Whenever I see a red Dodge Ram, it’s impossible to not think of Bill Paxton hustling his extended cab pickup through a corn field with a tornado bearing down on him. This era of Chrysler products thrust the company and its compact cars, sedans, and trucks into the national spotlight through a variety of means, such as high-profile product placement, showroom stock racing leagues, and memorable advertising. Find this clean Ram with just 29K original miles here on eBay.
This really was a phenomenal era in Chrysler styling. The designs all complimented each other, even while being wildly different. The wheels on this Ram actually remind of the tri-spokes found on the original Viper R/T, which the color scheme of red and gray is certainly a combination befitting of an RT/10. The seller’s truck checks all the boxes with being a top-of-the-line trim and also sporting a short wheel base and a single cab design.
I recently sold a 1998 Dodge Dakota R/T pickup, which I used for a few months before growing tired of the abysmal build quality. The truck was a bit of a project, but my biggest gripe with it was how poorly constructed it was. Build quality was non-existent, so I hope that this Ram being a truck with far fewer miles still feels fairly well screwed together, or at least less prone to rattles than my Dakota was. Based on the mileage and the photos, the interior looks darn near mint.
With the 5.2L Magnum V8 engine under the hood, the Ram will absolutely move out just fine, even among today’s high-powered pickups. Check out that paint in the engine compartment – just stunning, and the same goes for the rubber hoses and black plastics under the hood. This is a future collectible for sure, and I’m not surprised to see bidding at $14,200 – but I’m also not surprised that the reserve remains unmet as this truck is absolutely worth more than the current bid.
1st of all, I don’t watch many movies, but that “Twister” was the dumbest Hollywood hack, but made millions regardless. In my area, without question, the RAM is by far the most popular truck. Not sure why, perhaps it makes the best used beater because there are so many. Don’t care for them, never did. Horror stories of engine replacement,( hemis run MINIMUM $8grand), electrical bugaboos( I have a neighbor with one that her GD car alarm goes off at 2am, dealer wanted $200 just to look at it) and of course, the good old death wobble, VERY common with these. Certainly no question, this is a nice one, the “318” was the best motor, and I’d have to say, with $50/bag for groceries, $14grand for this is not out of line today.
Very nice truck. Had an ‘02 Cummins 6 spd that never gave me a problem, though I preempted the “death wobble” so prevalent in solid front axle rigs (Fords too) by installing an aftermarket kit that reinforced the steering box amongst other things. My brother, a GMC fan gave me grief about it saying his truck would never have that issue.
That was a couple weeks before his almighty Duramax stretched the head bolts to which his only saving grace was his sister in law a well known attorney in the area threatening the dealership for attempting to hide a GM service notice about that problem..
They all have strengths and weaknesses,
As stated this is a nice truck for what it was designed for.
Drive it and enjoy this for what it is-an exceptionally clean 25 year old truck.
I completely agree. They all have strengths and weaknesses, this is one unbelievably clean truck for its age, it was someones baby. Id be happy to have it. I still remember when this style Dodge first came out, Id go out of my way just to look at one. I hope the new owner really enjoys it.
I had a very similar 1998 model with the 360. Honestly, build quality was better than GM’s truck at the time as far as fit and finish, interior, rattles, etc., in my experience. Admittedly, I bought the Dodge new and got the Silverado’s second hand so that may have played a role. The Dodge’s door hinge pins didn’t wear out, the paint on the glovebox didn’t melt, etc. HOWEVER, the dash on these tend to get as brittle as a potato chip after a decade or so in the sun.
Also, I couldn’t get the transmission to last. I changed the fluid and filter ever 30k miles in an attempt to ward off the transmission issues I’d heard about, but mine gave up the ghost at around 130k miles anyway. I had it rebuilt and by 170k I had to have it rebuilt again. I sold it at around 190k miles when a guy who was responding to my Craigslist ad for a 1994 Z71 offered me too much money for the Dodge because he liked it more than the Chevy I was selling. In defense of the Chevy, I think it led a rough life before I acquired it. Oh yeah, the Chevy’s trans was still under warranty for a recent rebuild when I sold it too!
So let’s see, 190k miles and I had the trans rebuilt twice, replaced the radiator (it leaked at the end tank joint), replaced the heater core, and the dash eventually cracked enough to have a small hole in the corner. Smooth sailing other than that. If it weren’t for the transmission issues and the brittle dash, I’d rate it five stars. I liked it a lot, though. None of these trucks are perfect. Each brand seems to have some goofy thing that you’d think they could’ve rectified after a year or two of production runs but they seemingly never bothered to address it.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention, when I see these I don’t think about Twister. I think about Walker Texas Ranger! In the early episodes he drove a (very nice as well) GMC. I think Chrysler must’ve given the show some money because Walker switched to a Ram when this body style came out, and his partner Trivette switched from a Trans Am (I think) to a Dodge Stealth. Everyone suspiciously got new Chrysler’s some time around 1994!
If Chuck Norris would’ve been in Twister, he would’ve just roundhouse kicked the tornado and ended the movie early.
A lot of these Rams were painted in a method that didn’t last but a few years. Also the intake manifold valley pan was not up to the task and developed an internal vacuum leak. There is replacement to fix that. If recalls and regular maintenance are performed the Rams of that generation will last. I have a ’96 WS.
