Jung Again, or Introducing the Detroit Drop

"Josh Welton" (watchtheprettylight)
08/30/2015 at 20:48 • Filed to: truck yeah, ram, brown, detroit drop, brown dog welding, trucklopnik, detroit, style, off road

“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves. ”

I dig Carl G. Jung. He got the human condition. We are not easily defined or simple creatures. You remember “ !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ” from Full Metal Jacket; my man wearing a pin for peace, writing Born to Kill on his lid. We are, in fact, the beings that seek individuation by putting yet another set of Torque Thrust IIs on our 4th gen Camaros. The duality of man. I want to be different, just like everyone else.

Jung felt that artists have no free will, but are compelled to create. They are merely conduits to the next “normal.” I mean, there had to be the first hot rodder to build a slammed C10. “Really dude, a farm truck that lays frame? pshhhhh. DUMB.” But the truth is it was inevitable . Now they fall off trees like apples. Because, well, they look awesome. But you can only do so many variations on a theme. There can only be so many little deuce coupes. Or pro street ‘56 F100s. Or ‘51 Mercs.

The *play instinct* was too strong to ignore for this one. The idea has been in my brain for a while. A lowered late model street truck on mud tires, specifically my ‘09 Ram R/T on M/Ts. It was not a question of “well yeah, but what’s it good for?” It is an answer to “how freaking rad would that look?”

And the answer is VERY.

Yes, that’s my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . What started as a relatively simple roll pan replacement turned into a summer long re-imagination of “the object I love.” It’s unique, for sure. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (top photo belongs to him) have posted a few pics on social media the last couple days, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Although I have been informed by one astute Mickey Thompson fan via IG that “you’ll need at least 5 more inches of travel to off-road,” and a dude on Facebook literally wanted to fight me when I asked him how useful all his truck’s suspension travel was on those Home Depot runs.

I gave my idea to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! a couple months ago, and he did a few quick renderings for me. After doing some googling I settled on 3M’s new “matte brown metallic” color. It’s so rad in person. Pictures don’t do it justice. Keith and Mat at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! really pushed me to do a two tone, and while I fought it at first I’m glad we ended up going that route. Max drew it up and Jeff at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! pretty much followed the concept to a T. I’ll do a write up on the wrap itself soon. It’s insane the lengths Jeff went to...you just don’t wrap a white vehicle. He freaking blew the entire thing apart, hypercars don’t get wraps this detailed. I wasn’t gonna go “shop truck” crazy, but Jeff subtly embossed the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on the tailgate, a nod to my boy Woodson. RIP.

I need better pics of the wrap details. They’re coming.

I decided on the Mickey Thompson Deegan 38 Mud Terrains because, uh, they look gnarly. I wanted the wildest tire I could get and have the truck stay “drivable.” The Deegans are known to be a relatively thin M/T, and the overall height on the 305/55/r20 isn’t much more than what the Ram came with stock. It was still a pretty big risk as these tires have the big off road lugs, the truck has a 2/4 drop, and it’s not like I could go to a forum and ask “will it fit?” As Kyle from Mickey Thompson said: “I’ve never seen our Deegan 38 tires on a truck like this...it looks sick!”

Different: Check.

Sick: Check.

The wheels are a 20x9 Laramie style knock-off. Again...a little bit different. The SRT10 wheels are most definitely rad, but EVERYONE does them. I had Mike at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! apply the color. He mixed it, even named it “Woodson Brown,” again after the late Brown Dog. I had actually decided to go bronze when I was thinking the truck was going to either stay white or change to grey, and was concerned it was going to be a little much with the matte brown. But I dig it.

And for its final act: The damn thing is still fun to drive. It doesn’t launch quite like it did on the Nitto 420s, but it still has 400hp and 4.10 gears. Same killer exhaust. I had the stock spindles out just in case, but don’t need ‘em. I’ve put a few hundred miles on it; freeway, side streets, dirt roads, down in Detroit, and it’s all good. A bit noisy, but relatively composed. At full lock theres a little rub, but nothing crazy.

