Dodge reportedly used 438 square feet of “galvanized steel” (that really makes it sound tough!) in the 1984 Dodge Ramcharger, more than in the full-sized Ford Bronco or full-sized Chevrolet Blazer. They gave buyers a five-year or 100,000-mile rust-through warranty and this 53,618-mile 1984 Dodge Ramcharger Prospector Edition 4×4 doesn’t appear to have needed that warranty, it looks great. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in Decatur, Illinois and they’re asking $18,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Henry R. for the tip!
The second-generation Ramcharger was made from 1981 through 1993 here and until 1996 in Mexico. This example looks like one of the nicest we’ve seen here on Barn Finds. Lone Wolf McQuade (Chuck Norris) could have only dreamed that his ’83 Ramcharger was as nice as this ’84 example is. I only see one unusual area on this Ramcharger, under the trim on the tailgate.
I see a tiny ding in the rear DODGE trim piece, but something is going on under that, or was at one time. There appears to be something that has leaked or dripped out from under the trim piece. Whatever that is, hopefully it can be cleaned up somehow. Dodge named the 4×4 version the AW150 and the two-wheel drive model was the AD150 and I’d bet that most of us would want the 4×4 version unless we were going to use it to tow a trailer.
I expected to see power windows here but crank-yer-own windows worked for a lot of us for decades and are almost child-proof now. “Mom. Mommmmm! MOMMMM! What is this weird handle thing on the door? You turn it to open the window? How can I do that with my $100-a-month smartphone in my hands at all times? Mom, open the window for me…” Enough of that, ha. We don’t see the back seat or rear cargo area, or any underside photos, unfortunately. This one appears to be wearing Indiana license plates, or plate, as Indiana must not require one on the front.
The engine decodes to being a 318-cu.in. OHV V8 with a two-barrel carb. It would have had 150 horsepower, and 255 lb-ft of torque and is backed by a three-speed TorqueFlite and transfer case sending power to all four wheels as needed. The seller says it runs “excellent”, and has new air-conditioning, new tires, new brakes, and new exhaust, and this one is probably right on the money if not a bit under value. Have any of you owned a Ramcharger of this era?
This is very clean. From an era when, unfortunately everything rusts. As for the tailgate trim, it doesnt appear to be correct for that year. Its off of something from a newer year. Originally you could see more of the actual tailgate sheetmetal. Maybe it was dented or damaged and they decided to just cover it up? Otherwise, for what these were usually used for, its held up quite well both inside and outside. A 360 may have provided a little more much needed Oomph than the 318, but they were fine too, this was when mpg was a huge thing.( well, still is ). Nice find, and nice write up Scotty.
Thank you, sir! My Ramcharger had a 360 and the best MPG I ever got was 6 mpg because the choke was so carboned up that it was on most of the time. I should have fixed that, but gas was only about $1 a gallon.
In 1992, I bought a house on a lake that had a steep, curvy entry road to the development. Before the first winter, I bought a 1984 Ramcharger to handle the snow and ice. 4X4, 360 V-8, Torqueflite and the most amazing Traction Lok axles I have ever experienced. When winter hit hard, the rest of the neighborhood had to park their cars at the bottom of the hill and walk up in the snow. I was able to make it up the hill to the house every day of the winter. That truck was awesome. MPG wasn’t great but it wasn’t going to leave you stranded anywhere.
Absolutely love it
Liftgates were fiberglass but still heavy. Trim on gate is from early 90’s pickup tailgate. Still own my 84 model but even not much salt used in my state quarters are still rusting out. I put four barrel on my 318 and didn’t change mileage. Still averaged 14 on highway. Still enjoy driving it but miss my 77 model with 440 with removable top
Excellent, thanks, Joel! I should have looked that up, it looked too fancy for an ’84. I see that there’s a whole community of folks who put those “liftgate appliques” on their Ramcharger liftgates now that I search for that. That’s exactly what that must be, thanks for catching that.
Absolutely love it
Drove one of these often for field work with the Univ of Il. Great little outfit. Even forged window deep water near the Il river in flood stage!
Indiana license plate and being sold from Decatur, Il–hmm!
Very near Indiana state line
I have owned several Ram chargers.
I absolutely love them. Every one I had the 318ci. Best motor ever.
I miss my 2 door sport utility.
Superb for plowing snow I plowed snow so high I could not see for a while hood level snow and it plowed the long driveway great. And did the neighbors driveway he used to say that things a tank
I am gonna go look at it Saturday…if it’s as good as it looks, it’s gonna live in the Ozarks at my place..
And it’s as good as it looks…