First Drive: 2010 Dodge Ram HD 2500/3500 DODGE’S NEW CREW 2010 Crew Cab 4x4 Diesel sets a new level of performance in the heavy duty pickup market   By Bruce W. Smith Photos by Larry Walton/Editorial Services West   There’s a heated battle going on in the pickup manufacturing world to see who will survive the shake up in the economy. The winners are going to need a product that outshines the competitors day in and day out when it comes to the working man’s truck. After all, it’s the working man who is once again the primary buyer of pickups as those who don’t need such a vehicle for work or weekend recreation have reverted back to their fuel-sipping cars and cross-overs. The number of buyers has shrunk and along with it pickup sales. To survive a vehicle manufacturer must not only sustain, but increase its part of those sales.   Fortunately for Dodge, their timing bringing a brand new pickup to market couldn’t be better. More specifically, the new 2500/3500 Crew Cab, which further entrenches Dodge as a major player in the intensely competitive four-door heavy-duty pickup market.   Dodge has offered four-door Quad Cab pickups for years. But the rear doors were more ¾-size than full. The new Crew Cab, which replaces the Quad Cab of old, has full-size doors along with a long list of refinements and new features owners who use their pickups for work and recreation will appreciate.   “This is the continuation of the reinvention of our Dodge Ram lineup,” says Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer–Dodge Ram Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.   “During the past 5 years, Dodge has gained market share in the heavy-duty pickup segment, and to stay on that track, Dodge Ram keeps innovating. Our new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups will continue to build on our momentum.”   A CLOSER LOOK   We took advantage of a special ride-and-drive opportunity in San Antonio, Texas, to see first-hand how the engineering and design changes come together in the 2010 Heavy Duty Rams.   The fleet of upper trim level (SLT, Laramie, TRX) 2500/3500 Ram Crews we drove ranged from two-wheel-drive, Hemi-powered models to Cummins-powered 4×4 Duallys. We drove them empty and loaded, on road and off.   The Heavy Duty Rams, which are in dealerships now, are more refined and more capable than the models they replace. You notice the difference before you even open the doors.   The front bumpers are taller and more akin to those found on big rigs; the hoods are taller and have louvers running down each side of the center bulge; the tow hook openings are larger; the grille taller; the front fenders and headlights match those of the Ram 1500; and the Dually rear fenders are now one-piece, giving the big daddy of Dodge tow vehicles a more refined appearance.   The four doors also take on the same styling cues as the light-duty Ram 1500, reducing wind noise and giving the cab a smoother, sleeker look. The bed rails are now covered with caps, and the tailgate is sculpted adding to the new Crews’ appeal.   Inside we found even more changes to our liking. Many of the nice creature comfort and convenience features introduced in the ’09 Ram 1500, such as the well-bolstered seats, multiple storage compartments, soft-feel interior coverings, and available two-tier center consol, have been adopted in the new Heavy Duty Crew Cabs.   The 2010 Ram Mega Cab further enhances comfort by adding another nine inches to the back of the cab. Such extra space adds more storage space along with extra leg room in the back to go with the reclining rear seats. The feeling of richness fills your senses when you buckle into either of the higher-end Crew Cab or Mega Cab models. In fact it didn’t take but a minute to get really comfortable in the Laramie 4×4 2500 and 3500 SLT Dually models I drove.   The interior was nicely laid out for the workingman with storage compartments and nooks everywhere, including a dual glovebox. Plug-ins for accessories, like the cell phone charger and laptop were in the right locations as was the 120V inverter plug on the dash. Cup and bottle holders were plentiful, dash easily read, and controls made for big hands.   That feeling is further bolstered as the miles roll beneath the wheels. The new Crew is significantly smoother, quieter, and overall more comfortable than its heavy-duty predecessor. There’s very noise or vibrations intruding into the cab, so much so you feel like your in an office more than cooped up in a truck cab.   The big Dodge’s refined ride quality is due in part to the nicer seats and reduction of wind noise though the small body styling changes and improved sound insulation between cab and engine compartment. But it’s the fine-tuning of the connection between the cab and chassis with fluid-filled mounts and suspension components that significantly reduced the jitters and shakes felt in the old Quad Cabs—especially driving unloaded.   MORE MUSCLE ON TAP   When it comes to work capability, the new Crews leave little doubt they can handle any task thrown their way. Heavy Duty Rams come standard with the 5.7L Hemi delivering 383 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque behind a heavy-duty five-speed automatic.   But the majority of HD Ram buyers opt for the Cummins package ($7,500) with its 6.7L Turbo Diesel backed with either the standard six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic. The 350hp Cummins delivers 650 lb-ft of torque, surpasses 2010 emissions requirements in all 50 states and has an oil change interval of 7,500 miles. Those numbers should make those who use it for cross-country towing, or as a daily work truck, quite pleased.   