Ram Long-Hauler prototype spotted testing, world about to get new largest pickup?

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:30:00 EST

In the past few months, Chrysler's Ram brand has gone from also-ran status behind Ford and General Motors to a class leader in many truck categories including fuel economy (25 miles per gallon highway) and towing (30,000-pound maximum capacity). Now, based off these spy shots recently taken, it looks like Ram is preparing to introduce the be all and end all of pickup trucks, with a production version of its leviathan 2011 Long-Hauler Concept.

Our spy shooters recently caught the two-year-old concept truck running around Auburn Hills, MI covered in stickers that would indicate the truck could be testing for a production model, and last we heard back in September, Chrysler has been trying to build a business case for the massive hauler. On the other hand, seeing as how the only changes made to this truck since it was first unveiled are a full factory tailgate and various Mopar accessories (mud flaps, exhaust finisher and bed step), it doesn't appear that any changes have been made that fit in with the recently announced 2013 Ram HD models.

As a refresher, the Long-Hauler rides on the 197.4-inch wheelbase of the Ram 5500 chassis - usually reserved for stake or box trucks - allowing it to combine the luxury of the Mega Cab with the cargo capability of an eight-foot bed and enough room in between to fit a 60-gallon reserve fuel tank. This, along with the 50-gallon, in-bed fuel tank and the truck's factory fuel tank means that the Long-Hauler has the ability to carry 162 gallons of diesel fuel - enough for one incredibly long haul.

Ram Long-Hauler prototype spotted testing, world about to get new largest pickup? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ram building business case for Long-Hauler concept

Chris Paukert — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Truck, Work, Diesel, Ram

Remember last year's Ram Long-Hauler Concept? It of 197.7-inch-wheelbase, mirror-filling width and a 37,500-pound Gross Vehicle Weight Rating? Fred Diaz and company want to build it.

Diaz, President and CEO of Ram, told reporters at its Auburn Hills headquarters this morning that its dealers are hot-to-trot over the idea of having a four-door MegaCab model yoked to an eight-foot bed and a 6.7-liter Cummins diesel. The 5500-chassis-based dually is aptly named, as it holds an astonishing 170 gallons of fuel, perfect for transcontinental journeys. (Fun factoid: At today's average diesel fuel price of $4.125/gal, that means a single fill-up would be over $700!)

According to Diaz, Ram wanted to roll the Long-Hauler Concept out on stage at its national dealer meeting in Las Vegas last week, but couldn't - the company managing the facility told Diaz that the 9,300-pound behemoth was too big to make it on stage. Instead, the executive put an image of the 24-foot-long truck on an overhead screen only to have dealers cheer loudly. In fact, Diaz says response to the notion of a production Long-Hauler has been "absolutely staggering." The rig received a similarly warm welcome at last spring's Mid-America Trucking Show, where it was first revealed. Between public and dealer feedback, Ram - whose heavy-duty truck sales have been on a tear lately - feels that the concept has such validity for commercial customers that might otherwise buy a Class III or IV chassis that it's working on a business case for the Long-Hauler right now.

Ram building business case for Long-Hauler concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments