2010 Ram 2500, 3500 now offered as crew cabs

Heavy-duty Rams make big news

Sales of large pickup trucks were hard hit as the U.S. economy slowed. Regardless, auto manufacturers are introducing new heavy-duty trucks this year with many improvements.

The first out are the 2010 heavy-duty Rams from Chrysler Group LLC, and for the first time, Ram 2500 and 3500 models are offered as crew cabs. With four regular doors and two rows of seats, crew cabs account for nearly half the truck market.

Interior room is generous in the new big Ram truck, suspension is retuned and revised for a better ride, and the interior is quieter and has better-quality materials than earlier heavy-duty Rams.

Most importantly, the new Rams offer more capability, even though the engines are carry-overs from last year.

And the diesel-powered 2010 Rams are the first in the segment with standard exhaust brakes that help prolong brake life and make traveling downhill with a heavy trailer a little less stressful.

No wonder the new Rams are gathering awards. They were named Truck of the Year by both Motor Trend magazine and the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press Association.

Also of note: The Ram starting prices are a bit lower this year than comparable models for 2009.

Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $30,385 for a 2010 2500 ST regular cab with two-wheel drive and Hemi V-8.

The lowest retail price for a 2010 heavy-duty Ram with four-wheel drive is $33,590 for a 2500 regular cab model.

The new heavy-duty Ram crew cabs carry a starting retail price of $31,415 for a 2010 2500 ST with two-wheel drive, a short pickup bed and Hemi V-8.

The lowest starting retail price for a four-wheel drive heavy-duty Ram crew cab is $34,810, while the highly prized heavy-duty Ram with Cummins turbo-diesel starts at $37,850 with two-wheel drive, a short bed and manual transmission. The starting retail price is $39,435 for the turbodiesel with automatic transmission in the crew cab model.

Competition is stiff in this work-truck market, and even with the price adjustments that Chrysler made for 2010, shoppers can find lower starting retail prices for some other new big trucks.

For example, the 2011 Ford F250 Super Duty regular cab truck has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $28,995 with two-wheel drive and a V-8.

The lowest retail price for a 2011 F250 Super Duty with turbodiesel engine is $36,730.

Note that the Ram no longer carries the Dodge label. Chrysler officials decided that Ram can stand on its own as a brand. But the trucks are still sold at Dodge dealerships.

There’s no doubt that in sheer size, stance and styling, the Ram heavy-duty trucks are impressive.

The test vehicle, a 2500 SLT Crew Cab 4X4, is 6.5 feet tall and 6.6 feet wide, and couldn’t fit in my garage.

The front look is distinctively like that of a big semi-hauler, but for this year the grille and front bumper are bigger and the hood is restyled and sits higher.

Obviously, it’s a big step to get inside the Ram heavy duty trucks, but the new interior makes it worthwhile. The dashboard and instrument panel layout in the test truck was nicely done, and the optional premium cloth seating material looked and felt good, not cheap.

The large storage console between front passengers still accommodates a laptop easily, and it could be moved up and back when I needed to carry six people. Even the middle person had a soft seat cushion.

The test truck’s powerful, 6.7-liter diesel engine came to life loudly and could be heard during all my driving, whether it was idling at a stoplight or heading down the highway. I loved the way it got this big truck moving with spunk. And with a trailer hooked behind, the engine power got both truck and trailer moving without fuss.

This engine is a turbocharged, Cummins inline diesel six cylinder with awesome torque of 650 foot-pounds at just 1,500 rpm.

With six-speed automatic, I managed to get more than 13 miles per gallon with this powerplant.

Note the price to get this optional Cummins diesel is high — $7,615. It’s another $405 to add the automatic transmission. But it’s good to know the Cummins is available on all trim levels except the Power Wagon.

In addition, the Cummins already meets new, stricter diesel emissions standards, and does so without needing a urea injection system that other diesel vehicles are installing.

Horsepower from the Cummins diesel engine tops out at 350. The 5.7-liter, Chrysler Hemi V-8 that’s standard in the Ram 2500 trucks generates 383 horses but only 400 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm.

The ride in the heavy-duty Rams can be bouncy over road bumps and rough terrain.

But towing is a strong suit, with a diesel 3500 dually model now rated at 24,500 pounds in Gross Combined Weight Rating, which includes a trailer and whatever is stuffed inside the truck’s bed and cabin.

The truck’s sheer size and mass made it feel safe. Most other vehicles on the road, even Cadillac Escalades, suddenly seemed inconsequential.

And braking power, which can be enhanced by restricting the diesel’s exhaust gases, was strong.

While curtain air bags and antilock brakes were standard, the rearview camera that helped me see behind the truck was an option.