Dodge Ram 50 front turn signal bulbs utilize 1156 or 1157 size specifications, while rear turn signal bulbs require 1156 size. The replacement chart covers 1983 to 1993 model years with corresponding bulb size data.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 1156 is a single-filament bulb operating at 12 volts and 21 watts, fitted with a BA15s bayonet base. It conforms to the ANSI standard recognized in both the United States and Canada.
The 1157 is a dual-filament bulb rated at 12 volts with two wattage levels, 21W and 5W, and uses a BAY15d bayonet base. It also conforms to the same ANSI standard.
The BA15s base of the 1156 and the BAY15d base of the 1157 are not interchangeable. The BAY15d base has offset pins to prevent incorrect installation, while the BA15s base has a single centered pin, meaning the two bulbs cannot be substituted for one another without a socket mismatch.
The Dodge Ram 50 front turn signal uses the 1156 bulb for model years 1987-1993, covering a seven-year span with a consistent single-filament fitment.
For model years 1983-1986, the Dodge Ram 50 front turn signal requires the 1157 dual-filament bulb rather than the 1156, representing a different socket type from the later production years.
The rear turn signal on the Dodge Ram 50 uses the 1156 bulb across all listed model years, from 1983 through 1993, without variation.
Because the front turn signal socket changed between the 1986 and 1987 model years, a 1157 bulb from a 1983-1986 front position is not a direct replacement for the 1156 socket found in 1987-1993 front housings.
The rear turn signal retained the 1156 fitment even during the years when the front used the 1157, meaning the front and rear sockets were not uniform across the 1983-1986 model years.