96 Dodge Ramcharger

[Modlbldr]

I finished this earlier this week (my second this week). My local club has a build-off of any kit from Ollie's. I started with the 96 Ram VTS pickup. Wanting to do something different I thought- Why not a "what if Dodge offered a Ramcharger based on this pickup" idea.

I left off the rear cab wall and scratched in a pass through bed floor. I had to convert the front bench seat into two amd narrowed a second bench for the rear of the bed. I modified a 80's Ramcharger 4x4 frame and suspension and added modified fender flares from my parts box. Tires and wheels are from the Revell Jeep kit. Scratchbuilt ehaust.(needs paint touched up.)

The hardest part was scratchbuilding a roll cage to fit from the dash to the tailgate.

The hood is modified using a center section from a Viper ACR kit. The rear of the Viper hood hat to be trimmed and the grilles in the hood had to be cut out and moved forward. The paint isn't the best but then, either was the paint on the 1/1's back then.

That's about all. Easy Peasy......not!

Later-

[NOBLNG]

Nice conversion there Tom!? The paint looks good from here…what did you use?

[vincen47]

Nice. Would have been great if they had made the ramcharger in that generation, but I suppose 2-door full size SUVs were on the way out by the mid-nineties.

[happy grumpy]

Great take on the RAM. Nice idea of a what if.

[Modlbldr]

9 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

Nice conversion there Tom!? The paint looks good from here…what did you use?

I used a Testors Model Masters Emerald Green and Model Masters Bright Titanium Silver.

Later-

[Mattilacken]

Nice build!

[ChrisR]

Looks great!

[ncbuckeye67]

Excellent conversion! I always wondered why Dodge never made a blazer/suburban. Chevy was still making a two-door Blazer in the mid-nineties.

[Modlbldr]

42 minutes ago, ncbuckeye67 said:

Excellent conversion! I always wondered why Dodge never made a blazer/suburban. Chevy was still making a two-door Blazer in the mid-nineties.

Would have been nice to see them do it.

Later-

[Chuck Most]

I like your rendition better than the actual T300 based Ramcharger built for the Mexican market. That one had a Caravan lift gate and was overall just kind of janky looking. ?

[Rattlecan Dan]

Pretty cool idea. Nice build. Good job.

[Modlbldr]

13 hours ago, Chuck Most said:

I like your rendition better than the actual T300 based Ramcharger built for the Mexican market. That one had a Caravan lift gate and was overall just kind of janky looking. ?

I'd heard they actually had a Ramcharger out back then but it was nothing like my idea. Not liking the look of it much. Definitely needed a removable top.

Later-

[slusher]

Fantastic build, sir!

[ncbuckeye67]

21 hours ago, Modlbldr said:

Would have been nice to see them do it.

Later-

Agreed!

[KWT]

Enjoyed following along. Very nicely done.

[Againmikewins]

In the mid 90’s, I remember there being a resin transkit available for a two door Ram SUV to be used with the then new Snapfast Ram. This brought back memories of sending a SASE and receiving aftermarket catalogues. 

[PappyD340]

Looks great!

[Modlbldr]

Won third place in the build-off yesterday at our model show in "People's Choice".  I was very surprised and appreciative! Pics of the contestants.

Later-

[thatz4u]

Tom, looks good from here, well done

[AZPartsLocators]

On 9/22/2023 at 7:44 AM, Chuck Most said:

I like your rendition better than the actual T300 based Ramcharger built for the Mexican market. That one had a Caravan lift gate and was overall just kind of janky looking. ?

I actually don't mind the look. Very similar to the Chevy 4 door tahoe of the same era. They could have done away with the extra pillar and it would have looked much better