The huge and renewed truck maintains the capabilities but increases the luxury.
What more could you ask a truck for sale as capable and development as specific as the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty? If you are thinking about luxury, you thought the same as FCA.
The complete renovation of Ram’s trucks reaches its largest and most powerful model, in a successful combination of work and luxury capabilities, as never seen before.
Belonging to the Ram’s heavy-duty pick-up catalog, the newly renovated Ram 2500 Heavy Duty, aligns with the brand’s new language seen for the first time in the improved 1500 we tested before.
Imposing Elegance
With more than 6 meters long, 2 meters high and 2 meters wide, the new Ram 2500 HD does not lose its impressive presence, it is undoubtedly a “full size” pick-up in the entire extension of the Word, as Americans call it this type of truck.
Now, the new generation makes use of the aesthetic resources that we liked so much of the most contained 1500, although the features of the chest that protrudes from the front dashboards are more marked than in the latter.
Elements such as the new chrome grid of elaborate hatches and the front optical groups, reminiscent of the renovated 1500, although with their respective differences, such as the quadruple daytime lighting elements that give an unmistakable view of the huge pick-up.
In the back, the huge ram logo prevails with its angular aesthetic on the top of the bat.
The immense side mirrors stand out, reveal its approach as a tow truck and the use of chrome without looking around the whole body. Which is complemented by the huge 20-inch wheels and details designation of the model on the sides of the chest?
Luxury space
Inside the spacious cabin, the imposing exterior shapes contrast with a luxurious atmosphere full of very good bill materials that make us forget for a moment that we are inside a truck designed for rough work.
Wooden inserts on the board, genuine leather on the upholstery and controls and metal finish buttons very well made, welcome us.
As expected, the interior space is ample for the occupants or, failing that, and the rear seats can be folded down to place countless objects and keep them protected from the elements.
Like the previous Ram, multiple storage compartments are distributed throughout the cabin, highlighting the colossal central console with sliding cupholders and curious Easter-eggs that, for some reason, including trigonometric formulas, in addition to a graphic count of the generations of the RAM.
All-inclusive
But in reality, the new generation of the Ram HD stands out for including all the equipment and technology package that premiered with 1500. It is starting with the infotainment system with a 12-inch screen in a vertical arrangement that controls the functions of the automatic climate control of Dual-zone, 17 speaker sound system developed by Harman Kardon.
It can also connect to the Android Auto and Apple Carplay platforms and, it can divide the information displayed on the screen for its best use.
As if that were not enough, there is access and ignition without a key, electrically adjustable pedals, the seats are electrically adjustable, with heating and cooling in the front seats, the automatic ignition lights, there are multiple USB connections with type C outputs, sockets Homemade and wireless charging capability for cell phones through useful phone holders in the center console.
Also included is a more than convenient 360-degree camera to support maneuverability that combined with different specific views of the camera for anchoring trailers.
Optionally, the Ram contemplates the inclusion of an electric sunroof and RamBox compartments located in the dashboard of the bat.
Very complete in this section, remember that we are in a heavy-duty pick-up.
All power
When Ram introduced the new generation of its heavy-duty trucks, it boasted a lot about improved drag capacities of more than 15 tons and a bestial torque of more than 1,000 lb-ft of torque.
However, for our country, which is not very fond of dragging heavy trailers, turbodiesel engines, which are responsible for achieving the incredible numbers of the pick-up, are not available, at least for now.
Instead, the 2500 HD uses the well-known 6.4-liter V8 Hemi with a negligible 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque to move the truck that exceeds 3 tons in weight, with some more ease and besides being able to tow up to 7,400 kg.
For this, the 2500 HD uses an 8-speed automatic transmission and 4 × 4 tractions with reducer and rear differential lock that allow moving through rough terrain very easily. Because of the huge dimensions and the elevated driving position, which is almost at the height of any public transport driver, they give a lot of confidence behind the controls.
All the impressive details of the dimensions and the excessive use of chrome, lose a bit of credibility when using the rotary knob selector for the gears, works well, but detracts a little from the rudeness intentions that expected of a truck of this size and orientation.
