The Dodge Ramcharger Is How SUVs Used to Be
Vložit
- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- CHECK OUT CARS & BIDS!
carsandbids.com
Dodge Ramcharger review! The Dodge Ramcharger is an old-school SUV, and it shows us how SUVs used to be. Today I'm reviewing the Ramcharger, and I'm going to take you on a full tour and show you all the quirks and features of the Ramcharger. I'm also going to drive the Ramcharger and show you what it's like behind the wheel.
WEBSITE & MERCH!
www.dougdemuro.com
FOLLOW ME!
Twitter - / dougdemuro
Instagram - / dougdemuro
Facebook - / ddemuro
DOUGSCORE CHART:
www.dougdemuro.com/dougscore - Auta a dopravní prostředky
The person who preserved this truck deserves so much credit. Absolutely amazing condition considering the age.
@Jajajaja Jajajaja If it's only getting 4mpg, the Earth society has little to worry about
@@carrickdubya4765 did you watch the video or look at the window sticker? where do you get only 4 MPG?
Yes... now let's crush him with the Doug score.
I agree completely, no surprise it won Radwood!
He had a gun, it never got carjacked and chopped lol
Let’s take some time to appreciate the owner who detailed the car before this video.
They even did the vacuum lines on the door and seats.
I noticed that aswell👍
yes, I noticed, it was extremely well detailed
even on the spare tire lol
Then Doug put a big black spot on the carpet with his shoe! Lol
I'd suspect that it was either Larry from Ammo NYC or someone who watches him or someone from hwom Larry got the idea of "striping" the carpet as a final touch :D Or it's completely unrelated and it's nonsense, I don't know
My dad got one of these when I was a teenager and it was a DREAM vehicle back then. I grew up in Mexico, so when my mom pulled up to pick up my sisters and I, literally the whole school ran to see it cause it was brand new and beautiful. I'll never forget how amazing it was to have one of those. Ours was red just like this one. Thanks for the memories Doug!
A dream In Mexico? Like Baja? I lived there for a summer at K38 at the the edge of the cliff overlooking the Right into tge cove of lobster, fish & dolfins! I onlyhad a Toy then got a better toy with a moter now I have the Dream A Long Wheel travel TTB ind front suspention 4 whheel drive prerunner on Kings FAst & smooth in cntrol . aIR tIME? NOT A PROBLEM LANDS SOFT BEFORE THE LIMITS. dRIVETRAIN FULLY BUILT FOR HIGH TORQU POWER TRANS TRANS CASE GEArs with lockers and TTB GUSSETED & PLATED WITH TALL SH0CK TOWER AND CUSTOM S it rips 70 mph OVER 3FOOT + WHOOPS ! yOU WOULD NOT SPILL A GLASS OF WATER AT ALL. lIKE A rAPTOR ? nAH WAY MOREPOSISION SENSITIVE SSUSPENTION TRAVEL FRONT AND REAR WITH INTB&B ENGINE ETC...
@@brianbircdude wtf are you talking about are you okay
My uncle had a 1978 model with a manual transmission. I was 12 or 13 and I would get to drive it the two miles from his farm to the main road all the time. I loved it.
Wow,imagine having all that land and this truck 🤟💯🙏🤠
My Mom's friend at the time had a 1989 Ram Charger with the 5.9 it was Silver with Black trim it wasn't the cleanest truck but it wasn't bad either for the year. He was such a good person he owned a camp and let me drive it all over the place lol. Between the ages of 10 and 14 I will never ever forget him or his truck I wish I got to have his truck before he passed. He was like an uncle to me and that truck would be parked in my garage and fully restored and kept until I pass it down to someone else.
125,000 and still looks like it just rolled off the factory line, utterly incredible!
Thank you.
they’re built to be.
125k is nothing for a 30 year old vehicle.
You can do wonders if you can afford preventative maintenance and detailings every week or month hehe
Insert clip of James Pumphrey saying *RAMCHARGERS!*
my first thought
RAMCHARGERS!
Plweaseee !
I hear him everytime I read the name Ramcharger
I'm relieved humanity isn't that stupid they would also rate this comment 1k thumbs up.
I'm a Ford guy. I own a 1978 Ford Bronco, but I have got mad respect for this Ramcharger it's awesome
This truck is incredible. I always like the Ramcharger but they were so prone to rusting. I’d love to own this one.
I liked when he said "this is probably the best condition RamCharger on the planet" - because he highly likely 100% correct.
I mean - when they showed the engine I was astounded. It looked showroom new with no miles.
And the high gear ratio ultra fast power windows were cool as well.
I don't think it is. I have seen some Mexican Ramchargers that are immaculate. This one would have a lot of competition.
Agreed, it looks like it came out of a time capsule
Lol you should see my 85
I'd do anything to be parked in the same area as Doug as he is reviewing this thing just to see him playing with the power windows
I used to live right up the hill from his popular review location. I know exactly where it is because when I would go running with my dog in the morning, one of our most common paths went through this parking lot where you can see the train tracks in the background. I recognize it very well. LOL! Great spot for these. We never saw lots of traffic in and out of here. It’s kind of a spot locals know to go for nice walks and runs. Other than that, there’s nothing spectacular for tourists.
While playing with yourself.
🤣
@@pissoff234 You said what I was going to say lol.
