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Walkaround
Aside from quality, styling is really the only significant differentiator between American full-size pickups. Dodge, Ford and GM trucks all offer a broad variety of engines, drivetrains, trim levels, cab configurations, cargo boxes and load ratings.With its bull nose and big, bright grille, the Ram looks more aggressive than its competitors, conjuring up a bygone era when trucks was trucks, buddy," and the notion of lifestyle vehicles lay somewhere in the murky future. This retro-styling approach seems to have struck a strongly responsive chord. Perhaps it’s because those attracted by the ‘50s exterior quickly learn that the look is only skin deep. Inside, there’s none of the cramped, back-breaking discomfort that went with gold ol’ American pickups; the Ram is as modern as any in this respect. But more on that later. As noted, Rams, like all full-size pickups, come in a bewildering variety of models. It’s important to have a solid fix on what you expect your truck to do for you - hard work? Light work? All-around driving? A little of each? - before you visit a showroom Our choice here was a top-of-the-line Ram 2500 Laramie SLT with the new Club Cab, an 8-ft. cargo box and Dodge’s massive 8.0-liter V10 engine. This is a lot of truck. At more than 20 ft. long with a gross vehicle-weight rating of 8800 lb., it’s probably more than most of us will ever need. But it’s also a combination that’s unique among pickups. Although Ford and GM both offer big gasoline V8 engines of substantial power, the Dodge V10 is the guru of grunt among full-size pickups. You just can’t get more low-rpm power - the commodity we know as torque - than this big growler offers. It starts almost from the moment you insert the key and wake it up, building to a peak of 450 pound-feet at only 2400 rpm. Torque is what you want for hauling or towing heavy loads, and this baby’s got more of it than the other guys."
Interior Features
The big news inside the ’95 Ram Club Cab ST and Laramie SLT is that there’s a folding rear bench seat behind the front seat. This is something that wasn’t available when the Ram lineup was introduced. And since the Ram already started with the roomiest standard cab in the business, the addition of the Club Cab creates an interior that feels vast.However, even though Dodge rates the Ram Club Cab as a 6-passenger vehicle, rar-seat legroom is tight compared with midsize and full-size passenger cars, something that can be said for most extended cab trucks. On the other hand, if what you’re planning to stow is stuff rather than people, the Club Cab’s extra space will obviously come in handy. It’s also worth noting that extended cabs are hot sellers, which could pay dividends at resale time. Although front-passenger seating in the Ram LT and stripped-down Work Special models is a basic bench, our Laramie SLT had a 40/20/40 split bench up front, with seatback recliners for the outboard seating positions and a better grade of upholstery. Our test truck included a number of convenience features that are extra-cost options in other models, including air conditioning, power windows and locks, cruise control, and an AM/FM stereo with cassette. It also had extra storage features, although storage is a strong point on all of the Rams. And like all the Ram pickups, it included a driver’s airbag and side-impact door beams. Roominess adds up to comfort in any vehicle, and the Rams edge their competitors on this point. We also liked the high seating position that gives the driver and front-seat passengers a good view of what’s going on in traffic. However, shorter drivers may find that the Ram’s high hoodline makes it a little difficult to see immediately in front of the vehicle.
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