A grandson fulfills a decade-old promise, driving his late grandfather’s 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 from Canada to Florida for restoration.
More than 10 years after his grandfather passed away, Mitchel Matthews finally brought home the truck he inherited: a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 powered by a 5.7-liter HEMI.
Matthews admits the pickup shaped his life. It was not babied — he drove it off-road, through mud and water, and lifted it far beyond stock. The truck now sits sky-high, thanks to an eight-inch body lift, a five-inch suspension lift, and massive 38-inch Mickey Thompson tires. Years of use and neglect left the once-proud Ram rusted, but Matthews always intended to revive it.
The truck had been parked in Winnipeg, Manitoba, while Matthews moved to Miami. This fall, he embarked on a four-day journey to drive it across the continent. The trip quickly turned into a test of patience and mechanical endurance.
Early on, police pulled him over for missing a front license plate and oversized tires. Later, severe shaking forced him to rotate the wheels, while a noisy differential raised concerns about whether the truck would finish the trip.
The final stretch brought overheating, requiring frequent stops to cool the engine. Matthews pushed on, alternating between daytime and overnight driving. By the fourth day, he was worn out but determined. The Ram finally rolled into Miami, parked beneath palm trees — battered but intact.
The arrival was only the beginning. Matthews now plans to rebuild the truck, aiming to replace the HEMI with a supercharged Hellcat engine, along with a stronger transmission and rear axle. He envisions a new bed and a complete overhaul, part by part.
For Matthews, the restoration is more than mechanical. It’s about preserving a legacy — and building the truck his grandfather never got to see completed.
See it here.
