1972-'93 Dodge powerwagon (and Ramchargers from that era too)

[Luc Janssens]

Guys,

I'm trying to gather as much info I can, on the Dodge Powerwagons, and Ramchargers from '72 up to '93.

Changes through the years of: (standard cab short and std bed, for the pickups) 

- Chassis, and differences between RWD and 4WD
- Drive-train
- Sheetmetal
- Interior
- Trim
- popular options

Military variants, did they differ much from the civilian versions, if so what?

If anyone here has info or know sources to obtain, please share.

Thanks in advance

Luc Janssens
Belgium

 

[Rob Hall]

Allpar has a few articles

with some info..

https://www.allpar.com/model/ram/ram-trucks-D-1972.html

1975.html

1980 was the last year for the Power Wagon name until it was revived in '05.   Not sure when they first started making a D-series Power Wagon, it may have been 1977.  I know the name was previously used on the '40s era 4x4 that was still built into the '70s as a low volume speciality item.

I have a personal connection to Power Wagons, in 1982 my Dad bought a clean used '79 Power Wagon fleet side shortbed, silver green with matching green interior, with the Adventurer trim and the stacked quad rectangular headlights.  I learned to drive in that truck, bouncy suspension, numb steering and all...318 v8 that was prone to stall on left turns, which led to my phobia about left turns at intersections without an arrow...;) 

His truck looked like this, but silver green.   Same wheel covers, my Dad put a set of the ubiquitous wagon spoke white wheels on it...kept it until 1994 when he traded it on a Ranger. 

Edited September 30, 2017 by Rob Hall

[Mike999]

Here's a good article from Olive-Drab.com on the military Dodges.  Lots of links to specs, tech manuals, etc.

"The M-880 is a Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle (CUCV pronounced "cuck-vee"), a military modified Dodge pick-up truck, procured in the mid-1970s to replace the Kaiser M715 5/4 truck and any remaining M-37 Dodge trucks in military inventory. The CUCVs were an attempt by the U.S. military to use COTS (commercial, off-the-shelf) vehicles with minor modifications in non-combat roles. After the M880 series, the U.S. military procured the M1008 - M1009 - M1010 Chevrolet CUCVs as a second try of the COTS concept. This effort to save money was not very successful and eventually all CUCV units where replaced by HMMWVs."

http://olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_m880.php

[iamsuperdan]

As a side note, I have a 2018 Power Wagon on a railcar right now. Should be here in a couple of weeks. I already have some parts in the garage, and some ideas for mods. 

I love the Power Wagons, this will be my second one.

Would love to find a late 70s version.