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Reader’s Rig: 2013 Ram 3500 Diesel Truck Built To Stand Out

Deciding what to do and how you want it done when building a truck up from stock to modified is not always that easy. Some sweat the details for months, while others just can’t seem to get started at all on a project. That was not the case with Onofre Aguirre. This Texan knew exactly what to do when he started working on his Cummins-powered 2013 Ram 3500 dually. Aguirre had already owned a couple of modified vehicles, including a bagged Ram 1500 that could sit on its frame, a lifted Ford F-150, and a hopped-up Dodge Charger SRT.

Ram 3500

Standing tall on a 10-inch Kelderman bagged lift kit, Aguirre’s truck rolls on 24-inch Impacts from American Force and 38.8-inch Nitto Tires.

However, the car and the two earlier pickup trucks had their limits when it came to fulfilling certain aspects of Aguirre’s lifestyle. With a trailer full of ATVs to haul on weekends, and the rising need to move up to a diesel truck, the choice was simple. Once he made up his mind, it did not take long to get a new (then) Ram 3500 with a beefy Cummins 6.7-liter straight-six turbodiesel engine.

In addition, Aguirre liked the fact that the 3500 model for 2013 offered a High Output package that bumped the factory power output to 385 horsepower and 850 lb-ft of torque. The rear differential ring gear had been increased to 11.8 inches on the 2013 H.O. diesel trucks. More power and a more stout rearend–just what he was looking for as a base to create his first customized diesel pickup.

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With the help of an S&B intake and 5-inch MBRP exhaust system, the 6.7-liter Cummins can really roar when Aguirre takes it to dyno day events.

Working with Ross Dunagan, the owner of Flyin Diesel Performance and Off Road, in Kerrville, Texas, the truck began its transformation from mild to wild. The first thing was to crank up the Cummins. An S&B intake was installed along with a 5-inch exhaust from MBRP to allow the 6.7-liter to breathe easier and make more power. The big power bump really happened when an EFILive assisted Kory Willis at PPEI Custom Tuning, to get the engine roaring like a beast. The automatic transmission received some special attention too.

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The boys wanted to add a billet flexplate, but none was available at the time for the 2013 Ram HD. Having worked with Goerend Transmission on previous builds, Dunagan went to the custom transmission company to have one designed and manufactured. Aguirre’s truck carries the very first Goerend billet aluminum flexplate made for the 2013 Ram diesel pickup truck.

Dunagan told us it was a pretty straightforward build from then on. The stock running height was just not going to cut it, so a 10-inch-lift Kelderman suspension kit with air bags was brought into the mix. Taming bounce and keeping rebound under suitable control became a job for Fox shocks on all four corners. For some extra flash under the truck, Aguirre chose a set of 24-inch Impact wheels from American Force and wrapped 38.5-inch tall Nitto tires around them.

The Kelderman air-spring-assisted suspension system (tanks and pumps can be seen at the top of the images on the right) and Fox shocks all the way around help give the truck its height and ride control.

A beefy truck needs beefy bumpers and Fusion makes some tough-looking and hard-working bumpers. Once the guys saw these brawny pieces of metal, an order went out for front and rear bumpers. Equally robust are the 12-inch LED lights from Rigid Industries and in the custom RaceMesh front grille to light up the darkest night. Custom headlights from Plain & Simple add to the powerful and far-reaching burst of light coming from the Ram’s nose.

 

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You can see the Kelderman four-link system and the gnarly spikes on the lug nuts up front.

A few last-minute touches were all that were needed before Aguirre headed out to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, where we first saw this terrific-looking truck. Dunagan capped the bed with a tonneau cover from UnderCover to make the rig look super clean. Amp Research automatic-retracting running boards were added to make it easier to get in and out of the skyscraping Ram 3500. And just in case Aguirre should need to come to the rescue of another rig, a Monster Hook and swivels sprout from the bumpers and hitch receiver.

Our first impression of Onofre Aguirre’s customized 2013 Ram 3500 HD TD was favorable (we named it one of our top trucks seen at the SEMA Show that year), but when we saw him early the next year at a TSD Dyno Day event, we were convinced we needed to let you have a better look at this impressive pickup truck.

In the otherwise nearly stock interior, you'll find the control panel (left) for the air bags on the Kelderman suspension system mounted in the center console, and the EFILive display head (right) perched near the driver's side A-pillar.

Aguirre told us that he loves to go to “dyno days” with his buddies, as it gives them a chance to see lots of other customized diesel trucks in action, not just sitting pretty in the parking lot of a show-n-shine event. Aguirre also gets to see what any new powerplant modifications he or his buddies might have made to their rigs.

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What’s next for Onofre Aguirre’s well-built 2013 Ram 3500 diesel dually? That depends upon what new aftermarket parts and accessories hit the shops. As far as Aguirre is concerned, the next phase is up in the air. He will just have a good time with what he has and see how things go. Knowing his appetite for automotive toys and his love of modifications, we don’t think it will be too long before we see something new coming from the Texas native.

About the author

Stuart Bourdon

A passion for anything automotive (especially off-road vehicles), camping, and photography led to a life exploring the mountains and deserts of the Southwest and Baja, and a career in automotive, outdoor, and RV journalism.
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