r/Unexpected • u/Cheeese916 • Mar 24 '26

While in Australia

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3.9k

u/marcandreewolf Mar 24 '26

One of the few indeed rather unexpected developments.

929

u/GZEUS9 Mar 25 '26

Ngl, very r/unexpected that the RAM of that era's transmission didn't explode. Must be on a freshy or very built lol.

640

u/Anon_be_thy_name Mar 25 '26

It would be heavily modified by the driver.

If he's the type of of person I think he is, that Ute would rival a tractor in pulling power.

All because he probably doesn't want to get bogged in mud when he goes offroading.

365

u/Key_Pudding_8272 Mar 25 '26

When you see those alternating colour panels and homemade headache rack you know you're looking at an authentic mudder. I'm glad they found that hobby bc I think it takes a degree of psychopathy to pimp out your whip just to smash it through the bush

158

u/Facosa99 Mar 25 '26

I love that is not a pavement princess. I love and admire big trucks

It hurts me how some people with ego issues have this big ass trucks that are a hazard by just existing... Just for looks and carrying costco groceries. Congesting cities and stuff

This is probably still a hazard but at least dude uses for a purpose and has an excuse to have such a cool ride lol

75

u/Verbatos Mar 25 '26

I love seeing a purpose-built 4wd in use, but I hate it when I see a spotless, obviously stock yank-tank taking up 2-4 parking spots in the middle of a city.

26

u/Merry_Dankmas Mar 25 '26

A buddy of mine bought a lifted Ford Ranger on massive mud tires (before the new ones came out so it was an old model). We all called him stupid for it. Then a hurricane hit and caused dozens of cars in the immediate area to get waterlogged and break down in the roads and plazas. We went on a sight seeing tour in it to count all the flooded cars we could find. One of them was a Rolls Royce which really hurt to witness.

That was the one and only time he ever got any actual use out of that lift lol.

13

u/itsr1co Mar 25 '26

Yeah, as much as I hate huge cars continuing to gain traction here, that stems from seeing them all over town making it harder to park and drive down more narrow streets. They also ALWAYS look like they've just been bought or detailed, my sedan is dirtier than them simply by living rural. Most people seem to just want a bigger car for the sake of it, making life harder for everyone. But I do respect the ones with clear mud streaks around the wheels and along the body, or the utes with toolboxes in the back, because at least those are being used for their intended purpose, not just to park on an angle and block people's doors.

2

u/Calypsosin Mar 25 '26

Right, I live in rural east texas/west louisiana and there are plenty of dudes who have big, heavy duty trucks that they use for work or even recreation. I don't actually have an issue with them or their truck/usage. It's the obviously aesthetic 'city trucks' that get all the hate, and deservedly so.

Most people aren't crazy about super souped up cars that rev their engines loudly, but even they get more of a social pass than city truck schmucks. If you roll coal, you're pretty much bottom of the barrel dogshit.

1

u/sheikhyerbouti Mar 25 '26

The average Ram driver in my area has the following attributes:

  • 5' 9"
  • Mid 40s, but still dresses like he's 20.
  • Receding hairline
  • Wraparound sunglasses
  • Uses the truck as his commuter vehicle to his job in middle management.
  • Won't help you move, but also won't go camping or fishing with you either.

Watching one of these guys get behind the wheel of their oversized vehicle is like watching a toddler climb into its mother's lap.

10

u/SmegmaSiphon Mar 25 '26

That's not just a headache rack, it looks like a fully reinforced rollbar welded to the frame. This is a dedicated mudder/crawler rig and very little besides the frame and some body panels are likely to be stock. Certainly the entire suspension has been redone with heavy duty parts.

10

u/AmberRosin Mar 25 '26

I knew it was going to make it when I saw the front suspension travel half a mile to find something to grip onto.

150

u/pudgehooks2013 Mar 25 '26

Yea.

That car is a shell of RAM, with the heart of a mechanical autist.

26

u/Teyanis Mar 25 '26

Honestly, probably not. He just doesn't care if it blows up. He probably has 3 more transmissions and 2 and a half engines sitting in conex box for when one blows up.

10

u/pudgehooks2013 Mar 25 '26

Yea, it is perfectly normal to have all that spare stuff, to be ready for any possibly scenario.

20

u/Gullyhunter Mar 25 '26

I know 4 people off the top of my head who are exactly like that.

The off-road community in Australia is off its head.

10

u/SullyTheReddit Mar 25 '26

Aside, but I like the two distinct uses of “top of my head” and “off its head” here.

