I Took My 7000 lb 1994 Dodge Cummins Off-Road In a Snow Storm | Here's What Happened!

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On this episode of TFLclassics Kase hits the trail in his '94 Dodge. While it worked great for the first portion of the test, things got harder the higher he went.
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#Dodge #Ram #Cummins

[@carlosbishig1]

Great video and hey from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

[@JR245128]

I love watching the episodes with Kase and his projects. The young kid working on and loving his 20+ year old truck: Doesn't have a ton of money; Can't break it because he needs it to drive to work (or auction off like Gunsmoke); Has to work on it using borrowed tools while laying on his back on the driveway; Having to depend on his friends for help; And every so often he goes to that older mentor who can take a bent piece of scrap metal and turn it into a perfect fit for that missing bracket that you need.

[@jdfleetguy28]

I agree 100% All so very true . Well said.

[@NoRodnoReel]

That’s me, except I can’t even afford a cummins I’ll have to settle for a gas truck.

[@MrSweetHart6976]

Drop the tire pressure to at least 20 psi and you would of had a lot better experience with comfort and traction, especially in the snow.

[@karooguy]

That and a few heavy bags of concrete/feed/soil/sand for weight in the back. EDIT: I want to see Kase go out again in that thing!

[@nmelkhunter1]

@@karooguy Exactly.

[@Zach-ju5vi]

Just new tires.

[@curtisjohnson944]

Yep, even three-quarter tons benefit from airing down. Saves your tires and your body and traction is so much better.

[@caseybyington7197]

Do not air down the tires. This a common myth. Especially not clear down to 20psi on a rig that's probably running tires that are supposed to be running in the 50s. If you air them down you will be more vulnerable to puncture and you will have way LESS traction because when the tires are aired down they cave in the center which is, ya know, where the freaking tread is. You'll go from 200 and some odd mm of traded rubber to 20 or thirty mm of freaking sidewall on each side. If anything you'd be better off to watch the tread wear and adjust accordingly. If they are wearing on the edges put more air in if they are wearing more in the center let some out. At least if they are over aired though you're shoving tread down instead of sidewall and up to a certain point more likely to resist a puncture.

[@JustinKingOffroad]

looked like you were at street pressure too, drop those front tires to 20-25 and the rear to 15 ish and you'd probably crawl right up that.

[@philtripe]

lol, did you notice the cummins? yeah thats not happening... those motors suck off road, to heavy, to slow and a silky smooth power delivery makes for a lousy off roader

[@Zach-ju5vi]

@@philtripe heavy is good for snow.

[@littlejln213]

They never ever lower tire pressure. every single off road episode. its not worth even suggesting it..

[@Zach-ju5vi]

@@littlejln213 lowering tire pressure doesn't work well on snow/ice anyway. Best thing to do is add weight and concentrate ground contact.

[@littlejln213]

@@Zach-ju5vi yes it does... I live in the mountains.

[@jonathangraham9879]

air down and take it out of 4 low. Gets some more speed under the tires. Beautiful truck.

[@cannontaylor97]

I agree 👍

[@tonygersbach375]

Love the sound of the Cummins, they have such a unique exhaust note, can tell whats coming from a mile away

[@Colekopcsak]

I miss the Suzuki Samurai. Also Happy New Year to everyone at TFL

[@TFLclassics]

Happy New Year to you and your family!

[@josephwhiskeybeale]

Don’t be shy, slap the dash.

[@mrgmc6314]

Air down a lil more momentum and try 4 high for more wheel spin ... I think you would have made it ...

[@bluntman99999]

Definitely, 4low in the snow is much to low of a gear for climbing up a obstacle. Going downhill though in 4 low is a lifesaver.

[@davidhillbrand2302]

Nice video. It is sad that the manual trans has gone away at Ram. A manual with the Cummins is a great and classic combination.

