Best Dodge trucks suspensions manufacturer with Danny Gaston Lakeview, Arkansas: The extra clearance between the undercarriage and the road allows you to navigate even the toughest territory without damaging the bottom of your truck. Not only that, but being higher off the ground allows you to install bigger, badder tires – giving you better traction in the dirt, rocks, and mud. With a lifted truck, there’s almost no terrain you can’t dominate! Driving these streets in an ordinary truck can prematurely wear out the shocks and struts, not to mention put your tires at risk of a bent rim or even popping! Installing a lift kit in Arkansas can help protect your truck from the damage of everyday usage by toughening up the chassis and tires. See more info on Danny Gaston.
The current-generation Ram 1500 debuted in 2019. (Its predecessor, however, continues on as the Ram 1500 Classic.) Since then, the full-size pickup truck segment has seen updated entries from Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, and Toyota. And yet, only the Ram celebrates a spot on our 10Best Trucks and SUVs for 2023. The Ram 1500 is the best driving and most comfortable pickup of the group. Three powertrain options fill its engine roster: a 260-hp diesel-drinking turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6, a 305-hp 3.6-liter V-6, and a 395-hp 5.7-liter V-8, all of which use an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Dodge Off Road was started by Danny Gaston (known as djgaston on all of the old Dodge truck forums) back in 2005, originally as a forum for off roading Ram owners to discuss their truck builds, without the politics or commercialization of other forums. The forum has died off with the popularity of social media apps, but there is still a wealth of knowledge on our forum and that is how many of our customers find us. Everything we do at DOR is based on our own experiences building trucks, Jeeps, and buggies since the late 90’s – this is truly a company built by Ram enthusiasts, for Ram enthusiasts. What started out as a garage-based business with just a few basic tools and a strong forum presence, now we have a fully functioning facility with CNC equipment and in-house powdercoating, all done at our location in Lakeview, Arkansas on Bull Shoals Lake.
Quality Dodge Ram suspensions manufacturer by Danny Gaston Lakeview, Arkansas: Inside, the Ram 1500 has supremely functional cubby stowage and cavernous passenger space. Higher trims add upscale materials and creature comforts, making the Ram feel more like a luxury vehicle than a pickup truck. Most models are available with upscale features such as heated and ventilated seats and a panoramic sunroof, while the fanciest versions have premium leather surfaces and genuine wood accents. As with most full-size pickup trucks, the Ram 1500’s crew cab is supremely spacious. It also has vast amounts of interior storage and a unique split-folding tailgate. Both the five-foot-seven-inch and six-foot-four-inch cargo beds are available, but the extended cab body style only pairs with the latter. Ram doesn’t offer the 1500 with a regular cab, though it does sell the prior generation truck, the 1500 Classic, with such a body style.
The Ram 1500 can also get as dirty as you dare thanks to the TRX, a no-holds-barred off-road monster. Aimed squarely at the Ford Raptor (T. rex vs. Raptor — get it?) the TRX boasts a hysterical 702-horsepower supercharged V8, suspension designed for high-speed desert running and enough creature comforts to almost make you forget you’re barely getting 10 miles to the gallon. No doubt you’re familiar with the Ram’s closest rivals, the Chevrolet Silverado and the Ford F-150. All three of these trucks offer similar levels of power, capability, technology and customization. Toyota’s back with its recently redesigned Tundra, too. Be sure to read our Expert Rating below to see if the Ram 1500 has what it takes to earn a spot in your garage.
How’s the fuel economy? The Ram’s combined city/highway fuel economy ranges, for the most part, from the high teens to the low 20s depending on the engine and whether you get rear- or four-wheel drive. But the EcoDiesel V6 is the mpg star here. With rear-wheel drive, it posts an EPA-estimated 26 mpg combined. With the optional 33-gallon tank, it can go about 1,000 highway miles on a fill-up. Our 4WD test truck with the diesel returned a 24.2 mpg average over 923 mixed-driving test miles.
Another unique thing about DOR is that we only sell Dodge Ram parts. We are one of the only companies in the world that strictly specializes in Ram trucks, which is a testament to our loyalty and dedication the brand. The company was not started just to make money off Ram owners – it was started because we love building our trucks. Dodge Off Road continues to grow and be successful because our customers love their DOR-equipped trucks, and we love getting to help build them. Which 1500 does Dodge Off Road recommend? Ram hasn’t released official information on the 2023 1500 as of this writing. We’ll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year’s 1500, we’d still suggest the Laramie as the best all-around choice. There’s a healthy amount of standard equipment as well as access to countless powertrain and other options.
About Danny Gaston : He is the founder of Arkansas Young Tourism Professionals group, part of the Arkansas Hospitality Association. Nominated for Arkansas Business 40 under 40 in 2019, 2020. Daniel Gaston is the oldest grandson and protégé of Jim Gaston, legendary Arkansas business man and philanthropist. Selected by Senator Blanche Lincoln for Sony internship in Tokyo, Japan in 1998 at age 16. Featured on Dirt Trax television show in 2004-2007 for Arkansas off road riding episodes and current owner of Gaston Manufacturing.