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.

Tundra Pricing, Miniscule Increase For 2009

With gas prices now under $2 a gallon and falling, will you consider purchasing a big pick up truck? Nissan, Toyota, GM, Ford, and Chrysler sure hope that you do.

For its part, Toyota has announced pricing for the 2009 Tundra, for each of its 45, count’ em, 45 model variations — in three wheelbases, three cab styles, three bed lengths, three engines, three trim levels, and with 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains.

Ranging from a base two door two wheel drive model all the up to and including a four door, four wheel drive Tundra, including gas and flex fuel models (sorry, no diesel).

Prices do not reflect incentives which have lopped off thousands of dollars off of the sticker price for 2008 models. Though you probably have to dig for that information, here’s betting that you’ll be able to do the same with ’09 models despite much more reasonable fuel costs. After all, does anyone think that we’ve seen the last of $4 per gallon gasoline? Not a chance.

  4x2 TUNDRA        Grade                     Doors    Body Style    Trans
  ----------        -----                     -----    ----------    -----
     8202           V6                          2      Reg Cab        5ECT
     8204           V6                          2      Reg Cab LB     5ECT
     8222           V8 4.7L                     2      Reg Cab        5ECT
     8224           V8 5.7L                     2      Reg Cab        6ECT
     8226           V8 4.7L                     2      Reg Cab LB     5ECT
     8228           V8 5.7L                     2      Reg Cab LB     6ECT
     8215           Tundra Grade                4      Double Cab     5ECT
     8216           SR5 V6                      4      Double Cab     5ECT
     8239           Tundra Grade V8 4.7L        4      Double Cab     5ECT
     8240           SR5 V8 4.7L                 4      Double Cab     5ECT
     8241           Tundra Grade V8 5.7L        4      Double Cab     6ECT
     8242           SR5 V8 5.7L                 4      Double Cab     6ECT
     8243           Tundra Grade V8 4.7L        4      Double Cab LB  5ECT
     8245           Tundra Grade V8 5.7L        4      Double Cab LB  6ECT
     8252           LTD 5.7                     4      Double Cab     6ECT
     8259           Tundra Grade V8 4.7L        4      CrewMax        5ECT
     8260           SR5 V8 4.7L                 4      CrewMax        5ECT
     8261           Tundra Grade V8 5.7L        4      CrewMax        6ECT
     8262           SR5 V8 5.7L                 4      CrewMax        6ECT
     8272           LTD V8 5.7L                 4      CrewMax        6ECT
     8322           V8 4.7L                     2      Reg Cab        5ECT

  4x4 TUNDRA
  ----------
     8323           Tundra Grade V8 5.7L(FFV)   2      Reg Cab        6ECT
     8324           V8 5.7L                     2      Reg Cab        6ECT
     8326           V8 4.7L                     2      Reg Cab LB     5ECT
     8327           Tundra Grade V8 5.7L(FFV)   2      Reg Cab LB     6ECT
     8328           V8 5.7L                     2      Reg Cab LB     6ECT
     8331           Tundra Grade V8 5.7L(FFV)   4      Double Cab     6ECT
     8332           SR5 V8 5.7L (FFV)           4      Double Cab     6ECT
     8335           Tundra Grade V8 5.7L(FFV)   4      Double Cab     6ECT
     8339           Tundra Grade V8 4.7L        4      Double Cab     5ECT
     8340           SR5 V8 4.7L                 4      Double Cab     5ECT
     8341           Tundra Grade V8 5.7L        4      Double Cab     6ECT
     8342           SR5 V8 5.7L                 4      Double Cab     6ECT
     8343           Tundra Grade V8 4.7L        4      Double Cab LB  5ECT
     8345           Tundra Grade V8 5.7L        4      Double Cab LB  6ECT
     8352           LTD V8 5.7L                 4      Double Cab     6ECT
     8354           LTD V8 5.7L (FFV)           4      Double Cab     6ECT

     8359           Tundra Grade V8 4.7L        4      CrewMax        5ECT
     8360           SR5 V8 4.7L                 4      CrewMax        5ECT
     8361           Tundra Grade V8 5.7L        4      CrewMax        6ECT
     8362           SR5 V8 5.7L                 4      CrewMax        6ECT
     8363           Tundra Grade V8 5.7L(FFV)   4      CrewMax        6ECT
     8364           SR5 V8 5.7L (FFV)           4      CrewMax        6ECT
     8372           LTD V8 5.7L                 4      CrewMax        6ECT
     8374           LTD V8 5.7L (FFV)           4      CrewMax        6ECT

