Filed under: Car Buying, Trucks/Pickups, Marketing/Advertising, Dodge
2009 Dodge Ram launches with incentives, 'RamBox' costs $1,895
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Dodge Ram
In another obvious sign of the times, Dodge is launching its brand new and totally redesigned 2009 Ram half-ton pickup truck with incentives right out of the gate. Purchasers who only need a regular cab will get $500 off the Ram's base price of $22,170 before options while those looking to get a quad cab or crew cab will get double that amount off their new truck. We're sure that potential buyers won't be complaining, but it's a far cry from the 40% savings being offered on '08 Rams. We verified these numbers by using Dodge's online configuration tool, which does not yet allow you to order up the innovative RamBox option. That lockable storage unit is built right into the bed rail of the pickup and will reportedly run you $1,850. That seems pretty reasonable considering that Dodge is the only brand offering this type of storage solution. Still not sold? Did you know that a RamBox is nearly big enough to fit an adult man? Pretty cool, that. Expect to see the RamBox option come online in early November.
Gallery: 2009 Dodge Ram
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Avinash machado 10:36AM (9/22/2008)
Hope it will win the Truck Of The Year award.
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TJ 10:40AM (9/22/2008)
I don't see how it won't... more power, better gas mileage, and dramatic, potentially industry-changing features (5 link rear, rambox, in-floor cooler)
I don't see any other 'new' trucks that can compete for the award.
MemphisNET 11:14AM (9/22/2008)
Got to play with this truck at the Georgian Autoshow over the weekend - and it is quite impressive. Still a few cheap plastics here and there, but luckily they're in places that few will ever look at or touch.
Frank 10:38AM (9/22/2008)
REPORTEDLY? Could you do your own reporting and like, find out for sure first?
Now, if that's true it's too much. It's a great idea, but I don't see why it should cost more than a grand. Maybe someone who knows more about what goes into manufacturing a truck with that option can shed light on this.
As for the $500 and $1000 incentives - it's a sign of the times. I saw a sign at a Toyota dealer in Orange Park, FL that was advertising $6,000 off new Tundra's - and this was 3 or 4 months ago so it was not an end of the model year sale.
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MajorGeek 11:10AM (9/22/2008)
Well, they said that the tool didnot allow it as an option yet. What I can tell you is a good, quality toolbox costs a pretty penny and wastes space. Since this does not waste space, does not stick out drawing attention from thieves and that they are the first to do it, then the price tag is easily justified. Frankly, I expect to see this as standard equipment on many trucks factored into the sticker, or at half the cost within a year by most other truck manufacturers. Its a simple, yet brilliant idea.
MD Drew 1:44PM (9/22/2008)
Looking at the photos, it appears the Rambox bed does not have any wheel wells on its interior. This tells me that the internal width of the bed is reduced, to accomadate the storage space.
Consequently, you would lose space in the bed in exchange for the ram box; whether that lost volume is a big deal or not is the issue. It is similar to step-side trucks, where the usable bed space is less.
G-Meister 9:55PM (9/22/2008)
MD- the bed walls are still a full 4 feet wide. That means plywood will still drop in, but also, a 4-wheeler will fit. no side-by-sides though.
CarbonBlack 10:51AM (9/22/2008)
I thought $1,895 was a bit pricey. I would rather use that cash for other better options!
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Torrent 1:13PM (9/22/2008)
it should come standard.
2 thousand dollars is like 7 gallons of gas these days.
sarcasm.
But I agree 2K is a lot for an empty hole in the side of a bed. I could do that at home.
No Welfare for GM 11:01AM (9/22/2008)
Am i the only one who finds Dodge's website incredibly user unfriendly.
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CORVETTE ZR1 11:26AM (9/22/2008)
Yeah I Think You Are...
CarbonBlack 11:50AM (9/22/2008)
I tried it out and was unimpressed, but didn't have any major problems.
G-Meister 9:58PM (9/22/2008)
Its a bandwidth hog and if your browser's funimation (java, flash,...) settings are wrong, you'll be left out in the cold. Specs are hard to find...
ymmv 12:00PM (9/22/2008)
Dodge has squandered a wide open market left vacant while Ford hesitates to bring their '09 game.
