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The conception began when Wayne Yaswyk purchased a 2004 Dodge
Ram 2500 quad cab 4X4 turbo diesel truck. He loved the truck,
but found it wasn't satisfying all his cargo carrying needs,
especially when ferrying the wife and kids back and forth.
He needed a sport utility vehicle. He test drove all makes
and models of SUVs but couldn't find one that could provide
the human transportation capacity he desired along with the
ride and power he currently enjoyed in his Ram.
The solution was as obvious as it was revolutionary, bordering
on automotive blasphemy; combine a Dodge Ram truck with a
Chevrolet Suburban SUV.
To accomplish the Frankenstein-ish feat, Yaswyk turned to
Howell and Joachim. Howell and Joachim were familiar with
the truck already, having installed a 6" lift and oversized
tires for Yaswyk when the truck was brand new. Despite having
performed many odd conversions, they tried to talk him out
of this conversion arguing it would be saner to purchase a
Suburban and have them modify it to his liking.
But Yaswyk was firm in his resolve and they set to work on
February 1, 2005, on their six-week saw and stitch campaign.
Joachim recalled Yaswyk wasn't nervous until the blade was
ready to be taken to his truck. "He wasn't really nervous
until we started on the Dodge," Joachim chuckled. "He
asked us if we were nervous and I said, 'I'm not nervous it's
not my truck.'"
After chopping 12" off the back and widening the whole
truck, Yaswyk's nerves were settled after the two pieces came
together. "Once it was tacked together and all mocked
up he knew right away that he loved it," continued Howell.
"He said, '"Give 'er hell boys!'"
In addition to the body modifications what has had people
chasing the truck down on the road and at shows has been the
paint. Joachim explained the inspiration for doing an airbrush
job on the Ramburban came while he and his wife were watching
the television show Overhauling. He explained his vision to
Howell and identified a difficulty. Neither of them had done
any airbrushing. Inspired and undeterred, Howell used after
work hours and many test objects to hone his airbrushing skills
before finally employing them on the truck. "Under the
convention centre lights those things actually look like they're
moving," Joachim concluded.
The Ramburban made its debut at the Winnipeg World of Wheels
where many confused it as being official concept vehicle from
Dodge. Despite winning multiple awards, including the ISCA
Street Achievement Award for Design and Originality, Joachim
and Howell reported that Yaswyk is still not quite satisfied.
In search of still more room and more doors, Yaswyk is now
contemplating applying the Ramburban concept to a Dodge Ram
with a long box. Soon, Ramburban version 2.0 shall live.
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