[@randys3010]

This is the best video on TFL in quite a while. Like that old truck more than anything new. The young man is smart and knows his stuff.

[@regsparkes6507]

That is one truck that I would gladly own. This one is a wonderful base on which to build whatever you wish, off roader, over lander, long distance hauler,..you name it. Thanks for this video Kase.

[@franklinthompson8629]

Wow, Kase. Look at all the comments. Everybody seems to love you and your truck. Keep up the good wok.

[@a456987]

I'd say rear locker and front limited slip would be a great combination

[@jedironin380]

"Just send it!" :D I agree with the other posters, air down more and get just a little more momentum.

[@DirkvR60]

Kase, the truck is looking good and sounding great. Keep tooling on it!

[@tylerwelken5790]

This size truck in the day would have been running chains on a trail like that. Please do the people a favor and show what chains can do!

[@nmelkhunter1]

Weight in the back would be beneficial as well.

[@cannontaylor97]

👍

[@bovellois]

@@nmelkhunter1 a good load of firewood will tame the beast.

[@nmelkhunter1]

@@bovellois Yes sir! 🪵

[@GATORADDAM]

Great video! I kinda enjoy Case as a presenter. You need to give him more assignments. He's smooth and doesn't stammer as much as "some others". Everyone at TFL is good. Tommy's charisma and sarcasm makes him the best, but this kid has great potential.

[@jdfleetguy28]

Agree 100%. Kase really is great on cam, excellent presentation skills. Sure hope Roman realizes it, and start using his talents more. Hopefully it happens before Motor trend or some other major player snatches him up. I am a huge TFL fan, I subscribe and watch all their channels, and really hope they realize just how good Kase is, so that they keep him on the team for a long time to come.

[@Buell1906]

Put chains on the rear wheels and I bet you won't need 4 wheel drive on that road. Or put chains on all 4 wheels and for sure you will make it up that road.

[@bosse641]

With studded winter tires the truck would have no issues going up that hill, I believe. What a cool truck. Would love to own one with that stick. Awesome.

[@cornycorny2952]

I got my Silverado 4wd stuck on an icy slight uphill spot with studded snow tires. A little sand got me out, I was pulling a trailer full of brush so when the truck jackknifed one way the trailer went the other blocking the camp road so I could not back up. A little sand might have gotten him over those humps. Ice is a whole nother game versus just snow.

[@bosse641]

@@cornycorny2952 Sure.

[@dieseldavedick]

Best truck Dodge /Ram ever made. Imo

[@NoSirAnder19]

I would kill for an old cummins clean like that. It feels so great to not seeing wide 20s on it.

[@jg8263]

It's about the tires and differential as you point out. This is why many who think they own a 4x4 actually own a 2wd, one front and one rear, or waste the 4x4 with inadequate tires. Good thing 70-80% of trucks today never see a bump larger than a curb!

[@martinsvensson6884]

It always drives all 4 wheels. Not 2.

[@jg8263]

@@martinsvensson6884 Yes, when all 4 tires have grip the system will send power to all 4 tires when in 4wd, this is a fact, but here is an engineering lesson: If you have an open differential front and rear and lose grip to a single tire, you will end up spinning the grip-less tire and no power goes to the gripping tire of that axle at all. Hence an open diff 4x4 is actually a 2wd, because if you lose grip on one tire, that axle now has no torque and the other axle is doing all the driving. If you lose grip on one in each axle, you spin 2 tires and go nowhere (no wheel drive?). If you have a limited slip diffs, then some power will go to the tire with no grip, but the max torque sent to the other tires will be limited to the amount of torque the tire with the least grip can handle. A torsen system is the next best, as it will put more torque to the tires with more grip. Of course a locked diff sends equal power to all 4 (if you have lockers on front and rear). Most modern 4x4s have a limited slip or locking diff in the rear (if you buy the right package) but due to independent front suspension are mostly either open diff or torsen in the front. In such a case, you have an effective 3wd vehicle. Engineering Explained did a great video on this about 4-5 years ago. Look it up.

