Ram 3500 is an Incredible JK Wrangler Hauler

Ram 3500 and Wrangler are both modified for off-road excellence, and the Jeep fits on the truck.

This unique Ram and Jeep Wrangler hauling combo comes to us from a recent AutoEvolution piece, but it might look familiar to those who didn’t see that piece. This pair of off-road machines was originally featured at the SEMA Show back in 2014 and it was built by the “Truck Guru”, Chris Payne. While the larger-than-life nature of this pair made for a fitting SEMA display, it was built to perform well in serious off-road settings.

With this combo, you could haul the Wrangler into the wilderness on the back of the Ram 3500 and when you get to your base camp, you could unload the Jeep and use it for more serious exploration of tight quarters. There is no question that the Wrangler will get in and out of the more-extreme off-road conditions, but if you break something, you have an insanely-capable off-road vehicle waiting back at camp.

2014 Jeep Wrangler

This Wrangler is fitted with a Bulletproof suspension setup that lifts the vehicle an adjustable range of six to eight inches. That makes plenty of room for the 18-inch American Force wheels wrapped in 35-inch Independence SS rubber. Behind those big wheels is a set of R1 Concept brake rotors and G2 axles with 4.88 gears help climb over and through everything.

This Jeep isn’t massively modified, but it has the upgrades needed to serve as an excellent off-road toy.

2014 Ram 3500

The 2014 Ram 3500 is the more heavily modified of these two machines. Not only has it been upgraded to be a better off-roader, but it is also equipped with a bed rack that holds the Jeep Wrangler.

First, this Ram 350 has an 8-10-inchsuspension setup from McGaughy with a custom coilover system from Fox. Out back, leaf springs paired with Firestone Ride Rite air bags handle the weight of the Jeep while still presenting a relatively comfortable ride. A set of 20-inch American Force wheels wrapped in 37-inch Toyo rubber will dig through just about anything while the R1 Concepts brake rotors help to slow down the large, heavy combo.

In addition to the suspension, brake and wheel-and-tire upgrades, this Ram 3500 is outfitted with aftermarket front and rear bumpers, a custom grille a 12,000-pound winch and – most significantly – the unique SMP FabWorks bed rack. That rack and the ramps leading to it are strong enough to handle the weight of the JK Wrangler in rough off-road conditions, although we have to imagine that low-hanging branches are going to beat up the Jeep.

We don’t know what engine is under the hood, but we would like to think that it is a Cummins Turbo Diesel. However, a modified Hemi V8 would be able to move this weight, but the diesel definitely has more working-torque potential.

Realistically, this isn’t a particularly cost effective off-road rig, but if you have a Ram 3500 and you don’t have a trailer, this is certainly an interesting option to get your Jeep to camp without driving multiple vehicles. At the same time, if you are going off-roading and you want to have two very different vehicles with which to play in the woods or mud, this is the perfect setup.

In any case, there is no question that this combo has more “wow factor” than any other truck-and-trailer setup.

Photos: AutoEvolution

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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