5 Facts about the 1987-89 Dodge Raider SUV
We all know the Ramcharger and the Dakota, but do you remember this tough little Dodge 4x4 from the 1980s? Before Chrysler bought Jeep, they had a credible Wrangler competitor thanks to Mitsubishi. Read on and learn more about the Dodge Raider.
1. Imported for Dodge
Chrysler bought out AMC and acquired Jeep in spring of 1987, but they had already agreed to import the Mitsubishi Pajero (aka the Montero to the US) to get in on the popularity of small SUVs at the time. Compared to the only other SUV Dodge had at the time, the full sized Ramcharger, the new Raider offered a lightweight, short wheelbase, agile alternative.
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2. Four, Six, or Turbo Diesel?
When these trucks first debuted in North America as a Mitsubishi 2.6 liter 4 cylinder was the base engine with 110hp, a version of the motor in the D50 mini truck and many other Mitsubishis. Later the 3.0 liter V6 with electronic fuel injection and 139hp became available, which made these little off-roaders pretty quick for what it was since it weighed little more than 3000lbs. Finally, a 2.5 liter intercooled turbo diesel was offered with 94hp, though few came to our shores.
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3. Built like a Truck
Compared to the car-based vehicles that pass for small SUVs these days (even at Jeep) the Raider was seriously overbuilt, like a truck. In the back were a solid axle and leaf springs. Up front, there were A-arms and torsion bars, just like the big Rams. The Dodge, unlike its Mitsubishi sibling, came standard with skid plates under the engine, transfer case, and fuel tank. Two speed four-wheel drive was standard too, with automatically locking hubs.
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4. Hangin' Tough
If you read those engine power number and yawned, you must have forgotten what SUVs were back in the 1980s. These were small trucklets made for rural areas and off-road use, not freeway cruising. The new for 1987 AMC Jeep Wrangler had a 2.5 liter 4 cylinder making 105hp, or the 4.2-liter straight six with 112hp, and the contemporary Suzuki Samurai had just 63hp. Dodge managed to move about 8,000 of them off the lot each year, but since they now owned AMC and Jeep, there was no reason to compete with themselves and it was canceled in 1989.
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5. Cult Classic 4x4
These days the Raider is mostly a cult classic, popular with a small group of enthusiast looking for an alternative to the Wrangler and CJ. Parts, including performance upgrades, are not too hard to find since the Mitsubishi Pajero is popular around the world, and the Montero continued to be sold here after the Raider was stopped. With a 92.5 inch wheelbase, it is a little longer than a Wrangler of the same era, but that translates to more interior room. The permanent hard top makes it more popular in cold climates than the Jeep too.
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