The
Dodge Ramcharger is a large
sport utility vehicleA sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. Usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle, some SUVs include the towing...
built by
DodgeDodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, sport utility vehicles, and pickup trucks, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
from 1974 to 1993, and based on a shortened-wheelbase version of the
Dodge D SeriesThe D Series was a line of pickup trucks sold by the Dodge division of American automaker Chrysler Corporation from 1961 to 1980. After 1980, the trucks were renamed as the Dodge Ram and the same basic design was retained until the 1994 introduction of a completely redesigned Ram...
/
RamThe Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck from Chrysler LLC's Dodge brand. The name was first used in 1981 on the redesigned Ram and Power Ram, though it came from the hood ornament used on 1930s and '40s Dodge vehicles....
pickup truckA pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area which is almost always separated from the cab to allow for chassis flex when carrying or pulling heavy loads....
chassis. A
PlymouthPlymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, marketed by the Chrysler Corporation and DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:...
version, named the
Trailduster and offered from 1974 to 1981, was Plymouth's only SUV. The Dodge Ramcharger would be the first Dodge vehicle to have "Ram" in its name.
The Ramcharger was primarily produced as a two-door, full-time four wheel drive vehicle, although a two wheel drive version was available starting in 1975.
The
Dodge Ramcharger is a large
sport utility vehicleA sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. Usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle, some SUVs include the towing...
built by
DodgeDodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, sport utility vehicles, and pickup trucks, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
from 1974 to 1993, and based on a shortened-wheelbase version of the
Dodge D SeriesThe D Series was a line of pickup trucks sold by the Dodge division of American automaker Chrysler Corporation from 1961 to 1980. After 1980, the trucks were renamed as the Dodge Ram and the same basic design was retained until the 1994 introduction of a completely redesigned Ram...
/
RamThe Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck from Chrysler LLC's Dodge brand. The name was first used in 1981 on the redesigned Ram and Power Ram, though it came from the hood ornament used on 1930s and '40s Dodge vehicles....
pickup truckA pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area which is almost always separated from the cab to allow for chassis flex when carrying or pulling heavy loads....
chassis. A
PlymouthPlymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, marketed by the Chrysler Corporation and DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:...
version, named the
Trailduster and offered from 1974 to 1981, was Plymouth's only SUV. The Dodge Ramcharger would be the first Dodge vehicle to have "Ram" in its name.
First and second generations
The Ramcharger was primarily produced as a two-door, full-time four wheel drive vehicle, although a two wheel drive version was available starting in 1975. During development, it was known as the "Rhino". 1974 through 1980 models have a removable hard top, although dealer-installed soft tops were available. The first year model differs from the others in that its door pillars are attached to a removable roof.
Like many vehicles, the Ramcharger was used in
rallyingRallying is a form of motor competition that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars. This motorsport is distinguished by running not on a circuit, but instead in a point-to-point format in which participants and their co-drivers drive...
, although its use was very limited. It did have some success, as demonstrated by achieving first place at
Sno*DriftSno*Drift is a rally racing event held in Montmorency County, Michigan, annually, with headquarters in Atlanta, Michigan. The event is currently the first Rally America National Rally Championship event of the season...
in 1975. In 1978 and 1979 the 360 CID's horsepower was bumped up to . 1978 was the last year for the 440 CID, which by then only put out .
Mechanicals
The vehicle was usually powered by a
Chrysler LA engineThe LA engines are a family of pushrod OHV 90° V-block gasoline engines built by Chrysler Corporation and factory-installed in passenger vehicles, trucks and vans, commercial vehicles, marine and industrial applications from 1964 through 2003...
, the most common being the 318 CID (5.2 L) V8. Optional was the 360 CID (5.9 L) and even big-block B series 400 CID (6.6 L) and
RBThe RB engine is a big-block V8 engine from Chrysler. It first appeared in 1959 and was a raised-deck version of the Chrysler B engine. The big-block RB lasted until 1978. All RB engines have a 3.75 in stroke, with the bore being the defining factor in engine size. Bore center distance is 4.84"...
440 CID (7.2 L) were offered in the early years. The 318 gained throttle-body fuel injection in 1988 and the 360 followed in 1989. Power output for the TBI 318 was and -ft of torque. The TBI 360 had and 283 to . In 1992 the multiport fuel injected Magnum 318 was the standard engine while the LA 360 with TBI was still offered. In 1993 the Magnum 360 replaced the LA engine version.
Many
manual transmissionA manual transmission, or manual gearbox is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
s were offered throughout the years, starting with the A-230 three-speed and ending with the A-535 five-speed in 1992. The NP435 "granny gear" 4 speed was the most common in 4WD models. In 1988 the clutch was converted from a mechanical linkage to a hydraulic system.
