High Tech Cowboy

2009 Dodge Ram

By Ray Watters
Cox News Service

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Even when it’s parked, the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab looks like a monster.

This is Dodge’s first-ever crew-size cab, and it’s easy to see the powerful look that Ram likes to call its “get-out-of-the-way” design.

What’s not obvious from the outside is just how high-tech the interior gets; it offers all the amenities of most sport-utility vehicles and then throws in some more.

Dual-zone automatic temperature control is pretty common for high-end cars and SUVs. This is the first model of Dodge Ram to include that feature.

The addition of live SIRIUS Backseat TV and surround-sound audio, complete with most of the cartoon channels, is enough to let a buyer argue this is to be a work truck for the whole family to enjoy.

Just in case anybody needs convincing.

For those who care about power, the 2009 Dodge Ram delivers. The new 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 provides more horsepower and torque along with a minor bump in fuel efficiency. It’s not enough to write home about – 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway – but every little bit helps.

One nice extra is the RamBox cargo management system. These storage bins are building into the bed rails and are weatherproof, lockable, drainable and illuminated.

There is plenty of space for tools, and the RamBox has enough room to hold 10 cases of 12-ounce drinks for those tailgating parties on the weekend.

The 2009 Dodge Ram Crew Cab 1500 also has “store in the floor” bins with removable liners to offer more space for items.

There’s enough room for 10 12-ounce drinks and ice for long road trips or just a place to keep lunch cold for a crew working on-site.

The extras are nice, but drivers should think twice about steering the 2009 Dodge Ram into any tight spaces.

Guiding the Dodge Ram through a cramped mall parking lot is like trying to drive a herd of bulls through a china shop.

Anyone not used to driving a massive truck will find the 2009 Dodge Ram unwieldy. It’s more difficult to park than even the largest Ford Expedition models.

Part of the problem is the way the rearview mirror and the headrests on the back seats don’t work together. The headrests block a good portion of the rearview, and adjusting the mirror cuts the already reduced visibility.

There is an option to pay more for the ParkView rear back-up camera, but the lens is fish-eyed and the camera itself is off-center. Using just the camera to back into tight spots really isn’t recommended. It is good for letting a driver know if a small child or animal is behind the Dodge Ram.

The best aide for backing up the Dodge Ram, besides a friend outside giving directions, is the back-up alarm that lets the driver know how close objects are to the rear of the vehicle. A single beep lets the driver know something is within a few feet; louder and more persistent beeps warn drivers away from backing into something.

While cruising down the road, the driver isn’t likely to forget he’s behind the wheel of a big, powerful truck. But the passengers in the back seat might. The spacious and soft back seat has enough room to cram in three full-size adults. Rear heated seats are an option, and the coil-spring multilink rear suspension absorbs most of the bumps and jumps people come to expect from riding in a truck.

The new Dodge Ram offers plenty of options, power and speed for those who need it, either on a work site or on the highway. Impatient drivers can even make it from zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds.

The base price of the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab is $40,020. The test model sent to the Telegram cost $48,315.

Highs: Powerful look, more powerful engine, smooth ride and lots of high-tech extras.

Lows: Difficult to take through tight spaces, low fuel efficiency.

The tale: An aggressive entry into the crew cab market that is sure to find plenty of happy buyers.