2014 Ram 2500 Slt on 2040-cars

Auto blog

GM also sheds parts from its pickups to boost payload ratings

The row between Ford and Ram over who boasts the best-in-class tow rating for heavy duty pickups has revealed a number of things. Chief among them is a report that Ford removes items like the spare tire, jack, radio and center console from its vehicles in a bid to lower its base curb weight and therefore keep the truck's gross vehicle weight rating down.
For those that need a refresher, GVWR is the vehicle's curb weight plus its maximum payload. A lower GVWR allows Ford to station its F-450 among the so-called Class III pickups, despite the fact that internally, it has the makings of a more brutish Class IV truck.
Ford explains away these deletions, saying a customer could order their vehicle in such a manner. It has also come to light that Ford is not the only automaker to engage in such practices.

2018 Ram 1500 Hydro Blue Sport is here to brighten your day

The 2018 Ram 1500 is the Baskin Robbins of trucks. There's a look and flavor for just about everybody. Whether you want something clean and bright or done up in chrome and gold, there's a Ram for you. Today, Ram revealed another new variant, the 2018 Ram 1500 Hydro Blue Sport. This bright blue bomber is based on the Sport model, and Ram said this is the final Sport edition model, following trucks like the Sublime Sport. While we haven't heard anything official, we do know a new Ram is coming sometime soon. Like the Sublime Sport, the Hydro Blue Sport takes a standard Ram 1500 Sport and paints nearly every exterior surface in a fantastic shade of blue. No one outside of maybe Lamborghini does paint colors quite like FCA. That's a trait that goes back decades, and we commend the automaker for not following the silver/white/black/beige trend of so many others. All the badging and small horizontal lines in the grille are painted black. The headlights and wheels, too, are dark rather than silver or chrome. The final exterior touch is two black stripes on the Sport's hood. The interior is the exact opposite of the exterior. The mostly black trim is accented with Hydro Blue touches on the vents, center console and doors. The seats have blue Ram badges and stitching. The Ram 1500 Hydro Blue Sport starts at $47,455 and comes in just one configuration, a crew-cab short-box model with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8. Two-wheel drive is standard, though four-wheel drive is optional. Optional features include 22-inch (4x2 only) and 20-inch gloss black aluminum wheels, black side steps, chrome side steps, air suspension, parking sensors and the RamBox bed storage areas. Production will be limited to just 2,000 units in the U.S. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Ram 1500 Hydro Blue Sport Design/Style RAM Truck

Power Wagon train: Exploring the Mojave Road

If you're in Vegas with free time and keys to a Power Wagon, taking an interstate home seems pointless when there's a 135-mile desert trail an hour away, an ideal opportunity to live with – and in – this off-roading Ram pickup for three days. So with friends schlepping camping gear to a rendezvous, this test/history lesson was on. The Road The Mojave Road most closely echoes the path 19 th century westbound settlers and eastbound government supply teams followed between the Colorado River near the AZ/CA/NV junction and Barstow en route to Los Angeles. This 35 th parallel route based on Indian trails has also been called the Old Spanish Trail, Old Government Road (how it appears on many navigation system maps), and the Mohave Road. It was preferred for having more temperate weather and reliable water than routes further south. Desert travel particularly was all about water at regular intervals. Much of the Mojave Road is under National Park Service purview in the 1.6-million-acre Mojave National Preserve, encompassing a big chunk of southeastern California. Nestled between two interstates, there are paved access roads to north and south, so you needn't run the entire distance if only a few areas interest you. It is home to geologic formations from mountains to lava beds and tubes, Joshua trees, and after rains like this winter, beautiful wildflower blooms. You'll see old mines and rail lines, and hear the "singing" sand dunes at Kelso (which I'd categorize as more of a monk's chant). We saw birds of prey, wild burros, lizards, and rabbits, and heard or saw evidence of coyotes, cows, and roadrunners. All the while figuring a rattlesnake could be behind any bush. The plan was to enjoy the mesquite scents and make a few stops (the Rock House, Mojave Mailbox) but otherwise make a non-committal east-to-west camping trip of it. Do as much or little as you like, though the NPS does remind you the desert can be an inhospitable place. Cell service is hit-or-miss, and they specifically recommend against relying solely on automotive GPS navigation. Lower elevations average triple-digit highs four months of the year while upper elevations get snow; in February the temperature at our 2,800-foot campsite dropped to freezing while days were sunny and moderate. If the entire road is open, it's about 135 miles from the river to western end, but in February expect portions to be closed, potentially making it many miles longer.