2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty Windham ME

2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty By August Paro, Contributing Editor


Driverside Overview
Dodge shows no signs of slowing down in the competitive heavy-duty truck sector. For 2010, they have thrown down their hand with a slew of upgrades, including an available Crew Cab and a refined exterior. The restyled interior has features like more storage locations, six ring instruments and high interior volume with the Mega Cab that were introduced in the 2009 1500 series. Historically, this sector has always been about functionality and towing capacity, but heavy truck buyers expect more these days and Dodge has plans to continue expanding its market share. Since the Dodge Ram’s introduction in 2004, styling has always been bold, but this year’s upgrade has seen the iconic front of the “power bulge” nose grow even taller. Not an easy feat in the face of ever-steeper CAFE standards that demand slicker profiles to meet rising mpg mandates.   
 

What’s to Like
With the available 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel pumping out 650 lb-ft of torque at 1500 rpm, there is very little the Ram can’t pull or haul. The available Mega Cab with fold-flat rear seats make for cab that is 9 inches longer and almost a full sleeper. Also, the segment-exclusive diesel exhaust brake gives a whole new level of control when towing. The new dually bedsides are aerodynamic and now full stampings instead of flimsy plastic. 
 
What’s Not to Like 
Without a load, the six-speed automatic seems to have a hard time sticking to a gear on mild grades. Call us picky, but the controls for the cruise control are annoyingly close to the steering wheel and could have been located somewhere else. The additional convex mirror on the outside of the flat mirror is confusing on a quick glance.
    
The Drive:
Driverside Driving Impressions
Just climbing into one of these babies, you know you’re dealing with a serious piece of equipment. It feels like a truck from the moment you turn the key. On the road, the reworked suspension does a good job with handling surface imperfections, but when the pavement gets rough, even with the fluid filled, hydro-mounted cab, you feel a slapping sensation from back to front down the frame rails. To be fair, every vehicle with an extra-long wheelbase and heavy-duty suspension suffers this phenomenon and the Ram is not the worst of bunch. We love the new diesel exhaust brake, which works exactly as promised, and is just plain cool. We were hoping for the same type of rumble you get from a loaded 18-wheeler, but the Cummins was a few cylinders short. All in all, the Ram inspires confidence and performs its duties with a high level of comfort and a pleasantly quiet cab.    
 
Engine and Drivetrain
Dodge offers only two engine choices in its heavy-duty lineup, but considering the specific use of the range, t...

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