The Toyota and Nissan products are just not good enough to win buyers. Chrysler/Dodge should have jumped at the chance to bring out this pickup and put a 25 mpg diesel in it while they're at it. What a waste. And a nice looking truck too (give or take the oversized badges) but they should have redone the cabin to match the Ford (even the Chevy is pretty decent now that it's had a Tahoe/Yukon makeover.)
As for the ram-box thing, $1850 will buy you a lot of WeatherGuard stuff (http://www.weatherguard.com/)
As already mentioned, so few buyers want (pay for) these gadgets, the manufacturers need to really raise the bar, not offer these silly gimmick things. That said, I think the tailgate ladder from Ford in the new F250 should be standard issue on all pickups -- it's just that good. It looks a bit silly, but it's less silly than trying to climb up there.
Other than that, all I need is second row child seat safety (airbags and LATCH) which seem to be neglected even in the very latest pickups.
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Jason 12:55PM (9/22/2008)
Dude, do some research before opening your mouth.
The 1/2-ton diesel is coming in 2010.
Have you even seen the interior pics of the new Ram? It's every bit as nice or nicer than the new F150 and much better IMHO than the new GM interior (For a truck anyway, love that interior in the SUVs).
As for LATCH... the Rams at least have had that for a while, since at least 2003... I thought that was federally mandated now anyway? I our 2006 Ram Megacab has it.
Side air bags have been available (optional) on Rams for a while now as well.
ymmv 1:20PM (9/22/2008)
Jason -- check again. The lower anchors aren't in the rear seats. Ford has made the same mistake (I don't know about GM.) As for the diesel, I didn't say it wasn't coming, I said they need it now and should be selling the car now while Ford is twiddling their fingers and worrying about when to start selling the '09 F150.
As for airbags, compare the curtain and pillar and seat airbags in a sedan or minivan to a pickup and you'll see that a child is not as well protect in side impact (though they are presumably up higher and riding in a heavier vehicle, which could be considered more important.)
Jason 2:24PM (9/22/2008)
I agree they need the diesel now. Coming out with the diesel in the new trucks from the get-go would've knocked it out of the park.
Regarding the LATCH system, I've checked many times... ;) the lower anchors are most definitely in the rear seats -- my son's car seat is anchored down using them. Ours is a Megacab though, so other cab configurations may be different. The upper tethers are on the back wall of the cab.
The Ram's side curtain air bags may not be as good as what you find in a sedan or minivan, but it does have them available, which is more than I can say for any vehicle I ever rode in growing up, haha.
Adam 2:41PM (9/22/2008)
I still wonder how we all survived before we had to be bundled up in air-bags and styrofoam car seats.
I saw the upper tether mount but didn't find lower anchor points in any of the full size SUVs. I haven't checked the latest Chev, but Ford doesn't have it. I don't want the Titan (too old, gas-guzzler with old trans not suited for towing) and the Toyota has poor quality.
I guess it's really up to me to check again. : )
I made the mistake of asking a dealer and they said "oh yes, definitely -- all the latest safety equipment" only to find the image of the deployed airbags didn't really protect rear seat passengers completely and the model they had on the showroom floor didn't have the lower anchors. Maybe it's a different seat and anchor in the larger cabs?
G-Meister 10:02PM (9/22/2008)
The LATCH anchors are most definitely there- mfg's do not have the option of leaving them out- they're required, just like the front airbags.
YMMV 1:24AM (9/23/2008)
G-Meister,
Sadly, for "commercial" vehicles (the platform for these pickups) there are allowable exemptions. I have a Ford Excursion (exempted, though it's basically an SUV on an F250 with light duty leaf springs) and I looked at all of the "heavy duty" pick-ups (specifically wanting a family vehicle that could still tow my race trailer) and while some arbitrarily had the upper tether, none had the lower anchor in the seat.
I need to update my facts based on what "Jason" (above) has posted, so I'm once again optimistic that I can get into a full size heavy duty SUV and have "peace of mind" safety for my two kids in the back seat.
I wish at least one of the makers had gotten their act together for '09 (it's only been five years since any of them significantly revised their heavy duty pickups ...)
I'm going to check on the Ford/Chev/Dodge options, but I expect I'll go ahead with my decision to go with a Mercedes GL-320 diesel. It can run low grade bio-diesel, B5, it can tow a light weight race trailer up to 7700lbs and it costs the same as top shelf full size pick-up, but it's safer, much more fun to drive and let's me have an enjoyable all-rounder for a few years until the US makers catch up.