SonoranWanderer

I carry a Garmin Montana 700i. It comes with a lifetime update of Garmin City Navigator maps and a less frequently updated set of OpenStreetMaps. You can upload your own OSM maps if you are so inclined, and into masochism (it ain't for technophobes). My main reason for having the 700i is the inReach satellite communications, otherwise I'd point a person toward a tablet with Gaia or OnX strictly for offroad, and Google Maps or Waze for street routing. It is worth noting that you need to get a tablet with a cellular chip in it to guarantee you get an onboard GPS chip. Most WiFi only tablets do not have a native/onboard GPS components. You do not need to subscribe to cellular service, you just want the electronics. Because the Garmin really isn't that spectacular for offroad, I still rely primarily on the tablet and my phone. Even the Garmin Overlander is, blah. They just don't invest in trail map quality like Gaia and OnX or even street quality like Google. Now if you are driving a class A or pulling a large travel trailer or fifth wheel, a Garmin specialized for RVs does shine, as those can route based on street quality, width, and overhand clearance, something no free map system does yet. From a backup perspective, I carry Gaia on both my phone and tablet, both with downloaded maps of where I am going. Technically the Garmin does at least act as a nice backup "bread crumb trail" system since it is always recording where I have been. That is a self recovery situation I have had to use once before when I suffered a phone mapping failure, before I got a dedicated mapping tablet.

Updated pricing for Fall 2023. Also worth noting is that BTech now has a new battery out for Baofeng UV5R style radios, anything that takes BL-5 battery, that charges via USB C. ($18 on Amazon). This can replace the need for a separate 12v adapter (aka "battery eliminator") for the same cost. The new battery also charges via the original old-style charger. I have the new battery and tested USB-C supplied power to the battery and radio while in use. BTech also makes a USB-C charging battery in the BL-8 form factor. ($19 on Amazon)

Had a dog emergency at home having to turn around and bail.

Installed my Yaesu FTM-400 ham radio which meant pulling wire and completely removing the center console. Only 6 panel pieces, 6 bolts, and two wires to remove the entire unit. Quick note, lift the rear of the console up and then pull back or a couple of screw heads may pull off the trailer brake override control face. Ask me how I know. The picture I forgot to take was putting a one inch hole in the bottom rear (slanted surface) of the console to pop the wire up into the console. Final product: The antenna is using a Diamond lip bracket, the radio body and head are using 3M removable Velcro tape. I used a copious number of Velcro strips for solid attachment, and it is solid. I will be relocating the head once an A-pillar grab bar mount becomes available. It's usable for now but not ideal for viewing while driving. Not pictured with the radio body is the Anderson power pole brick for other accessory power attachment. Right now the radio is directly plugged to the 10 gauge wire (power pole connection). The brick needs to be screwed in but I need to acquire a couple 1/4 inch plastic or wood screws, The radio body speaker points into the console body below the junk drawer/arm rest which makes a nice sound chamber for loud crisp vocal audio.

I wanted to get the Rebel out on some dirt so I took it down Schnebly Hill road (I17 -> Sedona).

The next little mod is exactly that, little. But its both handy and necessary for the next two jobs, electric steps and ham radio. On RAM 3/2500 series trucks and maybe others, if you have an automatic transmission, there is still a clutch control hole in the firewall with a hard plug over it. The plug is the diagonal black cover in the hole in the firewall insulation. Remove the plug and drill it and you don't have to damage the vehicle to run wires in. Side note, it's a pet peeve that instructions for the AMP Research electric steps ignore this hole and suggest you slice the steering boot. Note, if you have the factory six switch auxiliary power control, the hole is hidden behind the aux power box. You will have to pull the power box to easily access this plug. The inside nuts are just outside of and above the steering column, the plug itself (Mopar 52107875AB if you mess it up and need a replacement) I drilled just over a 1 inch hole and inserted a wire boot I found on Amazon. Assembled with excess boot trimmed and glue sealed. The electric steps have five control wires, add to that RG316 ham radio antenna wire (thin), plus a +/- paired 10 gauge power wire (40 amp fused) to terminate on a power block inside the center console for the ham radio and any additional permanent or temporary accessories.

