If there’s one thing to know about Forest Service trucks and other rigs that are procured expressly for the purpose of traversing where the going is tough, it’s that the people tasked with ordering equipment always get the best stuff. This 1992 Dodge W250 has retired from its days as a Forest Service taskmaster, but its options list reads like a who’s who of off-road friendly gear. The seller reports that he uses it like a daily driver at the moment with zero issues, and the 360 V8 and NP435 4-speed combo make it even cooler. Find it here on craigslist for $8,000.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mike F. for the find. When I was in my early teens, my Dad got me a summer job with the New York State Bridge Authority to mow traffic islands, paint jersey barriers, and push a broom around road salt shelters. It was a blast. Anyhow, I learned pretty quickly that the superintendent knew a thing or two about trucks, since he always ordered the best equipment when it came time for his state-appropriated new ride, going straight to the positraction rear end, the biggest motor he could get, and a decent radio. This Dodge’s list of equipment makes me think a Forest Service employee operated with the same mindset, starting with the V8 and stick-shift combo.
Other equipment worth noting includes an NP205 transfer case, Dana 60 rear-end with a 4.10 gear ratio, and a Dana 44 axle up front. In addition, the tires are almost-new Kenda Klever MTs and the intermediate steering shaft has been replaced. This is one of those relatively bomb-proof rigs that shouldn’t ask too much of its owner other than getting the occasional oil change. In 1992, this 360 was good for a healthy 190 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 292 lb-ft of torque. Even better, if you poke around the engine bay, you’ll find a set of Dixie horns installed by the seller, which seems quite appropo for a truck like this.
That truck bed looks like it could haul an excavator bucket, your neighbor’s side-by-side, and more if put to the task. The license plate is perhaps my favorite detail and I wish it could go with the truck. Overall, this looks like the kind of rig none of us actually need but we’d all enjoy driving for a year or two if it did end up in our possession. The faded green Forest Service paint is absolutely essential to preserve, however, so use caution if it’s going to a climate where the sun beats down it all day. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mike F. for the find.
Fun write-up Jeff. I too enjoy seeing trucks which are work-first. My equivalent would be oil field trucks. You know, the truck where “maintenance” might include, every week or two, sweeping out from the floorboard the accumulated dried mud and gravel.
Very purposeful old Dodge. I hate saying old since these were new when I started selling them. Lots of torque multiplication for that 360 to do its thing.
Flat bed trucks like this are really popular where I live seller has it priced about what I can get for it locally if I were selling it. Good old work truck and will out work and probably out last the stuff they build today.
Nice truck for 8k, surprised it’s not gone already!
Jeff, Thanks for finding us truck nuts another great vehicle.. For 8 grand the buyer will gain a dependable weekend / hobby farm workhorse that with a little TLC will last him a lifetime. Other than slowing down the surface rust on the hood, about the only other thing I would is add some marker/stop/turn lights to the headache rack, and possibly some more original looking wheels?? Work, show, and cruise this great truck!!
It’s interesting that from ’72 to ’94, Dodge trucks didn’t change much. Look under the hood of this one and it isn’t much different that the ’73 W300 we had on the ranch. The 360 looks very similar other than this one has a smog pump with missing belt.
Speaking of which, if you’re going to run it without the belt, why not just remove the entire apparatus and get along without it.
Our truck was a stump-puller to say the least. It had a 360/NP435/NP205 and didn’t look much different than this one. I have to say that I was a little surprised to see a Rochester carburetor on it.
With 4.88 gears, the 30 foot stock trailer or 30 foot hay trailer weren’t much of a challenge; just don’t get in too much of a hurry to get where you’re going. 60mph = 3500rpm.
That small-sized V8 was a good engine but it had a tendency to clog the heat-riser passageway completely shut. You knew that right away because when you started it stone cold it sputtered, coughed and ran like a toilet for 10 minutes before it would finally act somewhat decent. A perfect fast-idle block was an empty Jim Beam bottle wedged between the gas and brake pedal. The bottle had the perfect shape and position to hold the gas pedal down while the animal warmed up.
Engine hot, all was well.
This truck should give good service for many years. Ours ran well over 100K miles before the engine needed any work. And that was because the timing chain jumped. I decided to pull the engine and overhaul it. Cylinders were at .005.” We gambled and decided to cheap out and re-ring it. Worked fine.