(Also shoutout to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! at AutoLavish. He usually details supercars, but has given both the truck and my new Scat Pack his touch. Thanks man!)

The Duality of Truck. 1/3 sport truck, 1/3 muscle car, 1/3 off roader. Wait, what’s dual mean again?

So all these crazy truck styles have names. Not all of them flattering, but whatever. SoCal, Cen-Cal, Hawaiian, Bro-truck. I’m thinking a lowered 2wd truck on M/Ts should be called the Detroit Drop. Yeah?

The thing breaks necks. Slamming brakes. WOT to catch up. Lane changes to get closer. The thumb ups are out and phones are snapping pics. I’ve driven it to the work at the prototype shop the last few days and everyone from the the young guys to the old timers to the girl that almost tripped over a speed bump while walking and staring are definitely digging it. Which makes me happy. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

If only I could figure out a way to retrofit the ZF 8 speed...hmmmmm.....

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

DISCUSSION (42)

CB > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 20:54

That thing is so slick. I love it.

Milky > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 20:56

The shit, you know Max? This really is a small town.

Truck looks damn good by the way, great color.

nafsucof > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 20:57

Wow that's a good look

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 20:57

...

My FR-S on snow tires is probably better off road

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 20:58

This is outstanding, it’s so... perfect. Matte brown metallic is awesome.

Also, the photos are pretty amazing.

Swayze Train GTi > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 20:59

I’m sure someone’s going to hate this for “not being functional” but it looks like you could load up the bed with some stuff still. Maybe not anywhere near as much as before, but hey, it’s more about having a easy loading area than weight with most truck drivers I know.

And it looks good, I have to say. I’ve always like the look off aggressive truck tires.

Josh Welton > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
08/30/2015 at 21:01

And this truck is still quicker on road...

Josh Welton > Swayze Train GTi
08/30/2015 at 21:02

Thanks!

shop-teacher > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 21:03

Detroit drop .... I like it!

Josh Welton > Milky
08/30/2015 at 21:04

Love that dude! Crazy story, he comes up to say hi at Autorama. My wife looks at him...”do you have a sister named ___? ” They’d totally done some music thing together years ago, and Max had drummed. Hahahaha

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 21:06

that thing looks absolutely bad ass with those mudders. well done

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 21:07

Ha! Challenge accepted. Woodward drag race if I ever see you

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 21:10

The Duality of Truck. 1/3 sport truck, 1/3 muscle car, 1/3 off roader. Wait, what’s dual mean again?

Oh, I thought it was 2WD?

Josh Welton > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
08/30/2015 at 21:10

BJ > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 21:12

Wild look colour is amazing. I’d like to know more about the wrap and what was done.

Josh Welton > BJ
08/30/2015 at 21:16

Yeah, I’m gonna get some better detail pics and then write it up this week. Literally the entire truck was taken apart to do it. The color pops, especially for a matte, in real life, hard to capture in photos.

Dogsport2.0 > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 21:19

Awesome. If it’s never been done before, congrats on coming up with something new thats different without setting motoring back... I will never forgive the guy who invented “Donks.”

Seriously, no rub issues with tires?

Josh Welton > Dogsport2.0
08/30/2015 at 21:24

I mean, it has to have been done? I’d think? Either way, I’m here to make it a thing..ha! On bag it would be killer, drop it just above tread at shows and raise it a bit to drive.

Full lock in park situations it rubs inside just a bit. Cool thing is that the few times I’ve hit big bumps at speed and it’s “hit”, it touches the inside plastic fender liner, so it kind of warns me before it would take out fender lip. But really I’ve driven it everywhere and it’s been great. Pleasantly surprised. Supposedly they are good in snow too, so I’m gonna see if that’s true this winter.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 21:45

Fantastic, and I am not a truck guy. Great even that it is a standard cab, short bed... which is hardly seen among the Cowboy Cadillacs (quad-cab lux trucks) anymore.

