1995 Ram 2500 V10 Off-Road Test

This is some old footage from an unfinished project. Eventually I'll get around to putting in the new diffs and gearing. Enjoy!
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Engine Adventures strives to explore and test the AWD and 4WD systems of all crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks. To do this we test vehicles in real world environments in a way that allows viewers to cross shop and explore any vehicle they may be interested in learning about.
New videos every Friday at 6:30 A.M. MST and occasionally on Wednesdays.

[@allenjanes5976]

You know, those trucks weren't made for 4 wheeling and articulation. They were made for work. Hauling heavy loads off road. Hauling water to your cattle, tons of gravel, loads of firewood to town from the mountain and big loads of hay outta the field. I've got one I purchased new almost 30 years ago. Still going strong. Thanks for the video

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting! This truck gets used for everything, towing, hauling, and occasional offroading. 2nd gens are quite capable off-road, but the V10 and Cummins sure do make the trucks front heavy!

[@waggitnshaggit6592]

What a great show of how old tech works best One for the NO NANNY crowd !

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting! It's certainly a fun vehicle to have around. In most cases, modern vehicles are very powerful and efficient compared to their older counterparts. However, the rawness of older vehicles has a strong appeal.

[@Dirtkid98505]

I have a 73 Dodge W200 Power Wagon. 318, 4 speed manual I think the crawl ratio is like 75:1 or something crazy.

[@EngineAdventures]

I've been trying for about a decade to get my uncle to sell me his W100 with the 318 and 4-speed. Sweet old truck!

[@Dirtkid98505]

@@EngineAdventures Some of my favorite truck series was the W series. They last forever so long you take care of the body

[@bobfonseca2351]

Just got a project regular Cab 95 v10 and I’m excited to get it to the near degree of yours!

[@EngineAdventures]

Awesome, I hope you enjoy it!

[@off-roadingexplained8417]

Nice. Crawls like my Cherokee Trailhawk (56:1)

[@EngineAdventures]

Yeah, having a manual transmission makes it feel even better than that!

[@hearn_5018]

I’d like to know more about what’s done the the motor? How do you have your plug wires ran?

[@EngineAdventures]

I initially tried an ignition setup from Davis Unified Ignition for a Viper and modified the connectors to fit. This kit had new coil packs and wires. I think this would work on a '98 or newer Ram V10 but didn't work on mine. The computer didn't like it and I couldn't get it to work properly. Ended up just using normal coil packs, but kept the nicer wires. I did gap the plugs a tiny bit more than the recommended gap hoping for a better burn with the more efficient wiring. Truck runs good, always has, don't know that I really felt a power difference. The pack I bought came with aluminum spark plug wire routing clamps that I used. I don't think they are securely mounted, just floating.

[@crustycaden2210]

I have a question so I have a 1996 with the 8.0 v10 also and I see that you have a cold air intake and I put one on mine and for some reason it won’t run with one like it runs like shit when you have one on what could be the problem

[@EngineAdventures]

Mine worked just fine with the cold air intake. I did mess up the ignition trying to use high performance dodge viper coil packs, but that's unrelated to the air intake. For 96 all vehicles were required to have the OBDII diagnostic port, so there may have been some computer changes for that. I'm curious if your mass air flow sensor isn't happy, or if it's something else.

[@iamtipzy658]

Do you have a lift kit on it or just beefy tires? I feel like mine is so low

[@EngineAdventures]

As far as we know it just has 32" tall tires on stock suspension. I don't know if dodge offered different packages in 95' because I've seen some that are the same, and some that are a bit lower. I just presumed the lower ones were 2WD, but I guess I'm wrong.

[@iamtipzy658]

@@EngineAdventures ya idk mines a 4wd I just need some big ass boggers I think haha

[@evoemperor3776]

Probably got 0.5 mpg in this video🤣

[@EngineAdventures]

Haha, I typically average about 7-8 mpg, so you may not be too far off. However it doesn't seem to get much worse fuel mileage when towing, just hangs in that 7mpg range. Maybe it's the same off-road.

[@jonathans4503]

@@EngineAdventures Is it normal for this truck? Did it get that fuel economy brand new? My dad used to have a 1993 nissan hardbody pickup, it used to get 13mpg and that's cuz it had gas guzzling issues we couldn't figure out. Other than that it was a good truck.

[@EngineAdventures]

I actually haven't kept track of it, but I think most people are around 10-11mpg with this engine. I feel like I'm a little worse than that, but like I said, I haven't actually done the calculations.

[@R3TR0--93]

i get 14mpg with my v10

[@collingray1517]

90s rams aren't the best off road i had a '96 my daily driver now is a 2000 z71 off road I've got bfgoodrich km3 mud terrains on it

[@EngineAdventures]

They're certainly pretty capable, the frames flex a bit so you get more articulation from that. I very much prefer my XJ for off-roading, but the truck goes a lot of places that sometimes surprise the Jeep crowd. It just does it a lot slower.

[@jacktough]

Beast! 👍

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@hastyhillfarmand4x480]

Does it still have the sway bars on it? With those unhooked and the rear removed 2nd gens articulate extremely well.

[@EngineAdventures]

Never had the rear, front is still on. Frame flexes plenty. I have a Jeep, but sometimes a truck needs to work through a tough situation, haha.

[@paultruesdale7680]

Life before computers and brake lock diffs. And who needs a frigging diesel? Man Can't wait to see it with the lockers installed and some decent suspension mods. Love the manual tranny. Superb EA.

[@EngineAdventures]

As always, thanks Paul! In 1995 the 8.0 V10 was the top dog engine on the market. More horsepower than any gas or diesel pickup truck, and the only engine with the same torque was the Cummins. While it is a heavy beast, the diesel engines still weighed more. Of course today's half tons are putting out more power and torque while getting double the fuel mileage. To handle that power from a dodge, you pretty much have to go with the manual transmission, the autos weren't great. This one is going to be a really long project with just a few modifications happening here and there. It badly needs new suspension, and I do have rear airbags for it so I can soften up the rear leafs quite a bit. This truck is mostly used for work though, when a trailer needs towed, or something needs hauled it gets the job done.

[@ThetreeDraggon]

Dang! do i wish i had that truck for my first vehicle. It would definitely help out the old family and the ranch. This with the cummins in it would be perfect in my opinion. 😂👍

[@EngineAdventures]

The Cummins is certainly a great option. When new, the V10 had more horsepower and almost the same torque (but the Cummins is easier to tune for higher power and torque). The V10 gets terrible fuel mileage though haha.

[@ThetreeDraggon]

@EngineAdventures I was thinking the fuel mileage probably wouldn't matter as much for me, Being that it would mainly be a small town truck. but I still personally would want to go for the cummins ideally, just so that I don't have to fuel up that often at all, and it would sound a little cooler as well. 👍

[@dwaynedemers8332]

I need your interior for my 95 3500 V10!, it's red as well!

[@EngineAdventures]

About half of this one was redone. Torn driver's seat, torn center arm rest, and steering wheel.

[@wallheadkdir]

Any links to get parts for a 2002 V10 8.0L ? I would like to get mine looking like this

[@EngineAdventures]

Many of the parts came from LMC truck. A lot of it was custom as well. I redid the steering wheel myself, the interior was done by an upholstery shop (driver's seat, center console, and visors).

[@wallheadkdir]

@EngineAdventures oh man! I just went and checked out that site SO VERY HELPFUL....thank you! 🤘