| This
year's Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 series pickups are very serious
about power!
I
travelled to Chattanooga, Tennessee for the press preview
of the new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 series trucks.
Dodge intends to "Grab Life by the Horns" with
this truck that has a new line of engines with more power
for towing and less noise.
 The
new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks have a choice of the
new 5.7 Litre HEMI Magnum V8 that produces 345 horsepower
at 5,400 rpm and 375 pounds-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm.
This new gas engine provides more power than competitive
standard V8 engines with best-in-class acceleration and
towing capabilities with a GCWR of 18,000 pounds. The Hemi
is a legendary name in automotive circles and produces 8-10
percent greater fuel efficiency over the engine it replaces.
It has cross-flow aluminum cylinder heads with hemispherical
combustion chambers and cast steel rocker arm actuated splayed
valves for high air flow. Two sparks plugs in each cylinder
promote faster more efficient combustion of the fuel. The
engine has a cast iron block for durability and deep skirt
construction to reduce noise and vibration. This is Chrysler
Group's first gasoline engine to have electronic throttle
control.
The
optional 8-Litre Ram V-10 Magnum engine is known for its
440 pounds-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm that gives effortless
acceleration and powerful towing capabilities.
The
other optional engine is the new Cummins Turbo Diesel in-line
six that produces 305 horsepower at 2900 rpm and 555 pounds-feet
of torque at 1,400 rpm for a GCWR of 23,000 pounds and a
trailer rating of more than 16,000 pounds. This is the quietest
diesel that Cummins has produced. Sitting inside the old
Foundry Building with a tin roof where cannon balls were
forged during the Civil War, the noise from last years diesel
engine was deafening. When it was shut down and the new
engine started, we were amazed to realize that the engine
was actually running. This all new High-pressure common
rail fuel injection engine is the most powerful turbo diesel
available for the 2500/3500 series trucks.
The
gear-driven fuel pump is electronically controlled to optimize
fuel pressure at injection pressures up to 23,200 psi and
is less dependent on engine speed than traditional pump-line
injection systems. Fuel injection calibration, timing, pressure,
and quantity, has been refined across the entire range of
speeds and loads to ensure smooth quiet combustion.
Designed
to be durable, it has an average major overhaul interval
of 350,000 miles. It has 30 to 40% fewer parts than typical
V8 diesels, adding durability, simplified assembly, better
reliability and lower repair costs.
This
engine uses pilot injection- the injection of a small amount
of fuel to start combustion, before the main power producing
charge of fuel is injected. This has the effect of smoothing
out combustion pressure in the cylinder, which can be the
primary source of low and mid-range speed noise in diesel
engines. Maximum torque occurs 400 rpm lower than the Duramax
and 100 rpm lower than the 7..3 L Ford power stroke engines.
The
turbo diesel engine mounted in a six-speed overdrive manual
transmission truck walked away with a trailer that was loaded
with two trucks, exceeding the GCWR by 5000 pounds. This
combination of vehicle and truck trailer was 70-feet long
. The truck has so much torque starting off that you do
not need to touch the accelerator when you first let out
the clutch.
For
2003 Dodge has introduced a single rear wheel option on
the 3500 series that will be great for fifth wheel towing.
Driving solo through a parking lot with dual rear wheels
can sometimes be a challenge and wet and slippery roads
can cut traction dramatically. (Page Top)
For
2003 the horse collar grill is bigger and bolder. This is
large enough to accommodate the extra cooling required for
towing heavy loads. Its huge grill, big 17-inch wheels and
tires, with a taller profile with styling similar to last
year's 1500 series gives it a fresh look. The top of the
line Laramie has a body-colored grill surround and chrome
cross hairs.
The
Quad Cab has four full-size doors with more than three inches
of additional cab space. This is achieved by taking thee
inches from the bed of the truck to give a roomier cab with
a more comfortable rear seat without compromising payload
and manoeuverability. The bed is still six- feet-three-inches
long enabling it to handle most loads, and an ideal choice
for a sliding fifth wheel hitch.
The
cab doors open a full 85 degrees, making it easy to load
large packages with windows in the doors that open all the
way down. The rear seat is available with a 40/60 split
that can be folded down in individual sections to accommodate
both passengers and cargo. Additional storage boxes are
located under the rear seats and an optional steel load
floor is tucked under the seat away from view. The long-box
regular cab and the short-box Quad cab both share the same
140.5-inch wheelbase. The long-box Quad Cab has a longer
160.5-inch wheelbase.
This
is the first heavy-duty Dodge Ram to have side curtain air
bags for driver and passenger protection in a side collision.
We were happy to see that the pedals were power adjustable
for either short or tall drivers. The truck has amazing
precise steering, handling and braking.
If
an air bag deploys, pyrotechnic pretensioners in the seats
belts tighten them to keep you safely in your seat. Then
the Constant Force Retractors let out the belts in a controlled
manner to reduce the risk of the belts becoming too tight.
The
new hydroformed frame with boxed sections creates a stiff
platform that allows the suspension and steering to be tuned
to provide the best steering and handling in a heavy duty
pickup. The two-wheel drive models feature an all-new rack
and pinion steering system and independent front suspension
with heavy-duty beam front and rear axles for four-wheel
drive models. The stiffer frame contributes to reduced noise,
vibration, and harshness (NVH) while improving steering
and handling precision. This system provides a steady helm
when cruising with a trailer at highway speeds with little
of the wander and imprecision normally associated with heavy-duty
truck steering.
The
standard rear axle is 3.73 with an optional 4.10 that gives
an extra 2000 pounds of towing capability. The rear GAWR
for the 3500 series is 9750 pounds. The larger 13.9-inch
brake rotors are made possible by the 17-inch wheels for
better braking power, extended lining life, and increased
heat dissipation. These new trucks have been tested in conditions
ranging from minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 130 degrees
Fahrenheit and running the equivalent to 150,000 miles both
on- and off-road at their maximum payload ratings. The new
cabs offer larger than the competition interiors with excellent
head, shoulder, and hip room. Standard anti-lock brakes,
the largest brakes in its class, and excellent steering
features improve accident avoidance capabilities and the
use of hydroforming allows the design of controlled crush
zones into the frame walls to dissipate energy in a severe
crash.
The
doors on the all-new Dodge Ram overlap the windshield pillars,
and the windshield glass overlaps the pillars providing
a smooth visual transition to the doors. This creates better
water management, reduced wind noise and aerodynamic efficiency.
The exterior rear-view towing mirrors flip over to give
a better view past your trailer and flip back when not towing.
One
glimpse of the large horse collar grill removes any doubt
that the most powerful pickup belongs to Dodge Ram with
a "big rig" look that makes Dodge a major player
in the heavy duty towing market. (Page
Top) |
