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The Hardest-Working Truck in Tow Business |  |
 The standard 5.7-liter Hemi V8
delivers 383 hp at 5600 rpm and 400 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. The Hemi was
redesigned for 2009, with variable valve timing (VVT), increased compression, a
new active intake manifold with long runners for low-end torque and short
runners for high-rpm power, improved cylinder-head flow, and low-restriction
exhaust and induction systems. This V8 comes standard with the heavy-duty,
five-speed automatic with tow-haul capability to minimize gear hunting while
towing heavy loads and provide automatic downshifts when decelerating.  The 2010 Ram HD is also available with
the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine, packing 350 hp at 3000 rpm and a
robust 650 lb-ft of torque at 1500 rpm. The 6.7-liter diesel option offers a
choice of either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. The
six-speed manual has an ultralow 5.94:1 first-gear ratio for low-speed, heavy
hauling. Two transfer cases are available for four-wheel-drive Rams, the NV 271
manual unit standard on ST and Power Wagon models, and an electric NV 273
shift-on-the-fly transfer case, standard on SLT and Laramie models. The Cummins
engine not only provides gobs of power, but is surprisingly quiet doing it.
 Maximum towing capacity for the Ram
3500 is 17,500 pounds. A coil-spring suspension setup is used up front, while
the multileaf spring design is maintained in the rear for heavy-duty capability.
And as the testers at this year's Truck of the Year discovered, towing a large
boat is very easy with the Ram. Whether you carry your weight in a trailer or
your cargo box, Ram Heavy Duty shows mastery of towing and hauling. The interior materials and design are
much nicer than in the past, and that improvement makes this cabin the best in
its class. The strategically added sound deadening makes it incredibly quiet
too. You basically have to stand outside the truck while it's running, to hear
the diesel. The Ram is quieter, more comfortable and people-friendly than before
without sacrificing its considerable capability. The Ram Heavy Duty is so good,
it's caused the other manufacturers to change their plans. So good that, when it
came time to vote, the judges at Motor Trend unanimously chose it as 2010's
Truck of the Year. *Information from MotorTrend.com Jan 2010 |