[@sonandsanford4963]

My 97 Dodge Cummins w/5sp sit under my sheds months at a time. Whenever I watch one of your video of yours... I schedule a date to take mine out for a spin.

[@danerickson1733]

"I grew up offloading big tricks", could have fooled me.

[@kyleloew432]

Ko2s, lockers, 500lbs in the bed, I bet you could of walked right up. I love that truck, regular cab long beds are the perfect truck. What a truck was meant to be.

[@teamstevensonGenEric]

Had the same thought!

[@michaelcrider8413]

There's not only so much you can do. Never give up.

[@salvatoredelia6238]

Love it, you took me back to my first full size truck, a 96 Ram 2500 club cab long bed Cummins. I used it in the farm to carry coffee beans, it was awesome going up hill in first gear low, amazing crawler, simple IS better. Happy New Year to you all at TFL from Honduras!

[@badgerpa9]

Nice job Kase and Andre. If you tried 4 high you should have been able to do that. The wider tires on ice and frozen ground do not help getting the weight down for traction it spreads it to much. Truck looks very nice and it is expensive to have multiple sets of wheels and tires ready for different driving conditions on the truck. Like you said some snow and ice tires would have helped a lot. Maybe Firestone will give you a set to show how good their tires are. I run snow tires on my most driven vehicles for winter to help get home.

[@stevenjalopnik1342]

Grip and comfort can both be improved for free by reducing tyre pressure

[@jdfleetguy28]

Great job Kase! Love that truck . This is by far my favorite series on the classics Chanel. Heck I think it’s my favorite on all the TFL Chanel’s

[@cmadk3423]

As someone that's considering chains for my Cummins powered Ram I'd love to see what they would do off road on your truck.

[@leondrolet8695]

Love Case! Nice truck, too. Love that it is a single-cab.

[@jdfleetguy28]

Kase is really great on camera, very well spoken smooth and confident in his delivery. He is a very talented dude with a wrench too. Perfect for an automotive channel VJ.

[@dommm111]

Your Ram looks very tough in the snow, Good vid and HAPPY NEW YEAR TFL team

[@30smsuperstrat]

Great Video! First a couple questions. What is maintenance like on the Cummins? A suggestion in icy snow. 1. Chains. Not for deep snow but for crusted top icy snow they work wonders. 2. Use the highest gear you can torque up the hill with RPM as low as possible. Revs don't help on icy snow. Hope to see more of this truck!

[@kasevr]

Only thing Ive had go wrong mechanically is the alternator. Otherwise just cheap interior components breaking but those have been replaced and no new issues for a while now. Thanks for the tip!

[@tt600pch]

I put aggressive Mud and snow tires on my 99 Cummins just before hunting season. I went up in a bit of high country and parked. Grandson opened the door and nearly scraped snow with door bottom (4" lift on 33's). I almost wish I had chains with me after seeing a guy with all season chained up on a corner. We get snow in western Montana sometimes.

[@jdfleetguy28]

I have been researching Thuren and Carli soft coils for my Ram HD , in that research ran across some good info from CJC and Thuren on tire pressure for these big trucks especially when driving around unloaded . I don’t know what PSI your running, but those guys were saying on an unloaded truck like that 40-45 in the front , 30-35 in the rear worked really well for them. You could also do a chalk test see what’s best psi for your setup. As many others noticed, tires seem a bit over inflated especially for the situation.

[@danielreynolds9583]

Carli suspension for that ol’ 2nd gen all day!!

[@browndogstt8546]

Glad to see someone actually using a nice old truck. For offroading any 4x4 is better than a full size truck though. I drove a tacoma for 14 years in colorado and covered nearly every jeep trail without a single issue. My truck would run up and down the trail bringing parts to the other rigs that were broken down. Thats the one part of colorado i miss now that i moved away.