                             2008          MSRP        2009         %
  4x2 TUNDRA                 MSRP         CHANGE       MSRP       CHANGE
  ----------              ---------   -----------  ---------    --------
     8202                  $22,390        $100      $22,490       0.4%
     8204                  $22,720        $100      $22,820       0.4%
     8222                  $23,530        $100      $23,630       0.4%
     8224                  $24,480        $200      $24,680       0.8%
     8226                  $23,860        $100      $23,960       0.4%
     8228                  $24,810        $200      $25,010       0.8%
     8215                  $24,815        $130      $24,945       0.5%
     8216                  $26,205        $100      $26,305       0.4%
     8239                  $24,960        $130      $25,090       0.5%
     8240                  $26,950        $100      $27,050       0.4%
     8241                  $26,150        $240      $26,390       0.9%
     8242                  $28,210        $200      $28,410       0.7%
     8243                  $25,890        $130      $26,020       0.5%
     8245                  $27,140        $240      $27,380       0.9%
     8252                  $35,810        $200      $36,010       0.6%
     8259                  $27,785        $130      $27,915       0.5%
     8260                  $29,775        $100      $29,875       0.3%
     8261                  $28,975        $240      $29,215       0.8%
     8262                  $31,035        $200      $31,235       0.6%
     8272                  $39,110       ($565)     $38,545      -1.4%
     8322                  $26,580        $100      $26,680       0.4%

  4x4 TUNDRA
  ----------
     8323                                           $27,740
     8324                  $27,540        $200      $27,740       0.7%
     8326                  $26,910        $100      $27,010       0.4%
     8327                                           $28,070
     8328                  $27,870        $200      $28,070       0.7%
     8331                                           $29,440
     8332                                           $31,460
     8335                                           $30,430
     8339                  $28,010        $130      $28,140       0.5%
     8340                  $30,000        $100      $30,100       0.3%
     8341                  $29,210        $230      $29,440       0.8%
     8342                  $31,260        $200      $31,460       0.6%
     8343                  $28,940        $130      $29,070       0.4%
     8345                  $30,200        $230      $30,430       0.8%
     8352                  $38,870        $200      $39,070       0.5%
     8354                                           $39,070
     8359                  $30,835        $130      $30,965       0.4%
     8360                  $32,825        $100      $32,925       0.3%
     8361                  $32,035        $230      $32,265       0.7%
     8362                  $34,085        $200      $34,285       0.6%
     8363                                           $32,265
     8364                                           $34,285
     8372                  $42,170       ($565)     $41,605      -1.3%
     8374                                           $41,605

(Source: Toyota Motor Corporation)

You Can Find Custom Truck Liners And Floor Mats

Your Ford F-150, Dodge Ram, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Toyota Tundra, or Nissan Titan truck is a true workhorse when it comes to moving people and stuff. Likely, you make full of your cargo bed carrying lumber, bags of cement, furniture, or even household items. To protect your truck’s cargo bed as well as the interior of your truck from wear and tear, custom made liners and floor mats offer protection for your truck that no off the shelf product can possibly match. Let’s take a look at some key features that custom made liners and floor mats offer.

Husky Liners Offer Excellent Protection

Custom made Husky liners offer maximum protection for your truck or SUV because they incorporate the following characteristics:

• Each liner is custom made to the exact specifications of your truck’s cargo bed. No “one-size-fits-all” product here.
• They’re made from tough polyethylene material to stay soft in extreme weather conditions: summer’s heat or winter’s intense cold.
• Contain molded-in tread pattern grips cargo to minimize shifting of your people, pooch, or packages.
• Come in three colors: gray, black, and tan to match just about any vehicle.
• Resist snow, ice, hail, sleet, rain, mud, dirt, gas, oil, even battery acid.
• Similarly, custom made Husky floor mats offer the following important features:
• Developed with the toughest rubber to withstand abusive foot traffic.
• Warranted to not crack or break. Compare that with one year limited warranties from off the shelf products!
• Unlike awkward fitting off the shelf models custom floor mats offer a precise fit. No dangerous folding or slipping while driving!
• Resist snow, ice, hail, sleet, rain, mud, dirt, gas, oil, even battery acid.

Save Big Bucks By Shopping Around

To purchase a cargo liner or floor mats through an online retailer, you will receive the best service, price, and selection if the following is offered to you:

• A toll free number.
• Competitive prices.
• Online ordering with instant assistance, if needed.
• Free and quick shipping and handling.

Besides handling the full sized offerings from Nissan, Toyota, GMC, Ford, Dodge, and Chevrolet custom liners and floor mats can be made for a wide variety of other vehicles, all the way from the compact Subaru Forester to the big Hummer H3.

Unlike off the shelf versions, custom made cargo liners and floor mats are thicker, more resistant to abuse, and even look better. You paid a lot of money for your vehicle, now why would you want to outfit it with something that is costly, won’t last, and looks like junk?