If you own a Ram 1500 and you're thinking about turning it into a serious overlanding rig, you're starting with one of the best platforms on the market. The Ram 1500 hits the sweet spot for overland builds: enough payload to haul real gear, enough comfort to live in for weeks at a time, and enough off-road capability — especially in Rebel and TRX trims — to get deep into the backcountry without breaking a sweat.
But here's the catch every Ram 1500 owner runs into eventually: where do you put all the gear?
Recovery boards, fuel cans, water storage, hatchets, shovels, kitchen kits, tools, hard cases, MOLLE pouches — overlanding accumulates equipment fast, and the bed of a Ram 1500 only holds so much before you've buried the gear you actually need under everything else.
This guide walks through everything you need to know to set up your Ram 1500 for overlanding: the essential gear categories, smart storage strategies, and why dealers and overlanders consistently choose STAPLL Fender Racks as the best no-drill solution for maximizing exterior storage without permanently modifying your truck.
Why the Ram 1500 Is a Great Overlanding Platform
Before getting into the build itself, it's worth understanding what makes the Ram 1500 such a strong starting point for overlanding compared to other half-ton trucks.
- Coil-spring rear suspension. The Ram 1500 is the only half-ton on the market with a coil-spring rear. The ride quality on washboard roads and broken pavement is dramatically better than leaf-sprung competitors.
- Available air suspension. The Ram 1500's optional air suspension lets you raise the truck for clearance off-road and drop it for highway efficiency — a game-changer for long overland trips.
- Real payload capacity. Depending on configuration, a Ram 1500 carries 1,500–2,000+ lbs of payload — enough for a rooftop tent, water, fuel, gear, and passengers without exceeding the GVWR.
- Rebel and TRX trims. Factory-equipped with off-road shocks, skid plates, locking rear differential (Rebel), and aggressive tires.
- Crew cab interior. Best-in-class cabin comfort and storage — important when you're living out of your truck for days at a time.
At STAPLL, we've installed hundreds of Fender Racks on trucks built for overlanding — everything from brand-new 2024 Rams to third-gen 2004 builds. The platform is universally well-suited for the kind of exterior storage system most overlanders need.
The Essential Gear for a Ram 1500 Overland Build
Before figuring out where to put everything, you need to know what you're actually building toward. A good overland setup covers six core categories of gear:
1. Recovery Gear
The non-negotiable starting point. If you don't have it, you don't go off-road. Includes Maxtrax recovery boards, a quality recovery strap, soft shackles, a winch (or at minimum a hitch-mounted recovery point), and a tire repair kit. Every overland build should plan for the worst-case recovery scenario before the first trip.
2. Fuel & Water Storage
The further you go, the more critical this becomes. RotopaX packs are the industry standard for a reason — modular, stackable, and available in fuel, water, and storage variants. Plan for at least one extra fuel can and 5–10 gallons of water per person for any trip over 48 hours.
3. Tools & Maintenance
Shovels, axes, hatchets, a tire deflator and inflator, basic mechanic's tools, and zip ties. Quick Fist clamps make mounting these tools clean and accessible — no rummaging through a toolbox at 11pm on a forest road.
4. Kitchen & Cooking
A camp stove, fuel canisters, pots/pans, a water filtration system, food storage, and ideally a fridge or cooler. Many overlanders build a full kitchen module that lives in or near the bed — and a STAPLL 56L Fender Case Kit is a popular foundation for this exact purpose.
5. Shelter & Sleep
Rooftop tents (iKamper, Roofnest, Yakima), ground tents, or sleep platforms in the bed. A truck camper (Four Wheel Camper, GFC, Scout, Supertramp) is the next-level option for serious long-haul trips.
6. Power & Lighting
Auxiliary lighting, a portable power station (DJI Power, Goal Zero, EcoFlow), a dual-battery setup if you're running a fridge, and ideally solar input for off-grid charging.
Storage Strategy: Why the Bed Alone Isn't Enough
Here's the math that every Ram 1500 owner eventually does: your bed is about 5.5 to 6.5 feet long depending on trim. Once you put a rooftop tent or camper up top, mount a bike rack or carry passengers' luggage, the open bed space gets eaten up fast. Buried under everything else, your recovery boards and tools become inaccessible exactly when you need them most.
The solution is exterior bedside storage on the fender. Items you need to access quickly — recovery boards, fuel, tools, hatchets — get moved out of the bed and onto the side of the truck where they're always reachable. The bed stays clear for camping gear, passenger cargo, or sleep platforms.
This is exactly the gap STAPLL Fender Racks fill — and why dealers consistently recommend them as the ultimate overlanding storage solution.
Why STAPLL Fender Racks Are the Dealer's Choice for Overlanding
STAPLL didn't invent truck accessories. What we did invent — and what's now patented — is a way to mount serious gear to the side of your truck without drilling a single hole. The Modular Truck-Rail Mounting System (MTMS) Fender Rack mounts to your factory bed rail or accessory track using included stainless steel hardware. No drilling. No permanent modification. No compromise on resale value.
Here's why overlanders and dealers consistently pick STAPLL over the alternatives:
1. No-Drill Universal Fit
Every STAPLL Fender Rack fits virtually every modern Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 (plus Ford, Chevy, GMC, Toyota, Nissan, and Jeep). Both Track and Clamp hardware kits come in the box — guaranteed to mount on your truck or your money back.
2. Premium Build Quality
18/8 stainless passivated hardware, zinc-plated powder-coated steel, and 6061 anodized aluminum. Every rack ships with a Magnetic Rubber Spacer and 3M Paint Protection Film to keep your fender scratch-free during install and use.
