2005 Dodge Ram 2500

World Cup athletes know that performance matters most when everything is on the line. So, when Trek's internationally acclaimed mountain bike race team went in search of the ultimate truck and trailer setup they looked to ATS Diesel for some help.

Diesel truck enthusiasts are acutely aware that ATS Diesel of Denver, Colorado, is considered one of the best bangs for the buck. And in cycling circles, Trek too, embraces a reputation of dominating the sport of racing. Together, they built a double-duty four-wheel-drive 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 that would become the backbone of the mountain bike racing division at Trek.

The truck and trailer carry a 20x40 awning/canopy, 15 race bikes, 200 tires, endless spare parts, tools, promotional materials, tables, product displays, and everything in between, to upward of 18 events over the course of a seven-month season. The trailer is a steel-framed 25-foot car trailer that's been converted into a rolling bike shop and hospitality suite. The team provides tech support to Trek athletes, showcases sponsor products, and interacts with spectators and consumers on the road.

Zack Vestal, who heads up the Trek/Volkswagen-sponsored factory team, explained it this way: "After towing the team trailer for two years and using the truck every day around town, team mechanic/driver Dusty Labarr and myself gradually got more excited about diesel performance. So, we decided to get the team truck built to handle the rigors of countless miles with a 10,000-pound trailer in tow.

"We wanted to emphasize mild, cost-effective and reliable power under the stress of the team trailer. We attend many events in the mountains and it was becoming increasingly frustrating dealing with high EGT's year after year. We needed dependable power from our engine, and a super-strong transmission to handle the 30,000 miles we drive each season," Zack added. What came from that immediacy was a rebuild that would ultimately turn a lowly Dodge Ram into a powerhouse on the cycling circuit.

Naturally, the ATS crew tackled the toughest job first, which meant rebuilding the stock 48RE with their tow-performance valvebody and ATS deep transmission pan. Considered one of the best ways to lower transmission temperatures, the aluminum ATS deep pan is designed with a 1-inch magnetic drain plug, which makes servicing easier. The transmission build also included an ATS valvebody to improve shift quality and exhaust brake performance. To deliver optimum torque while ensuring maximum lockup to prevent slippage on the steep mountain roads, Zack gave a nod to the ATS Five Star torque converter with Viskus clutch drive, and Co-Pilot electronic lockup controller.

At this point in the build, everything revolved around lower engine and transmission temperatures, so naturally ATS looked at the stock turbo and declared it obsolete. In its place, ATS bolted on its Aurora 3000 with a PulseFlow exhaust manifold. The ATS Aurora 3000 is designed for quicker response with maximum airflow to keep things cool under the hood. An AFE Stage 1 air intake and an ATS 4-inch single exhaust from the turbo-back complemented the new upgrades.

The Aurora 3000 is considered a factory replacement turbo system, but offers better CFM airflow and stronger components. To get the Aurora to spool up sooner, Zack saw the advantages of replacing the stock exhaust manifold with the ATS PulseFlow. Among the many things it does is increase fuel efficiency and tolerate heat much better than stock.

To assume more control over performance output, Zack went with an Edge EZ. It is a reliable performance upgrade for the driver who wants adjustable power bands, added towing capacity, and improved fuel economy. Installation of the EZ took only ten minutes and required no mechanic labor, drilling, or computer downloading. Simply plug the EZ into two stock connectors and you're ready to go.