hey all, i often wondered does anyone know the differences in these tail lights?? application say 81-85, 88-93, but my factory ones have stamped 86. what is the story?? they should all interchange??
thanks for answers

 

The stamp on the lens is when the mold was made. It tells you nothing about the vehicle in which you find it for a lens that is used in multiple years of vehicle production.

I think that 81-87 had squarer corners than the 88-93. 87 was the transition year. I also think that the chrome bezel was offered on the earlier lens.

 

I thought the chrome was in some of the package items. My truck is a Royal SE and has the chrome light trim

 

I think you have an 86 tooltime or are you referring to a different truck. Maybe I wasn't clear but I said I think the chrome was offered from 81-87, which includes your truck. I don't think chrome was offered 88-93 but I could be wrong and I am always willing to learn.

 

My '89 LE had the chrome-trimmed lights. I busted one so until I can afford new chrome ones I have a pair of Dakota tail lights on it.

 

So the Dakota lights fit? I want to say i heard they will not fit

 

I wasn't sure until I went to the junkyard one day with my busted one to match it up. Couldn't find any Rams but a bunch of Dakotas, so I took a pair. If you saw my truck you'd never know they were off a Dakota.