A set of fender flares in the matte black from the hood and the roof, and the truck is finished.

Funktheduck > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 22:00

Looks great

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 22:14

Kinja'd!!!

STRAIGHT FLEXIN BRUH

Jayhawk Jake > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 22:29

Love it. I've been thinking for a while that a muscle truck would be badass

BigBlock440 > Josh Welton
08/30/2015 at 22:39

I hate lowered trucks, but I love cars on mud tires. This is a car on mud tires shaped like a truck, I think. If it were the usual rubber band street tires, I would hate it, but I can’t. Those mud tires and the color, I can’t help but love it. Looks great, thanks for sharing.

Josh Welton > BigBlock440
08/31/2015 at 05:54

Thanks! Yeah, pretty much it's a muscle car on mud tires...with the biggest trunk ever.

Josh Welton > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
08/31/2015 at 05:57

I was trying to think of the word the 4x4 guys use for these kinds of pics haha. “Flexin’” slipped my brain

cazzyodo > Josh Welton
08/31/2015 at 08:12

Frickin’ sweet, dude.

Josh Welton > cazzyodo
08/31/2015 at 09:09

Thanks!

cazzyodo > Josh Welton
08/31/2015 at 09:19

How’s the 2wd treat you in the winter? I always have the itch for a truck to replace one I drove when in high school and college but don’t know how they do in the winter.

I would keep mine in 2wd for fun but 4wd for certainty.

Josh Welton > cazzyodo
08/31/2015 at 10:05

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/automotive-mis…

Duck > Josh Welton
08/31/2015 at 10:40

The only thing I’m a bit on the fence about, is the rear bumper removal.

That said, how the hell do I order one of your belt buckles?

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Josh Welton
08/31/2015 at 10:41

haha yea i used to own a slightly lifted jeep so i know about it.

Also the color is amazing on the truck

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Josh Welton
08/31/2015 at 10:47

Kinja'd!!!

I think you’re on to something. What if this catches on and you were the pioneer of this automotive style? Mind Blown!

cazzyodo > Josh Welton
08/31/2015 at 11:10

Works for me.

I miss my truck.

And snowy adventures in it.

Josh Welton > Duck
08/31/2015 at 11:22

Right on. I’ve had a roll pan basically since it was new, but went metal on this one. Ice Nine welded it in and matched up the body lines on the side, it’s killer “in real life.”

Email me at josh@browndogwelding.com or DM me through Instagram or message me through FB about the buckle!

Josh Welton > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
08/31/2015 at 11:24

I think the minimum..THE MINIMUM...would be a statue of my likeness along Woodward downtown Detroit.

Josh Welton > cazzyodo
08/31/2015 at 11:26

I've heard that, as far as M/Ts go, the Deegans are good in snow. Can't wait to find out!

cazzyodo > Josh Welton
09/02/2015 at 14:14

I was talking to someone the other day that runs muds and that his (forget the brand) are a little squirrely in light snow but once it accumulates a few inches they’re terrific. He’s also nearing the end of their life cycle so possibly an influence haha.

Josh Welton > cazzyodo
09/02/2015 at 22:01

I’m guessing they’re a far cry from the X-Ices I usually run. But what the hell, you only live once...

cazzyodo > Josh Welton
09/03/2015 at 08:58

That’s a very safe assumption to make. I think he said the spring will see some replacements to more all-terrain tires than anything.

Apparently they’ve served him well across his uses so that’s good at least.

lonestranger > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/05/2015 at 18:24

What? 2WDs can’t be off-roaders?

Kinja'd!!!

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > Josh Welton
10/05/2015 at 21:02

This is awesome.

At the dealership I work at we have a Blackout edition Silverado WT and I was telling a coworker that I wanted to put knobby tires on the 20’s and stuff a Z06 LS7/manual transmission in it.

He called me weird.

Farabomb > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
10/06/2015 at 09:11

Just don’t man. Find a place with some turns and you have a chance.