The 1980s were quite good to truck buyers in America, as the large domestic manufacturers built some legendary models that remain quite sought-after today. Even the imported brands got into it, with the likes of Datsun and Mitsubishi introducing some light-duty pickups that were quite capable when equipped with four-wheel-drive. Dodge, however, boxed everyone out when they started selling their venerable Ram pickup with the Cummins turbodiesel engine, and they remain quite desirable to this day. This 1993 Dodge Ram D250 is loaded up with the Cummins mill, extended cab, and lots of other options but in the classic Florida truck tradition, it’s rear-wheel-drive. Find it here on craigslist for $26,000 in Miami.
I’ve actually found two trucks on my uncle’s property in North Georgia with this stout turbodiesel, and I’m confident we’ll find buyers without too much issue given how quickly they tend to sell. Now, this seller’s truck has been up for a few days, and I suspect the asking price is scaring some buyers away. This is a high number, but the seller also knows there’s likely a buyer out there who will appreciate the impressive cosmetic condition of the Dodge along with the generous equipment list. The mileage is listed at 156,000, which is high for most vehicles but absolutely nothing on a Cummins. Importantly, the seller notes there is zero blow-by present in this engine, which is a sign of good health.
Being a Florida truck, it looks to be rust-free, but that’s not to say a truck in tropical conditions couldn’t develop a rust issue or two. Fortunately, this D250 appears to be in sound condition, with sharp cosmetics courtesy of the two-tone paint job that was all the rage in the late 80s into the early 90s. The chrome bumpers present well, and really, there are no obvious cosmetic faults to report. The chrome mirrors also look tidy, and while the toolbox in the bed suggests this was a working truck, it definitely hasn’t been getting beaten up on a job site since new. The rear-wheel-drive configuration may not make sense up north, but it’s a great way to get the utility of a truck with slightly better gas mileage in a climate that doesn’t see snow.
The condition of the interior further suggests this Dodge has led a pampered existence, as it’s beyond clean for a vehicle of this age with this many miles and that is typically used as a workhorse. While we often associate Florida with retirees who have a mint condition Toyota Camry or Pontiac Bonneville in the garage, we shouldn’t forget that the men-folk also go to Florida to retire and drive around in a barely-used vehicle, so I suspect this Dodge was a fella’s final gift to himself after years of driving wasted work trucks that weren’t worth keeping clean. This Dodge D250 looks like a true survivor and is loaded up with air conditioning, power windows, power locks, and cruise control, which makes it a viable option for a daily driver in any climate that doesn’t spread salt on the roads.
No doubt this is a fine pick up. Price is a bit horrifying. Hope it goes to the next good steward at a more reasonable price. .
I agree with you regarding price. Even such pristine condition, I wouldn’t pay that much money. I’d pay closer to $15,000.
When taking my grandson to the local rodeos I took notice of what trucks were pulling the horse trailers. 2 out of 3 are Dodges with the Cummins diesels. Enough said.
12 valve Cummins…you could hear them coming from a mile away for at least 350k miles :).
Beautiful looking truck. I remember when the Ram Cummins looked like this. I find this way better looking than anything offered today.
What kind of mpg do these get?
Given how much diesel fuel costs these days, it’s understandable to be concerned about fuel economy and how far you can go before needing to refuel.
Your mileage may vary, but I would think between 15 and 20 mpgs.
Love the truck, hate the price. My 1996 2500 Cummins long bed 2wd auto could get 21-22mpg easily if I kept my foot out of it
I agree. That’s a lot of money to spend for a truck, however nice its condition may be. I’d be willing to pay between $10k and $15k.
I really wish we could still get 2 tone paint schemes. I know ram and ford have an available lower accent stripe but years ago there used to be multiple different 2 tone paint schemes with a much larger choice of colors. Vehicles today are generally better than years ago but much more of a generic appliance as opposed to something personalized.
So its priced about what it sold for new seller will probably get it
One problem that surfaced with these trucks was a tendency for the frame rails to twist under heavy loads with the torque of the Cummins. One of my co-workers had this happen over time to his truck- he frequently hauled horses, and with a fully loaded trailer he actually saw the pickup box move in relation to the cab. He showed me how the trim no longer lined up with the cab trim, and one side of the box was higher than the other- It wasn’t super obvious, unless you really looked- from 20 yards away it looked like a pretty straight truck. When they went to the newer body style, the problem was fixed.