While 1/2 ton pickups are still the most popular type of pickup, heavy-duty (over 8500 lb. GVWR) are gaining rapidly in popularity. At the moment, Heavy Duty Ram pickups comprise about 45% of all Ram pickup sales in Canada, and the segment is growing much faster than the overall truck industry, according to DaimlerChrysler Canada.

Dodge Ram Heavy Duty owners are different to Ram 1500 (1/2 ton) owners, said Darryl Jackson, Vice President, of Dodge Marketing at the introduction of the new Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 pickups. “They also want a multi-use truck, but buy their Dodge Ram Heavy Duty with very specific tasks in mind. And those tasks often require maximum capability.”

Those tasks typically include trailer towing and/or hauling equipment and heavy payloads. Ram Heavy Duty pickup owners tend to be recreational users, contractors or commercial users who need a workhorse that can do the job - but they also want a truck that’s comfortable when used for personal use.

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Following the redesign of the Ram 1500 in 2002, the Ram 2500 and 3500 models were redesigned for 2003. Heavy Duty Ram trucks borrow the bold styling of the 1500, but with their higher ride height and bigger bumpers, the styling is even bolder (if that’s possible). Is there any other vehicle that’s more imposing in your rearview mirror than a new Dodge Ram pickup?

The Ram 2500 Quad Cab is available with three different engines, two of them new for 2003. A new 5.7 litre Hemi V8 engine is the standard engine on all Ram Heavy Duty trucks, and is the most powerful standard engine in its class. It produces 345 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 375 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm, providing best-in-class acceleration and towing capabilities, according to the company - as well as significantly improved fuel efficiency over the previous standard 5.9 litre V8 engine.

Also new for 2003 is a more powerful 5.9 litre ‘High Output’ Cummins Turbo Diesel six cylinder engine which comes with a new six speed manual transmission. This engine offers 305 horsepower at 2900 rpm and an amazing 555 lb-ft of torque at just 1400 rpm. The less powerful, but still amazingly torquey ‘Standard Output’ 5.9 litre Cummins Turbo Diesel with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic, offers 250 horsepower at 2900 rpm and 460 lb-ft at 1400 rpm. Rounding out the engine list is an 8.0 litre V10 gas engine with 305 horsepower at 4000 rpm and 440 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm.

Two new transfer cases, a manual floor shift and a new push-button electric shift, are offered on Ram 2500 and 3500 4X4 models. The manual-shift unit is standard on ST and SLT models while the electric shift is standard on top-of-the-line Laramie models.

The Ram 2500 4X2 receives a new independent front suspension and rack and pinion steering, but 4X4 models retain a solid front axle with coil springs, and a revised recirculating ball steering mechanism. New solid rear axles with longer leaf springs offer an improved payload capacity.

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The Ram Quad Cab 4X4 is a very big, some may say imposing, vehicle. The step-up height into the cab is 660 mm (26 inches) which means that you must grab the handle on the A-pillar, put one foot up on the floor, and launch youself into the seat. Getting out can also be difficult because it’s a long way down to the ground, and if it’s slippery, you’ll need to grab onto the handle. I’d seriously consider putting running boards on this truck if I was buying one.

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With the tailgate lowered, the loading height is over three feet high, which makes loading heavy objects difficult unless you have two people, a forklift, or a hydraulic lift of some kind. The 6′3″ box is over four feet wide between the wheelhousings and 20 in. deep, but it may be too short for some buyers. An 8′ box is also available on this truck.

The Ram’s huge size also limits its manoeuverability and parking abilities. My test truck was 5784 mm (227.7 in.) in length. Negotiating a standard 90 degree turn meant swinging wide to avoid running the rear wheel over the curb. And finding a parking spot that was long enough to fit in to required some mental preparation, careful judgement, and some luck. I was driving the ’short wheelbase’ Quad Cab model - the long wheelbase model is over 20 inches longer than the short wheelbase model, and it’s even harder to park!

The Ram Quad Cab 4X4 is also very tall (1994 mm/78.5 in.) - you have to be careful about low parking garages and some mall parking lots. It won’t even fit in many home garages.

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One benefit of the high seating position is that the driver can see over most other vehicles. As well, the Quad Cab has large, square side windows and a big rear window which provide excellent visibility.

