1990 Campcharger (Ramcharger)
- Thread starter 98dango
- Start date
HARDTRAILZ
Certified
In to see how this all comes together. Good Luck and glad you went this route really.
98dango
Expedition Leader
Let's get from purchase to her state today as I started on it once again. I had a 1984 chevy ( budget beater) it served us well but needed a new motor and I did not have the time or money to do it. So she found a new loving home and is still camping today. A friend of my wife's was left with 2 rigs and a need to move home to Oregon. So we offered to buy this so she had some cash and I had a camping rig.
That is how it looked the day I bought it. Honestly it should have stayed like that. But I felt bigger was better sold the brand new 31s and the 1/2 ton axles to buddies help finish there projects. Then it was time for 60s I had them so it seemed like the best option.
Sitting on 60s 35s all stock other wise. These trucks just want 60s. All but 1 factory u bolt was reused no modification. Over the next few year I tried selling this giving it away it just came back. So she got some lift and paint.
That gets us to a few months ago. I had never put much work in to this truck because the plan had always been to strip it and build my Scout. After getting them together my wife and I decided the scout is just to small for us and what we do.
Lots of thought discussion later this really is the right rig for us. So that gets you pretty much up to speed.
That is how it looked the day I bought it. Honestly it should have stayed like that. But I felt bigger was better sold the brand new 31s and the 1/2 ton axles to buddies help finish there projects. Then it was time for 60s I had them so it seemed like the best option.
Sitting on 60s 35s all stock other wise. These trucks just want 60s. All but 1 factory u bolt was reused no modification. Over the next few year I tried selling this giving it away it just came back. So she got some lift and paint.
That gets us to a few months ago. I had never put much work in to this truck because the plan had always been to strip it and build my Scout. After getting them together my wife and I decided the scout is just to small for us and what we do.
Lots of thought discussion later this really is the right rig for us. So that gets you pretty much up to speed.
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98dango
Expedition Leader
Now hear is the plan.
1 make it whole again
2 make it work the way we want.
Sounds simple right.
I feel 38s are the right size tire and with 4:10 s there a good fit off and on road. We also are not fans of tents. So a sleeping system is required. Problem 1 my wife has to be able to sit up in bed she has a very long torso. I need over 3 feet of head clearance. Problem 2 ramcharger is 3'4" floor to ceiling. So that has to change.
Solutions
Option 1 Rtt
We have thought of this long and hard. It fits and would work very good. But there is always a but there tall even closed. This truck is not short but tree branches are. Solution build a rack around to protect tent. Problem weight this is a full steel body suv on big rubber. Not a fan of that much weight up that high.
Solution cut the back close it in make a truck lower the tent. Wait a minuet that's alot of work just to use a tent.
Option 2 slide in pop up camper. Problem full steel body. Solution chop the back slide camper in. Walk across the street take mesurments of the palomino sitting there. We'll that's not going to work well plus a lot of work. OK buy a camper built for this truck. Well that's not in the budget.
Option 3. Pop top like a westy van. Have to build it or find one and fab it. This could be done but how much is really gained. Option 3.5 flip pack or wildernest style top. Benefits of Rtt weight 6-8 " lower in vehicle. That sounds pretty good but how much work is that going to be.
1 make it whole again
2 make it work the way we want.
Sounds simple right.
I feel 38s are the right size tire and with 4:10 s there a good fit off and on road. We also are not fans of tents. So a sleeping system is required. Problem 1 my wife has to be able to sit up in bed she has a very long torso. I need over 3 feet of head clearance. Problem 2 ramcharger is 3'4" floor to ceiling. So that has to change.
Solutions
Option 1 Rtt
We have thought of this long and hard. It fits and would work very good. But there is always a but there tall even closed. This truck is not short but tree branches are. Solution build a rack around to protect tent. Problem weight this is a full steel body suv on big rubber. Not a fan of that much weight up that high.
Solution cut the back close it in make a truck lower the tent. Wait a minuet that's alot of work just to use a tent.
