November 29, 2002

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Test Drive:
2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 2500 4x4 HEMI
by Jim Kerr
Photos by Grant Yoxon

The trend in truck buying is to go bigger. More drivers are purchasing heavy duty pickups than ever before, and with the ride and comfort these traditional working trucks now offer, it is no surprise. The latest heavy-duty truck to hit the market is Dodge's Ram Heavy Duty.

Available in three trim levels, the 2003 Ram HD comes in a 2500 (3/4 ton) and 3500 (one ton) series with regular cabs and quad cab options. 2500 series models are available in short and long wheelbase bodystyles. Add in the optional engines, transfer cases, and equipment packages, and there are hundreds of variations of the basic truck. Our test vehicle was a 2500 series Quad Cab short wheelbase with SLT trim and a sports appearance package. The SL trim offers all the powertrain features at a lower price, while the Laramie trim adds luxury features such as leather seats.

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The bold styling of the Ram HD first appeared in the 2002 Ram half ton pickups. The HD models carry over the body design with the same tough truck image on the inside as well as the outside. A 40/20/40 split front seat has a centre section with a compartment large enough to hold a laptop or a year's worth of invoices! The rear seat is also split and folds to reveal storage compartments below the seat. A rugged grain texture on the dash with large cup holders and bright gauges imply this truck means business. Drive it and you will find it does.

While the majority of the Ram HD trucks will be ordered with a Cummins diesel engine, there are two gasoline engines offered. The V10 was used in previous HD trucks, but the 5.7 litre HEMI V8 engine is all new. The name Hemi can cause a hot rodder's blood pressure to jump. A short form of the word hemispherical, Hemi describes the shape of the combustion chamber in the cylinder head. Why is this important? Because hemi head designs flow a lot of air, and to an engine, more air equals more power, lots more power..

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Usually associated with the very fast high performance Dodge and Plymouth cars of the 60's and 70's, the Hemi, introduced in 1951, actually saw life as a heavy duty truck motor starting in 1954. The 2003 HEMI engine puts out 345 horses, but its strong point is the 375 ft lbs of torque at 4200 rpm. Torque is pulling power, and that is what this truck is designed to do.

On the road, the engine pulls strongly and passing is deceptively quick for a large truck. The five speed automatic uses two different second gear ratios depending whether it is upshifting or downshifting. Shifts are smooth and quick. The manual transfer case can be shifted into low range and I found this 4x4 unit was at home off-road as it was on the highway, with lots of low rpm torque to pull the truck up steep hills.

Fuel economy isn't rated on heavy duty vehicles, and if you watch the fuel gauge on the large 128 litre fuel tank, the Ram HEMI appears economical. I found the engine was a little thirsty, but that is the price paid for power.

Solid axles front and rear give the RAM HD strong off-road capability with low service requirements. Multi stage rear leaf springs and front multi-link control arms with coil springs give a comfortable ride with excellent load capacity. The ride is noticeably stiffer than a half ton model but still quite comfortable.

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Four wheel disc brakes are standard on all models, and they are the largest in the industry. Electronic brake proportioning is used to make stopping solid and secure under different load conditions and ABS works both on and off road. Optional electrically adjustable pedal position puts the driver in the optimum driving position, while keeping them back from the driver side air bag. Side curtain air bags are an option on all trim levels.

With a stiff, hydroformed frame, short and long box options, and towing capacity of up to 13,150 pounds, this RAM truck is designed for work. A comfortable, quiet cab with room for six and features like air conditioning, power windows, and Infinity sound system help take the effort out of work.

Technical Data: 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 HD 4X4 Quad Cab SLT

Base price (Quad Cab 4X4)	$38,505
Price as tested	$43,395
Type	4-door, 6 passenger full size pickup
Layout	longitudinal front engine/4X4
Engine	5.7 litre OHV V8, HEMI
Horsepower	345 @ 5400 rpm
Torque	375 ft-lb @ 4200 rpm
Transmission	5-speed automatic, manual transfer case
Towing capacity	5965 kg (13,150 lb.)
Wheelbase	3568 mm (140.5 in.)
Length	5783 mm (227.7 in.)
Width	2029 mm (79.9 in.)
Height	1994 mm (78.5 in.)
Fuel consumption	Not rated
Warranty	3 yrs/60,000 km
Powertrain warranty	7 yrs/115,000 km

Special Features/Options: alloy wheels, fog lamps, body colour grille and bumpers, AM/FM/CD 6 speaker sound system, air conditioning, security alarm