Autoblog

GMC back atop HD truck towing and payload ratings

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GM, GMC

Mustang, Camaro and Challenger owners use statistics like 0-60 times and quarter-mile trap speeds to prove why their chosen muscle car is better than the rest. If there's any other segment of the industry where numbers mean everything, it's heavy duty pickups.

Need proof? Check out the latest set of towing and payload ratings for the HD versions of the Chevrolet Silverado, Ram, Ford F-Series and GMC Sierra. For what it's worth, the GM twins officially have the highest set of numbers with up to 23,000 pounds of capacity when trailering a fifth wheel, 18,000 pounds with a conventional trailer and 7,215 pounds of payload capacity when properly equipped.

So, GM's got the bragging rights... for now. We expect Ford and Ram to counter GMC's latest statistics with revised ratings of their own, after a few small tweaks allow them to earn back their place atop the HD standings. After all, it's been happening exactly this way for the last several years.

For a fun little rundown of how the three American pickup makers play the game of one-upmanship, we suggest you check out this story from our friends at PickupTrucks.com. Speaking of which, after that website's latest HD pickup comparison, at least GM has earned the right to boast by taking top honors against the F-Series and Ram.

GMC back atop HD truck towing and payload ratings originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler recalling nearly 243,000 Ram pickups over tie rod concern

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram

2010 Ram 3500 HD - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler has announced a recall that affects 242,780 Ram pickups manufactured between 2003 and 2011. This includes the 2008 Ram 1500, and 2003-2011 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks.

According to the official recall statement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these trucks may have a defective left tie rod ball stud that can fracture during low-speed parking maneuvers. According to NHTSA:

This condition could result in the potential loss of directional stability in the left hand front wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.

To remedy this potential problem, dealers will inspect the tie rod ends and perform an alignment if necessary. NHTSA states that Chrysler has not yet provided an owner notification schedule, but we'd expect this recall to ramp up within the coming weeks. Follow the jump for NHTSA's official statement.

Continue reading Chrysler recalling nearly 243,000 Ram pickups over tie rod concern

Chrysler recalling nearly 243,000 Ram pickups over tie rod concern originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lowered Ram dually is world's most awesomely inefficient can crusher

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 10 May 2011 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Videos

Dually owner understands the value in recycling - Click above to watch video after the jump

There are many ways to crush a Coors Light can. One can go with the classic squeeze box, the ogre-brand forehead smash or perhaps you might prefer to let your foot do the stomping. The owner of an air-bag suspension-equipped Dodge Ram HD dually pickup has another option when it comes time to crush cans; flip a switch and let the quad-cab do the recycling.

Click past the jump to watch a very expensive way to earn five cents.

Continue reading Lowered Ram dually is world's most awesomely inefficient can crusher

Lowered Ram dually is world's most awesomely inefficient can crusher originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 May 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ram Long-Hauler concept offers 1,600-mile range for epic road trips

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Truck, Work, Dodge, Specialty

Ram Long-Hauler Concept - Click above for image gallery

Need a way to get yourself, four buddies and a whole lot of cargo across the country with the bare minimum of fuel stops? The Ram Long-Hauler Concept is your truck. The rig got a quiet coming-out party at the Mid-America Trucking Show, which was held March 31st through April 2nd in Louisville, Kentucky.

This behemoth of a tow rig sports a 197.7-inch wheelbase, or about as long as your average oil tanker. That much space means it has a full-size eight-foot bed and Ram's four-door MegaCab passenger compartment. In keeping with the oil tanker theme, the Long-Hauler has the capacity to hold an astonishing 162 gallons of diesel fuel, thanks to a 60-gallon auxiliary tank in the bed. That much fuel should give this thing enough range to cross the country in two fuel stops if you aren't too liberal with the throttle.

The Long-Hauler is based on the Ram 5500 commercial truck chassis cab, which comes with a 19,500-pound gross vehicle weight rating. Ram combines that with a self-leveling air suspension on all four corners, a dual-rear-wheel package, 19.5-inch Alcoa 10-lug wheels and an Allison six-speed automatic. Add it all up and you've got a gross vehicle weight rating of 37,500 pounds, which should be enough to handle whatever you throw this hauler's way. Doing the grunt work will be a 350-horsepower, 6.7-liter Cummins diesel inline six spitting out 650 pound-feet of twist.

The Ram Long-Hauler, should it make production, will be aimed at those who need enormous towing capacity and range, but don't want to step up to something like a Freightliner SportChassis just yet. There's still no word on a production timetable or what the truck might cost should it become available.

Gallery: Ram Long-Hauler Concept

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com | Images: Pickuptrucks.com]

Ram Long-Hauler concept offers 1,600-mile range for epic road trips originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: GM produces HD pickup truck comparison tests

Chris Shunk — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Videos, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Diesel

Chevy Silverado HD Truck Shootout - Click above to watch the video after the break

Back in the fall, our friends over at Pickuptrucks.com pitted the diesel-equipped Chevrolet Silverado HD against the oil-burning Ford Super Duty in a battle of high-altitude acceleration. Even though the Ford behemoth holds a slight edge in horsepower and torque, the Chevrolet beat the Blue Oval machine handily in the steep-grade acceleration challenge. We'd think General Motors would be satisfied with the results, but apparently The General needed to go a step further.

GM hired independent testers from AMCI to once again put up the Silverado HD against the Ford Super Duty, and this time the Ram HD was also invited along. Naturally, GM recorded the whole thing. The three trucks battled it out with a pair of 0-60 competitions, including one with a 1,500-pound payload, and again on a seven-percent grade with a 3,000-pound payload. That's only the beginning, as the three trucks duked it out for supremacy in trailer sag, frame rigidity, passing power and braking. Since GM is broadcasting all seven competitions with a glut of Youtube videos, you can probably guess which truck reigns supreme. Still, the videos are entertaining and they're hosted by the one and only Howie Long.

Hit the jump to watch all seven videos, followed by the GM press release. You'll have to sacrifice about 30 minutes of your life to watch all seven, so if you want to pick and choose, we'll go ahead and tell you that the two 0-60 tests are our favorites.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Video: GM produces HD pickup truck comparison tests

Video: GM produces HD pickup truck comparison tests originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Dodge Ram recalled over incorrectly printed labels

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:40:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Dodge

2010 Dodge Ram HD - Click above for high-res image gallery

Owners of 2010 Dodge Ram and Ram HD pickups are being asked to head to their nearest dealership. The trucks are part of a recall focusing on a label printed with incorrect information. For some vehicles, the tire-pressure label lists incorrect weight or seating capacity information. If the inaccurate information on the labels is followed, it could lead to safety issues as a result of improperly loaded trucks.

New labels will be installed free of charge at your nearest Dodge dealership. The recall is scheduled to begin this month (October 2010). For more information, take a look at the press release posted after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Dodge Ram HD

Photos copyright (C)2009 Chris Shunk / AOL
[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading 2010 Dodge Ram recalled over incorrectly printed labels

2010 Dodge Ram recalled over incorrectly printed labels originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Power Stroke wins Ward's diesel shootout

Zach Bowman — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Work, Dodge, Ford, GMC

2011 Ford Super Duty - Click above for high-res image gallery

Wards Auto has crowned its king of the 2011 diesel pickup engine crowd. The editors pitted the mills in the 2011 Dodge Ram HD, Ford Super Duty and the GMC Sierra Denali HD against each other in one epic battle royale at the Robert Bosch LLC test track, and while each of the three oil-burners did a smart job of hauling payloads and the like, Wards clearly favored one above the rest. The publication said that the powerhouse 6.7-liter turbocharged V8 in the Super Duty was the clear winner, despite being the most expensive of the three engines.

The editors chose the Ford over its competitors because of its ridiculous 800 pound-feet of torque, quietness and effortless towing, even though the 6.6-liter turbocharged Duramax V8 in the GMC produced faster 0-60 times in tests. Interestingly enough, Pickuptrucks.com skipped the Powerstroke in the Super Duty in favor of the Duramax Sierra. Given the obsessively thorough testing by Mike Levine and the rest of the Pickuptrucks.com crew, we're a little more inclined to agree with those results. Still, you know what they say about opinions and elbows.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty

[Source: Wards Auto]

Ford Power Stroke wins Ward's diesel shootout originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty Shootout: And the winners are...

