The good old United States of America ~ In the world of off-road live event coverage, facing online magazine deadlines, as well as print magazine deadlines, the summer season's call of duty always creates a heavy and hectic schedule.

From the west coast to the east coast and throughout Baja California, the Dodge Ram 2500 4WD Desert Tank has led the way to adventure-after-adventure. Chasing off-road dreams in professional rock crawling, off-road desert racing and a variety of other off-road competitive events, we have logged over 10,000 miles journaling the trials and tribulations of off-road racers throughout America.

The Dodge Ram 2500 Desert Tank is powered by a seriously modified 5.9 liter, 24- valve Cummings Turbo Diesel engine that produces around 500 horsepower and 1100 foot pounds of torque to the rear wheels. Matched to the hardy Cummings Turbo Diesel motor is its match in highest rated performance transmissions available, the ATS Diesel Transmission.

Built from the inside out this transmission hosts a billet input-shaft, as well as a custom ATS Diesel clutch pack.

Some may ask, “Is this an automatic transmission?” The answer is simply, "yes."

ATS Diesel experts have engineered and developed this transmission to withstand a heavily modified Cummins Turbo Diesel up to 700 horsepower.

In our extensive testing of many different products in the past four years, The Desert Tank has rigorously tested this ATS transmission in the most tortourous conditions of dirt, sand, mud, and extensive highway towing. We are not talking about just towing, but with extremely heavy loads in the midst of summer heat waves and it has surpassed all of our expectations. ATS Diesel Rocks!

Prior to embarking on our North American summer road trip, we performed some interior modifications to match our recently added Mastercraft racing seat configurations. In order to open up a little more room for storage of sensitive computer and camera equipment in our quad cab Dodge Ram truck, we removed the rear stock folding bench seat and made way for some serious changes.

After the removal of the rear folding seat, we took exact measurements for our plan in developing a carpeted storage deck. A trip to Home Depot resulted in spending less then $100 for this project. It wasn’t long before the ¾ inch plywood began to take shape in the rear compartment of the Desert Tank. Our platform was drilled and the frame of our deck stand was fastened onto the bottom sheet metal of the body cab.

However, the exposed area, where the rear upper seat was originally mounted, needed some attention. Using some of the latest aerosol texture material, available from Krylon, we matched the interior agate color with a grey and black texture applied to the clean interior steel of the cab. The fast drying texture finished nicely as the masking tape was removed within minutes of application. The application using aerosol can was easy to work with and the finished product blends nicely with the rest of the interior.

With the customized and fitted deck installed, the last operation was the laying of grey indoor/outdoor carpet. Using the stickiest red labeled aerosol glue, manufactured for the installation of automotive upholstery, we got busy completing the entire installation with the laying of the carpet. After it was glued we got busy trimming all the excess carpet. Within 30 minutes we had cleaned up our mess admired the roomy custom deck securely mounted to the floor of the interior cab.

It was amazing how much additional room this provided us. With multiple laptop computers, indestructible Pelican camera cases, video equipment and all the electronic equipment needed to operate our mobile high-speed satellite uplink system, the additional room gained was well worth the modification. Although, certainly the removal of the rear bench seat limits the passenger capability available for use. In our case, the 10,000 mile road trip across America was a working trip for two persons.

In addition, the subsequent Baja California Peninsula off-road adventure that we have just returned from was also planned to accomodate two persons and a dog named "Bear."

The most intricate detail of this project layed in the fact that the deck had to be shaped and customized around the 45 liter Fridge Freeze 12-volt refridgerator freezer.

As most readers of this column are aware of, the stock front seats and center console were removed earlier this year during the installation of our Mastercraft race seats. A 45 liter Fridge Freeze refridgerator/cooler was also customized at the time of purchase to allow a driver or passenger to open the lid from either Mastercraft race seat positioned in either driver position or the passenger position.

Fridge Freeze founder, Jay Black, customized the 45 liter FridgeFreeze with a customized stainless steel hinge on the back of the Fridge Freeze that faces the rear truck bed. This feature allows occupants of the vehicle to quench their thirst during our hot, long adventure rides. The easy accessibility provides for a no-brainer when you're bouncing down in the dirt roads of North America.

The overall project frees up valuable space in which we are able to store our equipment and is big enough for an adult to nap during our many journeys across the North American continent.

The Desert Tank is a well-used machine that we completely brutalize in our continued testing process of off-road toughest components. Stay tuned as we detail an epic trip down the entire Baja Peninsula covering some 2800-miles off-road over two weeks in late September 2004. Here's a sneak peak view of the boys of La Paz Baja California here at Baja Racing Legend's - Francisco Monroy shop in the heart of the Baja Peninsula. See ya next month!!!