1989-1993 Dodge 5.9L Cummins Exterior Parts

Exterior on the 1989-1993 RAM 5.9L Cummins

The first Cummins-powered Dodge Rams wore an old body. The D-series cab traces back to 1972, got its facelift in 1981, and picked up a new grille for 1991 that kept the rectangular lamps. Early Cummins trucks came as regular cab long beds. The Club Cab returned for 1990, gained fold-out jump seats for 1991-1993, and was a long bed when it had the Cummins. You'll also see D350 and W350 duallies and 250/350 chassis cabs. There was never a factory crew cab in this generation; crew-cab first-gens are custom fabrications. Production ended in July 1993, and the 1994 second-gen body brought the Ram 2500 and 3500 names.

What fails and why

Rust. These trucks are more than thirty years old, and corrosion is the single biggest issue on a first-gen. The zones to inspect:

• Undercarriage and the frame behind the fuel tank
• Spring perches and cab mounts
• Aprons and lamp openings
• Firewall and the top of the windshield
• The bed and the passenger side of the body

Watch for perforation, bubbling paint and soft cab mounts. One first-gen buyer's checklist says even dime-sized holes should be disclosed to a buyer, and treats metal with 25 percent or more corrosion as a failed inspection.

Stock replacement vs. upgrade

Keeping a first-gen original means repairing rust and protecting what's left. Documented first-gen builds go further, with aftermarket front and rear bumpers, roll pans, bed tie-downs and radiator covers. Whatever you add hangs on metal that may be decades old, so clean and inspect the mounting points and replace rusted hardware before you install anything.

What we carry

This collection carries the Big Hitch Products BHP4001 Flip Up License Plate Bracket, a plate bracket with a flip-up design. Check the product page for the mounting details and the hardware that comes with it before you order.

Fitment notes

Exterior fitment on a first-gen comes down to cab, bed and bumper, not the engine. The BHP4001's title isn't tied to a year range, so it isn't a first-gen-specific part. Measure where your plate mounts now and compare it with the details on the product page. If your truck has a custom body or an aftermarket bumper, measure twice. If you're still not sure, call the shop and describe your setup.

Frequently asked questions

Where does a 1989-1993 Dodge Ram rust?

Check the undercarriage, aprons, lamp openings, firewall, bed, passenger side, top of the windshield, cab mounts, the frame behind the fuel tank and the spring perches. Bubbling paint, perforation and soft cab mounts are the signs to look for.

Did Dodge build a crew cab first-gen Cummins?

No. This generation was offered as a regular cab, a Club Cab from 1990, duallies and chassis cabs. Any crew-cab first-gen you see is a custom fabrication.

Will the BHP4001 flip-up license plate bracket fit my first-gen?

Its title doesn't name a year range, so it isn't built specifically for the first-gen Ram. Compare its mounting details with your plate location and bumper. Call the shop if you want a second opinion before ordering.

What changed on the outside of these trucks in 1991?

The 1991 refresh brought a new grille that kept the rectangular lamps. Club Cab trucks also gained fold-out jump seats for 1991-1993. Mid-1991 is also when the factory intercooler arrived under the hood, which matters more for parts than for looks.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.