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford

2010 PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty Shootout - Click above for high-res image gallery

When it comes to all things pickup truck-related, our pal Mike Levine from PickupTrucks.com has his finger on the pulse of what's happening. Every year, Levine gathers all of the currently available contenders in a particular segment of the truck market for a shootout. With General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all having launched heavily reworked heavy-duty trucks in the last six months, that was the segment of choice for this year's 2010 Heavy-Duty Shootout. Levine collected three examples each of the 3/4-ton gas, 3/4-ton diesel and one-ton diesel duallie pickups for a battle royale at Milan Dragway in Michigan and the General Motors Milford proving ground.

The trucks were put through their paces in acceleration and braking tests, both unloaded and hauling trailers of up to 12,000 pounds. The trucks ran on the level Milan drag strip and up seven- and 16-percent grades at Milford. Levine also evaluated ride and handling and the trucks were put through a fuel economy drive loop. The bottom line results for each category are available after the jump and you can - and should - read Levine's definitive report over at PickupTrucks.com.

Gallery: PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty shootout 2010

[Source: PickupTrucks]

Continue reading 2010 PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty Shootout: And the winners are...

2010 PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty Shootout: And the winners are... originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ram Trucks now shipping 2011 chassis cabs in North America

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 14 May 2010 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Dodge

2011 Ram Chassis Cabs for North America - Click above for high-res image gallery

Motor Trend named the Ram Heavy Duty pickup its Truck of the Year, but if you need something even heavier you'll want to look out for the Ram Chassis Cab. They'll be shipping out to dealers later this month and will come in (deep breath) three weight classes - 3500, 4500 and 5500, three trim levels - ST, SLT and Laramie, three transmissions - six-speed manual, six-speed automatic, and five-speed manual, and two engines - 5.7-liter Hemi or 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel.

Ram isn't playing around with capabilities either, the Chassis Cab boasting the largest brakes in its segment, best standard GVWR and best warranty. Follow the jump to find out all you ever wanted to know about the 2011 Ram Chassis Cab offerings, but just looking at the pic above we smell a Decepticon in there somewhere...

Gallery: 2011 Ram Chassis Cab

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Ram Trucks now shipping 2011 chassis cabs in North America

Ram Trucks now shipping 2011 chassis cabs in North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 May 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ram HD with Cummins diesel recalled for soot issue

Chris Shunk — Fri, 07 May 2010 11:32:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Chrysler, Dodge, Diesel

Chrysler has announced the recall of 186,099 model year 2007-09 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickup trucks equipped with the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine. The voluntary recall has been issued due to an engine defect that could cause the check engine light to come on. In some cases the engine can produce heavy soot that could damage the turbocharger, exhaust gas recirculation valve and diesel particulate filter, which are some very expensive components to repair in a modern, high-tech oil burner like the Cummins.

To fix the problem, Chrysler wants you to bring your affected truck to a Chrysler dealer for an Electronic Control Module software update, which should take about a half hour to complete.The heavy soot could also lead to higher emissions, and our friends over at Pickuptrucks.com tell us that owners of affected Ram HD models living in California will need to show proof of the repair in order to get their annual registration. If you own a Dodge Ram HD and have questions about the recall, call 800-853-1403.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Dodge Ram HD

[Source: Pickuptrucks]

Ram HD with Cummins diesel recalled for soot issue originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 May 2010 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler's upcoming 6.4L V8 only for SRT, not for Ram?

Alex Nunez — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Technology, Chrysler, Dodge

Back in November, during Chrysler's seemingly endless business plan presentation, Ram trucks chief Fred Diaz told the captive media audience that the new 6.4-liter Hemi gasoline V8 would likely appear in Ram's heavy duty trucks. Fast forward to today, however, and it would appear that the big Hemi is now off the table. PickupTrucks.com reports that the 6.4 Hemi will instead be exclusive to Chrysler's potent SRT vehicles. Chrysler VP of product development, Joe Veltri, says that the 6.4 is designed for performance, not the grunt work truck buyers demand of their vehicles.