It was a good run. I got a few photos and some "from the front bumper" video which I have not processed yet. Of the vehicle photos I had an issue with the lighting, but his one through the white line obstacle turned out good. If you zoom in, you might wonder what @theksmith is doing. I got a few night shots from the high points on Black Canyon trail. I should have used a tripod but the iPhone 14 motion compensation isn't too bad. Jupiter is pretty obvious in some of the photos.

Same in that the rear seat area is mostly a trunk to me. Need to figure out how to secure the loads back there for rough trails. Should check if I can lay flat in it too for when I don't feel like popping a tent. Also should do another ECdD run just to break it in.

Thanks and absolutely. I’m enjoying driving it.

Thanks! The trail limo got longer and wider. I thought about making it a joke that I took the Mojave in for upgrades and this is how it turned out, but I was never great at crafting a good joke. My tolerance for putting this one through some of the more extreme paces I did the Mojave, however, will be lower. Schnebly Hill, absolutely Broken Arrow, sure, why not. Back Way to Crown King (deep breath), probably not. - Although I want to just to prove I can.

One modification I will not need for now is a Goose Gear, or homemade, rear seat platform. RAM thought to add that in themselves. Rear seats in "normal" configuration and driver's side platform folded for storage. You can see the platform in its folded-away position. Note that under the fold-away platform is under seat storage. If you have either the Alpine 9 speaker or Harman Kardon 17 speaker option, the rear passenger-side under-seat storage is where your sub is located. Driver's side only platform deployed and full platform deployed Quite nice of them to leave the floor mounted cup holders available. With four cup holders in the console and two more in the rear, there is no shortage of places to stash coffee. And speaking of places to stash stuff... There is one of each side. I have seen both lockable covers and lockable full inserts in the aftermarket for that bin position.

The next quick "mod" is adding the 67 Design's Series 55 rail. RAM gives you a nice change holder with a power port up top, might as well make it useful. The rail installs using the two factory screw holes and 3M VHB tape. It keeps the phone is easy reach without taking you eyes off the road. Also useful for dual screen CarPlay apps like Waze and Google Maps. But for those who prefer, there is a factory phone holder down below in the beyond spacious center console. They were even thoughtful to leave a split for the charging cable. But note the cable is not required for CarPlay or AndroidAuto. With the 2023 model year, Stellantis finally got on board with wireless CarPlay and AndroidAuto.

It rides really nice, especially for a 2500, with the factory Bilstein offroad shocks. But get it on the 303, which I did this weekend, and that up and down wave of the pavement reminds you what the difference between a 2500 and 1500 is. Other than running the 303, it's a really nice ride. And one can't complain about the rumble of the 6.4 opened up. 6.4 go brrr.

The first "modification" is to cover the bed. I chose the BakFlip Revolver X4. RAMBox as ordered: Installing the Revolver into the RAM bed require driving the tonneau rails into the factory cargo rails. To say that the fit is snug would be the understatement of the year. It took a mallet and a block of wood to hammer each BakFlip rail into its corresponding cargo rail. Worth noting, the factory cargo rails have both a side and top opening for attaching various accessories. The BakFlip Revolver uses the top opening and leaves the side opening available for the factory tie-downs and other accessories. Here is one of the BakFlip rails partially inserted into the factory rail. You can see some of the black paint shavings. Fully installed: All close up: You have to get a little creative to fully seal it for water ingress resistance, but I knew that going in. I wanted a hard top, rolling tonneau cover though to support being completely out of the way for a 5th wheel hitch. and not blocking the back window when fully opened.

