‘New Crew’ Coup

When it’s time for heavy-duty, roll-up-your-sleeves, commercial-grade work, a “truck’s truck” is needed—a work truck. You know the breed—a truck that just plain looks as if it rolled off the assembly line ready to steam on over to a job site and get down to the business of taking care of business.

Now, a game-changing “new crew” of commercial-grade work trucks, introduced at the Chicago Auto Show in February, has muscled their way onto the scene: the new 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Built on a proven frame and chassis and engineered for maximum uptime, optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability, this hard working “crew” is sure to be a hit with small business tradesmen, fleet customers and traditional chassis cab users.

“Loaded with premium power, enhanced capability and a truck-load of class-leading attributes, our new crew of 2010 Ram Chassis Cabs continue to build momentum for Dodge in the commercial vehicle market,” said Scott Kunselman, Vice President — Jeep®/Truck Product Team, Chrysler LLC. “Delivering maximum uptime, our new 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs set the new commercial standard.”

What’s so special, you might ask, about this new trio of Ram Chassis Cabs? Let us count the ways in which the new Ram Cabs lead the class (the Class 3–5 segments, that is). There’s best-in-class fuel economy (Ram 4500/5500), 14 percent better than that of the Ford F-550 and 23 percent better than the GMC C5500. There’s the standard diesel 24,000 lb. Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) and an optional 26,000 lb. GCWR package—both best-in-class for the 3500. There’s the largest standard fuel tank at 52 gallons. And let’s not forget the largest front brake rotors and calipers on the 4500/5500.

Large also describes the all-new crew cab, which boasts an additional six inches of legroom compared to its predecessor, the Quad Cab® (large seems to be a running theme here, doesn’t it?). The increased interior space allows for greater comfort, accessibility and storage capability. Easy access is achieved with rear doors that open 85 degrees.

The new Ram Chassis Cabs present prospective buyers with “tough” choices—all Dodge Ram Chassis Cab models are “job-rated”—the long definition of which means they are designed, engineered, tested and built to meet rigid standards of commercial truck buyers. The short definition: these are trucks you can trust.

And if you want options, the “new crew” has got ‘em in spades. Offered in regular cab, crew cab, single-rear-wheel (3500 only) and dual-rear-wheel models, four cab axle lengths (60, 84, 108 and 120 inches) are available for 4500/5500 models and two cab-axle lengths (60 and 84 inches) are offered for the 3500 model. Consumers can choose from three trim levels: ST, SLT and Laramie.

The 2010 Ram Chassis Cabs offer the ultimate in upfit-friendliness: all chassis components are below the frame surface allowing easy adaptability and versatility for virtually any upfit application. Moreover, the Ram Chassis Cabs boast four all-new upfitter switches integrated on the instrument panel. The switches are linked to an auxiliary Power Distribution Center (PDC) located under the hood.

Putting horsepower to wheels of the “new crew” are two legendary powertrain options: the 6.7-liter Cummins High-Output Turbo Diesel (standard on 4500 and 5500 models) and the new-generation 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 (standard on the 3500). The Cummins engine provides best-in-class fuel economy (4500 and 5500 models) and is in full-compliance with tough emission at idle laws. In fact, Dodge sets the standard in this category and is the only manufacturer to offer a 50-state emissions package and exterior label allowing drivers to idle without time restrictions in California and other Air Resource Board (ARB) states. The cost to the consumer for this feature: zilch.

The HEMI V8 boasts VVT (Variable Valve Timing), a 9 percent higher compression ratio (10.5:1) and an active manifold, which helps create a 4 percent improvement in fuel economy and improved idle quality. All the fuel savings are gained without sacrificing an iota of the power you need during a long work day. The HEMI pumps out 383 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, with the Cummins outputting 305 horsepower and 610 lb-ft of torque. Rounding out the package are 6-speed automatic and manual transmission options, each with Power Take Off (PTO) capability.

Everything about the new Chassis Cabs is big, including updated exterior styling. The changes improve upon the Dodge Ram’s unique “big rig” design, with new sheet metal, hood, grille, fascia, bumper, mirrors and headlamps. The hood height is raised to accommodate a larger cooling system and is redesigned with a larger power bulge. Another new feature is larger external mirrors, offering drivers a more useable area while improving aerodynamics and wind noise.

The interior offers style enhancements that provide for increased storage and work space when an “office-in-a-truck” is required. New for 2010 is an available center console that features an upper bin large enough to hold a laptop computer and a lower bin large enough to hold hanging files. Additional storage compartments abound, with storage locations present in the console, the instrument panel, front and rear door panels and seat backs.

Whew. Quite an impressive list, and there’s even more options available on the new 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Did we mention the 25 safety and security features, including Brake Assist, Side-guard Door Beams and a Safety Cage Body Structure? The massive front brakes, front brake rotors and calipers that are the envy of comparable Ford and GM chassis cab models and last three times as long? The standard diesel exhaust brake?

Alas, space restraints force us to focus on only a portion of the features and available options for this “new crew.” However, we think we’ve included enough details to keep your mouth watering until the 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs arrive.