Option 2 slide in pop up camper. Problem full steel body. Solution chop the back slide camper in. Walk across the street take mesurments of the palomino sitting there. We'll that's not going to work well plus a lot of work. OK buy a camper built for this truck. Well that's not in the budget.
Option 3. Pop top like a westy van. Have to build it or find one and fab it. This could be done but how much is really gained. Option 3.5 flip pack or wildernest style top. Benefits of Rtt weight 6-8 " lower in vehicle. That sounds pretty good but how much work is that going to be.
98dango
Expedition Leader
Now is also a great time do go race car style with a switch panel. Many of the factory options don't work now. Things like wipers and turn signal where broken off the column when I got it. I have thought of isolated circuit for ease of back wood repair. But the comfort of factory is quite nice. How ever push button starter and kill switches ensure it will be there when you return from your hike.
JIMBO
Expedition Leader
:sombrero: Every days a challenge==
My three (1974/76/78) Rumchugs had remove tops and modified 440s, we always ground tent camped--
Now it's Jeep/trailer/rtt, much cleaner/quicker/safer-
Maybe new Ramcharger coming in 2017/hemi/lockers/leather==I'm watching !
Good luck
:victory::wings: JIMBO
My three (1974/76/78) Rumchugs had remove tops and modified 440s, we always ground tent camped--
Now it's Jeep/trailer/rtt, much cleaner/quicker/safer-
Maybe new Ramcharger coming in 2017/hemi/lockers/leather==I'm watching !
Good luck
:victory::wings: JIMBO
underdrive
jackwagon
Factory dash sucks on these, build your own. Then you can shape it in a manner that allows you to put whatever you need/want wherever you need/want it.
Whatcha gonna do for t-case? 205 out of a older 1-ton?
Whatcha gonna do for t-case? 205 out of a older 1-ton?
98dango
Expedition Leader
I agree on the dash.
As for t case I have no issues with a np208 or any plans to change it. If bin b the future it let's me down I'll go to and Atlas.
In my experience the 205 is not the end all be all. It was at one time but now it's just heavy with a high gear low range. I have the 4speed so that would make up for that .
As for t case I have no issues with a np208 or any plans to change it. If bin b the future it let's me down I'll go to and Atlas.
In my experience the 205 is not the end all be all. It was at one time but now it's just heavy with a high gear low range. I have the 4speed so that would make up for that .
underdrive
jackwagon
Oh the 205 isn't the latest and greatest for sure, but it is stronger than a 208. Tho you have a fixed-yoke 208, so that works in your favor. We haven't killed our fixed-yoke 208 either, but we don't run oversized tires and we don't do stupid things with the truck it's in. Not saying that you will be doing stupid things with yours 
Just that generally the 208 is considered weaker than most other cases that can be used. If it holds up for your use, run it, for sure!
And I'm very familiar with your model of 4-speed, easily my favorite transmission. That reverse gear is godsend for backing up a heavy trailer Too bad the 1st is non-sync so grabbing it on downshift can be a bit challenging sometimes.
Just that generally the 208 is considered weaker than most other cases that can be used. If it holds up for your use, run it, for sure!And I'm very familiar with your model of 4-speed, easily my favorite transmission. That reverse gear is godsend for backing up a heavy trailer
Too bad the 1st is non-sync so grabbing it on downshift can be a bit challenging sometimes.
98dango
Expedition Leader
Oh I'm sure dumb things will happen.
The 4speed saves alot I am also not knows for dumping the clutch. My driving is more crawl it and if that doesn't work you crawl and then stand on it.
I run 38s so things will break. I have not found a weak link yet. I also have not rebuilt any thing except the electrical system. Between dodge and there better ideas and the previous owner and his betterer ideas.
The 4speed saves alot I am also not knows for dumping the clutch. My driving is more crawl it and if that doesn't work you crawl and then stand on it.
I run 38s so things will break. I have not found a weak link yet. I also have not rebuilt any thing except the electrical system. Between dodge and there better ideas and the previous owner and his betterer ideas.