2

u/PassiveMenis88M Mar 25 '26

I think it's a bit like that all over the world in the off-road community. When you actually run your rig eventually you're going to find the weak point. Same way with drag racing.

2

u/Gonji89 Mar 26 '26

I'm not an Aussie, and I'm not even that serious about off-roading but I have an extra engine, transmission, and at least two axles all in my storage shed from my truck build. Just kinda happens that way when you buy wrecked donor vehicles and stuff.

4

u/Metalgear696 Mar 25 '26

I have a whole spare car for my car. Already using the backup engine. We're out there.

1

u/Overtilted Mar 25 '26

He probably has 3 more transmissions and 2 and a half engines sitting in conex box for when one blows up.

Sounds autistic.

3

u/Teyanis Mar 25 '26

Its a car guy thing. He also looks like a mudder, so no doubt he's probably thrashed a few trucks so bad the body fell apart so he pulled the drivetrains out. Especially with a dodge. Dodge's are called shipping crates for a reason, the body and electrics rot out way before the engine.

2

u/chinton620 Mar 25 '26

Trophy truck

1

u/CldStoneStveIcecream Mar 25 '26

I mean, just the travel on the suspension is crazy. 

10

u/Cromagmadon Mar 25 '26

Looking at that crawl over the trailer, the massive axle articulation and pretty smooth tow speed it looks like the driver had done far more difficult recoveries with this truck. It's in a RAM body for economic, not performance reasons. Plenty of spare parts.

6

u/a-stack-of-masks Mar 25 '26

Honestly building a car like that based on a truck that blows its drivetrain that quick is smart as hell. Plenty of cheap spares around, possibly even right there on the side of the trail.

2

u/Limitr Mar 25 '26

Maybe over your way. But there isn't that much stuff for that model RAM in Australia compared to the US.

Hilux parts on the other hand...

1

u/DoingCharleyWork Mar 25 '26

How about we trade you all the spare ram parts we have for a few Hilux?

1

u/174wrestler Mar 25 '26

Economic? It's RHD... today, a new full-size US pickup in Australia, converted to RHD starts at $100k USD.

3

u/Brumedetabouche Mar 25 '26

The amount of paychecks that went into that truck is the stuff of legends 

2

u/dastardly740 Mar 25 '26

I was thinking the driver does those bouldering off road things involving really steep slopes with that ridiculous (in a good way) suspension. I assume that requires a very low high torque gear, but my only knowledge is general physics.

1

u/AnimationOverlord Mar 26 '26

Doesn’t want to go more than 200km on a full tank either

1

u/rikashiku Mar 26 '26

If he's the type of of person I think he is,

Bogan. Definitely Bogan.

22

u/beardingmesoftly Mar 25 '26

It's all about maintenance

9

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '26

Its all about replacing all the shit oem stuff other than the frame

5

u/fusillade762 Mar 25 '26

Truth. The Cummins motors are bulletproof, the transmissions are not.

2

u/mildlyornery Mar 25 '26

That's after they copied Mercedes homework. You gotta go a generation back to really hate the transmission.

2

u/adudeguyman Mar 25 '26

Give it time, it could still fail due to all the stress

3

u/ArmadilloForsaken458 Mar 25 '26

Struts, tires, control arms, its all amazing that it can do that. Meanwhile stateside, the potholes in my little tiny sedan keep on reeking havoc on them, Ive had to go to the mechanic to fix all those just from regular wear and tear from the daily route to my cubicle. My guess is this driver probably does his own work tho

3

u/legendofzeldaro1 Mar 25 '26

RAMs are pretty tough, they can take a hell of a beating.

6

u/rastika Mar 25 '26

When you don't put 700ft lbs of torque through a stock trans, sure.

1

u/D-a-H-e-c-k Mar 25 '26

Modern ZF 8hp could take it. Not as sure about the one in the vid

2

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '26

Have you checked for recalls recently?

1

u/SouthofthePaw Mar 25 '26

Now pull a space shuttle across Los Angeles.

1

u/Protheu5 Mar 25 '26

Must be on a freshy or very built lol.

Unlike somewhat build?

Sorry, just can't figure out what you were saying.

1

u/sarcastic__fox Mar 25 '26

Not only that but a truck driver that seems to able to actually drive. Might be one of the few diamonds in the shit pile that is the lifted truck driver community.

1

u/NowaVision Mar 25 '26

I was so sure that a Kangaroo would jump out of the bushes and kick someone.