A Ram with a Cummins Turbo Diesel isn’t uncommon in Saskatchewan and the distinctive Ram grille is one that has been in just about everyone’s rear view mirror.
Dodge decided that when they re-did the Ram, those two items would remain. They were the main identifiers of the brand, so to speak.
The new body looks similar to the previous generation, but is subtly different. Proportions on the front grille and in the fender as they come out from the hood are just a bit better balanced than before. The “RAM Tough” look is still there, but with a more mature, confident stance.
Crew Cab is also new for 2010. We, as the public, may have referred to the four-door versions as crew cabs, but Ram had other names for them in the past like Quad Cab and Mega Cab. Let me assure you that the rear doors are still large and open wide. With two large doors and an eight-foot box, there is enough space on any one side of the truck to make any graphics company drool with the thought of decaling it up for someone’s company.
As a 4×4, the chrome side steps that Ram considers an option should be standard equipment. There is no way to clean bugs off the front window or get in the truck without using these side rails. If you had to, you could probably grab the handle on the door post and lift yourself in, but that would limit the use of the truck to work only and in Laramie Trim, this is much too nice a truck just to show it off at the job site.
The outside has just the right amount of chrome to give it a dressed-up look and the wheels are shiny enough to make them stand out so the truck looks awesome. Even better is the fact that all surfaces are sealed so if you start off life with a good clean and wax, a quick trip to the car wash will get the mud, bugs and grit off without marking up a thing.
In the back bed, my Ram came with a bed liner (again, optional at extra cost) complete with caps on the sides and tailgate to prevent damage.
I gave the liner a good work out, cleaning Castle Renny out and making several trips to recycling and then on to the dump. My two complaints about the bed and liner can be solved easily, but I never took the time.
Complaint No. 1 was that the stake holes in the bed are covered off by the liner so that I couldn’t use them to tie off the load before heading out. Complaint No. 2 is that the hoops welded into the truck bed were down low within a couple of centimetres of the bed floor. Unless I tied off my securing lines before loading, these were useless for securing my loads too. If I had a couple of dirt bikes or such in the back, these hooks would have been ideally located, so it isn’t all one way for use.
My only other problem with the Ram was that I couldn’t work the Cummins hard enough to know if I had all 300 horsepower and 650 lb./ft. of torque on line. Coming off a traffic light or getting up to highway speed being loaded or empty didn’t seem to make a difference. The truck seems a bit slow off the start as the turbo spools up, but I know that Ram engineers did that on purpose to prevent the destruction of the new six-speed automatic and other drive-line components when fully loaded.
The Cummins diesel package rates an article all by itself, but the abridged version is that it is the first medium-duty diesel to come with an engine exhaust brake as standard equipment. Add to the fact the engine meets all emissions standards while providing improved fuel economy (the new six-speed automatic helps out) and the package is well worth the $9,200 price tag that Ram puts on it.
Getting back into the truck after emptying it out was like getting onto a masseuse’s table. My aches and pains disappeared. My Ram had heated (not tested) and cooled (used every time I got in) front bucket seats. Between using the power adjusters to get comfortable and the large power towing package mirrors on the outside, driving was like being in one giant armchair. The wide centre console/portable office space still has a couple of cup holders that seem to be able to hold just about any size of Tim’s coffee you buy.
If hauling people as well as cargo is in your plans, the rear seat is comfortable for three full-sized adults. They may not call it a “Mega Cab” any more but I’m sure kids could hold their whole birthday party in the back and have room left over.
Ram got this truck right. The interior is well thought out, the electronics provide useful information and the option packages are well organized.
If you are looking for a new medium duty 2500/3500 series truck, the new Ram is a must-drive.
AT A GLANCE:
- Configuration: Medium Duty, Crew Cab, Long-box pickup truck.
- Engine: 6.7-litre, six-cylinder, 24-valve, turbodiesel with exhaust brake that puts out 350 hp and 650 lb./ft. of torque with the six-speed automatic; 610 lb./ft. of torque with a manual transmission.
- Transmission: Six-speed automatic with two speed transfer case for the 4×4 shift-on-the-fly system.
- Fuel: 2500 Series trucks and larger have yet to be rated by Transport Canada.
- Suspension: Front; Five-link, coil spring, gas shock system with solid front axle. Rear; semi-elliptical leaf spring with gas shocks and a solid rear axle.
- Brakes: Power-assisted four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS.
- Safety: Dual front, side impact and side curtain airbags are standard. ABS brakes are Standard. Tire pressure monitoring system is standard. Keyless remote entry is standard on Laramie. Child-proof rear door locks are standard. LATCH system of anchoring child seats in the rear is standard.
- Special features/options: Dual zone climate control is available. Power adjustable foot pedals are available. Front seats and steering wheel are electrically heated. Universal garage door opener is standard. Skid plates are available. Optional media centre has 30-gig hard drive and comes with Sat/Nav. Diesel package includes an upgrade to an 11.5-inch rear axle. Remote start and winter fronts are available. Integrated brake controller with sway control is available.
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/
Edmonton Dodge Ram
http://edmontonram.com/
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