Weird kink but ok
The 4x4 selector lever was Not just Randomly positioned on the tranny tunnel. It was in that position because of two reasons. One being that the Transfer case was right under it, and the other being that if this truck was equipped with a manual tranny, the gear shift lever would have been just to the left of it. It was set up perfectly where it was. It wasn't too far out of the way to reach it, and you didn't have to push it back and forth all of the time, just put it in the necessary gear setting and drive. Then when you got to a place where you needed to change the transfer case gear, you'd stop the truck, reach over and select the new gear and drive off.
That is a gorgeously preserved model. I've always loved the Ram Charger and that one is spec'd out just right.
I actually kinda like that interior.
Simple and yet cozy, with the things you need.
The thought of driving it on a rainy day with the heater going and the V8 burbling away, is a nice one.
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young on the radio on the way to grab Chinese from the best spot. God, what a great truck.
For me it's the rims that I really loved. They just look badass and still stylish to this day. Tough looking too. What an absolute relic.
@@theschof96 those are one of the coolest factory wheels ever
That interior feels like home away from home. Today's cars, for the most part, suck.
I have a 99 two door tahoe that is my baby. I sleep in it often while camping and having a roof vent would be awesome
I love it when he does videos on old cars from the 90s, 80s, 70s
Same, especially 80s and 90s!
Me to these are my favorite I skip most of the new cars he reviews
@@randylahey1232 don't get me wrong the videos on the new and advanced vehicle i.e. luxury cars, exotics, etc... Aren't bad at all they're pretty cool but the videos on cars from the 70s, 80s, 90s are the best because it's badass seeing a classic car still driving around in perfect condition and learning all the "quirks and features" are very informative.
Chevy k-5 blazer Ford bronco
Ditto, especially showroom quality rare manufacturer collaborations
My father has an old ram charger and I have a first gen 4runner, neither one is in great condition but we get all the looks and questions from people on the street. It is a select community but we love it. Great video! You should do a first gen 4runner review.
I live in Mexico city and there's a whole lot of ramchargers, they were quite popular in the 90's. Nowadays you can find them in fairly good condition for dirt cheap, a nice one like the one in the video would go for like 5k USD, but you can also find them converted to LP gas systems and a little roughed out but tons of parts and availabilityhere in Mexico. I'm planning on buying one for 1500 USD and make it my project car.
Show me one like this for 5k and I’ll head to Mexico City
My dad has one here in Mexico. But it's a 93 350 dually Singe cab, it's in better condition than my 2010 Silverado. It's crazy how many classic trucks there are here in Zacatecas too.
mexico didn't get 4x4 try again buddy.
@@ramcharger_addict9525 yes sir butvdown there is a Lot of ram Chargers 4x4 from here
Dude shushh! Don't want these gringos to fetch up our cars, jeeze man
If you see a car from the 80s or early 90s in pristine condition, it automatically draws your eye more than any supercar. I remember working at a lube shop and a Chevy Beretta came in. We spent so much time wondering why it was so badass. Was it lowered? Hot rodded? Nah. It was just in dealership shape.
Yeah let’s say if I spot an 80’s Accord or Acura Legend six speed manual in pristine condition it would beat any Lambo in my eyes, maybe only exception is Countach
The cars you grow Up with are mostly the ones that you feel nostalgic for.
Hahah, I used to race a guy with a '93 Beretta GT with my '93 Dodge Shadow ES. Both were sweet cars back in the mid-90s, and he would beat my ass because the damn Chevy was like a quarter second faster in the 0-60 from a stop. I'd whup him on rolling starts but that didn't matter as much. Good times.
The rear vent window was considered necessary (and hence standard) since without a true rear opening window, the wind buffeting from the front vents or windows on the highway was nauseous. It helped with pressure equalization on the highway when driving with windows down.
Thumbs up for fully correct use of nauseous.
Came to post exactly this! You wouldn't be able to drive with the front windows down at any speed without something in the back to bleed the pressure.
I had an '83 and on the highway, having the vent open for extended periods actually dropped the MPG 🤦. It caused that much extra drag. Like an airbrake on a jet. 🤣
@@shawnkelly7869 did you never catch that mythbusters episode where they test if having the windows down impacts fuel economy?
@@nicholaswilks580 I did. But that was compared to A/C being on too. I'm telling you from experience. Went from 14 to 12 at least on that trip. Same route from Louisiana to Alabama just opposite direction.
My first vehicle was an '82 ramcharger. This '93 (other than the grill and steering wheel) looks nearly identical inside and out as far as I can remember. 😄
Love The 1972-1993 Dodge Full size Pickups and Ramchargers Guess Dodge Loved that Body Style or were saving Money Using it For 21 years with face lifts.
A few of my aunts and uncles in Mexico owned this car. What a trip, I remember this car so vividly. I'm pretty sure I fell hanging off the side of one while my grandpa was driving us around on a ranch.
The 4WD shifter was offset because some of these were offered in manual and they used the space to the left for the gear shifter. In automatics they didn't bother to move the the transfer case/4wd shifter. It wasn't a random location.
Excellent point. Sometimes Doug draws conclusions without taking a little time to research it. One example is his review of the 1991 Mercedes 560 SEL where he mocked them for installing a manual mirror on the drivers side. They did that because they figured the driver could easily reach it, and not having the motor was one less thing to go wrong, a philosophy that went out the window with the introduction of the W140s.
Of course, trucks had the manual shifter on the steering column for years, so seeing a floor shifter was the exception, not the rule. Makes perfect sense NOT to design a 4WD gearbox for automatics to simply have it centered. Now we have paddle shifters and buttons, so the whole thing is moot.
@@caseycooper5615 It wasn't just the ergonomics of the manual transmission, if you look under one the transfer case itself is offset to the side of the transmission.