Automatic transmissionAn automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
models had the Chrysler Loadflite TF-727A or B until, in 1991, it was replaced with the A-500/A-518 four-speed.
A full-time four-wheel drive NP-203 transfer case was standard until 1980, when it was replaced with the part-time NP-208. This was supplanted by the NP-241 in 1988.
Axles were Dana 44 front and 9 1/4" rear. Full time 4WD models (1974-1979) were equipped with the full time version of the Dana 44 that had no provision for locking hubs and had a front wheel bearing design with a somewhat dubious reputation. In 1980 when the part time 4WD system was introduced, the front Dana 44 was equipped with a more conventional front wheel bearing design and automatic locking hubs. Late in the 1984 model year the Dana 44 was switched to a CAD (
Center Axle DisconnectA Center Axle Disconnect system or CAD is a alternative to locking hubs. CAD systems are typically used in front drive axles on four wheel drive vehicles . A CAD system works by having a axle shaft split into two pieces. One piece is connected to the carrier, the other connected to the wheel...
) version. The CAD Dana 44 was vacuum actuated by a switch on the transfer case and powered by engine vacuum. The CAD Dana 44 was carried on until the end of Ramcharger production in 1993. Users often ran into problems with the CAD system. The vacuum switch on the transfer case would occasionally fail and either leave the CAD engaged or not engage the CAD at all. Limited slip differentials were available for the 9 1/4" rear axle. It should also be noted that the full time 4WD versions used a 5 on 4 1/2" wheel bolt circle and the part time models used a 5 on 5 1/2" bolt circle.
Third generation
In 1999, a new Ramcharger was produced in
MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
based on the second generation Ram pickup. It was not marketed for the U.S., however, and the model never enjoyed the sales of the first generation Ramcharger. Powered by the 5.9 liter (360 CID) Magnum V8, it was discontinued around 2004. One of the most interesting features of this generation was a small folding seat in the cargo area, facing sideways, not a full-sized seat, making it uncomfortable for long trips. The rear hatch door was borrowed from 1996-2000 model
Dodge CaravanThe Dodge Caravan is a minivan manufactured by Chrysler, along with its rebadged variant, the Plymouth Voyager. Both were introduced in November 1983, for the 1984 model year — followed by the Dodge Grand Caravan and Plymouth Grand Voyager long-wheelbase models in 1987, the rebadged Chrysler...
. The Mexican-market Ramcharger was prbably not marketed in the U.S.because the SUV market was favoring 4 or 5-door SUVs as opposed to 2-doors. Also,
DaimlerChryslerDaimler AG is a German car corporation and the world's thirteenth largest car manufacturer as well as the largest truck manufacturer in the world...
already had two successful mid-sized SUVs (
Jeep Grand CherokeeThe Jeep Grand Cherokee is a mid-size UniFrame sport utility vehicle produced by the Jeep division of Chrysler. European Grand Cherokees are manufactured in Austria by Magna Steyr.- Development :...
and
Dodge DurangoThe Dodge Durango is a full-size SUV from Chrysler's Dodge brand. It was introduced in 1998 as a mid-size SUV, and as a replacement for the Ramcharger discontinued in the North American market in 1993, and was redesigned for 2004. The Durango was produced at the Newark Assembly plant in Newark,...
). Two-door SUV sales have been declining, to which GM ended production of its 2-door Tahoe and Yukon, and Ford discontinued the long-running
Ford BroncoThe Ford Bronco was a sport-utility vehicle produced from 1966 through 1996, with five distinct generations.The Bronco was initially its own platform introduced as a competitor for small four-wheel-drive utility trucks such as the Jeep CJ-5 and International Harvester Scout...
around the same time (available as a 2-door only), replacing it with the 4-door only
Ford ExpeditionThe Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV built by the Ford Motor Company. Introduced in 1997 as a replacement to the Ford Bronco, it was previously slotted between the smaller Ford Explorer and the larger Ford Excursion, but as of the 2010 model year it is Ford's largest SUV...
. Additionally, it was rumored that the new Ramcharger model was not able to meet strict U.S. emission standards. Also having been based on the larger, full-size Ram platform the third generation hurt Chrysler's
CAFEA café , also spelled cafe, is an informal restaurant offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches. This differs from a coffee house, which is a limited-menu establishment which focuses on coffee sales. Depending on the jurisdiction, a café may be licensed to serve alcohol. The term...
rating (of even the light trucks) to the point where it was uneconomical to offer it for sale in the United States.