PickupTrucks.com notes also that Veltri sees a need for Ram to get gas engine that delivers more power and torque than the currently-available 5.7-liter Hemi, but that the likely course of action will involve building off that engine, rather than looking to adapt the SRT lump for truck duty. Why the drive to add more gas offerings in the diesel-dominated heavy-duty truck category? Emissions regulations, natch. Increasingly strict rules mean that diesels are becoming commensurately more costly to produce and sell, and Chrysler sees the ratio of diesel to gas engines offered becoming much closer in future years than it is today. Head over to PickupTrucks.com for the full skinny.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Chrysler's upcoming 6.4L V8 only for SRT, not for Ram? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2010: What a Feeling! Dodge Ram is Dancing on the Ceiling

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:41:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Etc., Dodge

2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty Dancing on the Ceiling - Click above for high-res image gallery

Entering the Chrysler display promised to yield few surprises here at the Detroit Auto Show. The automaker doesn't even have a press conference scheduled - mostly because there isn't a lot happening new product-wise. But that doesn't mean The Pentastar doesn't have anything to be proud of, including the latest iteration of the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty, which was recently named the Motor Trend Truck of the Year.

Ostensibly to celebrate that award, but probably more likely to add a little excitement to its booth area here in Detroit, Chrysler has somehow managed to attach a brand-new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty to the ceiling of its display. So, if you plan on visiting Detroit this week to see all that the world's finest automakers have to offer, make your way to the Chrysler booth... and keep your eyes skyward.

Oh, one more thing. How many people were thinking Toyota when they read the headline for this post? What a feeling!

Gallery: Detroit 2010: Dodge Ram on the ceiling

Follow our coverage of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show live all day on Twitter at http://twitter.com/therealautoblog

Detroit 2010: What a Feeling! Dodge Ram is Dancing on the Ceiling originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty named Motor Trend Truck of the Year

John Neff — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:41:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Dodge

2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty - Click above for high-res image gallery

Motor Trend magazine's 2010 Truck of the Year competition was an odd one this year. Only four models met MT's criteria of being new or substantially changed from the previous model year. Of those, only two were actual work trucks: the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty and Toyota Tundra 4.6-liter work truck. The other two contenders, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and Transit Connect, likely won't ever do much of the work that we normally associate with trucks (hauling, towing, etc.). Perhaps that hindered their chances at winning the coveted Golden Calipers, because the truck that did win was the purest pickup of them all.

If you hadn't guessed yet, the Motor Trend 2010 Truck of the Year is the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty, which was substantially redesigned for the 2010 model year. We'll let the MT editors explain why the Ram HD was their unanimous choice, but the gist is that it arrives to market a full year ahead of substantially new versions of Ford and General Motors' heavy-duty trucks. As such, it will be the reigning HD truck in nearly every category that matters to heavy-duty pickup buyers, at least for a model year or two.

Not to take away from the Dodge's victory, but we would've chosen the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor if it were our award to give. While the Ram HD no doubt beats it in every measure as a work truck, the Raptor is extra special if for no other reason than that it shows this industry of ours still has a little spark of life left. Ford deserves credit for not only driving out on a limb with the Raptor but also handing its development over to SVT, which guaranteed the final product offer legitimate high performance.

What about you? Did Motor Trend get it right or is there a more deserving Truck of the Year? Sound off in the comments. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Dodge Ram HD

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty named Motor Trend Truck of the Year

2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty named Motor Trend Truck of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ram brand may enter heavy-duty 18-wheeler market

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:39:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Dodge

2007 Dodge Ram BFT Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

In addition to the passing note about considering a unibody replacement for the slow-selling Dodge Dakota, Ram CEO Fred Diaz said (with conviction...!) that they are strongly considering entering the heavy-duty 18-wheeler market with the Ram brand.

Interesting, no? The consumer-grade pickup that popularized the big rig styling on a smaller scale might make the jump up the ranks and into the heavy-hauler market. In the past, Dodge has teamed up with both Sterling and Freightliner - both of which are big players in the large truck marketplace - and the Ram brand is sure to keep up its current partnership with heavy truck engine maker Cummins. In other words, it might not be as big a leap as you may at first think to see a Ram-badged 18-wheeler rolling down a highway near you within the next few years.

