2013 DODGE RAM 2500/3500

The 2013 Ram HD pickup trucks made their public debut at this year's State Fair of Texas. Production begins in January, and they will go on sale in the first quarter of 2013 as '13 models. Look for pricing information, as well as the all-important towing and payload capacities, just before the trucks go on sale. That's when we'll know for sure if the new Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks truly are best in class. The engineers, marketing people and other executives, right up to division President Fred Diaz, looked pretty confident at our press preview. We wouldn't bet against them.

Owning a heavy duty truck is not a lifestyle choice. Heavy duty truck owners have a job to do -- hauling a horse trailer, plowing roads, traveling between construction sites -- and the truck is a tool to help get that job done. For them, the choice isn't whether or not to have a truck, it's about choosing the tool that's most effective for the task at hand.

When the engineers at Ram (the truck brand formerly under the Dodge umbrella) took on the task of revamping its 2013 Ram 2500 and 3500 HD truck line, they set out to make the best tool possible. Literally. Their goal was to make the Ram HD trucks best in class in towing ability, payload capacity and torque delivery.

What does best in class mean, exactly? Unfortunately, for now Ram is keeping mum on some of these Heavy Duty details. In this segment, members of the Big Three are about as eager to tip off their competition as high-stakes poker players in Atlantic City. Tow, payload and torque ratings, essentially the Holy Trinity of working trucks, are closely guarded secrets right up to the time the trucks hit the showroom. So we know a lot about these new trucks, but not all of the critical values.

All the Ram HD's big changes take place beneath the skin. The foundation for the Ram's improved towing and hauling capacities is laid by the use of new ladder frames, with eight separate crossmembers, hydroformed main rails and fully boxed rear rails. Those who tow a fifth wheel can opt for a factory-installed rear axle crossmember with provisions for fifth wheel and gooseneck hitches that are accessed through holes in the bed floor. For conventional trailers the hitch system gets an upgrade to Class 5, with a 17,000-pound load capacity and 1,800 pounds of tongue weight for 2- or 2.5-inch receivers.

The new Ram HD frame is wider in front, which pushed the front springs outboard for added roll stiffness. Ram 3500s are equipped with a new three-link front suspension that also improves roll stiffness and lends support to a higher front axle weight rating -- sure to be popular with the snow plow contingent. The Ram 2500 models retain their five-link front suspensions, which don't offer the same level of support but do articulate better, a must for 4x4 versions like the Power Wagon. The rear leaf-spring suspension was beefed up, too, to handle the truck's higher tow and payload capacities. As a result of these chassis upgrades, the 2013 Ram HD now has a best-in-class Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).

Engine and Transmission

Engine choices for the Ram HD start with the 5.7-liter gasoline Hemi V8, which produces 383 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, and is available in 3500 models for the first time. Turbodiesel fans can still opt for the Cummins High-Output six-cylinder, which for 2013 will be available in three states of tune. Those who like to row their own gears can order a 6-speed manual transmission bolted to a Cummins that puts out 350 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque, up from last year's 600 lb-ft. When backed by the 68RFE 6-speed automatic transmission, the Cummins' output grows to 370 hp at 2,800 rpm and 800 lb-ft. And when ordered with the brand-new Aisin 6-speed automatic, which has wider-spaced gears and is more efficient than the previous version, the Cummins tops out at 385 hp and 850 lb-ft. All that twist comes on at an impressively low 1,600 rpm.

More power isn't the only news for the Cummins diesel in the Ram HD this year. All of the diesels benefit from a more robust cooling system with dual radiators, dual transmission coolers and a low-slung charge-air cooler for the turbocharger. A new Active Air intake with a solenoid-operated flap can switch the incoming air source from the front fenderwell to the truck's nose to bring in more fresh, cool air when it senses high operating temperatures or thin air in high altitudes. The diesel's emissions system now uses diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) to meet the latest emissions regulations (the DEF filler is right next to the fuel cap), and as a side benefit it increases the engine's oil-change interval to 15,000 miles, which helps reduce operating costs.

One more neat feature: The Cummins still incorporates its exhaust brake which, like a big-rig's Jake Brake, uses engine compression to aid the Ram HD's wheel brakes when needed. Now, though, a new Smart System brings two-mode operation to the exhaust brake. Push the brake button once and you get the engine's full braking power. Push it twice and it will work with the cruise control and vary its braking force to maintain the set speed.

Interior Design

Just because the new 2013 Ram HD's mechanical capabilities say work truck doesn't mean Ram has skimped on interior features. Many of the amenities incorporated in the '13 light duty trucks are now available in the heavy duty versions as well. The instrument panel is all new, with a vehicle information display now standard equipment on all trim levels. The display is sandwiched between the speedometer and tach, and its size grows from 3.5 to 7 inches as you move up in trim levels. The Ram HD's center stack is now dominated by an 8.4-inch touchscreen that operates Chrysler's Uconnect infotainment system and offers controls for the truck's climate and audio systems, as well as the optional navigation system and wide range of in-vehicle connectivity features.

For those who prefer the more direct approach, knobs and buttons positioned under the touchscreen also control climate and audio. Below those controls are two rows of switches that operate the exhaust brake, tow/haul mode, stability controls, the heated steering wheel and the heated and ventilated seats (if so equipped). In trucks without the wheel and seat comfort controls, that row of switches can be used to operate auxiliary equipment.

For 2013, the work-truck oriented Tradesman trim level, with its painted bumpers, vinyl upholstery and rubber floor mats, is now available in the Ram HD models. From that base the trim levels move up through SLT, Laramie and Laramie Longhorn versions, the latter boasting premium leather upholstery and real walnut trim that's taken from fence posts with a grain pattern created by imbedded barbed wire.

Sitting at the Head of the Class?
The 2013 Ram HD pickup trucks made their public debut at this year's State Fair of Texas. Production begins in January, and they will go on sale in the first quarter of 2013 as '13 models. Look for pricing information, as well as the all-important towing and payload capacities, just before the trucks go on sale. That's when we'll know for sure if the new Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks truly are best in class. The engineers, marketing people and other executives, right up to division President Fred Diaz, looked pretty confident at our press preview. We wouldn't bet against them.