2008 Dodge Ram 2500

The Dodge Ram 2500 is a very capable off-road full-size pickup truck, available with a Hemi V8 or Cummins diesel six-cylinder, 9,000-pound payload capacity and 15,650-pound towing capacity.

Customers can opt for either two- or four-wheel drive, as well as a regular cab, quad cab or the biggest mega cab.

The quad cab has a total 143.3 cubic feet and seating for up to six people. The rear seats can be folded up for a large flat load floor.

The mega cab offers 15 inches more length than an average crew cab, reclining rear seats, built-in trays and a large load floor with the rear seats folded down. Also available are a DVD entertainment system and power sunroof.

The cargo box comes in two sizes depending on the cab chosen. Regular and quad cabs can be equipped with either a 6.4-inch box or eight-foot box.

The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 churns out 345 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque. The engine features the Multiple-Displacement System (MDS) which shuts off four cylinders under light load conditions to conserve fuel.

A 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel inline six-cylinder engine is also available, rated at 350 horsepower and a whopping 650 pound-feet of torque. Variable geometry turbocharging has the turbocharger mounted on the side of the engine to simplify the design and alleviate heat build-up under the hood.

Improvements over the past 10 years have given this diesel engine 90-percent improved emissions.

Five-speed and six-speed automatic transmissions are available. A robust six-speed manual transmission comes standard on Heavy Duty models.

Smoothing out the ride over even very rough terrain is a double-wishbone independent front suspension and Hotchkiss rear suspension with a solid rear axle and leaf-spring design.

Available features to make the Ram's interior more comfortable and convenient include satellite radio, a navigation system, dual-zone climate control, power adjustable pedals, power sunroof and remote start.