Furthermore, Dodge says the life-to-major overhaul interval of 350,000 miles, or more than 100,000 miles more than its closest competitor.   We drove Cummins versions empty and loaded and came away with one sense of overall performance: The engine’s low-end toque is massive and whether empty or loaded, the truck moves out quite briskly with no sense of turbo lag.   It’s also quite content at freeway speeds; we found ourselves watching the speedometer a lot driving Texas’roads to keep from rolling along well above the posted speed limits.   That power and durability can be really put to use if you load the new Rams to the maximum hauling and trailing limits, both of which set new industry levels.   When it comes to towing, both 2500 and 3500 Rams can tow up to 5,000 pounds on the Class IV receiver hitch, which is standard on the truck. To tow heavier trailers requires either a weight-distribution hitch, 5th wheel, or gooseneck.   When properly equipped with a gooseneck, which Mopar offers as a dealer-installed accessory, the new Ram Crew 2500 2WD can tow trailers up to 13,450 pounds and payloads up to 3,160 pounds. (The 4×4 models lose about 700 pounds capacity across the board because of the added drivetrain components.)   If greater load-moving capacity is needed, say when towing a big equipment trailer or triple-slide-out travel trailer, the 2WD Cummins-powered 3500 Dually Crew Cab is king of the four-door parking lot with a maximum towing capacity of 17,150 pounds and a payload of 4,280 pounds in the 2WD ST (base-model.) All Cummins models come with a factory integrated exhaust brake, too.   Those numbers are up several hundred pounds across the board from the ’09 specs thanks to small changes in suspension and brake tuning.   DODGE LISTENED   In fact from our initial driving impressions Dodge has proven a lot of small changes add up to a big difference, and in doing so the 2010 Ram Crew Cabs have set a new bar for overall performance and comfort in the heavy-duty pickup segment.   “We went all over the country to learn how people really use their heavy-duty trucks at work and play,” Diaz told us during the driving session. “We did our research with a cross-functional team, and what we learned, we brought to the process of creating the all-new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups.” (Dodge is planning on extending the reach into the medium-duty market as well with the introduction of a “new crew” of commercial-grade work trucks: the new 2011 Dodge Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs.) As for pricing, Dodge is pushing hard to make the new Crew Cab offerings quite attractive and very competitve against their Chevy and Ford rivals.   The all-new 2010 Ram is available with a starting U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $28,165 for regular cab models, $31,415 for crew cab models and $36,865 for Mega Cab models. All prices include $950 for destination.   “With more standard features than the 2009 models they replace, the all-new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty give consumers more value for their money,” said Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer – Dodge Ram Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.   “Our all-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty trucks are purpose built to master any challenge and have it all: head-turning design, class-leading interior amenities, increased towing capability, proven durability, convenience features inside and out, craftsmanship and safety — all at a great value. And with our new crew-size cab model, we’re now competing in the heart of the heavy-duty pickup segment.”   So across the board you’ll be able to get into a 2010 Dodge Ram Crew Cab for less than last year’s Quad Cab—and reap all the benefits that come as a result the new Crew’s refinements.—Bruce W. Smith   THE OTHER RAM: 2010 POWER WAGON   There are a lot of four-wheel-drive pickups on the market, but none can match the overall off-road/severe-service performance of the 2010 Dodge Power Wagon.   When Dodge re-introduced the Power Wagon back in 2005, after a 25-year hiatus, it was a four-wheel-drive tour-de force blazing trails and plowing through job sites no other “production” 4×4 could navigate. Our Truck Test Digest review showed it was a tour de force among 4x4 pickups.   During the past five years the Dodge Ram 2500 Power Wagon has faithfully served those who work and play in the roughest of environments. The 2010 an even better performer.   It’s front and rear electronic-locking differentials, electronically disconnecting front sway bar, manual transfer case, 12,000-pound capacity Warn winch, 32-inch BFG All-Terrain tires, skid plates, 4.56 gears, Bilstein shocks, 32 inches of combined front suspension travel, and 383hp Hemi under the hood combine to make it a go-anywhere truck ready to go right off the showroom floor.   The 2010 Crew Cab Power Wagon, which has an MSRP of $45,780, can still tow 10,600 pounds when properly equipped (weight-distributing hitch) and carry 1,940 in the 6’4” bed, but now the ride and comfort level are another rung up the ladder toward luxury.   If you work and/or play where the road and trail conditions are apt to stop the typical four-wheel-drive pickups, there’s no better value for the dollar when it comes to four-door 4×4s than the 2010 Dodge Power Wagon. – BWS