@@caseycooper5615 it's a little cringy when a reviewer who wasn't even born when these cars were on the road en masse, vs someone who has ridden in most 60s 70s 80s and 90s cars long before they were considered classics. Want to confuse Doug? Ask him where the jack is on that 2003 lol! First couple of jack parts located at 15:43 other under coolant reservior
doug does zero research
I can guarantee you that, long after all the more (AHEM) "user-friendly" 4wd selector systems have had to have switches and solenoids replaced, this lever will still be accurately and crisply changing the differentials.
Doug, with no rear windows that could roll down, the ROOF VENT did help the air flow and reach the rear seats. I know, spent many childhood hours in one of those.
Agreed. Being in the back as a child that vent made all the difference. I was also yelled at many times for leaving the vent open. Needless to say I got very used to shutting the vent from the back bumper by slapping it shut. Good times 😆
My grand dad had one of these briefly and yup, was also for all the dead deer you would throw in the back of the RamCharger...../s
Seems like common sense to me. I don't understand Doug's confusion.
@@tombittikoffer412 Actually, for carrying dead large game you would have preferred a four wheel drive pickup truck. Especially in later models with carpeting hauling a dead moose in the back end would have made a BIG mess. In the 1970's these came with black mats so it would have been easier to clean up but you definitely wouldn't want to put dead moose in this fully carpeted beast. My father had a mid 70's Ford Bronco with a four speed manual with first gear being a "granny" gear, they had their place (and we actually used that "granny" gear and four low to get out of deep, deep, deep sand once, that was probably the only time the "granny" gear was ever used in it) but they weren't an everyday vehicle unless you lived out in the middle of nowhere (although I had an uncle with a Ramcharger and another with a Blazer and both sure did try).
Roof vent, a must have for the avid smoker
That late Gen 2 style ('88-'93) was the very best looking SUV ever put out by Dodge. Really sharp. Love that colored interior: ANYTHING BUT GRAY! Real wind wings (vent windows) worked 50x better than anything since. That strange roof vent was ergonomically placed for the people in the back seat to operate.
As I watch this for perhaps the twentieth time, I am once again struck by the beauty of this magnificent machine. When this was sold I believe I was driving an International Scout II from 1975 (I believe that was the year), but soon after I bought a 1990 full size Blazer and it also had that beautifully rugged look. Nostalgia… I wish you all the very best!
This thing brings a tear to my eye. My grandfather had one that he loved so much. He passed in 2003. That passenger seat shock goes out and that seat becomes a weapon.
Lol forgot about the seat haha . My parents owned one also as they bought it brand new that I ended up buying off of them when I turned 19 . Wish I would of been a smarter kid and kept it although keeping it rust free in New Hampshire for the past 30 years would of been near impossible. Most of these were rotted out by the early 2,000's
Ejecto seato
8:15 The location of the roof vent is actually ideal. Since the rear side windows don't open, you can open the front vent windows to let fresh air in, and the hot air at the rear, instead of being trapped in the rear seat and cargo area, gets to vent out the top. Note that the vent faces rearwards, so it's not there to scoop air _in,_ but to let it _out._
My parents put a Sunroof in the front so we had 2 sunroofs, the air flow was amazing, and yes sadly my parents smoked so 2 sunroofs PLUS the little vent windows worked very well
It makes a big difference. Even cracking the rear hatch in my cj7 and bungie cording it to the spare tire makes a huge difference and im sitting in the front!
Stunning
It's a smoker's vent.
The vent windows on the front doors are really all you'll need as they actually circulate the air through and around the cabin pretty well by themselves. That was the great thing about them. The vent on top actually sucked air out of the cabin due to the way it opens to the rear.
The Dodge Ram Charger is one of my favorite cars of all time. My dad had one for a few years and I absolutely loved it. In my opinion, it’s the best out of the three when you compared with the Ford bronco and Chevy blazer.
friend of mine died in minor car accident due to the fact his buddy was turning wrench on the car prior and did not correctly secure the passenger seat. the seat flipped up JUST LIKE THIS 7:09 and gave him a life ending head injury. they were going like 25-30mph and he did have a seat belt on.. that said, a failure of that latch (latch failure is common) will cost someone their life in even minor incidents.
This is one of the most pristine Ramcharger interiors I've ever seen. Honestly a thing of beauty. Takes us back to simpler times!!
👴🏻 why these people moving into our neighbourhood and lowering our home value
It will probably outlast a car made in 2022. I wish modern cars were more analog. Would think it is super collectible. The sales binder is a really nice touch. Have the sales binder for my 2009 Dodge Challenger.
Still there, never left
Girlfriend's just didn't get it.
Had one with 44 inch mud tires and a 8 inch lift kit. Was awesome.
@@gregleuze6657 indeed, too many things designed to fail these days
Maybe it’s just the Dodge lover in me but I think these were way better looking than the Bronco or Blazer. This is a true gem. It’s beautiful!
I'm a diehard K5 blazer guy, but even I think this truck is absolutely gorgeous
They were.
Indeed.
you can't go wrong with any of those three. I love them all
I don’t know…..1978-79 Bronco has this beat I believe. 😉
I love the transfer case shifter. I initially thought it was a stick shift 4 speed, but I didn’t see a clutch pedal.
What a sweet truck!
My brother-in-law had one and it is such a great vehicle. Thanks for finding that one and doing a review on it.
