All new for 2010 the Dodge Ram has set itself apart
from the competition with the newest iteration. Just looking at the Ram, it
exudes power, precision, and all around toughness that one would expect from
such a tried and true staple in Dodge's lineup. Production of the 2009 Ram
already in progress allows the engineers to focus on the next series of Heavy
Duty - or 2500 and 3500 - Ram models. For the first time, the larger trucks will
sport a unique front fascia. The large Rams will also make use of the same
interior as the current model Ram, which received high marks in the most recent
reviews.
With companies focusing on getting costs down for
the consumer, Dodge's engineers have decided to make some of their own. Their
signature engine, the Cummins diesel, may see a slight drop in power due to the
changes that need to be made to keep this truck competitive in today's shrinking
truck market. More than likely, the slight power decrease will not be
enough of a change to talk the average consumer out of the 2010 Ram. Vice
president of truck product development, Scott Kunselman, believes fuel economy is
more important to truck buyers than the ability to pull the largest possible
trailer up huge hills at 85 mph. Beefing up the chassis, transmission and other
components to handle much more power would add weight and cost to the truck and
only a handful of buyers would ever make use of it. Mostly utilized in fleets,
these heavy duty trucks are generally geared towards the fleet managers who
are interested in lowering costs, rather than having outrageous power output.
Heavy Duty Exterior Design
Mirrors are equipped with turn-signal indicators,
memory function, puddle lamps and adjustable convex mirrors. Depending on trim
level, mirrors are finished in black or black and chrome. The larger 7-in. x
11-in. mirror for trailer towing is standard on 3500 models and available on
2500 pickups. Front fenders and headlamps of the new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and
3500 are shared with light-duty pickup models.
The new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy-Duty grille includes a
chromed surround with either black center bullets (ST, SLT and Power Wagon
models) or chromed center billets (Laramie, Big Horn and Lone Star models).
Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 TRX models feature a body-color surround with black
center billets. The grille is body-mounted, while the bumper is frame-mounted.
To accommodate cooling requirements of the
6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine (with a take-rate of 90 percent), the new
2010 Dodge Ram Heavy-Duty grille opening is larger than the light-duty grille.
Access to the front winch (on Power Wagon models) and tow hooks led to the
unique front-bumper design.
Comfort and Style Inside
Dodge has noted many complaints about their truck
interiors in the past, and that's a subject Ralph Gilles, vice president of
Jeep, truck, and advanced interior design, took to heart. The first product of
Chrysler's new interior design is exponentially
superior to that of the outgoing Ram.
The new 2010 Dodge 2500 and 3500 Mega Cab models
retain their title of best-in-class interior room in the segment, including the
largest, longest cab (143.2 cubic feet,111.1 inches long), largest interior
cargo volume (72.2 cubic feet), largest cargo volume behind rear seat (7.7 cubic
feet), largest flat-floor load area (16.8 square feet), largest second-row leg
room (44.2 inches), largest rear-door opening (34.5 inches wide, 35.5 inches
high), largest rear-door open angle 85 degrees), and first-ever reclining rear
seats (22- to 37-degree seat-back angle).
The interior was naturally upgraded, with optional
heated/ventilated front seats, heated rear-seats and steering wheel, automatic
temperature control, two-tone upholstery, memory seats, radio and mirrors,
navigation, adjustable pedals and numerous infotainment options including
Backseat TV(tm) with three channels of programming, uconnect tunes with a
30-gigabyte hard drive, and a first-in-segment 10-speaker surround-sound system.
There are numerous storage options, including in-floor storage.
Beefy Engine Offerings
The V-8 is the only available engine in the
2500-series Ram and is coupled exclusively to a five-speed automatic. Also
familiar is the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel inline-six. Producing the same 350 hp
and 650 lb-ft as in the outgoing truck, the Cummins can be paired with either a
six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. To slow such massive loads, 14.2-inch
front and 14.1-inch rear brakes are standard, while an integrated trailer-brake controller is optional. Also,
Dodge's flip-up trailer mirrors are standard on the 3500, measuring a
Samsung-like 7 by 11 inches. With the G56 manual transmission, the Cummins
puts out 350 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque and with the chassis cabs, 305 hp and 610
lb-ft of torque.
Power-wise, the Cummins engine has the same ratings
as the Ford Super Duty diesel (though peak torque comes in earlier), while the
Silverado's Isuzu-boosted Duramax diesel has 15 more horsepower and 10 lb-ft
more torque.
In chassis-cab service, the engine now meets 2010.5
emissions standards in 50 states, thanks to diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) injection
based on urea injection Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) technology. The
standard diesel has a 5 year/100,000 mile warranty, the best in its class. Ram
Chassis Cabs come with a proven six-speed Aisin automatic transmission (with
3-year/180,000-mile warranty) or a six-speed manual transmission. The
commercial-grade six-speed automatic is electronically controlled, with
excellent shift quality (using advanced electro-hydraulic clutch-to-clutch
control) and close gear ratios with both static and mobile PTO capability. With
more control, the six-speed manual transmission achieves a high-ratio sixth gear
for longer highway cruising.
