So the other day Chad brought up the question of what kind of tow rig you would pick if you were transported back to 1975. It’s a good question, though you could realistically expand the years to a range between 1970 and 2000 and you would be hard-pressed to make a bad call, regardless of brand loyalty. Could I rock a square-body Chevrolet? Just as easily as I could see myself in a 7.3L F-350 before the Super Duty became a model, just as easily as I could see myself in an International truck from the early 1970s with the kind of manual transmission that required patience and a strong amount of force to get things moving along. But I can’t deny that in my heart, my soft spot is for 1972-1993 Dodges. Simple, straightforward, durable. Same can be said of any of the other trucks, and just like the other trucks, they have their fair share of faults that can be dealt with just as easily. 

So, how would I take my personal rig? Truth be told, for a tow rig I’d go with the most basic 1-ton or bigger truck I could afford from the last few years. A Ram 5500 with a Cummins will do more than I could ask a classic D-series chassis to ever do without major work. But if I want to go for style points, this 1981 D-250 build is a pretty good start. Being up-front: this truck didn’t appear naturally. That’s a 1990s front clip, a 1980s cab, and no 3/4 ton came with duals, let alone as a dually shortbed. This Ram is a pure phantom build, someone’s vision of the perfect truck. Plenty of room inside the cab, a Cummins 6BT providing the grunt, gears to stir around, and just enough room in the bed for a fifth wheel or a gooseneck hitch to haul around the trailer with.

Can’t say that I’m too crazy about the color but that’s here nor there. It isn’t like I’d find another like it anytime soon. What do you think, useable or just a bit too far off?

eBay Link: 1981 Dodge Ram D-250