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A 2011 Ram Outdoorsman Brought Me to the Brand

Posted on May 12th, 2011 by Ram Zone

If you haven’t taken a second to look over the 2011 Ram Outdoorsman, we recommend scooting on over to your local dealer for a closer inspection. More

Video: What Makes The Ram Trucks 1500 a Winner

Posted on January 10th, 2011 by Ram Zone

The guys and gals of the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) paid us a Lone Star-sized compliment when they handed the More

Watch the Ram 1500 Out-Tow the Ford F-150

Posted on December 22nd, 2009 by Ram Zone

There’s no question that Ram engineers love what they do, and they take their trucks’ performance very, very seriously. So when the time came to take a trip out west to put the new Ram 1500 through its paces, what do you think they did?

They brought the competition along, of course, namely a Ford F-150. What happened? Hard evidence that the Ram 1500 can seriously out-tow the Ford F-150. And they proved it several times.

One of the tests that the Ram engineers performed was the ability to tow a trailer up a mountain. When trailer tow weight ratings are figured out, they’re done according to standards set by each individual manufacturer based on what they consider to be “optimal” for their consumers. Basically, there is no single standard that all truck-makers need to follow.

Let’s just say that we like to hold Ram up to a higher standard.

So the Ram engineers wanted to fully understand how the Ram 1500 stacked up versus the Ford F-150 in uphill towing. They took a pre-production 2010 Ram 1500 Laramie and a 2009 F-150 Lariat (which was further equipped with Ford’s maximum towing package) and loaded up two trailers to get to a gross combined weight of 15,500 lbs. – and put the two vehicles through a series of tests.

So, despite the fact that the Ford F-150’s gross combined weight (GCW) rating is actually higher than the Ram 1500’s — 17,100 lbs. versus 15,500 lbs., respectively — those are just numbers.

And the numbers sometimes don’t tell the whole story, especially in real life situations. Like towing a trailer up a grade at wide-open throttle (aka WOT – think “pedal to the metal”).

Why? To prove that Ram 1500 is truly superior when the towing gets rough.

The Ram has a higher combination of horsepower and torque in its 5.7L HEMI V8 – 390 hp and 407 lbs-ft to be exact. But the Ram 1500 also employs a combination of both mechanical and electronic fans to deliver a superior cooling system. And when towing those heavy loads, the Dodge Ram’s Rear Coil Spring Suspension provides 25% more lateral stiffness, resulting in a more stable and secure ride.

So the Ram 1500 not only delivers more power and stability, but also keeps its cool when needed.

Want to see proof? Watch the video of the Ram 1500 vs. Ford F-150 uphill tow:

Ram Engineers Hit the Road for a Real Focus Group

Posted on December 17th, 2009 by Ram Zone

How do the people who build your Ram decide what features and improvements a new model needs? Instead of relying on studies, statistics, and claims of competitors, Ram engineers hit the road to actually sit in the truck with real working men and women, as you can see in this video from Talladega.

“What really makes me proud is that we focus on the customer,” explains Scott Kunselman, Ram’s Senior Vice President – Engineering. “Our engineers realize that the customer is what makes the most difference.” Especially when they’re willing to airbrush the Ram logo on their heads…

Got HEMI Questions for the Ram Engineers?

Posted on December 8th, 2009 by Ram Zone

Now that you’ve asked the Ram engineers all your Cummins-related questions, it’s time to give the HEMI side of your brain a little work-out as well. Ram engineers will be taking your questions about building the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty at the HEMI forum on Thursday, December 10, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm Eastern. Click here to post and participate.

Chat with Ram Engineers in the Dec. 8 Cummins Forum

Posted on December 7th, 2009 by Ram Zone

Got a question for a Ram or Cummins engineer? Well, now’s your chance to hear from the guys who built the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty and the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel, one of the cleanest, most powerful diesels on any commercial pickup. Whether you want to know about different transmission options, the benefits of the diesel exhaust brake, or anything else Cummins-related, the engineers will be answering your questions tomorrow. Click here to post your questions in advance between now and tomorrow afternoon. Then check back on Tuesday, December 8, between 5:30 and 7:00 pm Eastern, to be a part of the conversation. If you aren’t a TDR subscriber, don’t worry — the good folks hosting the forum at Turbo Diesel Register have waved the subscription fee to allow non-members to participate. Click here to register for free.

UPDATE: The forum has begun.

Think Aerodynamics Aren’t Important in a Truck?

Posted on November 30th, 2009 by Ram Zone

Think again. There was a lot more behind Ram’s exterior redesign than merely updating its look. Watch Chief Designer Mark Allen explain how they focused a lot of their attention on aerodynamics to both improve efficiency and reduce noise — going so far as cramming this renowned hauler into the wind tunnel for some real high-performance testing.