STAGE 1: EDGE JUICE WITH ATTITUDE

We love when a product delivers what it promises and, to that end, the Edge Juice with Attitude module more than delivered. We installed the Edge on T.J.’s 2004 6.0 litre Ford Super Duty first and were very impressed with the simplicity of the installation. The bulk of the installation was a simple matter of plugging in wiring harnesses to existing connectors. The only part of the installation that required any mechanical ability at all was the installation of the exhaust gas temperature probe into the exhaust manifold and that was easily done with a cordless drill and a ¼”NPT tap. The entire installation took about 30 minutes.

 

But, what really impressed us was when we took the truck for its first test drive with the Edge hooked up. As promised, the truck boasted considerably more power and ¼ mile and 0-60 mph speeds saw a dramatic reduction. While we all appreciate more horsepower, that’s only part of the advantage of installing the Edge on the 6.0 diesel. What truly impressed us was how smoothly and evenly the power was delivered through all of the transmission shifts with the 6-speed automatic. The Edge took what was already an awesome motor/transmission combination and made them work together even more effectively. The lower gear shifts became much smoother and the truck downshifted less at highway speeds when towing and climbing hills, undoubtedly due to the increase in horsepower.

 

Our first trip towing a trailer was a real treat too. The Super Duty purred right along, despite the 7,000 pounds behind it and downshifted considerably less, especially when we pulled through several mountain passes. We also noticed a considerable increase in fuel economy with the Edge installed. T.J.’s truck gained nearly three miles per gallon both empty and when towing. When you consider the miles we put on in a year, the Edge will easily pay for itself in no time.

 

The Edge has five power level settings and we found that level four seemed to work best for the majority of our driving. The power increase was more than adequate and exhaust gas temperatures stayed well within safe operating ranges at this level. At level five, we would occasionally get an EGT alarm when working the truck hard but if you needed to quickly dispatch a muscle car at a set of lights, it is nice to know switching to level 5 is as simple as the push of a button.

 

Overall, we couldn’t be happier with the Edge. Horsepower gains are significant, fuel economy is increased and truck performs better right through the entire power band. The Edge also lets you accurately monitor your motor’s exhaust gas temperature, boost pressure and rpms. We are definitely very impressed with this product.

Putting the second Rancho lift kit on T.J.’s truck went extremely fast, taking right around the suggest six hours. While this is a full suspension lift that sees front and rear leaf springs changed, the kit itself is very easy to install by anyone with a small amount of mechanical ability and requires only basic tools. The only specialty tool required is a pitman arm puller and it is available at most auto parts stores for about $40. Other than that, a ½” socket set, wrenches, jacks and jack stands are really all you need to get the job done. 

The most noticeable advantage of the lift is that it breathed new life into the nose-heavy Ford, levelling the truck and getting it up in the air where a 4x4 belongs. The new Super Duties sit several inches lower on the front end than the rear and the kit gets the front and rear in line with each other, bringing the front end up a little over four inches and the rear about 2 ½ inches. While not a huge lift, it transformed T.J.’s 2004 Super Duty long box from boring to bad!  

While the truck looked hot after the lift, the real treat came on the first test drive. The new suspension was considerably tighter making the truck handle like a dream in the rough stuff and roll and fade was completely eliminated in the corners. While the ride is unquestionably tighter, the new springs did not make the truck ride rougher on the highway or when cruising the city streets. 

The next addition to T.J.’s truck was a dual shock kit on the front end. For this, Rancho’s new Pro Series RS9000X shocks were selected. The installation of this kit couldn’t have simpler. The new dual shock bracket bolted right into existing holes and then the shocks bolted right on. Taking about turning heads, these radical shocks with their remote nitrogen reservoir are all the talk every time we pull the truck into a gas station. No one has ever seen anything like them. And, while the good looks are a bonus, the new adjustable shocks smooth out the roughest terrain yet allow you to dial them down for cruising the city streets. The front end on the Ford had a tendency to begin to wander on gravel washboard but the new Rancho shocks tamed that right down. We also installed a pair of the Pro Series shocks on the rear to complete the suspension upgrade. 

Overall, we couldn’t be happier with the Rancho lift kit and Pro Series shocks!

When we set out to build the project Fords, we knew one of the biggest challenges would be selecting the right winch for these behemoths. The F-350 Ford’s equipped with their diesel power plants are big, heavy beasts to say the least and getting one pulled out of the mud is no task for conventional 8,000 or 9,000 pound winches. No, for these bad boys we selected the new Ramsey 15,000-pound Patriot winch. Not only do these super tough planetary gear winches have the power to get the job done, they have line speeds and durability to get it done quickly. 