Out with the old and in with the new. I traded in the 2020 Gladiator Mojave for a 2023 RAM 2500 Rebel HD. I wanted 5th wheel towing capability but I did not entirely want to give up offroad chops. The Power Wagon is light in payload and towing, but this new Rebel HD at 2750 payload and 16800 towing (as configured) splits the difference between a Power Wagon and pure street towing pickup. This a new trim level for the 2023 model year. You can get them with either a 6.7L Cummings or a 6,4 Liter HEMI, but beware due to the softer than street suspension of the Rebel, the diesel engine cuts nearly a thousand pound off of the payload and 2K pounds off of towing. Also, diesel models cannot be had with the factory winch option as the intercooler goes where the winch would. Because towing and factory winch, I ordered the HEMI option. Strangely enough, Stellantis anticipated high diesel demand and produced the first batch as entirely diesel. I had to custom order to get a HEMI. Modifications will be light. While I want to create a new "overland" build, distinct from my JLUR which is meant as my technical route vehicle, I want to maintain towing capacity. So for now, no lift is planned and since the factory tires are already 34", I'll leave the wheels and tires alone for now. The most I'd probably go with in the future is 35s. I'm not one good with naming, so I'll probably stick with calling it the "Rebel". Despite no lift nor aftermarket tires, the highest point on the Rebel, the top of the GPS, SiriusSM, and cellular antenna, is higher than the highest point on my JLUR lifter 3.5 inches and sitting on 37s. It's sitting at maybe a hair under 6' 10". But given the wheelbase, I'm not sure it would clear well in parking garages, like the Phoenix Airport calling for <= 6'10". TBD. It was custom ordered with the 6.4L Hemi, RAMBox, winch, sunroof, every towing option including rear air suspension, dual alternators, and the 12" console. At 5'6", sitting in this thing makes me feel kinda tiny to be honest. It does fit in my garage, but just barely. There is no getting past the front or rear of it with the garage door closed. Some options are mutually exclusive and unfortunately not all marketed options were available (eg: trailer reverse steering, digital rear view mirror) but I ordered just about every option you could get in April 2023 for a HEMI Rebel intended to tow and still go back country. 2023 RAM 2500 Rebel HD Olive Green Pearl–Coat Exterior Paint (two-tone over Diamond Black) 6.4L V8 Heavy–Duty HEMI MDS Engine with 8–Speed Auto ZF 8HP75 Transmission Power 410 hp (306 Kw) @ 5,600 RPM Torque 429 lb.-ft. (582 N•M) at 4,000 RPM Dual alternators (380 amp total) BW 44-46 electronic shift transfer case w/ 2.64 low range Limited–Slip diff with electronic locking rear and conventional diff front axles 4.10 Axle Ratio Automatic–Leveling Rear Air–Suspension RamBox Cargo Management System w/ Bed Utility Group Power Sunroof Factory installed Warn Zeon 12 Winch Towing Technology Group Center Stop Lamp with Cargo–View Camera, Surround–View Camera System, Blind–Spot with Tag Trailer & Cross–Path Detection, Trailer Reverse Guidance Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring System Safety Group Lane Keep assist, fwd collision warning, adaptive steering Level 2 Equipment Group Leather everywhere, front cooled and heated seat, rear heated seats, and heated steering wheel 12" Display w/ 17 speaker Harmon Kardon Audio Bi–Function LED Projector Headlamps Adaptive forward lighting (follows steering up to 15 degrees) Auto dimming rear and telescoping side-view mirrors Adaptive Cruise Control Like the Power Wagon, the Rebel HD has 11.1 inches of clearance and a water fording depth of 30 inches and a 429 RTI (ramp travel index). Misc Stuff: 8HP75–LCV Transmission Gear Ratios 1st 4.71 2nd 3.14 3rd 2.10 4th 1.67 5th 1.29 6th 1.00 7th 0.84 8th 0.67 Reverse 3.30 Battery: Group 65, maintenance-free, 730 CCA