3. MOLLE-Compatible Mounting Surface
STAPLL's MOLLE panels work with virtually every accessory mount on the market: RotopaX, Maxtrax, Quick Fist, DMOS shovels, Rhino-Rack, RockyMounts, 1UP bike racks, and any standard MOLLE pouch.
4. Multiple Sizes for Every Build
The lineup covers every use case:
- 6x7" Fender Rack ($199.99) — Compact and versatile. Single RotopaX or small hard case.
- 6x13" Fender Rack ($249.99) — Sits lower for camper clearance. 1–2 RotopaX or Maxtrax when mounting a pair of 6x13s.
- 48x10" Fender Rack ($599.99) — Maximum versatility. Fuel, tools, recovery, and storage on one rack.
- 56L Fender Case Kit ($649.99) — Best seller. Full storage solution with rack hardware bundled.
5. Backed By a Dealer Network That Knows the Product
Our National Install Dealer network and the STAPLL Overland dealer program install Fender Racks on customer trucks every day. When dealers recommend STAPLL to their customers, they're recommending the product they trust to install on their own builds.
Real Ram Build: 2019 Ram Rebel — Build #82
One of the most complete Ram 1500 overland builds we've installed recently is Source_Code_Overlanding's 2019 Ram Rebel — and it's a textbook example of how to outfit a 1500 for serious overlanding.
The Setup:
- STAPLL Gear: 56L Fender Case Kit (driver side, hard case storage) + 6x13" MOLLE upgrade (passenger side)
- Install Method: Clamp Hardware
- Camper / Shelter: iKamper BDV Rooftop Tent
- Suspension: Rough Country / Carli 3.5" lift
- Tires: Falken Wildpeak AT4 35x12.50x18
- Power: DJI Power 1000 + 2000 with DC/DC/solar charging
- Recovery: Warn VR Evo 12-s winch (Vice Designs hidden mount)
- Other: ICECO APL 55 fridge, ARB brushless dual compressor, Joolca HOTTAP shower, BuiltRight bed-side MOLLE panels, Diode Dynamics lighting, Midland GMRS radio
This is what a complete overland Ram 1500 looks like — and it's a great example of how the STAPLL Fender Rack platform integrates with every other major overlanding component. The 56L Hard Case on the driver side handles bulky storage (tools, kitchen gear, recovery accessories). The 6x13" MOLLE panel on the passenger side gives him an expandable MOLLE surface for mounting everything from RotopaX to recovery boards to Quick Fist clamps.
For a 1500-platform truck, this build hits the perfect balance — no over-built dually weight, all the capability of a full overland rig, and exterior storage that keeps the bed clear for the rooftop tent and overflow gear.
Other Real Ram Builds Worth Studying
The Rebel above is one of dozens of Ram builds in our customer gallery. A few more that are worth checking out as you plan your own:
2025 Dodge Ram — Build #50
A clean white 2025 Dodge Ram paired with an Adventure Hardware Camper and a 56L Fender Case Kit. Demonstrates how STAPLL integrates seamlessly with camper-equipped Rams. See the full build →
2024 Dodge Ram — Build #57
A 2024 Ram outfitted for daily-driver-plus-weekend-overlander duty. Shows how STAPLL works for newer trucks where you absolutely don't want to drill any holes. See the full build →
2016 Dodge Ram — Build #51
A 2016 Ram demonstrating that older trucks fit just as cleanly as the newest models — the universal-fit promise in action. See the full build →
2018 Ram 3500 — Build #71
For Ram owners considering the jump up to a 2500 or 3500, this build shows the same STAPLL system working seamlessly on a heavy-duty platform. See the full build →
Dodge Power Wagon 3500 — Build #23
A no-compromise overland build on a Power Wagon. See the full build →
And many more in the full Customer Builds gallery.
The Right Ram 1500 Overland Storage Build
If you're starting your Ram 1500 overland build today, here's how we recommend stacking the STAPLL system based on hundreds of customer setups:
Entry Build — Just Getting Started ($249.99)
One 6x13" Fender Rack on the passenger side with a pair of RotopaX (one fuel, one water). Driver side stays open for now. Total cost: a single rack plus accessories.
Standard Overland Build ($849.99–$1,250)
A pair of 6x13" Fender Racks — one for fuel/water (driver), one for Maxtrax recovery boards (passenger). This is the most common starting configuration for serious overlanders.
Full Overland Build ($1,500+)
A 56L Fender Case Kit on the driver side for storage, plus a 48x10" Fender Rack on the passenger side for varied gear (RotopaX + Maxtrax + Quick Fist tools). This is the build most STAPLL Overland dealers recommend for a no-compromise Ram 1500 setup.
If You Have a Tonneau Cover or Capper
Add the Capper Lift & Seal Kit ($149.99). It creates a weather-tight seal between your cover/camper and the bed rail, allowing the Fender Rack to mount cleanly without compromising the integrity of your cover.
How to Get Started
Setting up your Ram 1500 for overlanding doesn't have to be overwhelming. Take it one step at a time, pick the gear that matches your actual trips, and choose storage systems — like STAPLL — that you won't have to undo or modify if your build evolves.
To make picking the right rack easier, we built two free tools for Ram 1500 owners:
→ Use the Rack Recommender Tool — 5 questions, gives you the right rack recommendation for both sides of your truck.
→ Book a Free Build Consultation — 20 minutes with a STAPLL build expert. Walk through your truck, your gear list, and your trip goals. We'll recommend the right setup.
The STAPLL Fender Rack platform is engineered, manufactured, and supported in Durango, Colorado — and backed by a universal fit guarantee. If it doesn't fit your Ram 1500, you get your money back. That's the dealer's-choice promise, and it's the reason hundreds of Ram owners have built their dream overland rig on the STAPLL platform.
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