Wow . Never thought I would see a Old Dodge Ram this good looking for it’s age. And having a 318 it will run forever. If I had this truck. The first I would do is. Install 31″ tires and then mud flaps. That’s it drive and enjoy it. I guess the reserve is at $20,000 for this very clean truck. It would be good in a museum. Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
Nice truck,but those wheels/tires just look WAY too
small on this one.I also recall hearing of a lot of transmission
problems on these trucks with automatics.
You may be thinking of the 47RE that was behind the Cummins. It had it’s issues with all that torque. This one has the 46RE that the V8’s got. My 95 360 powered 1/2 ton shortbed was the last year for the hydraulic (RH) version. Bought new, kept 10 years and 103K before selling it after I bought my Cummins when the two of us became the three of us and could use more room. Great truck for us.
Eh, the 1/2 tons had transmission issues too. I had a 1998 from new, very similar to this one, but with the 360. I changed the fluid and filter roughly every 30k miles to ward off the issues that I’d already heard about, but the trans failed anyway at around 130k miles and again at 170k miles after I had it rebuilt. I sold it with 190k.
Other than the transmission and the dash which eventually turned into something resembling the strength of a potato chip, it was a great truck. Better in lots of ways than the competition, worse in others.
The death wobble and the two piece intake gasket issues were overblown from my experience. I actually did the intake gasket repair on mine some time past 150k miles, but it didn’t need it.
Had the identical truck. Very comfortable to drive, quiet on the hwy and 18 MPG. YOU MUST FIX THE DEATH WOBBLE ISSUE, but that is a known repair. They are set for gas MPG so there is no performance to be had, even when floored. Do not use it as a tow rig except for light duty with OD switched off or you WILL be putting a $$$4500.00 tranny in it. I will assure that if you park this in the sun for any length of time, you are going to see the clear coat peel off …The only real detractor is the lack of the Xtra cab. Without it cab is really small so there is no room for any tools or really anything other than the passengers. If it weren’t for the paint, tranny, and lack of an Xtra cab I’d be a player at 20K, because I liked my truck for 175K miles and I’d just like to own one from nearly new and take care of it.. But without the Xtra cab I’m a pass, even as beautiful as it is.
18 mpg in a 4wd version? I’m not sure the window sticker would agree.
Most had 3.55 gears. They towed as well or better than the competition’s half tons. “Class leading” torque for the 360, IIRC.
I could get 17, all highway when we went on vacations. 360, auto, 3.55’s 4X4 that had 230 hp & 330 torque in ’95. I did put taller tires on it which lowered my rpms.
Nice little Ram. We snowplowed w one of these in the fleet. These require the sno-fighter option.
End of the day the manual hub, TTB Ford w the plow pkg performed even a little better, but was less comfy.
Still driving my 1999. Not my daily but it sure has been a reliable truck for accomplishing work, haul and tow duties. She isn’t as pretty as the truck for sale and has a lot more miles; but with the price of trucks in today’s market I’ll keep mine and if I have to replace it someday this would be a great find.
My oldest brother has a 97 Ram standard cab 360 auto 4wd. I’m getting ready to put in a new water pump in it tomorrow. Super clean all red truck that has gone 26 years without a major problem..
Way too much, even with this low of miles. Local estate auction just had a 2002 with 83k miles go for a touch over $7k (+15% bidder fee). I had an 01 that the tin worm took care of just as the tranny decided not not work anymore.
These were nice trucks at the time, especially with a 5.9 Magnum. I was a bit dismayed by your comments on the Dakota you owned. While mine wasn’t an R/T, it was a 2003, reg cab 4×4, 3.9 Magnum 5 speed, with 3:55 limited slip rear. After a good 10,000 mile break in I took the truck on a 810 mile trip, just me and the empty truck out to an Armish woodworking factory that manufactures knock down picnic tables made out of beautiful red cedar, that I was able to buy at less than wholesale. I bought 75 at 68lbs each, in a box the size of the tabletop about 8” thick. I rented an enclosed UHAUL double axle 16’ trailer. I was able to load 12 of the tables wrapped in tarps and strapped down very securely, than load the ready evenly in the trailer. All together at a Cat Scale certified 11,500lbs CGVW, granted about 10-15% over the rated CGVWR. But I’ve been driving tractor trailer for years and years so I had a good idea what I was in for. Running up some of the long uphill grades on Rt80 in PA, I had the truck in third gear at 4,000 rpm’s pulling the hills at the 65 mph limits, with ease and just feathering the gas pedal to maintain the speed, if I shifted into 4th gear, I would need to floor it to maintain the speed limit that would kill the mileage and raise the temp over 200degrees. That was the heaviest tow with that truck. But there were other hard runs, either on the highway with a load of gravel, or blasting down the beaches. I bought the truck new in 2003 for 19.5K, then traded it in on a 2014 Charger R/T AWD, where the dealer liked the Dakota enough to give me 12k in trade after 11years and 98,000 miles! That was a great little truck. The only issue I ever had was ball joints! Until I paid to have Ram 1500 ball joints installed instead of the Dakota parts.