The Dodge Ramcharger was Chrysler’s response to the Chevy Blazer and Ford Bronco.
These trucks had a surprisingly long run from 1974 to 1993, but they didn’t enjoy the same popularity as the Chevy and Ford competitors.
Jerry Sutherland
Brad Richmond is the proud owner of a 1990 Dodge Ramcharger—the Blazers and the Broncos weren’t even on his radar. He’s owned 17 Ramchargers over the years—that’s a clear statement on where he stands in the early SUV world.

This 1990 Ramcharger appealed to Brad for many reasons. The factory paint was a big factor because it’s a rare combination and Brad really likes it on a personal level.

Brad bought the Ramcharger back in 2009 from the original owner. The truck became his daily driver for a while–then he took on the restoration. Brad began by ripping off the checkerboard running boards because he’s definitely not a fan of those aftermarket add-ona. He was also mystified because the original owner didn’t add fender guards to protect the front and rear fenders since there was some damage to the metal from road rash.

This Ramcharger came with a throttle-body fuel-injected 360 (5.9) and a 4-speed overdrive transmission. These were new features to the Ramcharger lineup and that’s why Brad wanted a 1990 model because it was an entry year into new technology.

Brad pointed out the basic diagnostic system on his Ramcharger. You turn the key three times and count the flashes to narrow down what system needs to be addressed.

The Ramcharger suffered from a lack of maintenance, so Brad replaced the complete cooling system—including a new radiator, heating core and water pump. He also replaced the MAP sensor because it was necessary. Brad explained , “when it needs something, I do it”.

Brad also addressed cosmetics in the truck, but there’s still a long list. He redid the interior and added a custom touch to the door panels. He had to replace the windshield after an incident where a shop guy didn’t fold it down when he tilted it forward—that’s a great way to smash a windshield.

He added a very unique graphic to the rear window of the Ramcharger. It’s a custom version of an old Dodge advertisement. This graphic is so cool it captured the interest of some Chrysler guys at a massive Mopar show. They were blown away by it and wondered how he did it because it was so visual.

Brad is highly impressed with his Ramcharger. In fact, he says “it’s the most reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned”, even though it has over 161,000 miles on it. He says it drives great and gets decent mileage on the highway—but it’s a little different around town. Brad counters that by switching off the overdrive in urban settings, but he has to fill up the 35-gallon tank a lot less when he’s on a highway.

This truck isn’t finished because Brad still has a few things on the list. He wants to powder coat the wheels and address some more interior issues, but he will turn it into a “show truck.”
That will make this Ramcharger his favorite out of all 17.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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