[@aerynlovell4754]

You could get a set of tire chains for the front tires and a second set for the rear from etrailer. Chains are cheaper than lockers and come in handy when the tires can't get traction.

[@bobsponge6609]

Like your videos, alot of common sense and great clear explanations. Hello from Canada, happy new year.

[@rampagedingo]

Thank you. Exactly, manuals are simple machines. No crawl control needed. I miss my manual 2001 ranger. Good truck. Might buy it again or go for a toyota hilux diesel. They'll probably be much more expensive but at a much better condition. Great video by the way. Love the solid front axle truck. Very durable and with the Cummins I expect it to live a long time. I really like what you guys are doing here. Happy new revolution around the sun TFL.

[@99unclebob]

Great video Case running dedicated snow tires with about 25 psi you could put it in 4low and 1st gear ,let out the clutch and it would simply walk up the hill even the way it was, no need for lockers for this demo, and i have seen your other videos and know you've spent allot of $$ and time into this truck of yours, back in the 90's my buddy had a 94 like yours with the 2 tone silver/forest green metallic paint with light grey interior, it had a trailer package from Dodge and a factory rear locker and same manual and ran on dedicated 33" snow tires, we had a 40 yr snowstorm and phoned me and asked if i wanted to go wheeling with him and of course i said hell yes, my wife thought i was nuts, men will be men, women don't understand it, when he got to my house i waded through snow almost waist deep to get to his truck and jumped in to notice about a dozen sandbags in the box, he said they were to help people who were stuck and 2 tow straps which got lots of use that day , lost count how many people we helped, better they get home to safety , the crazy part of it was that his truck basically walked through snow bumper deep and more we never got stuck, the $1200 on the new tires paid for themselves that day he felt after we helped all those people and the grin on his face said it all we did burn through tank of fuel that day, who cares when your having fun and that is my fondest snowstorm wheeling memory from a Dodge Cummings 4x4 I worked for GM Canada at the time and the 6.5 turbo didn't hold a candle to it, not even close 👍

[@gregc9220]

That cummins sounds so good! Great video and let's see a old vs new Ike video!

[@Dreamweaver17]

This truck might not be perfect but I absolutely love it

[@BB-nn9en]

What an awesome truck. Great stuff!

[@darioharambasic1331]

Would love to see Grand Cherokee WJ with quadradrive go up this trail. It could be a project car for this channel for cheap.Also nice truck and keep up the good work.

[@14cubensis]

Lower air pressure, 4 low, 3rd gear, locker engaged, n more momentum.

[@snowingdieselcoal4697]

Cummins owner, Colorado native. Rock on

[@decayofalberta1520]

I was told one thing growing up. You buy a truck to use as a truck. You don’t complain about the fuel economy or ride.

[@HoosierDaddy_]

Thanks for letting us take a look at your truck! Looks like you've put some work into it.

[@jnieto490]

My dad's dually has 4x4 and Cooper AT3s on all six tires but that sucker weights a heck ton 😂 so instead we went snow wheeling in my 1/2 ton sierra

[@triviace]

Very professional job

[@joeychaseable]

You may want to check the temp of your front Differential. @1:19 it looks like it needs to blow it's "nose" or blow a "Snot Rocket"....

[@JDMEXforme]

Im new to 4x4s i got a Liberty in amazing condition (body, underbody and engine) what was that snot looking thing @1:19 on the fron diff?

[@k9feces]

@@JDMEXforme ice

[@abqcrutch]

Airing down to 25psi would help a lot. I love your 2500!