I remember in a quite old video, that Doug said that he reviewed some cars (esp. older ones) for himself (regardless of views). I just love this! These time capsules that Doug comes up with are 100x more fun to watch than the modern stuff. And this is no exception! This thing is a beast, and I love it!
the best doug videos.
Agreed
This is easily one of my favorite Doug reviews. Just a cool throwback. Even though Dodge updated the body one time in 81, the stamping and fabrication remained in the 70s era -- just look at the rain gutter formed around the windshield header that runs down around the doors.
My 1994 Ford F150 pickup has that rain gutter too. And the 4x4 lever on the floorboard in the middle. Unfortunately I did not order the optional push button on the dash to get it into 4x4. Should have.
That rain gutter is something I wish I had on my car these days.
XJs, And CJs have it too
@@AkarZaephyr my jeep has one on the hard top, wen u open the door it dumps it right into the floor panel and on top of u as u climb in
My late Grandfather had the pickup version silver/light blue with the V8 it was such a beautiful truck. He always paid cash too. I think he got his after he retired from his nuclear energy job in 1991/1992. I wish Trucks and SUVs today were held to those standards. If I remember correctly the keyhole had a glow in the dark light ring around it and I want to say the windows and lock buttons also had that light, maybe even the seatbelt connectors. These trucks were amazing.
my family went through two of them when i was growing up. they were both late 80's Ram Chargers; the first one was blue (which we called "Big Blue") and the second was red (which we creatively called "Big Red"). Big Red had a roll bar which was cool. The Damn hood Ornaments were stolen occasionally as we were living in New Jersey just a few miles away from New York City.
I remember going to an old school drive in with my grandpa in his RAMCHARGER. The waitress hooked the tray to his window but it needed to go down further. She told him just to lower the windows, he warned her that they went down FAST. She insisted. She found out just how fast when the drinks and fries spilled everywhere. Gramps was unimpressed... lol miss him and the old RamCharger.
Sounds like that was more on your gramps for not making her take the tray off the window before he adjusted it.
5:49 when he says the shifter is off to the side “sort of randomly” I think its probably because the shifter for the manual transmission version would’ve been to the left of it.
Correct! (source: mine had a 4-speed)
You beat me to it...
Umm, no. Old school shifters only used mostly straight metal rods to connect to the xfer case. The shifter is kicked over so those rods can run next to the trans.
Or that of a floor-mounted shifter for an automatic transmission. These transfer cases were mated to more than one model, so they probably had their lever offset to the right to accomodate whatever transmission lever would equip the vehicle they were mounted on.
All Dodge trucks of this generation (72-93) had the shifter to the right regardless of transmission
Love This Ram Charger! No doubt your best review yet! 👌
Thank you for mentioning that this is the top level trim of the vehicle because the one that my dad had was very basic and did not have any of these accessories such as the wood paneling on the dash or the spare tire or the roof vent and it was older than this one, so I didn’t have the rollover windows either
Wow! What memories! I bought a new one in 1976 for $7,200. Full time 4WD and about 7 mpg, which wasn’t a problem because gas was 65 cents a gallon. Glad I had it when the blizzard of ‘78 hit us here in New England.
I've heard about the blizzard of 78 here in Indiana and I've been through some storms but the pictures of seen with only the tips of the telephone poles sticking out of the drifts I can't imagine that winter. If only I had I time machine. Go back in time with a modern Parloader and make the world record snowman
That's so cool!
$7,200...
👍
When fuel was burned like it was an infinite resource
My dad had one while I was growing up, a “prospector” edition. Loved that rig and anyone who’s owned one is amazed that the headliner isn’t sagging🤣😂
My dad had a Prospector as well! I’m sad Doug didn’t get to experience hitting his head on that damn rollbar when getting in the back seat lol
I have an 84 and my headliner surprisingly didn’t sag. It faded and was extremely hard to take off the mold for new fabric. That glue was something else.
I've got an 83 royal SE Prospector. My headliner is still up, and the thing still has all the factory metal. (No rust). At 92k, she sees no winters here in Indiana, and delegated to summer and boat towing trips. Love it, its fun to own.
My uncle had 2 Ramchargers. Forever one of my favorite vehicles of all time.
I applaud your enthusiasm, and I tried to watch the review, butI just cannot get excited, let alone interested in a ramcharger. Great show! I’ll catch the next episode.
i’ve got a 1992 ramcharger canyon sport im restoring, so seeing this gave me the boost i needed to finish it and do it right! truly an amazing truck and there will never be another like it. amazing video!
Awesome, I miss my 1987 Ramcharger I let go years ago
GET BUSY OR GET RUSTIN
@@chadparsons1972 it’s sad because nobody knew how amazing these trucks would end up becoming in todays world
I have a 93 canyon sport, we’re gonna have to do a Ramcharger photo shoot lol
@@michaeljohn9263 whether you're into fishing, camping or cooking doesn't make you a boy, girl, man, woman. 80s were right about we should stop gender stereotypes and stop categorizing or restricting general human things by sex. The issue with today is instead of accepting gender non conformity as No Big Deal, things have gone hyper categorizing and stereotypes, whether the infinite gender ideology mess or the opposing group that want to box up and define men and women in an oppressive way.
Hands down my favorite DeMuro video. Out of alllllll the cars he’s done, this one steals the show. Would LOVE to see an old K5 Blazer video now. Do it Doug!
I've always wanted one of these since I first seen one in highschool. Also I love reading all these memories of people owning them.
Now, this is really what should be called MINT CONDITION. Kudos to the owner, keeping this vehicle in this incredible shape. I'm fairly sure that the maintenance has been spot on, hell, just take a look at this thing. I'm really blown away.
