Description: Heavy Duty Full-Size Pickup Truck
Base MSRP Range: $23,805 - $36,130
Invoice Price Range: Â $21,052 - $31,727
Understand that the descriptive label "Heavy Duty" applies to this series of big and powerful work truck for the upward expansion of Dodge's line of Ram trucks. These behemoths are huge vehicles designed expressly for macho truck-type work.
Constructed on a strong chassis that's modular in design to allow multiple configurations for cabin size and box length, the heavy-duty Ram trucks dominate the road with their forceful new exterior styling as they also flex muscles from a series of powerful engines designed to pull far more than their hefty weight and tow some class-topping loads.
The collection consists of two different weight designations with 2500 (three-quarter-ton) and 3500 (one-ton) series. Cabs conform to a two-door Regular Cab with split bench seat and a four-door Quad Cab with two rows of seats for as many as six passengers. Beds in back extend in lengths of long and longer. Two transfer cases -- one with manual shifting and the other with an electric shift -- go to 4WD versions, with the manual-shift standard on ST and SLT and the electric unit for deluxe SLT Plus. Standard engine is the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 for 345 hp. It links to either a manual five-speed or electronic five-speed automatic. An optional 5.9-liter in-line-six Cummins turbo diesel is also available with 305 hp and enough torque to boost the towing capability way up to 23000 pounds. The Cummins also carries a new heavy-duty four-speed automatic transmission as optional gear this year.