[@R.Nelson]

Happy New year Kase!!🙂

[@cruise449]

The only thing you are missing case is on the back on the tailgate logos saying dodge and 4 x 4 and that will make the truck look like it came out in 1994

[@Styrkur13]

You guys are paying Case/Kase too much if he can keep affording all these kids 😂

[@ericramos3416]

If I may: an inexpensive solution, although a little messy, is tire chains. Man, I've gone everywhere with ties chains. That way you can still have a little fun while saving up for lockers

[@Leatherkid01]

Kase needs to join the TFL Team!!!!! Hes a natural. 😃

[@jdfleetguy28]

I agree he is a natural when on cam, he speaks really well with confidence and seems to always offer accurate coherent knowledge. However I believe he is now days a full fledge paid staffer for TFL , I don't think he is an intern anymore. I think Roman has found a superstar auto journalist in the making with Kase. Now Roman just needs to put him on Camera more, and really make good use of all his talents.

[@jrlbegay]

I tuned in just to hear that Diesel purr. Miss my Crew Cab Diesel. 🤗

[@jg8263]

Put Firestone destination a/t2 or Falken wild peak a/t trail tires on it. Good a/t tires also with the three peak snowflake rating. I know a lot of people with them and they plain work here in Northern Wisconsin and are year round tires. They make an Awd equipped with them as grippy as a 4x4 with stock tires.

[@richfarfugnuven6308]

I think Cade is paying for this truck out of his own pocket and does not have that kind of $$$.

[@jg8263]

@@richfarfugnuven6308 true, which is why I mentioned those tires specifically, as they are relatively cheap compared with the competition. Maybe it would allow him to get the new tires a bit sooner.

[@richfarfugnuven6308]

@@jg8263 hopefully one of the big tire companies sees the video and sends him some free mud/snow tires.

[@bobsuruncle7717]

94? P100 pump? Mirrors ? Nice truck i bought one in 96 new and still have it.

[@MarkPdot]

I wish I had a job of driving my 2000 Chevy Silverado 2500. THAT would be fun! 439k miles I think it has proven itself. Nice video.

[@danatkinson6698]

Snow wheeling is tricky. Especially when you involve any amount of ice

[@chrisecker9341]

Deflate the tires and btw this truck is so much better looking than all the new trucks you can buy today.

[@robertchapman4488]

You needed to have been out of that low gear you need wheel speed in snow

[@derailleurmind0454]

Bought freshly rebuilt TracLok axle from junk yard for my ram. 170$ would be a great addition. My 99 is 5.2 5speed 4x4.

[@rickreese5794]

A Real truck, the engine that MADE Ram truck

[@Welcometofacsistube]

Nope.

[@lanceripplinger8352]

Excellent video as always from Kase! Happy New Year!!! 😁

[@PowerSportsQuebec]

I love this kid! MORE PLEASE!

[@powerwagon3731]

Chains dude will make that hill look so easy.

[@stonewintjen505]

Looks like your gonna need a rear locker in the future. Maybe a front one too if you feel like it. Limited slip in the rear would help acceleration and traction off-road but also on road if your taking off in the winter and the roads aren’t perfect

[@joshc606]

Finally a Cooper tire! Love to see how it does on the normal off road. The AT XLT Cooper is a good tire.

[@joeyscleaninglady2877]

those b series cummins engines have a very distinct exhaust note

[@gregferris9378]

Where's the snow storm? Love the truck anyhow.

[@rykerelwyn5433]

I love the Ram

[@rodburger7827]

"Happy New Year" Kase !! A lower cost alternative for lockers is a Torsen front & rear.

[@southhillfarm2795]

This past decade the automatic transmission and sofisticated traction control are so dominant that in another 5 years the manual transmission will be equivalent to a model T Ford. I suspect diesel may be the same in another 10 years. I think this generation that feels the need to tow a house behind them when going on vacation will kill the diesel pick up truck as they die off as well.

[@Zach-ju5vi]

Stupid comment

[@markive9907]

Had a 97 12 valve extra cab ,stock with bf all terrain,it was a big heavy turd 💩! It never did 4 wheel good ! Did get 22 mpg s at 1800 rpm going 62 mph ,as soon as you kept up with the flow of traffic it would get 17- 18 mpg ! Overall it was pretty good truck !

