Definitely falling under the “Nicest One Left” category, this 1988 Dodge Ramcharger 4×4 appears to be in outstanding original condition. The seller comes right out in the first sentence of their description and says that they bought it to sell on eBay, that’s actually refreshing to hear, rather than some concocted story on why they’re selling it. They have it listed here on eBay in beautiful Missoula, Montana, there is no reserve, and the current bid price is $7,100.
According to the AutoCheck vehicle history report, the eBay tab between Description and Shipping and payments, this Ramcharger has had two previous owners, from 1988 to 1999, and then from 1999 to 2013. When the seller says that they bought it from the original owner to sell on eBay, I’m a little confused because of the decade-long discrepancy between 2013 and 2023, and the owner in between. Unless they haven’t registered the title in their name? That wouldn’t work in my state, so I hope that any bidders ask that question before the countdown.
How this rig stayed so nice over the years is a testament to having lived in Arizona, and then Missoula, Montana, where I’m not sure that they use road salt or not, but somehow it’s stayed reportedly rust-free. The seller has provided a few underside photos and it looks rock-solid. Hagerty is at $22,800 for a #3 good-condition Ramcharger, just as a starting point.
The Ramcharger was made from 1974 to 2001. The second-generation Ramcharger, such as this example, was made between 1981 and 1993, and up to 1996 in Mexico, where this example was made. The interior looks as nice as the exterior does, much nicer than my former Ramcharger looked inside or out. There’s a lot of room behind the back seat in the cargo area, and I don’t see any real flaws in this one, other than a quick glimpse of a small area just behind the driver’s door as seen in the seller’s YouTube video at the 20-second mark.
Sadly, with all of the photos and even a nice YouTube video, we don’t see the engine in this truck. It should be a Dodge 318-cu.in. OHV V8, which would have had 170 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Mine had a 360 and it got six mpg, I kid you not, it was a horrible truck, the worst vehicle that I have ever owned. This Ramcharger looks like the nicest one I’d ever own – have any of you had one?
I’d like to personally thank the author on his professionalism. I’ve known him a while, and the “Ramcharger” , or the even less seen, Plymouth Trail Duster, always comes up. We’ve all had vehicles that rubbed us wrong. Mine was that awful ’78 Jeep Cherokee, that some rave about. While I don’t doubt him one bit, it’s odd, I mean, this truck has everything passed down from 75 years of truck building, INCLUDING a freakin’ war or 2. By all rights it should be as tough as a Power Wagon. Just shows, best laid plans can go awry, and this is it. Concept was good, 1 piece body,( after 1980, I read) unlike the removable top on K5 or Broncos, but too heavy, inefficient motor, and styled like a box. My 1980 Bronco got poor mileage too, but was a decent truck, so it offset it some. Great find, they were kind of popular for a spell. More so than say a Citroen, but they rusted quickly, and as mentioned, the owners weren’t too happy anyway, and most hit the boneyard when the doors fell off or again, became that snowplow behind the cabin up north.
Actually, these 1972 up Dodge trucks didnt rust out quickly, far less than the square bodied Chevys or their Ford rivals . The 73-82 Chevy trucks were serious rusters; there wasn’t one body part that was immune to the tin worm, at least here in New England . That’s not to say they did get rusted , just far slower than others- as for snowplows, nothing lasted too long ; rode hard and put away wet , and salt of course ruined many a good truck
And these needed a stik shift 5sp, to better move this lumbering beast around. Manual front hubs too. Not sure if Dodge offered either from the factory Howard.
Not sure how much difference a 5-speed would have made Stan, like the author said if it was a 360 (like I have in my Dodge Ram 1500) there is just no such thing as fuel economy. That has to be the thirstiest motor I’ve ever owned. Even on the highway at 60 mph, 12 miles per gallon was the best I ever got. In town 6 to 8 was tops. I’ll never own another one.
nice truck but get rid of those come nugget ins, go a little larger on tires. Rather see dog dish caps.
“RamCharger” should be the name of the new RAM electric truck……
Sadly, the Chrysler engineers in this time were trying to drive through a blizzard with the wipers on high that couldn’t keep up. The snow storm being the EPA, The curve of technology that couldn’t keep up and no $$$ in the bank.
My boss bought a brand new Top-of-the-line ram charger in 84. Was is a beautiful looking rig In black and gold. I drove it often for various errands and moving his kids about. It felt like it weighed 6000 pounds and that poor little small block Powered like the choked off pipe that it was. Denvers altitude wasn’t doing it any favors either. It really doesn’t matter what engine is under the hood of this one, they are all the same, no power and hideous gas mileage. Driving a huge wet sponge seems an apt description.
But it was a great truck to look at just sitting there. In today’s world it’s just a toy, so maybe 2023 is the right time for this old girl……
Looks good, but has been repainted, has over spray everywhere. Might not of been a two tone originally. If fuel milage isn’t an issue, then you gotta love Ramcharger !
