Tearing up the Streets in Portland

Ron Perkins is no newcomer to the truck world; he’s built a few highly recognizable mini- trucks, including an ’05 Nissan Frontier named the Irregular Cab, which started as a four-door and was cut to make it a regular cab. The last mini-truck he built was a ’94 Chevy Blazer with the roof cut to make it a unibody S-10. The truck was dubbed Deblazed, and that’s where the story of this Ram starts.

After Deblazed was finished, it gained major attention in the scene. Ron even got an invitation to have it filmed for an episode of the Powerblock TV show. Coming from the Pacific Northwest, it was a 2,500-mile drive to the studio in Franklin, Tennessee. To help get the truck there in one piece, Ron borrowed his friend Justin Rainwater’s ’12 Dodge Ram 3500, which was just featured in our October ’14 issue (“Bio Ram,” pg. 72). Because he clocked quite a few miles on the odometer while towing Deblazed, Ron thought the least he could do was take the rig to a local dealership for an oil change. While waiting for the work to be done, Ron wandered the lot where a Dodge Ram with the R/T package caught his eye.

NOW THAT THE RAM IS DONE, HE CRUISES IT ON A DAILY BASIS TO HIS GIG AS ASSISTANT MANAGER AT ALL AMERICAN TRUCK AND SUV ACCESSORY CENTERS. RON HAS ALSO BEEN BUSY PROMOTING HIS START-UP COMPANY, HAMMERD APPAREL .”

When Ron got back to Oregon, he returned Justin’s ride and navigated to the dealer to purchase a single-cab Ram. Though he already owned a four- door Ram, he figured he didn’t need such a big truck and wanted to downsize a bit. The original black single cab received a McGaughy’s 2/4 drop over a set of 26-inch wheels. On a whim it was taken to the 2012 SEMA Show to show off a few bolt-on parts.

Apparently the folks at Leer liked the truck and asked Ron to bring it the following year. He agreed, except this time around he decided to make a big change to it. Instead of a slight drop, Ron had the idea to set the frame flat on the ground with a set of 28- inch Gianelle Santorini II wheels tucked under the body. Removing the front spring pockets and adding a pair of Michigan Metal Works control arms and front- end kit accomplished this. In the rear, the factory 4-link was ditched for a custom 2-link with MMW Watts link. Then the suspension was equipped with Slam Specialties SS-8 airbags to raise it off the ground so it could be driven.

Under the hood, the 5.7L V-8 Hemi received an Airaid cold-air intake and a Magnaflow cat-back exhaust that exits under the rear bumper. The exterior was left relatively simple: a tonneau cover was added to the bed and a Rigid Industries 40-inch RDS Series curved LED light bar was added to the front bumper. The body was painted BASF PR4 Red with Ultra flat clear by Billy Bob Customs of Aberdeen, Washington. On the inside, the truck was already plush, with several pieces wrapped in leather. Several of the plastics were painted to match the exterior, and an AccuAir controller was mounted on the dash. An Edge CTS tuner was added and placed on the front pillar. It was wired to a set of pressure sensors to monitor the airbags.

Now that the Ram is done, he cruises it on a daily basis to his gig as assistant manager at All American Truck and SUV Accessory Centers. Ron has also been busy promoting his start-up company, HammerD Apparel. Also in the works is a ’94 Ford Bronco called NOTOJS that will definitely sit low over large wheels. Keep your eyes peeled for this thing. ST

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TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

Ron Perkins
2012 Dodge Ram R/T
Portland, OR
Relaxed Atmosphere

ENGINE

• 5.7L Hemi V-8
• 66RFE automatic transmission
• Airaid cold-air intake
• Magnaflow cat-back exhaust kit
• Edge CTS tuner
• Kinetik HC2400 battery mounted behind bumper

SUSPENSION

• Michigan Metal Works control arms and front-end kit
• Custom rear 2-link with Michigan Metal Works Watts link
• Slam Specialties SS-8 airbags
• Removed front spring pockets
• Belltech shocks
• Step notch in rear frame
• Modified cross members
• Gas tank raised
• AccuAir SwitchSpeed
• Viar Compressors

WHEELS & TIRES

• 28×10 Gianelle Santorini II
• 295/25R28 Pirelli Scorpion Zero

BODY & PAINT

• Shop: Billy Bob Customs in Aberdeen, WA
• BASF PR4 Red with Ultra flat clear
• R/T stripe by Darrin at Paradise Sign and Design
• Leer 550 tonneau cover
• Rigid Industries 40-inch RDS Series curved LED light bar
• Custom wheel tubs in bed with notch cover
• Arma spray-on bed liner

INTERIOR

• Factory leather upholstery with painted plastics
• AccuAir controller in dash
• Factory Alpine audio system

Special Thanks From Owner: To my wife Kelly, Rod and Chris at Billy Bob Customs, Ryan Few at Rigid Industries, BASF, All American Truck and SUV Accessory Centers, Viair, AccuAir, Magnaflow, Michigan Metal Works, Slam Specialties, Paradise Sign and Design, Gianelle, Kinetik, Pirelli, Edge Products, Leer and all my world-wide brothers and sisters in Relaxed Atmosphere.

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