Our new tow truck 2021 RAM 4500 Laramie

[Wind Bandit]

I mentioned in a few other threads that when the truck was 'finished' I would post some pics, so please see the truck transformation!

2021 RAM 4500 Laramie Cummins 4*4, Aisin,4.10 gears, 8' normal truck bed. 100 gallons of diesel in the bed, 50 gallons factory tank. tool box, B&W turnover ball with a B&W Companion hitch. Curt class V hitch. and some of the usual bits and bobs. We love this truck, she's a brute, she's our nicest vehicle we've ever owned and we named her Big Bertha.

The 4500 is my Wife's daily driver and the 2500 seen in the background is my work truck.

let me know what you think!

PS. I have not had a chance to haul the 2020 NorthPoint 377 with it yet but I'd bet it will haul our house just fine

PS I even attached a photo of the ol' wooden flatbed I built until the truck bed could be installed. expensive truck $300 wooden bed.
As well as a photo of the day we purchased, next to the 2011 RAM it replaced as the tow truck/ house hauler.

NOTE: we full time in our NP and this truck will help to safely move us around the country.


Before it's asked, the reason we went with a 4500 is easy. I wanted one.
My first truck was a 95 ram 1500, then a 2003 2500 then 2008 2500 then 2011 3500DRW and now the Big Bertha the 2021 RAM 4500

[Bookemdanno]

Gorgeous! My next Ram will be a 4500 just like yours. Unfortunately, it’ll be a good while before I need one. My ‘16 3500 is only sitting at about 34k miles! Dealership offered me $57k for it a couple weeks ago, but I only owe about $4,500 on it. Prices right now are crazy…especially seeing how I only paid $52k for mine brand new!

[Wind Bandit]

Originally Posted by Bookemdanno

Gorgeous! My next Ram will be a 4500 just like yours. Unfortunately, it’ll be a good while before I need one. My ‘16 3500 is only sitting at about 34k miles! Dealership offered me $57k for it a couple weeks ago, but I only owe about $4,500 on it. Prices right now are crazy…especially seeing how I only paid $52k for mine brand new!

they ONLY reason we went to sell out 2011 3500 with 64K miles was because I was able to get $10K USD more for the truck that I thought it was worth! made it easy to slide in to this 4500!

keep me in mind, we plan to sell this truck and camper in 4 years when we move aboard a sailboat and travel that way for our sabbatical.

[Mikayles]

I didn't know you could get a 4500 with a pickup bed lol!
Nice looking truck and turning radius similar to Ford F450.

[Big1]

Congrats! Wow I didn't even know that ram had something like the 450 with the pickup bed, your whole setup is awesome, and it all match your nice 5th wheel, you guys are really blessed.

I don't blame you on wanting one, so you get what's you want and that's why you work hard all your life so later on in life if you see something you like or want, well you get it, you can't take it with you.

I'm glad for you the setup you have is a nice one, you have to enjoy life because you only do it once

[NewBlackDak]

Originally Posted by Mikayles

I didn't know you could get a 4500 with a pickup bed lol!
Nice looking truck and turning radius similar to Ford F450.

You can’t buy one off the lot. A custom shop has to build it for you.

[Mikayles]

Aha....I see he said "when finished". Should have paid more attention ..
Ram should build this truck!!

[Wind Bandit]

Originally Posted by Mikayles

I didn't know you could get a 4500 with a pickup bed lol!
Nice looking truck and turning radius similar to Ford F450.

you can't! as stated below, custom job. my little unicorn.

Originally Posted by Big1

Congrats! Wow I didn't even know that ram had something like the 450 with the pickup bed, your whole setup is awesome, and it all match your nice 5th wheel, you guys are really blessed.

I don't blame you on wanting one, so you get what's you want and that's why you work hard all your life so later on in life if you see something you like or want, well you get it, you can't take it with you.

I'm glad for you the setup you have is a nice one, you have to enjoy life because you only do it once

Thank you, we are relatively young but work 50-62 hour weeks the last decade, so we are fortunate enough to have some nice things. also to note, we no longer have sticks and bricks so THIS is our home and transportation.

