Marlin J. Strouse of Bend, Oregon, loves dualie trucks, and now that he's added this Mega Cab to his driveway, he has half a dozen six-wheeled pickups in his collection. His current1-ton masterpiece started as a lightly used '06 Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab dualie. Marlin wanted to own a Mega Cab that's like nothing else you'll find on the roads, so soon after he acquired the pink slip, the modifications began.
Twin-Turbo PowerBefore the exterior modifications were started, Marlin wanted to increase the output of the Cummins by about 200 hp. He also wanted to keep the EGT low while towing, so he decided on a twin-turbo setup using BD Power B-1 and B-2 turbos custom-installed by Jason Kolker of Diesel Nut Motorsports in Elk Grove, California. Cool air is rammed into an AFE Pro Guard filter before entering the turbos and is then fed through the stock intercooler and an ATS Arc Flow manifold. Exhaust gases exit the compound turbos through a setup (built by Shane Burton at Custom Exhaust Specialties in Bend) that uses a 5-inch down-pipe that splits into4-inch, dual-wall chrome tips that exit behind the mudflaps.
A FASS 200-gallon-per-minute lift pump and a CP3 injection pump modified by Industrial Injection provide the diesel flow needed for 90hp injectors built by Dynomite Diesel. A TST Power Max CR module and a Smarty box alter the common-rail computer signals for a consistent output of about 500 hp and 1,000 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels. The stock transmission would've fallen apart with this much power on tap, so a billet torque converter by Sun Coast and a race transmission by NADP with a Mag-Hytec aluminum pan were installed by the Diesel Nut team and filled with Amsoil synthetic fluids.
The Custom LookOnce the "go" parts were installed, Marlin was able to concentrate on the "show" aspect of his Mega Cab and make it one of a kind. The functional ram-air hood, custom diamond-plate running boards, mudflaps, and bedrails were built by Competition Concepts in Redmond, Oregon. The front fender flares are Bushwacker upgrades, and the rear fenders are the stock units that are only sold with the Mega Cab dualie. Stainless steel door handles and billet interior door pulls and lock covers were ordered from Geno's Garage, and Auto Meter gauges mounted in the A-pillar are used to monitor the boost levels, EGT, and transmission temperature. A diamond-plate insert was mounted to the front bumper, and a Ruenell rear bumper adds to the dualie's customized looks. The suspension was modified with a Fabtech 411/42-inch lift that keeps the pickup riding high over traffic and helps the fenders clear the giant wheels. Les Schwab from Bend installed the lift kit along with the 22.5x8.25-inch Alcoa 10-lug-adapted wheels that are wrapped in Toyo Hyparadial 255/70R22.5 tires.
19.9-MPG Long-HaulerEven with all the extra parts adding weight to the big Mega Cab, the twins under the hood are able to push the 1-ton around consuming only 19.9 mpg. This is important because Marlin is not afraid of traveling more than 1,000 miles in a single weekend to support a diesel event. The truck had only 12,000 miles on the odometer when these photos were taken, but Marlin still had to drive back to his home in Oregon from Central California, and he's ready for a lot more long hauls in his truly unique twin-turbo Mega Cab dualie.