Gallery: SEMA 2007: Dodge Ram BFT

Ram brand may enter heavy-duty 18-wheeler market originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2010 Dodge Ram HD comes strong with more models, configurations and classier duds

Chris Shunk — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Chrysler, Dodge, First Drives

2010 Dodge Ram HD - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in 1993, truck drivers had no choice but to depend on domestic automakers for work-ready pickups, and only Ford and General Motors offered competitive haulers. That all changed a year later when Dodge set the pickup truck market on its leaf springs with the introduction of its all-new Ram. With a big-rig appearance thanks to an imposing front grille that looked ready to kick you in the Truck Nutz, Dodge's truck sales tripled inside of 12 months and gave load-hauling manly men a real alternative to Ford and Chevy. But while Dodge hit a home run with the 1994 Ram, the Penta-horned brand didn't have a heavy-duty option in its lineup until 2003, and an all-important diesel powerplant didn't come online until 2004. In 2008, Dodge filled out its pickup lineup with heavy-duty 4500 and 5500 variants, finally giving Chrysler's trucking arm the range of choices necessary to get plucky with the competition from Detroit and Dearborn.

Last year, Dodge introduced a new light-duty Ram, with sleek updated aesthetics and controversial coil springs that provide a superior ride at the expense of some towing and hauling capability. Fast-forward a year and the truckmakers at Chrysler are set to unleash a new heavy-duty Ram that's been redesigned to provide customers more capability, more options and a better ride while competing against offerings from its crosstown rivals with a lower cost of entry. We headed out to Ann Arbor, MI to drive, tow, brake, climb and traverse in the new Ram HD to see if Chrysler's truck team has succeeded. Follow along with us after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Dodge Ram HD

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Dodge Ram HD comes strong with more models, configurations and classier duds

First Drive: 2010 Dodge Ram HD comes strong with more models, configurations and classier duds originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: Dodge Ram HD goes for the Big Horn

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Chrysler, Dodge

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Dodge Ram HD

The 2009 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty was left to rumble on its own out back while the electric concepts took to the Chrysler stage at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. But the hulking oil-burner certainly deserves mention. Powerplants come in two flavors on the 2500 models: a 5.7-liter V8 with 355 hp and 395 lb-ft. of twist and twizzle, and the big daddy 6.7-liter Cummins with 350 hp and 650 lb-ft. The 6.7-liter diesel particulate filter reduces NOx emissions by 90%, meaning the car passes 2010 standards right now, and if you step up to the Ram 3500, you get the 6.7-liter standard - because obviously you go by the name Hoss.

Inside, the manual is no longer an option with the 5.7-liter, but Dodge wants to make that up to you with an available Infinity sound system, Internet connectivity with uConnect, and a power-sliding rear window. You'll want to make sure you choose your truck carefully, though - Dodge touts them as the longest lasting trucks out there: the 6.7-liter is expected to get you 350,000 miles before its first major overhaul. You can learn more than you ever wanted to know about Dodge Rams after the jump, and check out the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Dodge Ram Heavy Duty

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Dodge Ram HD goes for the Big Horn

Detroit 2009: Dodge Ram HD goes for the Big Horn originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge announces plans for heavy-duty diesel RAM

John Neff — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Green, Technology, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford

Dodge is the last of the full-size truck producers to indicate its plan of attack concerning the conversion of its diesel engine used in heavy-duty Ram pickups to meet new federal diesel emissions standards that take effect January 1st. Frank Klegon of the Chrysler Group says that heavy-duty diesel Rams sold after January 1st will feature expensive diesel particulate filters and oxides of nitrogen absorber. The two components will reduce the amount of oxides of nitrogen, but will also reduce the engine's performance as it further restricts the flow of exhaust through the exhaust system. The modified engine will be able to run on new Ultra-Low Sulfur diesel fuel that began being produced on June 1st and will available nationwide beginning January 1st.

GM has announced similar modifications for its Duramax diesels that include a new variable geometry turbo and exhaust gas recirculation system. Ford, meanwhile, will be dumping its troubled 6.0L Powerstroke diesel in favor of a new, cleaner 6.4L unit with equally expensive Piezo injectors.

AutoWeek indicates that both Dodge and GM may release new diesel powerplants in the near future since their current units will likely see a performance loss from these modifications.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Dodge announces plans for heavy-duty diesel RAM originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jul 2006 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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