Safety Is Dodge’s Recipe With The 2009 Ram Pickup Truck

You have to hand it to Chrysler when it comes to their full sized pick up truck, the Dodge Ram. Back in 1992, when the truck was modernized and given its contemporary big rig look, the Ram quite suddenly became a strong seller, a contender among industry giants such as the Ford F-150 and the Chevy Silverado. Since then, Chrysler has kept the truck competitive, offering consumers a strong options to its domestic competitors as well for trucks built by Nissan and Toyota.

For 2009, the Dodge Ram has been redesigned once again, this time offering its first ever quad cab configuration, a popular feature for work crews and large families. But, what is likely its biggest improvement is something that isn’t readily seen: the truck recently was awarded a top five-star front crash rating from the U.S. Government.

“We built safety and security into our all-new game-changing truck,” said Scott Kunselman, Vice President – Jeep / Truck Product Team. “Our all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 offers a truck-load of advanced safety and security features including advanced multi-stage driver and front-passenger air bags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), with traction control, hill-start assist, trailer sway control and brake assist.”

For 2009, the Dodge Ram offers 35 safety and security features with every truck including brake assist, crumple zones, enhanced accident response system, hill start assist, knee bolsters, remote keyless entry, safety cage body structure, tire pressure monitoring, vehicle theft alarm system and more.

One of the more interesting safety features is the truck’s ParkView Rear Back Up Camera which provides a wide-angle view of the area immediately behind the vehicle, giving the driver greater peace of mind before backing up. The camera also aids in lining up a trailer to the vehicle’s trailer hitch, when so equipped. The image automatically displays on the navigation screen when the transmission is shifted into Reverse.

Truck sales for 2008 have been dismal as fluctuating gas prices and tight credit have caused demand to fall sharply. However, with gas prices now at five year lows and a perceived pent up demand for quality work trucks building, 2009 could prove to be a good year for truck buyers.

As for Dodge, the Ram just may be the vehicle of choice for shoppers. With loads of security and safety features included, Dodge has reaffirmed its position as a major player in the big pick up truck segment of passenger vehicle categories.

Photo Courtesy Chrysler LLC

Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in Cary, North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy’s Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including tail light guards and emergency lights.

The King Of All Pick Up Trucks: Dodge Ram 1500

Dodge Beats Out Five Other Competitors For Award

Texans love their pickup trucks so much that for many drivers a quad cab truck is their family car of choice. Who needs a sedan when your burly truck with four doors can carry the family, haul cargo, and pull a trailer?

To underscore the importance of pick up trucks in the Lone Star state, members of the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) recently held a vote to determine the best “Full-Size Pickup Truck of Texas” and gave that award to the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. Dodge beat out trucks from a number of manufacturers including Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Chevrolet, and GMC.

“This is quite an honor,” said Mike Accavitti, Director, Dodge Marketing. “In a head-to-head competition, our game-changing all-new 2009 Dodge Ram unseated the new Ford F-150, long considered the leader in the market. This is not only the best pickup truck we’ve ever built, it’s the best pickup on the market, period.”

Measuring Utility, Value, and Fuel Efficiency

Besides naming the best full size pick up truck, TAWA also used the occasion to name the best SUV of Texas and the best Crossover model. Beyond the three main categories, the association named twelve sub-category winners. More than 40 TAWA members spent over two full days of on- and off-road evaluation to determine the winners. Consideration was given to everything from exterior styling and off-road capability to the entrant’s overall utility, value and fuel efficiency.

“The TAWA Truck Rodeo is the most comprehensive evaluation of new trucks and SUVs in the country and manufacturers consider it a great honor to win their category,” said Harold Gunn, President of TAWA. “This was an especially tight competition because several manufacturers are building great product. We’re proud that the Texas truck rodeo is considered the most important competition of its type in the nation.”

What The New Dodge Ram Has To Offer

The 2009 Dodge Ram is new to the market, offering significant improvements over the previous generation model. These changes include the model’s first ever crew-cab configuration; new 5.7L V8 HEMI engine; RamBox cargo management system; store-in-the floor bins; standard front and rear side curtain airbags; anti-lock brake system; electronic stability control; and more.

Starting price for the 2009 Dodge Ram is $22,170, but with cash incentives being offered immediately, consumers can expect to shave thousands of dollars off of the price of their truck.

(Source: Chrysler LLC)

Dodge Ram, Now Rolling Out

My local Dodge dealer doesn’t have them yet, but in a matter of weeks they should be carrying the 2009 Dodge Ram, the fourth-generation pickup truck that at one time sold as many as 400,000 units annually. High gas prices and sharply lower demand will probably keep sales way down for the all-new Ram, but at least the truck has one thing going for it: it is a vast improvement over the third-generation line.

Introduced At The 2008 NAIAS

I was in Detroit this past January attending the auto show when Chrysler LLC introduced the all-new Ram in, “…a unique introduction to the city as 120 longhorn cattle walked down Congress Street then turned down Washington Avenue before stopping in front of the Cobo Center (for the Detroit Auto Show or NAIAS). The steer were brought in from Oklahoma to accompany the all-new Ram as it made its journey to the auto show.”

The timing of the Ram’s introduction is unfortunate, but Chrysler LLC doesn’t have a choice — the newest Ram is ready and they’ll have to do battle with Ford, General Motors, Toyota, and Nissan for customers as each automaker also must try to push their own big trucks out of dealer showrooms.

Fortunately, the 2009 Dodge Ram has been improved to the point where large pickup truck shoppers will want to consider the truck, especially for contractors and other workers who need one. I’ve identified five areas of improvement made by Chrysler LLC with the Ram, attributes worth comparing to the best trucks on the market:

Cabin – More comfortable seats and sharper dashboard display are some of the interior improvements for Dodge. Optional equipment, including Chrysler’s U-Connect hands free communication system will certainly interest some buyers. The cabin is filled with plenty of storage compartments just perfect for holding your cell phone, coffee containers, computer equipment, tools, and related items.

Design – Less chiseled than previous models, the 2009 Dodge Ram still offers that Peterbuilt look, but with more refined edges. New for 2009 is a crew cab model along with available side cargo boxes which are part of the truck’s bed rail.

Engineering – If you are in need of big V8, the Ram certainly has one. Its 5.7L V8 HEMI offers more 390 horsepower and improved torque for 2009, but cylinder deactivation allows the capable Ram to realize an improvement in fuel economy too. You can still get a smaller V8 and a V6 while the Cummins diesel will be returning in 2009. Look for a two-mode hybrid to be added in subsequent years.

Ride – While rear leaf springs can do the job, they do little to enhance passenger comfort. With the 2009 model, Dodge has replaced old technology with multi-link coil spring rear suspension, a feature that offers a smoother ride while limiting bouncing.

Safety – The safety list for the Dodge Ram now includes side curtain airbags, stability control, and traction control as standard equipment.

Clearance Prices For Remaining 2008 Stock

While standard equipment is up for 2009, base prices for the standard Dodge Ram 1500 model are down by about $900 compared to the 2008 model. Base MSRP is just over $22,100 with certain extended cab models starting at around $41,000.

Clearly, if you’re looking for a good buy then consider the 2008 model which are being sold at clearance prices. However, if you want the latest stuff, then the 2009 model is worth a look — expect additional incentives (0% financing) to be offered at your local Dodge dealer.

(Source: Chrysler LLC)