The Quad Cab’s passenger cabin is 93 mm (3.7 inches) longer than before, so the cab is roomier at the rear. I found plenty of rear legroom and headroom for three people, however the backrest is stiff and upright, and there are no rear head restraints. I would guess that the Quad Cab’s cabin is roomier than a Ford SuperCrew but not quite as big as a Silverado/Sierra Crew Cab.

Getting into the rear seat is also a big step up, and though the rear doors are shorter than the front doors, they do swing out 85 degrees making it easier to get in.

The driver’s seat is wide and comfortable, and includes a power height adjustment for the front and back of the seat cushion, and a power lumbar adjustment. As well, the steering wheel has a manual tilt adjustment, and my test truck had the optional power adjustable pedals. Whether you have short legs and long arms, or long legs and short arms, it’s possible to adjust the position of the steering wheel and pedals to suit your needs.

The standard 40/20/40 split front seat accomodates three people, but two is more comfortable. The centre seatback folds down to create a wide, comfortable armrest with a built-in storage area. This storage bin is big enough to hold a laptop computer, camera, workpad, daytimer, or other work-related items, and has a built-in 12 volt power outlet and coinholder. In addition, there are flip-up dividers in the storage bin which prevent objects from being thrown around the bin. There’s also a hidden storage area underneath the centre seat cushion.

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The Ram’s white-faced gauges with black lettering are easy to read, and the centre control panel includes a radio/CD/cassette stereo and a heater with most buttons big enough to be operated with gloves on. On the back of the steering wheel are radio volume, seek and band buttons - I found them very useful because I didn’t have to take my hands off the wheel.

The five-speed automatic transmission is operated by a column shifter with on/off overdrive button, and on the floor a lever for the part-time 4WD system includes 4L0, Neutral, 2HI, and 4HI positions. Optional is a new push-button 4WD control system.

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Heavy duty pickups are all about hauling and towing capacity, and in this regard the Ram Quad Cab 2500 does pretty well. With the Hemi engine, the Ram Quad Cab’s maximum payload capacity is 1270 kg (2820 lb.) and maximum trailer weight is 4922 kg (10,850 lb.). Max. GCWR is 7711 kg (17,000 lb.). It’s interesting to note that the Hemi-equipped Quad Cab has a higher payload capacity than the V10 and Cummins diesel Quad Cabs, but a lower trailer towing capacity. The Cummins Quad Cab 2500 truck can tow up to 5965 kg (13,150 lb.). Of course, that’s nothing compared to the Ram 3500 Quad Cab Cummins which can tow an amazing 7167 kg (15,800 lb.)!

The first step in buying a heavy duty pickup is to know the maximum trailer weight you intend to pull and the maximum payload you’re likely to carry. Then you can decide which model to choose. If you don’t need the extra weight and bulk of a 3500 Cummins diesel with dual rear wheels, then a 2500 model may be a better choice. Personally, I find diesels noisy when compared to gas engines.

With 345 horsepower, the 5.7 litre Hemi engine makes this heavy 2624 kg (5784 lb.) truck feel almost lively under acceleration without a load in the back - I can believe Dodge’s claims that this is the quickest pickup in its class. Compared to earlier Ram Heavy Duty pickups, the 2003 model is much quieter, with a firm but comfortable ride. The engine is surprisingly quiet on the highway, and emits a sporty but not too noisy exhaust note under acceleration. Engine speed in top gear at 100 km/h is just 1,700 rpm, and at 120 km/h it’s 2000 rpm.

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The new 5-speed automatic transmission is excellent - I couldn’t make it lurch into gear or hesitate - it just changes smoothly all the time. There is an overdrive lockout button on the column shift lever.

Though the 4X4 model doesn’t have the new rack and pinion steering offered in the 4X2 model, its revised recirculating ball system has better on-center steering feel and feels more responsive than before. And at freeway speeds, it tracks very well. The BF Goodrich Rugged Trail T/A LT 265/70R-17 inch mud and snow tires on my test vehicle proved quiet on the highway, and offered good grip on dry and wet pavement.

A floor shift lever for the part-time 4WD system is located within easy reach of the driver’s right hand, and is easy to engage with a gentle push at speeds up to about 80 km/h. It includes a Low Range gear, 2WD and 4WD gears.

Despite its formidable utility, the Ram 2500 is a pleasant vehicle to drive in both urban and highway environments - unless of course you’re looking for a parking spot. Its level of refinement, comfort, quality, and dynamic performance are at the top of their class.