I grew up eating cheerios in that back seat of my family's 1992 Ramcharger LE. When I turned 17 it became my first car, then it got handed down to my brother when he was of driving age. We still have it always kept in the garage, and if the one in the video is a 10/10 condition, ours is probably a 9/10. the panoramic windows were awesome to look out of as a kid, and the roof vent actually made a big difference in temperature leaving it in a parking lot on hot summer days. even over 12 years ago, this was by far the coolest vehicle in the high school parking lot and gathered a ton of attention. Awesome to see Doug review one
I had two Ramchargers and a Trailduster back in my mud-running days in and a little after high school, all 4-speeds. The old 318s were damn near immortal, and they had the best 4-speed and axles out of them, Broncos, and Blazers. All three of mine had the same built but fairly mild 318, A-833 4-speed, and Dana 60 front with a Truetrac and Dana 70 rear with a Detroit Locker, both with 4.56s, I just swapped all the good stuff into a new one each time one got rotted or smashed enough to be no good anymore. I had 38" Swampers on the first and 37" Mickey Thompson MTZs on the other two. I really liked them, not everyone had one and they did great in both the mud and the surrounding trails.
wow...great story.
I agree, the 318 was a solid engine....and somewhat tunable for more power. A manual transmission and a 318 was a solid set-up.
What car do you own now?
The four speeds in the blazers at least are pretty much unkillable as well
Being a Plymouth guy, I always preferred the Trailduster. I wouldn't be picky if either model came my way.
love to see the ramcharger get some recognition. I have a 1988 one that I plan on restomodding to an overland rig but as is it has a swapped engine and a 2500 suspension because I use it for towing and work.
It’s the console storage for me. These things are so awesome and, as others have said, god bless the person that has preserved this beauty.
I test drove a '92. I've always wanted one since seeing the Chuck Norris movie "Lone Wolf McQuade". I was amazed at the speed of the power windows. Literally all the way down and all the way back up in less than 5 seconds. EDIT: I typed this comment before getting to the part where Doug shows the window speed. lol
I could see that being a positive if a swarm of bees or a not-so-friendly wild animal wants to jump in the cabin with you...
👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾😂😭
I was looking for a Lone Wolf McQuade reference in the comments. IIRC his was supercharged.
@@LS3ftw15 , I think that his vehicle was a custom vehicle that was in that movie and that its power output was around what a modern era Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk produces, i.e., around a Hellcat engine would produce in horsepower and torque outputs.
I watched this entire video already and came back to just mention how much “awe” I’m in at how AMAZINGLY well kept this ramcharger is. I cannot tell yall how much i appreciate this mystery person for doing such a damn good job at keeping this a perfect time capsule. Holy smokes.
I was tracking right along with you during the video until I spotted the heartbreaking body panel crack surrounding the latch on the rear hatch. Can you imagine how disappointed you'd be with yourself when you backed into something and damaged this sweet, sweet ride? I'd never forgive myself.
@@esperago it's literally in such a priceless condition, that the only way i'd buy it, would be for a steal of a deal, then sell to a mopar collector for the highest offer... defintietly a 100k+ time capsule when the economy is just righttt
I had a 91. That thing was a tank and easily drove through deep snow, which came in handy in the Adirondack mountains. I wish they would re-introduce it, but it would probably be anemic, in comparison to the Ramcharger of old.
I had one - 1989 model - in high school ('96-99) until 2003 when my family traded it for a 2001 Mitsu Eclipse for my sister. Took it to South Padre Island for spring break 2 years in a row, into Mexico, and it fit right in, LOLZ!
My dad got it new an sold it to me for $1000. It was the 5.2L 4x2 with a 38 gal fuel tank and this exact interior. Gasoline was about $0.95 cents a gallon and it was fun as hell to have this SUV in high school. If it was 4x4 I would still have it to this day. Thank you for the review and memories....cruised a lot of Sonic drive ins and Whataburger after midnight in that thing........BEAUTIFUL TRUCK!
My first vehicle was a 1985 Ramcharger, and i still have it. My parents had one that i was brought home in, too, and had it for my whole childhood. BEST VEHICLE EVER! ABSOLUTE BEAST!
I had an 83 ramcharger that my grandfather bought brand new. By the time I got it, the truck was 15 years old and had 100k on it. It was a 150 royal se. I wish I still had it. Truck was towed and got damaged so I sold it years ago.
Ramchargers are sooooooo underrated. Also in my 1979 W200 base model, with no ac, the vent windows are a lifesaver.
We called them CUCVs in the US Army 🪖. They had a woodland camo finish.
They are Overshadowed by the Ford Bronco And K5 Blazer Glad Doug is Talking about and The owner sent him it.
You did a great job as always Doug thanks for giving us the chance to look as this beautiful mint condition truck. I always wanted a Ram Charger with the 5.9 if I were to get one it would be a 1993 Ram Charger. With Black exterior and red interior hopefully some day I will have this as my weekend truck.
My first car was a 91 Ramcharger! I absolutely loved it, slow as molasses, but there was no where you couldn't go, and it was roomy inside. That little hydraulic for the seat must have been a Canyon Sport upgrade, or aftermarket. Mine didn't have it and could have really used it lmao.
I wonder if this was a professional detail, or an extremely meticulate owner. The alternating vacuum strokes in the carpeting was a nice touch. Really nice condition truck, could be a museum piece! Thanks so much for reviewing these older vehicles your audience has actually seen in real life or even ridden in or owned! 👍🚙
dude you just broke my brain for about 15 seconds with the word "meticulate" lol it sounds like a real word but my brain couldn't figure it out. Did you mean meticulous?
@@Eralen00 haha yeah. guess I got it confused with articulate.
Nowadays, classic cars are just rust buckets.
@@Eralen00 Meticulate = meticulous + immaculate.
I had a 1981 Ramcharger with a 360 engine and auto trans. Compared with my current, fancy, high tech 4X4, the Ramcharger was really, to be kind, let's say spartan. That said, it took me to all of the remote areas of Anza Borrego, Death Valley, various mountains and deserts. And I had so much fun and gained so many great memories with this vehicle.
Yeah, I had one of those. You could commit vehicular manslaughter with one of those, a lot more easily than the junk they put out today with all the lame computerized safety crap.
@@rstidman Actually Red, I like my 2018 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road much better than my old Ramcharger. It's better in just about every way.
@@rstidman I have fond memories of my '79 Trail Duster (same vehicle as Ramcharger) which I bought brand new, but NOT of its numerous quality issues, its lame performance (0-60 took a calendar) nor its absolute max 15 mpg. My 2019 F150 kicks its butt in every way. EVERY way.
Spartan is a great way to put it. Had an '80 in '85. It was so raw, loved it for that
@@townhall05446 Let's see you take the roof off of your F150. I had a 78 Ramcharger and the roof could be taken off by 2 guys. Really badass driving around like that then.
Thank you Doug. Great car, great review.
Absolutely love how clean this truck is! The stripes vacuumed into the carpet! Kudos to the owner on a beautiful ride!
I had one of these as my car during high school and it was great! Glad to see you covering it. It was cool then and it still is.
Something about that red though just makes it feel off personally I'd paint it a nice blue or Green
@Tinder in real life 🅥 You were waiting for a video on a ram charger?
I still own my 93 ramcharger I bought new in 1993. Not as nice, almost 200k miles. But, thtis was marketed towards guys like me who were Dodge loyalist who didn't want to own a jeep. I grew up with previous ramcharger edition and the whole characteristic of it meets my needs. I also outfitted my dad's 1975 ramcharger with a hellcat. I absolutely love these thinsg.
Was it yours or your dads car
@@K1ng1995 Mine was blue
I recently came across an old CDF Ramcharger that if I had the room probably would have bought. Always loved the RC and the K5 Blazers.
My '92 Dodge Ramvan also had those same alloy wheels. I loved that thing!
I’ve had two full-size Broncos, and currently have an XJ in my fleet. A RamCharger has been one of my weird dream cars since I was a teenager. They are pretty rare though. This one is BEAUTIFUL
I've had 100s of people stop on my property out in the country asking if my 90 ramcharger is for sale
I've been waiting for this review forever! I'm still driving a '92 Ramcharger as a daily. Always believed the Ramcharger the best compared to the Blazer and Bronco. One thing that is for sure in my mind and that is the interior is by far the most comfortable ever made IMO.
I have a 79 K5. Blazers ftw!!!
I have an '85 Royal SE Ramcharger was my daily but I moved and poor things been stuck in storage at my younger brothers the only thing I don't like about mine is someone changed out the hood for the bird bath power wagon hood, it's in eastern Oregon though so no real issues with rain/rust etc....
The only people who drive those junk mopars are people who cant afford Chevy's.
@@pissoff234 I have driven old school Chevys and Dodges, and let me tell you that the Dodges fell more solidly built and a smoother ride. At least the Mexican versions of them
@@pissoff234 I’d rather drive Mopar or ford, than garbage motors.
we had one of these growing up and I loved it!! Hard to find now...
The vent on the roof was in all solid top Ramchargers. When Dodge switched from the removable top ( pop top )to the solid top it was needed to allow flow through ventilation. On pop top models the rear entry hatch was 2 pieces with an optional outside spare tire carrier. It was also available in 2 wheel drive.
We had a new 76 model. Orange with a white top. Got it to pull a boat. What I really liked about the older models was the split tailgate. The bottom half folds down like a traditional pickup. Made it much more usable when picnicking.
About those big side windows, it’s like sitting in a greenhouse and the AC could barely keep up.
It is long gone but we still talk fondly of it.
My friends dad had the Orange with white top too. So cool. It had a rollbar too. Lots of good memories.
Amazing
My '75 was orange with a white top as well. The top could be removed, but it took a t least two guys to remove it. It then became a convertible pickup.
My neighbor had one of these in the late 80’s. These sat on dealers lots forever, and he got a killer deal on it. Cool to see one in such great shape.
Still amazes me how This Body style with the Ram and W Series Pickups Lasted til 1993 Love it These are Overshadowed by the Ford Bronco and K5 Chevy Blazer.
@@chargermaster586 Most went unmodified because nobody made accessories for them ;)
My neighbor use to have a baby blue n white one. These things are amazing n I would love to have one right now.
. I saw one For $11,500 1993
@@chargermaster586 yea I instantly went n searched for them too. Saw some good ones
Great Video... I really love how SUVs were made back in the day
Idk if this is a personal thing but I LOVE how airy it feels in older boxy big windowed cars.. cars we have today (most of em) comparatively feels sooo claustrophobic and locked up like yk.. i love it so much when the cabin is so open and airy
Like comparing a park bench to a padded cell. Yeah they were unsafe to crash, but way more natural feeling.
The closest I’ve found in a modern vehicle smaller than a suburban was the Subaru Forester. The interior is very upright and boxy and the ones with a sunroof have a huge glass panel for it. Like 32x29” which is massive for a non-“panoramic”
@@ridewithme3428 Totally agree, the 1st and 2nd gen Forester (and Outbacks before 2010) are the most airy cars Ive seen ever. You can see at any stop light how the body is always lower than rest of the cars around. Big glasses and a massive solar roof did wonders to feel big space and a luminous interior. I cannot stand modern cars because of they are the opposite.
Crash test ratings have forced everything into having thick window pillars.
Absolutely! I can't stand all the huge pillars and tiny windows that cause lots of blind spots. I had a 1988 Jeep Cherokee and I loved how open and roomy it felt and the visibility was excellent.
I had an 83 for my first car. One thing I thought he would mention was the seams in the floor and roof right behind the cab. I always thought it was interesting that they basically took a Ram pickup and just added a roof over the bed. I guess it stood out to me because the roof started failing in the late 90’s and I constantly had to reattach the seam like a large ziplock.
I recently bought a 1992 Dodge Ramcharger, it has the 318 magnum. I really like the clash of of mid 70's styling with early 90's technology. For it's age, it definitely has a decent amount of get up and go. has no rust and the body is very straight on it. Has a 7/10 interior. Only paid $4,000 for it.
We had a 1983 Ramcharger in two tone blue. It was the 'prospector package' and I loved it as a kid. We'd flip the ram around just to annoy my dad. Ours was only rear wheel drive, and it did poorly in the Wisconsin winters. I wish I had that exact vehicle (with modern conveniences) made today. It would be so much better than what is currently available.
It had an actual vent the driver could open, highbeam switch on the floor. Ours didn't have speakers in the back, nor hydraulic for the front seat. The rear roof vent was awesome. Ours only had lap belts. Ours had the spare in the same location, but the bumpers and grill had more chrome.
Great review Mr. DeMuro, as usual. I was 14 when these came out in 1974 and I worked on weekends at the only new car dealership in my small town and yes, it was a Dodge/Chrysler dealership. Good memories.
There was a reason the Ramcharger was Chuck Norris's choice of transport in the 1983 classic, 'Lone Wolf McQuade'. Just go check out the scene where he is buried alive in it just to know why this 4x4 was just so cool.
LOL! I forgot all about that scene! Remember he grabs a "cold one" out of that cooler console that Doug mentions, opens in and pours it over his head to snap him out of his unconscious daze, then just power rams his way out of a fully buried situation, using his supercharger to make that last oopmh out of his sure demise! Cinema at it's absolute finest!
It's the reason I bought one, used it for hunting, fishing and my winter vehicle cause it was good in the snow
Awesome SUV! Thanks for sharing it with us!
I owned a 1978 Plymouth TrailDuster as a younger man. Absolutely LOVED it !! The advantage of the TrailDuster was, you could remove the top to make it an awesome convertible!! I actually traded it for a 1971 Dodge Challenger 340 4bbl !! Stupid looking back !! I'd love too own another!!
The Dodge challenger is pretty cool as well. Not a bad trade to be honest you could have done so much worse.
Finally! It feels like ages ago that this was teased! Maybe we'll finally get that Clio V6 review soon!
It was early 2021 when he first teased this
Is it a Clio Williams 16 S? That would be cool because I live in France and when I was younger they were such cars, my friend & I, when we saw it on a billboard we said to each other “we’ll be able to own that car when we’re in our 70s” actually we could’ve bought it in our 30s…
@@trevinormandy14520 No, the Clio V6 is a mid-engine, rear wheel driven hot hatch with a big V6 engine produced around 2002.
It's as crazy as it sounds.
Still waiting for the westward go-4 interceptor II he teased on instagram
I had the exact same thought. Always been a Rammie fan, been waiting for this one!
That thing is mint for sure and absolutely beautiful! The vent window that you keep pointing out that you think is so strange is actually for sleeping in the truck and keeping relatively safe while getting air into the cabin. Put the backseat all the way up like you showed and you have a perfect sleeping cabin for two. These were made to take out to the mountains and camp and watch the stars etc. Just like an RV as you mentioned!
That is exactly right my Moms friend had Ram Charger and I would sleep in the back of it all the time and drive it all over his camp I miss him and his truck.
Drove the old square body blazer and bronco. Still have the bronco always wanted the ramcharger but never could find one that was intact this one is awesome
excellent test drive for an excellent vehicle 👍
This thing is beautiful. Just wish it had the chrome grill. It definitely gets more than 4 mpg too...more like 14. The 5.2 had 200hp, the 5.9 was 245...and the speakers in the back are aftermarket, the factory ones were under a grill similar to the door speakers.
He mentioned the fact that earlier model years had the available 440 CI (7.2L) engine. It was only rated 225 HP. Who knows what kind of fuel mileage that got. Probably not 4 MPG but could have been a lot less than 14 MPG.
agreed, a bit of a slip when when the window sticker clearly said 230HP and 325 ft/lbs out of the 5.9
@@luisinhoens90 I guess it varried slightly from year to year. I don't know why he has to underrate the power and other stuff on older vehicles...
My best buddy had one for a few years, he was lucky to get 10.
@@tedunguent156 my 440 powered '77 gets 9 to 12mpg.
It is pretty shocking how well preserved it is, looks right off the lot
I was Shocked when Doug Uploaded this Clicked Instantly The Ramcharger Is Overshadowed by the Ford Bronco And K5 Blazer.
