Dodge
Ram heavy duty pickup trucks continue to be some of the toughest
and most capable haulers available.
Ram HD is available in 2500 and 3500 versions, which translates to three-quarter-
and one-ton ratings, respectively. The pickups come in regular cab and four-door
Quad Cab body styles.
A
sunroof is available on Quad Cab models, and Sirius Satellite
Radio is offered. A Power Wagon off-road version of the 2500
pickup is available. Dodge also offers a Mega Cab model.
Exterior
Regular-cab Rams can be equipped with a 6.3-foot cargo bed, ride a 120.5-inch wheelbase and stretch to 207.7 inches long overall. With an 8-foot cargo bed, the Ram has a 140.5-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 229.7 inches.
Quad Cab pickups, with four conventional front-hinged doors, can also be equipped with the two bed sizes and are 20 inches longer in both wheelbase and overall length. The rear doors open 85 degrees to ease access. Hoods have a pronounced crown that falls toward the front fenders.
Sunburst Orange and Detonator Yellow are new exterior colors for 2008.
Interior
A front bench seat holds up to three occupants in a 40/20/40 configuration. A center business console can hold a laptop computer, and the center portion offers under-cushion storage.
Quad Cab models have a folding rear seat. Leather upholstery and
adjustable pedals are standard in the Laramie model. Dark Maple
Burl wood grain for the instrument panel and door accents is now
available on Laramie models.
Under the Hood
Heavy-duty models can have a 345-hp / 375 lb-ft. 5.7-liter HEMI
V-8 or 350-hp / 650 lb-ft 6.7-liter Cummins inline-six cylinder
diesel engine. Either a six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed
automatic can be installed.
Safety
All-disc brakes with a rear-wheel antilock feature are standard. Four-wheel ABS is standard in the Laramie. Side curtain airbags and an electronic stability system are optional. For 2008, Trailer Sway Control was added to the electronic stability system.
2500
Special features include
locking front and rear differentials, an electronically disconnecting
front sway bar and a custom-built 12,000-pound winch. Polished,
forged-aluminum 17-inch wheels hold 33-inch BFGoodrich tires.
For 2008, Dodge introduced a new version of the Ram 2500: The SXT provides additional features such as chrome bumpers; power windows, locks and mirrors; speed control; and keyless entry.
Ram 2500 pickups with the regular cab have an 8-foot cargo bed, ride a 140.5-inch wheelbase and measure 227.7 inches long overall. Quad Cab models come with either a 6.3- or 8-foot cargo bed and ride a 140.5- or 160.5-inch wheelbase. All heavy-duty Ram models have a Sweptline (slab-sided) cargo bed. A 7-by-10-inch trailer tow mirror is now standard.
A Ram 2500 with the Hemi V-8 sounds and feels like a muscle car
when pushed, though it settles down quietly for ordinary use. A
diesel is mandatory for pulling the largest loads.
Performance
is this Ram's strong point, but it's accompanied by a seriously
lumpy ride over uneven pavement. Steering is confident for a full-size
pickup, but the back wheels spin easily on wet pavement when the
bed is empty.
Long seat bottoms in the Ram 2500 offer an easy-chair experience.
Interior space is plentiful, especially in the Quad Cab, though
its vast amounts of plastic look low cost for the money spent buying
a diesel version.
3500
Regular-cab Ram 3500 models have dual rear wheels, but Quad Cab
pickups can have single or dual rear wheels. The SXT model is new
for 2008 and includes chrome bumpers, speed control, keyless entry
and power locks, windows and mirrors.
