Exploring a national forest with my budget restoration 2nd gen Dodge Ram 1500

My name is Austin, this is Mopar Garage, and we build cool stuff in here! Today we are finally back to some second Gen content. We’re taking my 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 build out and exploring Francis Marion National forest. Something a little different, let me know what you guys think of this type of content!
Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe!
My Vehicles:
1999 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 short bed standard cab 5 speed 5.2 (318) V8
1986 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z Carroll Shelby Edition
1973 Plymouth Satellite Plus
2019 Kia Optima LX FE

[@oregonpredatorprevention]

Ive got a 2000 318 5 speed short bed. Had it for around 15 years. has close to 160k and ive only had a sensor and a wheel bearing go out. These things are solid. I go through vehicles like crazy when i get bored with them and this is the only one i can safely say i will never sell.

[@TheMoparGarage]

Agreed! They’ve got their flaws but they’re tough as a box or rocks.

[@BearHomeOwnerDIY]

Just good seeing another fella that loves the 2nd gen. Got a check engine light video in your future. My light has been off for so long it's getting downright boring. I see a lot of 2nd gen here just outside of Atlanta but keep an ear out for any 5 speeds and seems I have the only one. Got the RWD club cab version emerald-peeling-patina-green but otherwise same mileage, trim, and engine.

[@TheMoparGarage]

Thanks for watching man! Can’t beat a 2nd Gen. The engine light on this truck is likely permanent because the cat may or may not have been removed haha. I’ve had probably a dozen of these 2nd gens, I’m currently looking for a 4x4 2500 gasser with a 5 speed. I’ve had a couple in the past but they are hard to find!

[@N3M3S1S357]

I love my second gen. Got an 01' 4x4 quad cab 5.9 magnum. Only has 90k on it. So nice being able to toss the whole family in it and go pretty much anywhere. Just need to fix the rusty doors at some point lol.

[@TheMoparGarage]

Heck yeah man, can’t beat em!

[@lukedawg357SIG]

Man I love this truck wish I would have ordered one new back in the day thanks for the ride also what great peaceful place.

[@TheMoparGarage]

This thing is definitely my favorite half ton configuration of all time. Thanks for watching Man!

[@jackiemoon7429]

Proud of you bro

[@TheMoparGarage]

Thanks brother!!

[@user-pd1ep5kf7g]

I would like to see plum crazy burnouts

[@TheMoparGarage]

@@user-pd1ep5kf7g they have allegedly occurred 😉

[@raphaelhernandez4088]

More second Gens 😊

[@TheMoparGarage]

More to come!

[@erikschiller7210]

My 2nd gen I've had since high school is an '01, so it has the later interior. I've always preferred the early 2nd gen interiors but the cup holders are night and day lol. My buddy had a '96 and my reign fell right oyt just sitting at the gas station lol. The '98-'02 cup holders are probably my favorites in a car.

[@TheMoparGarage]

Ha! Man you’re right, early second Gen cup holders might be the worst of all time. That’s cool you’ve still got your high school truck. Hang on to that thing!

[@JacodyAutomotive]

Just found your channel man... lol yes it was because the 2nd gen 😂. But I love your content!

[@TheMoparGarage]

Thanks for jumping on board! Despite all the other cool projects lately, the good ole 2nd Gen stuff really does seem to be what keeps the channel going.

[@AndrewLee-cg6uk]

lol that area is my backyard nice

[@TheMoparGarage]

You’re a lucky man!

[@AndrewLee-cg6uk]

@@TheMoparGarage come ride wambaw cycle trail anytime you want man...

[@TheMoparGarage]

@@AndrewLee-cg6uk thanks brother!! I’ve unfortunately sold all my bikes at this point.

[@thedeliciousone2]

More Daytona and Sebring stuff!! For the Ram, get gooder tires. Scrap the BFG’s. Yoko’s Toyo’s or Mickey Thompson are all better quality for similar $

[@TheMoparGarage]

Definitely way more on the way!

[@djcybercorgi]

318 5 speed would be my dream 2nd gen... I've owned 6 FWD Dodge Rampages, but no 4x4...

[@TheMoparGarage]

I had an opportunity to buy a 4x4 rampage a few years back and drug my feet on it and it went to someone else, I regret that one! Not a lot of those out there. 2nd gen 5 speed 4x4’s are also definitely pretty tough to find.

[@jeffreyalling7354]

My 96 dodge ram

[@TheMoparGarage]

Can’t beat a second Gen!

[@MidnightPolaris800]

Nice 2nd gen. My favorite was my 01 360 lifted 5" on 37s. Had a vortec supercharged and methanol injected...the 4:56s really made her scoot lol...also had a 97 single cab long box manual 360...was a good truck also. Nice video man

[@TheMoparGarage]

Thanks for watching man! Both trucks sound nasty, especially the supercharged one. You don’t see a lot of these trucks modified in the power department, outside of diesels.

