In the first installation of our Big Horn project, we took a stock ’09 Ram 2500 and by adding a simple intake, exhaust, and programmer, we upped the power output of the 6.7L Cummins by 48 hp and 82 lb-ft of torque. The power increase provided a noticeable kick and made the truck even more fun to drive, while still remaining emissions legal. For part two, our focus shifts to the suspension.
| 2009 Dodge Ram 2500 Project Big Horn Part 2 Front Three Quarter
To prepare our truck for its new weekend life as an off-highway explorer, we picked out a set of 35-inch-tall Dick Cepek Mud Country off-road tires to mount up on our new Cepek Gun Metal 7 wheels. Thanks to the Ram’s large wheel openings, all we needed to clear the new rolling stock was a leveling kit. BDS Suspension has offerings from 2-inch leveling kits all the way up to 8-inch long-arm lift kits. We opted for the least amount of lift to keep the truck as low as possible and went with the 2-inch option. BDS offers several upgrade options with its kits, so we splurged and went with a set of high-end BDS-spec Fox Racing 2.0 monotube shocks to complement the leveling kit.
Overall, we are very happy with the looks and performance of our Ram. The truck has a more aggressive stance, feels far stronger, and works very well on both the highway and dirt backroads.
| 2009 Dodge Ram 2500 Project Big Horn Part 2 Lidt Of Parts
Driveway Install
There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a shop install parts on your truck. In fact, many times it is really the only option. Shops, and the techs working in them, oftentimes have the special tools and knowledge required to complete complicated installs. However, in keeping with the budget-minded theme, we chose parts for this project that anybody can install, helping to save money on labor costs. We installed these parts in our own driveway—using basic handtools—in only a few hours. While it may not be for everybody, installing parts yourself can give a great feeling of accomplishment and leave a little extra coin in your pocket.
Tire Mounting
With the leveling kit installed, we loaded up the Dick Cepek Mud Country tires and Gun Metal 7 wheels and headed down to the local Discount Tire (known as America’s Tire here in California) to have them mounted and balanced. Our friendly techs at the store in Torrance, California, Joel and Mike, had no trouble shoehorning the meaty rubber onto the wheels and then onto the truck. Despite their size and weight, the Mud Country tires took relatively little weight to balance. One thing to note: The factory lug nuts will not work with these wheels. This is true of a lot of aftermarket wheels and is something that should be looked into before having them installed.
| 2009 Dodge Ram 2500 Project Big Horn Part 2 Measurement Chart