On the other hand, the absence of a pneumatic adjustment suspension reminds us all the time of being onboard a heavy-duty truck, no matter how luxurious it has become in itself.
The “jump” gear characteristic of trucks of this size is present in all-terrain, transmitting many of the road’s imperfections, but, on the other hand, the high mass does not allow the rear axle to fade easily, even on roads dirt.
Due to the great weight on the front axle, the pick-up has a very marked sub-turning tendency, which can also notice when we pass a stop a little faster than recommended, making the trunk of our truck make the front shock absorbers complete their entire travel.
The response of the accelerator is very good, with a correct staggering of the box that allows good recoveries and, incidentally, a pleasant sound of escape.
While all the capabilities and responsibilities of the engine take its toll on a flattering consumption, you cannot expect much when the official figure is barely 5.3km / l. During our tests, on a mixed city-highway route, we were able to get just 4.1km / l.
And if we add that the fuel tank has 117l capacity, it is clear that this type of truck is not for anyone, its approach is very specific, although it can carry out many work and transport activities.
Safe tank
On safety issues, being on board the new Ram 2500 HD can make us think that others would be the ones who have to take care of us, our strength on wheels paints to be the best place to be in case of an accident.
Fortunately, the safety equipment leaves nothing to speculation and is more than enough, with a brake system with ABS and EBD, electronic stability control, and up to 6 airbags.
But we also have anchors for baby seats, emergency braking assistance with frontal collision warning, roll-over control system, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors and cruise control with adaptive braking.
Technical Test
As specific as the approach of a large pick-up such as this may be, where its best terrain is the ranches or the open field. It is very common to run into them on the road, so it is our duty to check their effectiveness before a potential risk situation, so we go to the Guadalajara Autodrome to perform the Technical Test of this huge Ram.
Acceleration and braking
When performing the acceleration exercise from 0 to 100km / h, the vigor of the Hemi engine is surprising and the effectiveness of the box of 8 relationships when going out with the foot in-depth, managing to get the figure in 10.3s, always accompanied by an exciting symphony of the eight-piston engine.
For its part, the brake system also came as a surprise, because even though the pedal has a spongy touch, it manages to stop the huge mass effectively and without much shock, requiring 46m to achieve the total high.
Precision slalom
Now, it is in the slalom that the truck reminds us of its exaggerated dimensions, demanding to work hard with the direction to achieve the exercise without problems, we are surprised how responsive it is, it completes the exercise without much problem. The highest speed achieved was 44.1km / h.
Moose Test
From the first pass, at 60.9 km / h, the excessive mass of the Ram is present, generating many inertias that force a lot of work with the management. The assists fight to control the trajectory; they allow returning to the original lane, although a little out of place.
The second pass, at 63.4 km / h, shows the great weight on the front axle, making the truck go straight ahead and lengthen the route. Similarly, assists work at their best to control all generated inertia.
Finally, entering at 66.3km / h to exercise, the increase in inertia is very noticeable, along with the understeer that makes it travel a lot, in the end, the address is not blocked and allows you to return to the original lane, although at half of the designated area.
Single focus
The right combination gives a unique character to the huge truck because of the long list of available amenities, with excellent behavior and capabilities, where we have to take into account the limitations that its large mass generates, especially in situations to the limit.
Within the offer of buying vans in Mexico of this style, only Ford has in the F-250 Super Duty, the only rival for the Ram HD. The Super Duty offered in a single version that although it makes use of the mechanic’s Turbodiesel with a bestial torque of 750 lb.-ft., the drag capacities kept below those of the Ram with “barely” 5.67 tons.
Of course, for the Ram’s truck, we will have to pay 1.2 million pesos, while Ford is available from 975 thousand pesos, but it is also true that it falls short of equipment.
Also, Ram offers another version of the 2500 HD, called SLT, with all the updated features, although with less equipment and luxury, but that maintains the load and drag capabilities of the unit testing.