 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab Laramie 4×4 . Click image to enlarge |
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2009 Dodge Ram
The Dodge Ram 1500 was completely overhauled for 2009 in an effort to give it the tools to fend off attacks by its two traditional rivals from Ford and General Motors (both recently revised), as well as the revelation from Japan (by way of Texas mind you), the Toyota Tundra.
With its prominent gun-sight grille, the new Ram is immediately recognizable as a Dodge, but it is decidedly more aerodynamic and aggressive looking at the same time. The interior has been redesigned for comfort as has the ride, with a new coil-spring rear suspension. A unique pair of weatherproof, lockable storage bins (referred to as the RamBox Cargo Management System) occupy the area above the rear wheel wells, and is available as an option for buyers who select the Crew Cab configuration.
The subject of this article is a loaded Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie (featuring the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with Multi-Displacement and a five-speed automatic) Crew Cab, five-foot-six-inch cargo box and four-wheel drive. Options included the five-passenger seating option with fixed centre console, the innovative RamBox storage system, trailer tow package, and the “Parkview” rear back-up camera.
The new Ram walked away with the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s (AJAC) “Best New Pick-up” title for 2009, but I wanted to find out what ordinary truck owners thought of it. So I introduced it to a small group of people that I knew were familiar with Dodge’s prior offerings and asked their frank opinions. Here they are:
Subject: Mike Pesek
Age: 52
Occupation: Thoroughbred horse breeder
Truck: 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT Quad Cab 4X4 (6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel)
 Horse breeder Mike Pesek checks out the RamBox on the 2009 Dodge Ram. Click image to enlarge |
Mr. Pesek works his trucks pretty hard due to his profession, but they also serve as his primary vehicles, so he likes it to be comfortable enough to allow him breaks during the work day. He has been a Dodge truck owner for 13 years but prefers the Heavy-Duty models as he needs the extra ruggedness and towing capacity for his work in the equestrian field.
“The new front seats look a little wider, and they are very supportive. I could feel them holding me in place when we carried speed through the bends during the road test. Fit and finish and the quality of the materials used in the cabin are very up-market. The contrasting heavy stitching in the leather surfaces is sharp. The audio system in this truck sounds fantastic. The sub-woofer really gives it a nice deep rumble.”
Like most of the participants in my survey, Mike immediately made his way to the rear of the truck to get a closer look at the clever RamBox Cargo Management System.
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