Thank you for watching❤️🆙❤️
You have been randomly selected among our winners today send a message on telegram to claim your prize🆙🔝☝️...
There seems to be a misconception among younger auto journalists the previous generations had to "put up" with trucks that lacked modern amenities. You are correct in saying "It was a different time." Trucks were bare bones because that's the way we liked them. They were simple to operate and easy to maintain.
I would MUCH rather have a lever on the floor to change the drive mode mechanically instead of pushing a button. If the old system stopped working, it was usually something simple like a loose or broken bolt or cotter pin. Replacements could be found at any hardware store for just pennies, and you were back on your way. If you push the button in a modern SUV and nothing happens, what do you do? You're screwed. You can't fix it yourself and pocket change isn't going to cover the repairs.
Power windows and locks are two more unnecessary complications that are more trouble than they're worth. I must have replaced a dozen power window motors in the past forty years. I NEVER had a crank window mechanism fail. When the motor for the tailgate glass in a 1978 station wagon failed on me, I was able to replace it with a crank assembly from a junkyard that I pulled out of a 1967 model. That one never gave me a problem.
Truck interiors were already being made delicate in the 1990s, but in "the good old days," the seats were always vinyl and the floor was covered with a rubber mat instead of carpet. We worked our trucks hard, tracked mud into them on our work boots, and hosed out the interior when it needed cleaning.
Back when they were still marketing trucks & SUVs to men.
I have one :) it's 1991 and it's an amazing truck. Great video
Very cool 😎, 🙏💯🤟 she won't let you down.
Being a kid throughout the 90s I never seen a Ramcharger in this good of condition. An absolute 💎 💯🙌
I had a '75. It had a 4" suspension lift, with a 2" body lift, a 400 ci big block, and, a 4 speed trans. It even had the removable top. Unlike the Blazer's top, it was ACTUALLY removable. Best truck I've ever owned. Mopar, or, no car!
Blazers were removable, 67 to 72 and 73 ,74 full roof .75 on the roof over the cab remained
Thank you for watching❤️🆙❤️
You have been randomly selected among our winners today send a message on telegram to claim your prize✅
I remember back when my elementary school janitor had a 1987 Ramcharger in a "custom" camouflage paint job, and I remember that thing being super loud (it was probably straight piped more likely than not). I've always had the dream if I got one, I'd swap in a modern 5.7 Hemi.
Thanks for all the iconic historic auto gold! Wow a post 93 Ram Charger now way! Reminds me they make VW Beatles new but original in Mexico in the 2000s. Idk when or if they stopped. Get on it Doug! Thanks again 🏁😎
Yes! THIS definitely is a real SUV! I remember spending a week in one of these during a vacation trip to Mexico. It was this generation. I remember it was also a two-tone, Silver over dark gray or black. Beautiful truck! The owner had kept it in mint condition with very few miles.
And I wonder if you could legally import the newer Durango-based Ram Charger. That would be quite the conversation piece!
they will be eligible to legally import in 2 years. The Mexican-only Ram Chargers were available from 99 to 01 .
Also some other facts many people don't know: the OBS Ram Charger was sold in Mexico through 96, so you can legally import those right now and will look the same as the one in the video.
@@luisinhoens90 good luck finding one and getting it here. Lol i'm sure the cartel is stock pilling these.
The next generation was a ram based ram charger not a durango based.
I own an 89 Ramcharger and I love to see it get noticed more because it really is a great and one of a kind vehicle and daily driving it as my first car has been a great experience.
I found out that from 1974-1981 there was also a Plymouth version of the Ramcharger that was called the Trail Duster. They were pretty much the Chrysler equivalents to the Chevy Blazer and GMC Jimmy. The interesting thing is that both model names gave a reference to old Mopar muscle cars from the late ‘60’s and early ’70’. The Dodge Charger and Plymouth Duster. If you can find someone who owns and is willing to showcase their Plymouth Trail Duster on your channel that would be really cool indeed, since it was much shorter lived than the Dodge Ramcharger, it is a virtually forgotten model it would be a cool way to revamp it
loved the commercial where the Black one fell from the ceiling -- one heck of a rig... this one is beautiful .
Definitely a by gone era. If the “good ole days” was a vehicle it would be something like this. My neighbor had one in red and I always loved it but wasn’t in the position to buy it when he actually sold it. Vehicles like this will never be built again, we’ve gotten lost in what we think we need with luxury things and computer control everything. Would be so cool to own that.
Imagine trying to keep up with it’s gas consumption today though
I really hope we never go back to this just cause of the egregious fuel consumption
@@uumuu I have an 08 Trailblazer, it only gets a hair over 16mpg!
@@docsmallblock6584 my 99 4Runner gets 13mpg!
@@roddydykes7053 people who keep these don't care.
The 'Ramcharger' name dates back to 1959 and the Ramchargers Drag Racing team, which is what got Chrysler seriously into drag racing. It was a team started by of a bunch of Chrysler engineers who eventually were able to get direct corporate involvement and sponsorship from Chrysler in the 60's and 70's. They had extensive experience with the "long-horn" intake manifold that powered the early Chrysler 300 series, and began to experiment with the technology in drag racing. The name soon evolved from long-horn to ram's -horn and eventually the public settled on the nickname Ram-Induction. By the 1960 race season this group created the team named, RAMCHARGERS. So there you have it.
The High and Mighty '49 Plymouth !
Yup,they were legendary,without factory backing at the start. Once they started racking up wins,Chrysler took a second look at what they’re employees were doing for fun.