Slide 1

Our 2018 Ram 2500 came ready to work right out of the box, but there’s always room for improvement. Summit’s truck experts identified a few key categories where upgrades could be made: performance, load control, handling, and more. Keep reading to see just how we outfitted our rig.

Slide 2

Our truck has already seen a handful of Ohio winters, so it’s no surprise that we found a little rust on the undercarriage. We sprayed on some Summit Racing Rust Converter to neutralize the oxidized ugliness, then followed it up with Rust Bullet BlackShell Protective Paint to prevent further corrosion. An even coat of our Premium Urethane Bedliner out back provides increased protection from scuffs, rust, and abrasion.

Check out our official blog at OnAllCylinders.com for more tips on cleaning up rust from your ride!

Slide 3

It’s always important to know exactly what your trailer is doing when cruising down the highway, especially in traffic. A set of K Source Side View Mirrors eliminate blind spots and amplify our view of the space around the trailer, thanks to convex mirror sections and the ability to flip out for a wider view. In back, we bolted up a Weigh Safe Trailer Hitch Ball Mount in a CURT Hitch Receiver Adapter. The Weigh Safe features a built-in tongue weight scale, so we’ll always know the safest way to position heavy loads.

Slide 4

Our Ram can already pull off some mighty tricks with its Cummins six, but while we were under the truck, we decided it wouldn’t hurt to install a few performance upgrades—we are Summit Racing, after all! Our 6.7L ISB was treated to a Banks Power Ram-Air Intake System to help feed cold air into the turbo and an MBRP XP Series Exhaust System to escort the exhaust out. We also opted to install a heavy-duty transmission pan and transmission fluid thermal bypass valve from Pacific Performance Engineering to make sure our transmission is staying cool and well-lubricated, no matter the conditions.

Slide 5

Next up on our list: suspension and ride control. We wanted our Ram to be comfortable both on and off the pavement, so on went for a full DualSport SC Suspension Kit from AEV Conversions. This kit doesn’t just hoist up the truck, it also keeps chassis geometry correct when towing. A Hellwig Big Wig Rear Sway Bar works to keep everything nice and controlled, especially under load. A Kleinn Heavy-Duty Onboard Air System and Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 Air Spring Kit work in tandem to ensure our truck tows level at all times. We also wired up a REDARC Tow-Pro Elite V3 Electric Brake Controller to maximize the performance of our trailer brakes.

Slide 6

One of the most important upgrades you can make on any vehicle—whether it’s performing on track or under a gooseneck—is the brake and tire/wheel package. This is a critical factor not just for performance, but for safety as well. To shore up our footing, we bolted on a Power Stop Z36 Truck and Tow Brake Upgrade Kit for a big boost in braking performance, as well as a set of Icon Alloys Shield wheels wrapped in Nitto Ridge Grappler tires to maximize traction in every situation.

Slide 7

With the towing upgrades tackled, there’s still plenty more work to be done on our hard-working Ram. To increase the utility of our personal shop runner, we opted for a number of pieces by Access, including an Adarac Aluminum M-Series bed rack and tie down kits for carrying and securing loads, Roctection Hitch-Mounted mud flaps to keep debris under control, and an Original Soft Tonneau Cover for securing and protecting valuables in the bed. And with our crew crawling in and out of the truck all day, we added a set of Aries Automotive ActionTrac Powered Running Boards to make it easy to get in and out of the cab.

Slide 8

Our Ram is finally ready to pull through many long, hard workdays. Of course, we need to make sure it looks good on the road. A set of AEV bumpers adorn our mammoth mover front and rear, with a Low Tube front bumper leading the way and a RAM HD rear bumper following behind. Accentuating these are a trifecta of LED lighting solutions: Morimoto’s XB series headlights, taillights, and projector fog lights illuminate the road with style.

Slide 9

Our 2018 Ram has served us well, and with the upgrades we’ve installed, will continue to serve for years to come. If you have a truck or SUV that sees regular towing duties, check out our awesome selection of parts and accessories at SummitRacing.com/Truck to see what you can do to transform your rig just the way you want.

Visit our Ram Revamp page for more photos and installation videos, and for more tips and guides for trailering and towing safety, visit our official blog at OnAllCylinders.com!