Ram shows its trucks are for work and play

Wed, 06 Nov 2013

There are no shortage of pickup trucks at this year's SEMA Show. The popular platform has been ripe for customization for years, so it should come as no shock that Ford, General Motors and Ram are all showing a fair few trucks in Las Vegas. From the Ram camp, we have two offerings - the Ram Sun Chaser and the Ram Dually Case Work Truck.

The Sun Chaser opts for a beach theme, similar to the Fiat 500 Thalassa. Based on the Ram 1500, the Sun Chaser wears Vibrance Orange Blast and Brilliant Black paint, and sports a Mopar roof rack, while the Ram Box system features a water tank and a shower head allowing beach-goers to rinse off before getting back in the truck. A flip-up, seat-back tailgate makes sitting on the back of the truck a bit more comfortable, and it's the kind of cool feature we can see becoming an optional item in the future.

The Sun Chaser mods are rounded out by 17-inch deadlocked wheels, a two-inch lift kit and a Mopar exhaust for the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. The cabin, meanwhile, sports Katzkin leather seats and even more Vibrance Orange Paint.

The Ram Dually Case Work Truck (pictured right) is based on the Ram 3500. The brutish truck would probably blend in well on most construction sites, with its bulldozer orange paint, black wheels and black body accents. The hood from the Ram Power Wagon and Case graphics add to the truck's visual appeal.

The pickup box rails are there to aid in towing, while a split, pullout bedliner adds to the truck's versatility. Power running boards, heavy duty splash guards and Mopar's ubiquitous Katzkin leather seats round out the list of mods for the Dually Case Work Truck.

As usual, we have live galleries of both trucks available for your perusal, with the Sun Chaser up top and the Dually Case Work Truck down below.

Ram Sun Chaser

When Ram isn't hard at work, it's back to the beach with the Ram Sun Chaser show truck.

Vibrance Orange Blast, with two-tone Brilliant Black paint, color this Ram 1500 Quad Cab. A unique concept Mopar roof rack, dubbed the "surf rack," and two adjustable support rails housed within the tracks of the truck's bed accommodate a long surfboard. As an added bonus, hooks on the side of the rails can also carry up to four boards. To wash off salt water or seaweed, Ram Sun Chaser's exclusive RamBox bed-side storage features a concept water tank equipped with a hose and a portable shower head, forming a makeshift shower kit that may be clipped on to the rack for a quick rinse. A bed step enables easy access to gear.

Surfers or paddle boarders can take a seat when taking off gear or waxing their board with the concept "Flip-Up" seat-back tailgate, which converts into a bench by folding back towards the cab of the truck. New concept 17 x 8-inch beadlock wheels with color-keyed rings, concept flares with exposed fasteners and modified black tubular side-step rails fit the sand-dune-ready theme of the vehicle. Orange tow hooks, a satin badge and spray-on bedliner are also added by Mopar.

Inside, Katzkin leather seats feature stitching accented to match the Vibrance Orange Blast paint, as well as the dash, display bezels and door inserts. Sill guards and all-weather mats also accent the interior. Powered by a 5.7-liter HEMI® engine, the Ram hits the sand with a sport performance hood, a 2-inch performance lift kit and a Mopar cat-back exhaust.

Ram Dually Case Work Truck
Working with a Ram 3500 regular cab powered by a diesel engine, the Ram Dually Case Work Truck is finished in Case "Bulldozer Orange" paint and showcases the utility of the Ram with a construction-industry theme that also calls out the Ram brand's ties to Case and the FIAT industrial group.

The truck utilizes pickup box utility rails to securely transport oversize work equipment as well as "surf rack" style hoops to carry additional construction material or equipment. A unique split pullout bedliner slides out and morphs into a workbench and may be used to reach items located in the rear of the bed. The brawn of the Ram Dually is amplified with a Power Wagon hood and Case graphics on the body.

Additional Mopar accessories utilized in the build include heavy-duty rear splash guards and power running boards. The interior color mirrors the exterior with orange-accent Katzkin seat and door trim. Mopar all-weather mats protect the floor.

By Brandon Turkus