff, but when I get in a bind I get myself out without worrying too much about a scratch or two.

That is a thicker and stronger skid plate than what protects most transfer cases and transmissions.

Capt Eddie wrote:
The DEF tanks hangs so low that I am afraid of hitting it on stuff. The breakover angle will be terrible.

The Ram DEF tank is not exposed on a 2013/2014 Ram 3500 pickup. It's up above the frame and well protected.

Redsky wrote:
DEF and the filter reduces soot and other******out the tailpipe by 99%. How is that a bad thing?

I'm with you 100% there Redsky. The diesel fumes are virtually eliminated in these new trucks and I find that appealing. Also, the DEF has not been a big deal for me either. It sure is a lot less work than I put into keeping the windows clean. Now there's a never ending chore!

GpnAZ: Congratulations on your new truck! It looks sharp and should give you many happy miles ahead. I'll be looking for you on the road.