This truck is great! Right down to the color. The 360 4 speed and 4:10s are a great bullet proof combination too. I would actually consider painting it the original color down the line. Great write up Jeff!!! Thanks!!!
I really dig this, too. Such a cool ride.
Pretty honest trucks, great comment geo 👍 thanks Lavery.
Weeeeeeell, it’s a truck,(YAY!) and no doubt a Forest Service truck,,,however, I don’t think that bed is original. I can’t find any Forest Service trucks with a flatbed, and very typical of an aftermarket flatbed. Now, I’ve been called a “pseudointellectual” by someone who probably doesn’t know what that means, I just don’t recall any trucks outfitted like that. Nice trucks, not sure the stick will hold back sales on this one, if you can’t drive a stick, you have no business even looking at this,, ten dash four,,
If this were a thousand miles closer to Pa. ~~~
I don’t totally agree with the statement “that the people tasked with ordering equipment always get the best stuff.” Having sold commercial vehicles for over 25 years with emphasis on municipal vehicles for the last half of that. Only the ones that cared ordered to “RIGHT STUFF!” The ones that really cared were the first responders that I sold to. (Bomb squad fire/forestry departments, etc. ) However police departments (with a few exceptions) went with whatever police package was cheaper. I sold 50 2500HD GMC crew cabs to the Nevada Highway Patrol for D.O.T. enforcement. (Needed the pickup to haul portable weight scales among other goodies ) The guy who was in charge of ordering was very cognizant of the officer’s comfort and usage. And after the trucks hit 150,000 miles (the line in the sand to replace) they got close to half the purchase price at auction. Which was a great return. (Considering the only vehicle failures besides driver’s door power lock actuators was 1 waterpump.) About a year after the truck deliveries, I was talking to the “new guy” in charge of patrol units. (regular patrol units, not DOT useage) He was leaning towards the Charger. I mentioned that I had heard (and,seen) that they were a maintenance nightmare. (the head service guy used to work for me before I went into commercial sales) And he agreed! But, since reliability was not a factor because the maintenance came out of a different pocket that he didn’t have to consider. He was going with the Chargers because they were cheap! (A used Charger at the auction (back then) was netting less than $1,000 because even the taxi companies didn’t want them with that many miles! ( different stories for the Impalas, Crown Vics, and the old Diplomats and Furys) There were even times when an entity did not want to spec the vehicle safely! (For example, the addition of a service body of their requirements would over load the chassis without any tools or hauled items ) All they cared about was price. In those cases I didn’t want the business bad enough to even write bid spec.
Lots of people cut corners when buying a pickup for RV use. Getting a half ton when they need a three-quarter. Usually because someone told them they could get away with it. This is sad since they spend all the money on the trailer but don’t see the benefits of a proper truck. Towing is all about controlling the load. They understand the ability to go but not stability, steering and stopping. The 2500 is going to have a stronger frame, 10-ply tires, full-floating rear axle and bigger brakes. A heavy 1500 isn’t the same, but I guess it rides better. Not to mention, those who won’t get a 3500 dually to pull their 5th wheel mansion because it doesn’t go through a drive thru car wash.
I had a customer that I sold a 2500 crew cab short box DuraMax to that he had every hop up item that Banks made. It was an animal and very fun to drive! He pulled a goose neck horse trailer as his wife did the over night enduro trials. He called me up to say he wanted to buy a C4500 to pull his wife’s new 4 horse trailer with sleeping accommodations. I gave him a hard time.(I had known him and done business with him for many years) Saying all the horsepower Banks sold you and now you are out of power? “No, the truck pulls the trailer fine. I’m just tired of having to look 1 mile ahead to figure out when I’m going to have to use the brakes and when to turn. (He was a very savvy guy who used to own a towing company. So he knew what was safe and what wasn’t.)
Every day receiving the BF email of vehicles for sale, I forward to 8-10 friends with my ‘picks’ of vehicles I’d love to own. Still operating a motorcycle salvage yard in my old age, I like useful vehicles… pickups and trucks so this one would be near the top of the list.
I like this truck. It reminds me of the 55 Dodge half ton flat bed truck I found in a wrecking yard a few decades ago. It was a running driving truck so I bought it for $125.00 and took it home. I had no use for it so I sold it to my cousin. He drove it for several years. It was a similar color of green. I hope someone gets this one and takes good care of it.
God Bless America