![]() ![]() It makes no sense to skip it, however, as it really does improve economy. The standard V6 comes with a 48-volt mild hybrid assist while the optional V8 can be had with or without the hybrid system. Alex KwantenĪll three of the Ram’s engines put down decent power and fuel economy. It hasn’t changed much visually since 2019, but the Ram 1500 has lots of visual presence to match its refined road manners and hauling capability, even in the mid-range Big Horn trim. Its standard coil-link rear suspension and optional air suspension offer a sedan-smooth ride and decent handling for a big truck. Modern truck buyers overwhelmingly choose crew cabs, which makes it much easier for a big half-ton to do double-duty as a family vehicle, and the Ram’s advantages over its competitors are all about real-world livability for just that reason. One thing the current 1500 does not offer that the Classic does is a single-cab, long-bed configuration, but this isn’t surprising. There are two other 1500s we review separately: the wild 702-horsepower Ram 1500 TRX and the old Ram 1500 Classic (really the fourth-generation 1500, new way back in 2009). There’s some new standard equipment and special editions, but the 1500 is otherwise mostly unchanged. Production of the 1500’s optional EcoDiesel V6 (which ties GM’s diesels for best-in-class fuel economy) will end in January of 2023. Ram has subtly but steadily updated the 1500 since its introduction, but what’s notable about 2023 is what will go away. GM’s half-ton alternatives, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, got major 2022 upgrades to narrow the gap, but still aren’t quite at the Ram’s level of refinement and (available) luxury. Five model years later it’s still one of the best vehicles in the segment, holding its own with the redesigned-in-2020 Ford F-150 and last year’s all-new Toyota Tundra. But that's what I'm looking forward to with my next Ram.When the fifth-generation Ram 1500 debuted for 2019, it set new standards among full-size trucks for refinement, crash safety, fuel efficiency and available luxuries. Given that my 2020 has only 5k miles on it, it'll be a few years before my next purchase. At least until Ram comes up with a bulletproof redesign that fixes the warping for good.Īs for me, I'm hoping that my next half-ton Ram will be available with 6'4" bed with Ram Boxes, as well as a plug-in hybrid drivetrain (either diesel or gas, as Ram sees fit). BTW, my 2020 half-ton with 5'7" bed & Ram Boxes has the somewhat-warped lids, but it's not too bad, and the lids still seal well and function perfectly, so I have elected to leave the original lids in place. Also, the design of the 5'7" Ram Box on the 5th-gen DT-based half-tons has had some issues with the new plastic lids warping & bowing upward at the front & rear ends of the lids, and making the lids longer would only make that problem worse, So it behooves Ram to get the redesign of the lids for the 5th-gen 5'7" Ram Box done right before they try making them for the 6'4" bed. ![]() The current theory is that Ram won't create 6'4" Ram Box design until the HD 5th-gen redesign forces them to do so, because almost no one orders an HD with the short bed. But again, the cab, doors, and bed sheetmetal carried over. Before someone feels the need to correct my sentence that 4.5th-gen HDs were sheetmetal & cab interior changes only, Ram heavily upgraded the HD frames, axles, brakes, and of course the new 1,000 lbf-ft torque Cummins engine, so under the skin, the 4.5th-gen Ram HDs have a LOT of redesign & chassis improvements. That's why you can still get 6'4" Ram Box in the HDs, but not in the 5th-gen half-ton "DT" trucks. So the cab, doors & bed sheetmetal of the 4.5th-gen HDs carries over from the 4th-gen Rams, only the front end styling and cab interiors were upgraded on the 4.5th-gen HDs. Oversimplifying a bit here, but the current 4.5th-gen HDs are the 4th-gen "DS" platform with the cab and technology upgrades of the 2019 5th-gen "DT" platform half-tons. The current HDs are a hybrid between the previous 4th-gen Rams and the 2019 5th-gen half-tons. At that time, the author stated that it was extremely unlikely that Ram would add Ram Box option to the latest "DT" platform half-tons with 6'4" beds, at least until Ram does the next major upgrade of the HD models (2500, 3500) from the current "4.5th-gen Ram" to the full "5th-gen Ram" design for HDs. Many months ago, 5thgenrams itself did an article on this very issue.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |