In upstate New York there are three friends who revolve their family lives around their trucks, and we thought it was the kind of thing you’d want to see. Yes, we realize one of the trucks is a ½-ton, but it has been made into an eight-lug vehicle with Dana 60 axles.
John Stevens sent in a few photos to the 8-Lug offices and Editor Bob Carpenter was intrigued. “Send more photos,” was the response from B.C. And John obliged. He went out and corralled Gtuned Photography to come along and play in the giant sandbox the best friends forever like to romp in.
John drives a ’99 Dodge Ram 2500 with the 8.0L V-10 engine. Chuck Barnes has a ’97 Dodge Ram 1500 with 15 inches of lift and a 360ci engine. Eric Archer has an ’02 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins diesel.
“All of us are family guys in our late 30s,” John told us. “The trucks are not only our hobby but a family hobby. For me, there is no better prize than the reaction our trucks get from kids.” All three of the men have small children.
The black truck (left) is owned by Chuck Barnes. It’s a ’97 Dodge 1500 that’s been made into an eight-lug truck with Dana 60 axles front and rear, a 16-inch lift, 46-inch tires, 16-inch rims, 360 engine, and many other modifications. Chuck has done very well at many shows, and he and John often attend shows together. All the work done to this truck was done by Chuck himself since he bought the truck new in 1997.
The blue truck (center) belongs to John Stevens. It’s a ’99 Dodge 2500 8.0L V-10 with an 11-inch lift, 40-inch tires, 22-inch rims, and custom paint. This truck has done very well at many shows, including earning Best Paint awards, runner-up Best Mopar in the modified group of the Bloomsburg 4 Wheel Jamboree, and more.
The green truck (right) is owned by Eric Archer. It’s an ’02 2500 with a Cummins diesel and 35-inch tires. Eric competes in many local pulls with his truck and does very well, often placing in the Top Three. Eric has done all the work himself and takes pride in the performance of his truck. Having been built in his driveway, his truck not only performs on the track but is his daily driver and earns him money plowing snow in the winter. 
Some boys never really grow...
Some boys never really grow up. They just keep playing in bigger and bigger sandboxes.
Eric says his truck has enough...
Eric says his truck has enough under the hood to keep the competition guessing, and he has placed in the Top Four in each pull he has participated in this season. Not bad for a truck built by the owner in his driveway. This truck not only competes in pulling but also plows snow all winter.
John and his wife, Heather,...
John and his wife, Heather, take their custom ’99 Dodge to truck shows and usually bring home a trophy.
Black Dodge
Truck: ’97 Dodge Ram 1500
Owner: Chuck Barnes
Suspension: 15 inches total lift (12 suspension, 3 body)
Engine: 360 with cold-air intake, converted stock auto tranny to a five-speed manual
Tires: 46 inches
Wheels: 16 inches
Differential: High-pinion Dana 60 front, 10 1⁄4 Sterling rear
Interior: Katzkin leather seat covers
Other: All work has been done by Chuck in his home since he purchased the truck new in 1997
Green Dodge
Truck: ’02 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins diesel
Owner: Eric Archer
Engine: ARP head studs, BD 100hp injectors, Snow Performance Stage 3 water-methanol injection, AirDog 200-gph lift pump, Edge Attitude with Smarty, 4-inch turbo, BD Stage 2 tranny with triple-disc torque converter
Suspension: 4,000-pound front coils with 2-inch spacer, Top Gun Customz trailing arms, four extra leafs each side in the rear
Tires: 35 inches
Wheels: 16 inches
Other modifications: Homemade 6-inch stacks, homemade weight bar (attaches to Fisher snow plow frame), homemade sled pulling hitch
Blue Dodge
Truck: ’99 Dodge Ram 2500
Owners: John and Heather Stevens
Suspension: 11 inches total lift (8 suspension, 3 body)
Engine: 8.0L V-10, K&N intake, Superchips tuner, headers with dual MagnaFlow mufflers
Tires: 40x15.5
Wheels: 22 inches
Paint: Custom Paints by Mitch
Interior: Custom audio with 12-inch subs, painted dash and trim