The winch came with a very simple to install mounting kit and we managed to mount the winches on both trucks in about four hours, including videoing the segment for the series. The installation required a minimal amount of tools and the only technical part of the entire installation was cutting the bumper bracket hole slightly larger and this was easily done with a small angle grinder. At the same time that we installed the winch, we installed a remote control kit that allows you to operate the winch from 50 feet away using a small fob. Considering how much Richard hates getting dirty, he thought this was an awesome addition to the winch.  

The Ramsey winch performed admirably in the field, delivering all the power that it promised…. which was more than enough to yank the big Fords out of the worst holes. What amazed us both, however, was the speed at which the winch operated. With no load, the 5.5 horsepower winch can move nearly 25 feet of cable per minute. Even under full load, the Patriot is capable of moving 15,000 pounds at an unbelievable 3.9 feet per minute. Needless to say, it didn’t take long to get the Super Duties unstuck. The Patriot is spooled with extra heavy 7/16 cable and comes with a replaceable self-locking clevis hook. 

Like all Ramsey products, the Patriot winch is proudly built in the U.S.A. and offers a limited lifetime warranty. When ordered with the optional mounting kit, you get everything you need to bolt it right on your truck. This winch is definitely a winner in our opinion and the remote control is an absolute must for safety and convenience.

We love it when a product not only looks awesome but also serves a functional purpose on a vehicle. Case in point being the Bushwacker OE fender flares that we installed on the project Fords.  Bushwacker is the industry leader in aftermarket fender flares and they offer and number of styles to suit your needs. For the project Fords we selected the OE style flares. They offered both the looks and protection for the F-350s that we were looking for. Both of us wanted a flare that looked like it came from the factory yet delivered protection from flying mud and rocks. To that end, the Bushwacker flares fit the bill perfectly. 

These super-durable flares can be easily painted to custom match your vehicle or you can do as we did and mount them as they come. We both liked the bold look of the black flares on our vehicles. Bushwacker is proud of their no-drill mounting system and putting the flares on couldn’t have been easier. The front flares utilized the existing screws that hold the fender liner in place and the rear flares utilized a unique clamp system that was super easy to use. The total installation time was well under an hour and required nothing more than a screwdriver. 

While the flares look great, they offer extra protection when off-roading… especially when you go install wider tires. In our opinion, any serious 4x4 is not complete without the addition of a set of Bushwacker flares.

Tires can make or break a 4x4 truck.  Everybody has their own list of specifications that is required from the perfect set of tires, based on their needs and intended use. The realities of producing a TV show is we spend half the year traveling. Our choice in tires had to allow us to carry on a conversation in the cab going down the highway as well as being the ultimate rock crawling, tree hopping, mud hog in the woods.

After a lot of research with people in the serious 4-wheel scene, one name kept coming up. Parnelli Jones Dirt Grip Tires.  We chose the 35"x12.50" 16R tires for the project trucks.

The tires feature a distinctive "PJ" initials tread pattern, which delivers tremendous traction as well as an amazingly quiet ride. A distinctive sidewall design provide three different lug patterns on the edges gives extra protection from abrasion, plus added traction in deep mud, snow or when aired down.   

Right off the tires added a whole new look to the trucks. The winch, flares and lift had been turning heads, with the new tires the trucks made jaws drop. Adding over two inches of vertical clearance to the truck the Dirt Grips at the same time stabilize the ride with a wider stance. At a distance the look is deceiving and the trucks seem stock height but wider, as the trucks approach you suddenly realize how formidable the package is.

The first surprise was how quiet the tires are on the black top, road noise is a quarter of what I expected. True the diesel engine makes a lot of noise by itself, you may notice tire noise more in a gas engine application. The second eye brow lifter was how sweet they rode. Unlike many off-road specialty tires I’ve ran, the Dirt Grips floated over potholes, rocks and downed trees with smooth traction. Rather than roughening up the ride as so many 10-ply sidewall tires the Dirt Grips actually smoothed it out. The wide-open lug pattern is super aggressive and self-cleaning; a burp of the Edge induced throttle is enough to send everything from mud boogers to big rocks skyward. The Dirt Grips provide a frightening amount of traction and care must be taken especially when climbing that you don’t go up something too dangerous to descend. The combination of tire face width and tremendous tread traction made this tire at home in sand or slick clay. Most 12.50” wide tires are better at flotation than straight tracking down a gumbo road, the Parnelli Jones were amazingly sure footed even when pulling a 16’ enclosed trailer which as all trailers like to, tries to “wag the dog” occasionally.

Dirt Grip Tires are remarkable performers that every mud man needs to try out on his ride.