Problems Solved
In the end, Tracy came to his senses and resolved the issues with the truck instead of starting over from scratch. Thirty-seven-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM2 tires were mounted on the Teflon-coated American Racing Chamber rims in place of the Baja T/As. "The Baja tires have Kevlar sidewalls and can withstand an enormous amount of abuse," Tracy explained. "But that strength comes at the cost of ride comfort. Also, the Baja T/As are designed to provide less traction on some surfaces than the KM2s that I am running now." One problem solved, but there were still several more to go. The flexible Deaver springs are supplemented by a pair of Firestone air springs when the Dodge is called up for towing duty. "I really need long-travel air springs" Tracy admits, "but I just remove these when I am not towing. It takes ten minutes to take them on and off."
That left just the high cylinder temperatures to be addressed. "I got a B1 Bomber turbo from Turbo Auto Diesel and the difference was amazing. No more EGT issues and tons of added power with stock-like spooling." The turbo and Dynomite Diesel injectors are complemented by an AFE Stage II intake, Edge Juice module, and MBRP 4-inch turbo-back exhaust. The combination makes more than 400 horsepower and is routed through the factory Getrag G56 transmission and NVG273 transfer case. "I wanted to put my money into the suspension instead of the transmission," Tracy explained, "that is why I went with the six-speed manual."
More Than Just Desert
The interior of the truck is largely stock, with the addition of an Edge A2 monitor and Mopar seat covers. Tracy often uses his truck for hunting trips, as evident by the scratches that adorn both sides of the black beauty. Behind the cab, a rooftop tent sits atop a custom tubular rack and provides shelter without taking up bed space. By just folding out the tent, it automatically opens and is fitted with a foam mattress for a good night's sleep after a long day of hunting. Behind the tent, a TireGate carries a full-size spare, further preserving bed space since a 37-inch tire will not fit under the bed in the factory location.
While we did not have the opportunity to join him on a hunt, Tracy did take us along on the road that started it all. While racing across the dirt at a high rate of speed, we were impressed by how much lighter the Dodge felt with the addition of the KORE suspension. It was much more balanced and compliant than you would expect from a 3/4-ton truck. After arriving at his parents' house, Tracy glanced down at his watch and announced with a grin, "Twelve minutes to get here." Those twelve minutes make the long nights and problem solving all worthwhile. DP
 The Turbo Auto Diesel B1 Bomber...  The Turbo Auto Diesel B1 Bomber turbo spools quickly for a wide powerband and cured Tracy's high EGT problems. |  The 6-foot bed was outfitted...  The 6-foot bed was outfitted with Hannemann Fiberglass fenders, Turbo Liner, and a TireGate fitted with a full-size BFGoodrich spare tire. |  A fiberglass SRT-10 hood was...  A fiberglass SRT-10 hood was paint-matched to the truck and provides cool air to the engine through the functional hood scoop. |
 Here is something you don't...  Here is something you don't see on the back of many desert racing trucks. Tracy uses his Dodge to hunt with and added a rooftop tent for a warm, comfortable place to come back to at the end of a long day of hunting. |  The 5.9L common-rail Cummins...  The 5.9L common-rail Cummins engine is said to churn out more than 1,000 lb-ft of torque with help from an Edge Juice module, AFE intake, 4-inch MBRP exhaust, Dynomite Diesel Performance injectors, and a B1 turbo. |  The black paint, bulged fenders,...  The black paint, bulged fenders, and 37-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrains on American Racing Teflon-coated Chamber rims combine for a sinister look in the desert. |