[@dintub83]

Nice! Studded wintertyres and 2 gear low. Go go go :p

[@kunu98]

Put some cheap M/T tires on it. Same on mine, it’s a beast in snow

[@harryslemons]

sweet truck man, always funny to see these tanks offroad

[@jackk8422]

As a veteran dodge owner i would suggest putting some weight in the back

[@martinsvensson6884]

Its 4WD so how would that make a difference?

[@jackk8422]

These trucks are very nose heavy due to the 5.9 Cummins.

[@martinsvensson6884]

@@jackk8422 Yes, but its 4WD so doesnt matter.

[@Zach-ju5vi]

@@martinsvensson6884 the weight isn't distributed effectively, the rear tires have no pushing power. trust me I've got an 01 cummins and I have the same problem

[@martinsvensson6884]

​@@Zach-ju5vi Doesnt matter when the car is 4WD. Rear doesnt need pushing power if the front has it instead. You should easily be able to understand how stupid that whole notion youre telling me is... What happens if you remove the rear tires completely and make a 2 wheeled car? Then the rear tires will lack pushing power completely........ damn how stuck you must get... Doesnt work like that.

[@nicholasmaher9175]

As you said the tires are the defining factor, real snowflake winter tires would get you over that area. I'm quite surprised that truck had an open rear diff, I would think it a limited slip at least though a standard rear locker seems like it should be under there. My Tacoma with 225/75/16 Blizzaks would get through that area, with a little more speed. It's a 2WD 4 cylinder by the way . . .

[@williambreeze2659]

Nice looking truck!

[@dirtsailoroff-road5580]

let nathan's drive, he'd make it all the way up. give her the beans lol

[@franciscodiaz7557]

Great engine sound.

[@fernandomarquez3273]

Typical 80’s & 90’s 4x4s, they give you great stout t-cases, awesome solid axles aaand open diffs front and rear womp womp. I can commiserate with you, I had an XJ Cherokee with the same issue. LSD’s and lockers ain’t cheap

[@ElrondKaresh]

"I have experience driving heavy trucks in the snow.." lol sure bro. Lower psi and lockers will do the trick.

[@redcanoe14]

I ran one of those rigs....you need NARROW tires and 400lb minimum weight over back axle. M and S tires do not work, get the full on winter tires, I use Cooper Discoverers.

[@CZ-kz7ug]

Mud terrain tires make a huge difference.

[@masoncarver460]

If you wasnt worried about the truck id say air down for traction and grab another gear and give her the beans but seeing how your truck is so nice and its your daily dont blame you for not bouncing it off the rocks and do the same but one way to get threw that with ease without pushing a truck cant beat studded tires on ice and snow

[@alvinmendaros]

I have driven through trails like that in 2wd in my 2000 Ram sport

[@TehShawns]

Might consider Eaton True Tracs front and rear. The rear biasing is very nice on a day to day basis, hooking up when turning out of parking lots/etc. Front does good things in the snow. Or could do e-locker up front since no manual hub conversion. And as others have said weight. 500lbs would really transform that truck in both ride and traction. Cummins won't care.

[@gaston8801]

Litteraly my dream truck

[@Slickpete83]

how come you TFL guys never use or make any videos using chains on tires ???

[@Zach-ju5vi]

If he would have chained up he wouldn't have had any problems.

[@wodanowitz]

I think a Detroit Locker in the rear axle would do a very good job in serious off-road conditions.

[@volvo09]

Guess no one told you you're supposed to take the cummins out of the shipping crate, not keep it! Haha, just messing, that's a nice truck, beautiful condition! They're long rotted where i live.

[@wannabeangler]

Bilstein B8 5100's are "factory"? I'm going to say , NO. I have the same shocks on my '07 Ram 2500. But the video brings back memories of my '99 Ram 1500 HD. Cool video.