Originally Posted by NewBlackDak

You can’t buy one off the lot. A custom shop has to build it for you.

BINGO!

[Kim Gass]

Looking at it I wanna put a snowplow and sander on it.

[Mikayles]

Bookemdanno...so right. I took my 2019 in for fuel filter change and they offered me what I paid for it...crazy but I would have to shell out another 20,000 to replace it even if I ordered lol!

[ChiefCamper]

Beautiful truck! Do they derate the 6.7? Not that it really matters, just curious.

[Wind Bandit]

Originally Posted by ChiefCamper

Beautiful truck! Do they derate the 6.7? Not that it really matters, just curious.

Yes, it is derated, Mine is 360HP, 800TQ. the HO 3500 is 420HP and 1075 TQ, the SO 3500 is 370HP and 850TQ.

I am currently eyeballing some emissions intact tuning options to spice things up a little bit, and get it to the HP of its 3500 Brethren. it feels a bit sluggish compared to the 2500 even know they're weights are similar. ( 2500 is loaded down with tool boxes and transfer tank, it weights 10,200#)

The tuning will be to help mileage a little bit, it seems to be hovering around 13-14MPG unloaded with mostly hwy trips. ( these numbers come from the onboard screen) the truck only has 6k miles so I may wait until 15K or so before tinkering with tuning, to make sure no gremlins appear.

[Florida Ranger]

Any chance you would share the name and address of the custom shop and what bed they started with ??

[Wind Bandit]

Originally Posted by Florida Ranger

Any chance you would share the name and address of the custom shop and what bed they started with ??

I can't share, I am sorry, I can tell you that is an off the shelf 2020 3500 bed. I am currently battling the owner/installer of the shop to get the rest of my parts and some $$ back. The story is long, but they were not a good outfit to work with.

[Rock]

Nice set up. Can u get a 4500 with air suspension? How does the ride compare? Ya new prices are nuts glad I got mine before that happened.

[Wind Bandit]

Originally Posted by Rock

Nice set up. Can u get a 4500 with air suspension? How does the ride compare? Ya new prices are nuts glad I got mine before that happened.

Kelderman Air ride make custom 4 link and Airbag kits for these trucks. for about $7K. ( this is an option we are toying)

The ride is FIRM, like real firm. You can see in the one photo above that I put a 275gal water tote on the wooden bed for the sole sake of smoothing out the ride. Our last road trip I put a twin Air Mattress in the bed of the truck and filled it with water, my best estimate is that this was about 800# of water, this also helped the ride tremendously.

When the road gets bumpy my 3 year in the back seat will always let me know!!

[Rock]

Got to love ur reply. I run 65 psi in front and 45 psi in real duals. Just did my big out west trip and tires are wearing great. The air suspension is great. My Dually truck rides way better than my SRW 2006 3500. When I was truck shopping I thought about what u did but custom flat bed with storage. When I looked at what the tow and bed weight the 3500 carried I went 3500. I really think the air suspension made my truck. Did they have to do a bunch of mods to get the bed in place?

[Rock]

Bet u get a lot of lookers at your 4500. Can u post a pic of the rear bumper and are u gonna do a front one also?

[AKRUEBBE]

Originally Posted by Rock

Got to love ur reply. I run 65 psi in front and 45 psi in real duals. Just did my big out west trip and tires are wearing great. The air suspension is great. My Dually truck rides way better than my SRW 2006 3500. When I was truck shopping I thought about what u did but custom flat bed with storage. When I looked at what the tow and bed weight the 3500 carried I went 3500. I really think the air suspension made my truck. Did they have to do a bunch of mods to get the bed in place?

I run 75 psi on the front and 65 psi on the rear dualies. It rides pretty rough over bumps. My pin weight is at 4,020 lbs. What is yours?

[Rock]

Have not did just the truck to get pin weight, no close scales to where I live. The 65 PSI listed is for max pin weight. Do u have factory air rear suspension? That has different leaf package. My tires are wearing fine at 45 rear. I know my pin weight is up there. I attached my ticket compare it your hooked up since truck weight should be close.