It was almost-certainly a Southwest truck, with the characteristic pain burn.
In answer to the write-up, Missoula most-assuredly does use salt on the roads. Most Western states do, now – and all states, on the Interstates and major through roads. That’s a battle that was given up 25 years ago.
The thing that works in favor of longer-lived rigs here (Missoula area) is the extremely dry air, and – because of the valley the city sits in – relatively temperate climate.
Probably the seller got a hold of it cheaply – a lot of people moving here from elsewhere, and sometimes finances are stretched. A quick sale of the “extra” vehicle to raise money to pay the costs. He’s a speculator and flipper, but honest about it.
Wish I had a place to store it…it’s really appealing, but not practical in my situation.
I’ve had two a 1974 and a 1989 I love them all vehicles have good and bad but these trucks were tough and go anywhere the fuel injection 1989 was plenty powerful for a 318.im still a Dodge man own a 2006 Magnum now . The 5.7 hemi would have been a real friend to my old ram chargers
Scotty Gilbertson, I love the photo you posted of your Ramcharger. I have a ’78 Ramcharger, also from Arizona. Has only been there and here in California since new. Unlike your experience, I love mine. One of the best vehicles I have ever owned, and has never left me stranded, on road or off. Mine has a similar two tone to this example with B6 metallic blue as the main color and baby blue (non metallic) as the secondary color. Mine has a big block 400 cid engine. Fuel mileage is nothing to write home about, but is considerably better than what you experienced with yours. IMHO, the ’81-’93 Ramchargers are a mess in the styling department. The side windows are too tall going up over the roof. Compared to the ’74-’80 version, you will notice the top of the side windows line up evenly with the top of the door windows providing a smoother flow of body lines. Better Feng Shue, one might say. Chrysler should have kept the window tops even on the later models. Same with the rear hatch on the later ones. They should have kept the truck tailgate with a flip up fiberglass hatch like the original has. That would have enabled them to still offer the outside swing away spare tire mount that proved to be a very popular option on the early version. The ’88 model shown here is very clean, but will be somewhat underpowered with the 318 engine. These vehicles weigh over 4,500 pounds and should really be equipped with the optional 360 engine that was offered in that era.
I had a 88 It was a tank plowing through big snow drifts over the hood only got stuck once plowing snow into a deep ditch and went a little too far and rt front wheel dropped in I tried to back out but the plow had snow on the backside I walked the long up the neighbors driveway I just plowed and he got out his 454 chevy 2 wheel drive and got on the low down hill side of me and gave a jerk on the chain and I got unstuck It was a great dependable for plowing and towing a tow dolly long trips It liked its fuel the price was not so bad back then but I would not want one today
I guess I had the only ’85 Ramcharger that ran decent with decent gas mileage. Lol. It was a corp of engineers vehicle, so light green with tan interior, 318 with a four speed. Was the ex wife’s get around truck for about eight years. I had a ’79 Power wagon with same drivetrain. Never had a problem with either one, wish I had em back now.
I really think everyone that owned one ,had a low mile vehicle. It took you to the bank everytime you turned the key. Loved it just not the mileage. I bought a 81 Bronco ,300 6 cyl, 4 speed with overdrive . I got 24 mpg at 60mph pulling my 16 foot crestliner or without it. It didn’t matter. You had to have the cast iron transmission case or it would expand when pulling in overdrive a very light 1500 lb rig boat motor trailer. It held up to. Yes I know I’m going to hear don’t tow in overdrive. The 300 six had the torque,the cast iron tranny case held it. I blew two aluminum cases up.
not an AMC
I’ve owned two Ramchargers, both purchased new, both 318s, one automatic, one with the NP435 4-speed. Loved them both. 15-20mpg. Wish I still had them.
I can’t add anything about ’88 Ramchargers but I did buy a new 1988 Dodge Ram 2500 with the 318. I never intended to ever buy a new vehicle but broke that rule on my truck(long story). I drove it everywhere in the midwest many times pulling a loaded car trailer. I got about 12 to 14 mpg empty and that was with Chrysler’s poorly designed throttle body injection. I believe that truck weighed 5,500. Only got rid of it when the 1994 models came out. Since then I’ve owned maybe a dozen new Dodges and the last 2 being Hellcats. I have nothing to complain about other than poor dealership experiences.
Auction update: this Ramcharger sold for $13,000. Expect to see this one on another auction site near you in the near future. That was a certified steal at 50% under its market value.
I also owned a 84 with 318 auto im a Mopar guy and I have to admit this one was junk
It was gutless tailgate hinges broke away from the tailgate would not go into 4 wheel low rear end was ready to fall out of it and this was only after two years 44000 mi