There’s just something about a nice big pick-up right?
The view of the road, the street presence, the feeling you get sitting behind the wheel. Yeah, I know — in this day of hybrids and fuel economy it’s become sort of taboo to talk about trucks unless you’re towing or hauling something.
Even with the advances in engine technology that allows for better gas mileage, the idea of “big trucks” and “going green” will probably never jell. Still, even though you might not have a need for one, most can still appreciate a truck when behind the wheel or as a passenger. There’s just a feeling you get when in one that you never get in a small car or even a crossover.
Sure, depending on your ideas about “going green,” you might deny it publicly. But a nice big truck can be very appealing. It’s an appeal that Dodge has gone to great lengths to build on with the new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty with everything from the truck’s styling to its performance capabilities, which is why it’s pulled in so many awards including Motor Trend magazine’s coveted Truck of the Year honors this year.
BIG RIG APPEAL
The new Ram Heavy Duty features many of the same exterior styling cues as the new Ram, which was redesigned in 2008. But to accommodate cooling requirements for the available 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine available, the new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty grille opening is larger than the light-duty grille.
You know that big rig look of the Ram, which has always been one of the truck’s draws in rural areas as well as the city? Well, with the Ram’s more aggressive styling cues, that look’s a whole lot bigger on the Heavy Duty.
Available in a regular cab, crew cab or mega cab, the truck can be pretty intimidating on the road. Love the look of the dually on the 3500.
STEP UP
One of the most impressive features of the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty, however, is the truck’s all-new refined interior, which you quickly come to appreciate as a driver or passenger the minute you settle in for the ride.
Interior appointments include soft-feel door bolsters and armrests and one-piece molded door panels. Seats now have improved power lumbar and lateral support. Other available features include two-tone upholstery with full-width contrasting stitching on the instrument panel; premium seating with heat and ventilation; heated rear seats, heated steering wheel; automatic temperature control; two-tone upholstery; memory seats, radio and mirrors; and navigation.
It also features adjustable pedals and numerous infotainment options including Sirius TV for the backseat, Uconnect Multimedia with a 30-gigabyte hard drive and an available first-in-segment 10-speaker surround-sound system.
Right, sounds like the type of features you’d expect in a luxury sedan more so than a truck.
Space and lots of it is a major element of the Heavy Duty with an available center console that features an upper bin that is large enough to hold a laptop computer and a lower bin that accommodates hanging files. There’s additional storage areas in the instrument panel, front and rear door panels, seat backs, and even the floor — in the crew-size cab, two in-floor bins located in the rear footwells of the crew cab offer storage enough for 10 12-ounce cans.
Bins have removable liners for easy cleanout. Upper and lower glove boxes provide a total of more than 800 cubic inches of storage. Trim models include the ST, SLT, TRX, Power Wagon and premium Laramie model.
LOADS OF FUN
Powertrain choices include the legendary 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, which produces 350 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. The Dodge Heavy Duty comes standard with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, which delivers 383 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque.
Towing capacity has been increased by 1,000 pounds on some Heavy Duty models and we got a feel for the truck’s power when towing a massive tractor as part of our test drive. Special features like an integrated trailer brake makes pulling heavy loads fairly easy, even for a novice tower.
Features such as a hydro-formed, fully boxed frame with advanced torsional rigidity and stiffness, a front coil-spring suspension setup with the multi-leaf spring design in the rear help to give the truck more heavy-duty capability.
The Ram Heavy Duty’s improved ride is credited to better tuned front and rear shocks and springs, and a new C-pillar hydra mounts.
Yep, whether it’s the comfort, power or road presence, the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty makes the case for why so many people still love trucks, even if they don’t have to haul or tow stuff, and even if publicly we deny it.
Pricing starts at $28,165 for a 2500 4X2 Reg Cab ST with an eight-foot box to up to $51,595 for a 3500 4X4 Mega Cab Laramie with 6-foot-4-inch box, which was my road test vehicle.
HIGHLIGHTS
$51,595 (as tested)
Optional 6.7-Liter Cummings Diesel
Available Laramie Model
Sirius TV
More towing capability
Marcus Amick is a national automotive writer and product analyst. He can be contacted at marcus@wheelside.com.