Growing up with family working in construction and agriculture, pickup trucks have always been an important part of everyday life. Riding in and eventually learning how to drive a stick in my dad’s shortbed 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 4×4 sparked my interest in Dodge trucks at an early age and placed second generation Rams at the top of my list of favorites. That truck of dad’s was a key influence in my decision to buy my current 1994 Dodge Ram 2500 4×4.
What really makes trucks so cool is the infinite combinations of options and modifications that can be made to make each truck uniquely suited for the required jobs it must perform and personalized to fit the owner’s personality and tastes. From the dairy farmer that hauls a livestock trailer, to the cement mason that carries his tools, to the drag racer trying to win a race, to the off-roader having fun on muddy trails, there is a special truck to fit each of their needs. For me, the pickup truck I needed must be able to trailer farm equipment and machinery, haul construction materials, drive through wet and muddy hay fields and perform well in all Minnesota weather and driving conditions.
Finding my Dodge Ram 2500 4×4 proved to be more of a challenge than I initially thought. After extensive searching I found that most 2500 4×4 trucks in the upper Midwest were plagued with multiple issues: extensive body and frame rust from winter road salt exposure, damage and significant wear from pushing snow plows and pulling heavy trailers and excessive application of aftermarket trim, accessories and stereos. Wanting no part of rusted-through fenders, twisted frames, burned up transmissions and cut wires, I kept on the search until I found my current truck.
This particular truck had been special ordered by its original owner in the fall of 1993 through Salvadore Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge of Gardner, Massachusetts. It had been purchased and kept as a Sunday driver and future collector vehicle, and was kept amongst the owner’s other collector cars at his museum and shop, Classic Corner. After 10 years of ownership, the truck was sold and traveled to its second owner in western Wisconsin where it was used for hauling and daily chores, although it was still regarded as his “nice truck” and kept garaged and maintained for another decade. However, twenty years of life and use still took its toll. When the truck passed to its third owner, a mechanic in southern Minnesota who also purchased it as a collector truck, the task of refurbishing it began. When I bought the truck from him, I finished his project of bringing it back to like-new condition.
The truck now resides on my farm in Greenfield, Minnesota, and gets used for what it was built for, but it will always remain a well-cared-for classic. It currently has 55K original miles on the clock, and it looks as good and performs as well as it did the day it was built. Some of the work done on this truck included a partial repaint of the truck’s bed and tailgate, custom pinstriping, installation of a new rear bumper, rebuilt brakes, suspension and steering, addition of a new heavy-duty trailer hitch, custom-fabricated dual exhaust and some light interior and exterior cosmetic work. Thanks to LMC, many of the needed parts to do this were readily available.
What I like most about my truck is its rugged road feel, confidence pulling a trailer, traction off-road and in snow, the sound of its 318 V8 through the dual exhaust and of course its Viper Red and Bright Silver Metallic two-toned paint. It truly is a hard-working truck that always looks good and sounds great, even when it’s dirty from use on the farm. I am very proud to own my Dodge, and I hope to enjoy it for many years to come.