[@MidnightPolaris800]

@TheMoparGarage I have a couple videos of it on my other channel "youra1993r" lol

[@MidnightPolaris800]

@TheMoparGarage sorry it's "youran1993r" is my other channel

[@dmoore6343]

I already own a 2001 single cab 4x4 s/b with a 5.9 and automatic, its a former Sacramento Sheriff unit. I just bought a 1999 single cab 4x4 s/b 5.2 with 5 speed... you said this is a rare combo just wondering if you can give me more info on it.

[@TheMoparGarage]

Nice find! I don’t know exact numbers but only a small fraction of these trucks were 5 speeds.

[@vortecmacs]

Where in the Southeast are you? MS looks just like this lol

[@TheMoparGarage]

I live in Charleston SC. This is Francis Marion National Forest which is about 40 minutes north of me.

[@Scott_ittude]

My dash on my ‘99 crumbled like a gram cracker. Any suggestions to find a replacement? Also, I had a check engine light forever. Kept getting O2 codes. Turned out the vacuum line from the PCV valve was clogged not allowing to recirculate 🙄 chased it for years.

[@TheMoparGarage]

It can be tough because they do not make a replacement for the inner structure of the dash. The top pads and bezels are very accessible, but sometimes during the course of changing them out, the inner structure breaks. If you at least have SOME of your dash top left, Dashskins makes a really nice mold the epoxy's into place and covers it up, making it look almost new again. That's the direction I went with this truck.

[@r3dlavigne]

did you notice mpg drop with the lift in the front? i got the exact same truck with 5.9L gas that i might want to level out the same way

[@TheMoparGarage]

This particular truck I actually never really drove before I lifted it, when I bought it, it went straight into my garage for a tear down. I’m sure there was a little it of a drop, if I remember right it was called a “leveling lift” which was actually 3 in the front and 2 in the rear I think. I also put 33’s on it when I lifted it, so I’m sure there was a MPG drop. This truck only gets around 10-12.

[@Minnace2Society1]

What size BFGS were these?!

[@TheMoparGarage]

285/75-16’s with some -5 offset Iron Alloy Baja wheels

[@louisstowers511]

I just started driving manual😅 so what is the other shift stick the little one? Just curious

[@TheMoparGarage]

That puts the truck in 4wd

[@louisstowers511]

Thanks oh yeah and I used the method you use on rust and paint job on my truck works really well thanks for that too....

[@TheMoparGarage]

@@louisstowers511 no problem man, thanks for watching!

[@theramquest4advanture.]

I love these trucks too. I have a '97 1500 with a 5.9 360 V8 auto 2wd long bed, some days I wish it was a 4wd but it does what I need it to do. So far it has 297,200 miles on it with the original engine and trans and still going strong! Anyways I like anything Mopar and I will never get rid of my truck, I'm going to drive it until it won't run anymore or I can't drive anymore one! Keep up the good videos and I'll keep watching.

[@Chevy-f4l]

Damn that's good I got a 99 ram van with 144,250 transmission quit on me

[@theramquest4advanture.]

When I first got my truck the first thing I done to it was put an external trans cooler on it. I don't think the radiator trans cooler is enough to keep the trans cool enough. Now it has two external trans coolers on it and so far so good. Plus from the first day I got it I keep the trans fluid flushed out and once I changed the fluid and filter. But now in so many miles or months I flush out about a gallon of trans fluid and then I also put in a can of Trans X and Lucas Trans Fix in it and so far I've owned the truck for a little over 10 years and have put 105,000 miles on it myself. So if you take care of them they will last. Plus I change the engine oil regularly and so far it's on it's way to 300,000 miles, not sure if it will make it but so far it lacks a little under 3000 miles to get there. Not sure how far it will go only time will tell.

[@theramquest4advanture.]

I got some older videos of my truck on my KZbin channel and will do an update video on it when I can. Just search up The ram quest for advanture on here and you will see it on there. I don't have many subscribers and haven't posted any videos in a while but might start it up again one day. Well one thing my camera tore up and all I have is the phone camera and it's not that great. Anyways if you want to see my truck it's on my channel on here.

[@Chevy-f4l]

@@theramquest4advanture. Hey thanks brother that's what I should have done to mine was put another trans cooler but It is what it is but I'm going to go check that out

[@Chevy-f4l]

@@theramquest4advanture. See I bought my van from these people that didn't really take care of it and I got it at 126,000 so I was scared to change the transmission fluid so I just drove it cause they say once you change the fluid if it hasn't been changed it'll make transmission slip and do all kinds of crazy stuff