Radar’s RAM: Tucking Dually Wheels

The now legendary RAM dually has become a workhouse over the time it’s been around. Most have lived their lives as work trucks and can be seen pulling large trailers with heavy equipment, custom cars, or horses all over the country. Having the extra weight capacity with the dual rear wheels makes it a perfect truck. When matched with the powerful 5.9L Cummins engine, it’s a beast in all regards fresh off the showroom floor. This platform is also a perfect one to start with if you want to add even more power. While most of these trucks stay 100% stock, other than small mods like window tint, a bed cover or maybe new wheels, this particular truck had seen quite a bit more work to make it a little more than stock. Before we get into what’s been done, let’s figure out why it lives where it does. 

Radar's RAM

All photos by Tim Singleton

The Back Story

The 2004 RAM 3500 Dually you see here belongs to Todd “Radar” Hendrix from Conroe, Texas, who is no stranger when it comes to modified vehicles. If the name sounds familiar, it might be because Radar is one of the owners of Lone Star Throwdown (LST) and Classic Truck Throwdown, which are both massive shows held annually in Conroe, Texas. He is also part owner of Garage Gear Clothing, where he travels the country going from show to show setting up the vending trailer to sell merchandise. Radar has also been in the custom truck world for a long time and is also considered one of the OG guys in the mini truck world. He has had a few features in magazines over the years, so has always had some level of custom trucks in his rotation.

With life keeping him busy as a refrigeration tech, and driving a diesel RAM for his work truck, Radar was already familiar with the platform and needed something else custom in his garage. While having his vending booth set up at the 2015 All-Star Event, a huge car and truck show outside Memphis, Tennessee, Radar saw a cool, bagged dually pull into the show and immediately had to go check it out. Come to find out, the truck was owned by a longtime friend, Chris Hanson. No, not that Chris Hanson, this one was not “TV-famous” but is “magazine-famous” in the truck world. Chris and Radar were both shot for Minitruckin Magazine features at the same show back in 1996, so they have known each other for 20+ years at this point. After checking out the dually and giving it a test drive, Radar knew he had to make it “Radar’s RAM.” A deal was made, and it was soon parked in Radar’s garage.

Becoming Radar’s RAM

Radar’s RAM was already bagged, but he had Mark Fehrie with Slaughterhouse redo the upper and lower control arms, upper control arm mounts, front bag mounts for the Firestone bags and shock mounts for the Rancho shocks. The front sway bar was flipped behind the control arms and narrowed to work with the new suspension set up. This brought the suspension for such a heavy truck, up to where it needed to be and ensured it would be able to handle anything Radar threw at it. He also built front wheel tubs to keep the dirt and water out of the engine bay. Mark raised the engine an inch to pull the oil pan off the ground, so when the truck was aired out, nothing would damage the pan.

In the rear, he removed the track bar and added a Panhard bar, to give the truck a little more drivability. This paired with the parallel 4-link and Firestone air bags, not only make sure it rides well, but allows it to lay flat when aired out. When Radar bought the truck, it had a 12-gallon, steel fuel tank, so a new 32-gallon aluminum tank was installed to get more miles between fuel stops. Two new Viair 444C compressors were added as well as an Accuair E-Level kit to update the electronics on the air suspension. A rear notch cover was added to the bed to keep the bed clean and dry when driving.

Radar's RAM

Now that the suspension was where he wanted it, it was time to choose the right wheels for Radar’s RAM. For this, a set of 24-inch DIMA dually wheels wrapped in 295/45-40 Nitto tires. There is also now a RAM sport front bumper, billet grille insert with grille shell, Grant Kustoms roll pan, and a Leer 100XQ camper shell to clean up the exterior and give it a monotone look with the factory black paint. Inside is still stock for the most part except for the iPad in a custom mount by Soundman in the dash where the factory head unit was, which is controlled by a Kicker PXIBT1002.

Under the hood, the 5.9L Cummins has a FASS Titanium Series 65 GPH fuel pump, a Diesel Power Source compound turbo system with a 76mm turbo and a Taterbuilt 62/65mm turbo. The Diesel Power Source 2-piece turbo manifold and 4-inch straight pipe expels spent fuel. A Smarty Tuner S06 programmer and Edge Insight monitor make sure the engine performs like it should while the Hoesli Diesel Marine valve cover and catch can make it look good.

With Radar’s RAM dialed in and exactly where he wanted it, it was time to enjoy it. Even though this thing isn’t a daily driver by any means, it’s a fun truck to take on date nights, trips to the store or even to a few truck shows. A 1-ton truck that not only performs better than stock, looks better than stock, but also has the cool aspect of being able to lay it flat on the ground and tuck some 24-inch wheels, then lift up and drive like it was stock – makes this one of the coolest RAMs out there.

Radar's RAM

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Build Specs

Owner: Todd “Radar” Hendrex

Vehicle: 2004 Dodge RAM 3500 Dually

Location: Conroe, Texas

Club: Negative Camber

 

Engine/Powertrain

5.9L Cummins
FASS Titanium Series 165 GPH fuel pump
Diesel Power Source compound turbo system
Diesel Power Source 76mm turbo
Taterbuilt 62/65mm turbo
Diesel Power Source 2-piece turbo manifold
Smarty Tuner S06 programmer
4-inch straight pipe exhaust
Hoesli Diesel Marine valve cover
Hoesli Diesel Marine catch can

 

Chassis/Suspension

Air Ride suspension
Tubular upper and lower front control arms
Rearend narrowed 4-inch
Parallel 4-link
Panhard bar
Modified front sway bar
Firestone air bags
Rancho shocks
Dual Viair 444C compressors
Accuair E-Level air ride controller
Bagged by Slaughterhouse

 

Wheel & Tires 

24-inch Dima dually wheels
295/45-24 Nitto tires
 

Exterior & Paint

Dodge RAM sport front bumper
Billet grill insert and grill shell
Grant Kustoms roll pan
Leer 100XQ shell
Color matching by Justin Berry in Tomball, TX
 

Interior

Custom iPad install in dash by Soundman
Kicker PXIBT1002 audio controller
Edge Insight monitor

About the author

Brandon Burrell

I’ve been doing automotive photography and videography for over 23 years professionally and still enjoy where it takes me and who it lets me meet.
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