By Andrew Ganz
Wednesday, Feb 9th, 2011 @ 4:10 pm

Chrysler’s Ram division took to the stage at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show with a commercial-oriented pickup truck, the Ram Tradesman.

Ram – formerly a Dodge division – promises that the Tradesman offers more grunt and more capability at a lower price point than rivals, like the Ford F-150.

Building on the base Ram package, the Tradesman features a number of items aimed at commercial users who have left the brand in favor of rivals with more specifically-tailored commercial trim levels.

A standard 5.7-liter Hemi V8 offers way more power than rivals’ V6s while still netting a reasonable 20 mpg on the highway for a 4×2 model. The V8 is rated at 390 horsepower and 407 lb-ft. of torque.

When it was first introduced for the 2009 model year, the latest Ram 1500 pickup was the first modern truck with a coil spring rear suspension. That suspension remains, but it now mates with a Class IV trailer hitch with a lighted, above-bumper four and seven pin trailer wire connector.

Tradesman is available with a regular cab in either short or long bed options and 4×2 or 4×4 powertrains.

Inside, cloth or vinyl seats are available with either carpeted or vinyl flooring. Furthering its commercial credentials are a 160 amp alternator, heavy duty steel wheels, upsized fuel tanks, heavy duty shock absorbers, air conditioning, a CD player and six airbags.

Ram says that a wide range of options will be available, including 3.21 and 3.92 rear axle ratios, a limited-slip rear differential, chrome exterior touches and a number of interior upgrades including Bluetooth and cruise control.

Ram Tradesman goes on sale during the second quarter of this year starting at $22,780 including destination.

  

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