The 545RFE five-speed automatic is the only
transmission available with the Hemi; it too has Electronic Range Select.
For lower maintenance and better stopping power,
the Ram 4500/5500 has the largest front brake rotors (390 mm) and calipers (66
mm), and a standard diesel exhaust brake. The standard diesel 24,000 lb. Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) and optional 26,000 lb. GCWR package are both
best-in-class on 3500.
Dodge will likely stick with the Ram HD's current
absorber NOx catalyst system, for future 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty trucks instead
of the urea treatment most diesel passenger cars use to meet EPA regulations.
However, Dodge will use urea for its class 4 and 5 cab and chassis Rams because
the emissions certification process is different for the larger trucks. Storing
enough urea to last between oil changes is one problem for trucks with
factory-installed beds; the urea can also freeze and thus be rendered useless in
northern climates. If the price of the catalyst system--which uses plenty of
exotic materials--continues to rise, Dodge may have to re-evaluate this
approach.
Ram 1500's multi-link coil suspension makes a lot
of sense for light-duty trucks; it does not in the heavy-duty segment. Most of
the three-quarter and one-ton trucks use a main leaf spring pack and a set of
helper leaves to handle overload situations. There is not a way to add helper
springs to coil springs. Dodge's current strategy gears the 2500/3500 trucks for
maximum towing and hauling, so the traditional leaf springs will remain on these
models.
Improved Handling and Response
Engineered to deliver precise feel and response for
better handling, the new 2010 Dodge Ram Chassis Cab's steering and suspension
system boast superb strength with a focus on improved load capacity, increased
durability and refined handling. Two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive models
feature a recirculating ball system that provides precise response and an
on-center steering feel through lower internal friction. Solid front and rear
axles, a five-link coil-spring front suspension with solid axle, a
front and rear link-type sway bar and heavy-duty tubular shock absorbers are
standard.
Dodge Ram Hybrid
For 2010 Dodge has also begun production on a
Hybrid model. When asked about the new hybrid models, Executive Vice President in charge of product development, Frank Klegon, states,
"The addition of hybrid and
diesel powertrains to our all-new Dodge Ram 1500 lineup is sure to attract an
array of new customers looking for the ultimate combination of full-size pickup
fuel efficiency, performance and capability."
The hybrid and diesel offerings for Dodge Ram are
in addition to three gasoline powertrain options:
The renowned HEMI power plant, now in hybrid form,
will continue to feature Chrysler's Multi-displacement System (MDS), which
allows the engine to seamlessly alternate between four-cylinder mode when less
power is needed and V-8 mode when more power is in demand. The two-mode hybrid
system provides assistance from electric motors allowing the HEMI V-8 to remain
in four- cylinder mode more often than without a hybrid powertrain, improving
overall fuel economy.
Chrysler's advanced, state-of-the-art two-mode full
hybrid system integrates proven automatic-transmission technology with a
patented hybrid-electric drive system to deliver the world's first two-mode full
hybrid.
In the first mode, at low speed and with light
loads, the vehicle can operate in three ways: Electric power only, Engine power
only, and any combination of engine and electric power.
The two-mode hybrid provides all of the fuel-saving
benefits of a full- hybrid system, including electric-only operation. In this
mode, the engine is "shut off," with the vehicle moving under electric-only
power at low speed. The result is a significant reduction in fuel consumption in
heavy stop-and-go traffic.
The second mode is used primarily at highway
speeds. In addition to electric assist, the second mode provides full power from
the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 when conditions demand it, such as when passing, pulling
a trailer or climbing a steep grade.
While the development teams at Chrysler have their
hands full, there are still plans to improve the new Ram 1500 in the immediate
future.
Improving fuel economy is a major focus for the Ram
team. It makes most sense for the Cummins to be tuned for fuel economy, not
outright power. We weren't able to get much in the way of fuel economy figures,
but when we suggested a minimum of 22 mpg, Kunselman told us, "I think we'll
blow away 22 mpg." Hopefully, such a truck could return 25 mpg, or better, on the
highway and cost substantially less than a diesel heavy-duty truck.
With a new fuel economy focused engine design and
an added HEMI hybrid option, the 2010 Dodge Ram appears on the verge to make
strides into a market where people are shying away from large trucks and going
with crossover vehicles for the added fuel economy.
The all new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty should be
available in Fall 2009. It will continue to use the previous generation's proven
chassis and frame, but with more comfort, higher capabilities, and more body
options; Dodge has replaced the Quad Cab with a crew cab, which joins the
regular and Mega cabs. Read more about the hybrid Dodge Ram. There are two
cargo-box sizes (6-foot-4-inches and 8 feet), in single and dual-rear-wheel
configurations. Even the chassis cabs come in a crew cab version.