Kase has been updating his 1994 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins for a while – now it’s off-roading (in snow) time!
From humble beginnings as a work truck to a beefy off-road diesel, Kase’s 1994 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins is a beast. Several months ago, Kase got rid of his Mazda3 in favor of something a bit more manly: a 1994 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 with a manual transmission and a Cummins diesel. It is a rolling showcase of manliness, and a testament to Kase’s hard work and dedication.
Things have changed a bit over the years. For one thing, Kase’s truck’s powertrain setup is more powerful than the same setup that came with the automatic transmission. 1994 Cummins equipped Dodge Ram trucks to have 175 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque when equipped with an NV4500 5-Speed manual transmission. The four-speed automatic (47RH) transmission put out 160 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. That’s pretty different, by today’s standards.
It’s a work truck, but…
Kase’s old Ram is rated to tow up to 7,700-lbs when properly equipped, and it can haul over 2,800-lbs. Indeed, it is set up as a work truck from the get-go. Not only that, when he first bought the Ram, it came with a very heavy steel utility bed. After swapping it for a regular pickup truck bed, Kase noticed performance gains across the board.
Now he’s aiming at taking this 7,000-lbs beasty off-road, IN THE SNOW. We rarely recommend drivers partake in off-roading on snowy trails. You rarely know what’s under the snow, and traction can be a huge issue. With that being said, there are a lot of folks who love to bash in the powder – but it can be treacherous, so use caution.
Heavy trucks, with stiff suspensions and recently post-pubescent drivers in the white powder can spell danger for some. In this video, Kase has an off-road winter adventure. Along the way, he talks about the changes he’s made and what he likes (and dislikes) about the manual transmission setup.
Let us know what you think of Kase’s truck!
