They say things are always bigger in Texas. Naturally, then, it’s the perfect place for Dodge to show off the biggest of their latest offerings: The new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks. Despite the current economic trends that have Chrysler down in the dumps and most of their corporate brass learning Italian, the Dodge division has moved forward with the introduction of the Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 models.

Looking like some of the largest trucks on the planet, the Heavy Duty series plows through with in-your-face styling and capabilities that, according to Ram officials (the Dodge truck division has been recently spun off and is now known as the Ram division), continue to improve the brand. An unscientific survey while driving from San Antonio to the far reaches of Texas Hill Country, saw about as many Ram trucks on the road as models from competing brands. Hauling everything from hay bales to moving a family to pulling a gooseneck trailer by the fifth wheel, Rams dotted the mobile landscape throughout south central Texas.

Gunfight at the OK Corral
If a gunfight were to happen between brands, six banditos would show up. This includes the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500, the Ford F250 and F350 Super Duty series and the Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD. They all do the same thing, just to differing degrees. They can also be had in varying degrees of dress, from full-fledged crew cab to the blank-slate cab and chassis, ready for a special application to be installed on the frame rails. But this is the first time Dodge has had a crew cab offered in the Heavy Duty segment, a configuration that, according to Dodge, accounts for 50 percent of that segment.

Available in various trim levels – SLT, Laramie and Power Wagon, the Ram can be had as a standard cab, crew cab, and Mega Cab. It is also configurable with two cargo box sizes from six feet, four inches to a full eight foot length. But wait, there’s more: An example shown by the Ram crew included a Heavy Duty Ram 3500 with an aftermarket utility box in back, winches all around and flood lighting at all four corners. While not offered directly from Dodge, the cab and chassis are ready for conversion for work duty.

Big league cruiser
For our test drive, we saddled up the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 3500 Crew Cab. Able to seat five comfortably, it is a big rig. With more chrome around its grille than a second-rate hip hopper, it really does look the part. Borrowing heavily from the influence of the Dodge Ram 1500, the Heavy Duty has grown hair on its chest with the addition of the high-rise hood, roof lights, trailer-capable swivel side mirrors, as well as its high-riding suspension, which obviates the need for running boards to access the cab.

For 2010, the Front Gross Axle Weight Rating has increased. Gross, you say? In an effort to customize and offer more capability, this allows things like larger capacity snowplows and heavier winches, not to mention ranch-style cattle prodders seen throughout the Southwest.

Lodge-style accommodations
The interior of our crew cab featured all the comforts of home and then some. Handsomely outfitted with single needle stitching and soft touch materials on the dashboard and door bolsters, it rivals the interior of some passenger sedans. We think that with such extras as heated and ventilated seats, a moonroof, and available Sirius Backseat TV™ and DVD player with wireless headphones, we would rather sleep in the cab than in a tent. Chrysler’s impressive UConnect is back with a 30 gig hard drive and a 10-speaker surround-sound system. We especially like UConnect’s ease of use in pairing cellular phones.

Thoughtful features abound, like glove-friendly knobs, a center bin that can accommodate a laptop computer and hanging file folders, and a 115-volt household outlet in the dashboard to power. The backseat has rather convenient storage bins in the rear footwell that can accommodate 10 12 ounce cans. With their lift out bins, it’s all but certain you can load them with ice for cold drinks on the fly. On the down side, an all-too-cheesy piece of faux walnut trims out the center stack as best it can.

Here lies the power
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That seems to be the philosophy of Chrysler when it comes to motive power for the Ram HD trucks. Under the hood is the same 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel of the previous model Ram HD trucks, producing 350 horsepower and 650 lb-f.t of torque. With a diesel particulate filter, Dodge claims it virtually eliminates particulate matter by 90 percent. In essence they are doing the Urea scrub without actually using urea like other manufacturers. Our Ram tester was equipped with the 68RFE six-speed automatic slusher, which made for a seamless driving experience up and down grades through Hill Country. The four-by-four configuration also was a big help when we found ourselves negotiating a three-point turn in a sloppy side of the mountain maneuver where water turned dirt into mud following three straight days of rain. Incidentally, the diesel-equipped Ram HD is the only vehicle in the segment with standard exhaust braking, so when you see signs in towns stating “Engine Braking Prohibited,” you’ll know they’re talking to you. On the plus side, you’ll find brake fade minimized and your brakes lasting longer.

Although the 5.7-liter Hemi (or HEMI as Dodge likes to call it) with its 383 horsepower and 400 lb-ft. of torque is standard in the HD series, we think most buyers will either opt for the Cummins diesel or transition back to the Ram 1500 series.

Call us impressed with the Ram’s driving comfort. The ride starts with a hydro-formed box frame set up, with coil springs in front and multi-leaf spring setup in the rear. An extremely quiet cab mounted on Fluid-filled hydromounts connects the C-pillar to the chassis for a more comfortable ride. Over the varying terrains that the Ram HD will likely find itself, we never felt jarred or abused inside.

Leftlane’s bottom line
The Ram HD 3500 is a capable machine with tons of possibilities. With a curb weight of just under 7,300 pounds, and all of its heavy-duty accoutrements including eight-lug hubs and tons of torque, as well as gears ranging up to a 4.10 axle ratio, the Ram HD is up to the task of hauling 2,330 pounds in its bed. Towing capacity is rated at 12,600 lbs with a gross combined weight rating of 20,000 lbs – for the non-dualie. More serious haulers can expect to haul up to 24,500 combined with the dualie.

It easily outclasses rivals from General Motors and Ford in most ways – but the blue oval recently took the opportunity of the annual State Fair of Texas to introduce its all-new F-Series Super Duty. Things are heating up in the heavy duty truck market, to say the least.

2010 Dodge Ram HD 3500 base price, $31,415. Numerous configurations are available.

Words and photos by Mark Elias.

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