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2010 Dodge Ram 2500 Review


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2010 Dodge Ram 2500

THE AUTO PAGE
By JOHN HEILIG

SPECIFICATIONS: 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 ST Regular Cab 4X4

Model: 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 ST Regular Cab 4X4
Engine: 5.7-liter HEMI V8
Horsepower/Torque: 393 hp @ 5,600 rpm/400 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic with manual mode
Wheelbase: 140.0 in.
Length/Width/Height: 231.0 x 78.9 x 75.7 in.
Tires: LT245/70R17
Cargo volume: 2,960 lbs. payload, 9,000 lbs. towing capacity
Fuel economy: N/A
Fuel capacity: 35 gal.
Curb weight: approx 5,800 lbs.
Sticker: $32,360 (includes $950 destination charge and $1,320 in options)

The Bottom Line: The big 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 is a very big truck on very small tires that make it look ungainly. It seems very capable with potential as a work truck, which is what it is designed for.

I have to admit that when I saw the Inferno Red Crystal Pearl Dodge 2500 sitting in my driveway for the first time, I was somewhat intimidated. After all, I'm a car guy, or at best a small truck guy. This baby is big, and of course very red.

But it's also very capable. If you want a work truck with few of the frills, this may be the one for you. It has a nearly 3,000 pound payload and can tow up to 9,000 pounds, thanks to its big HEMI V8 engine.

Under the long hood is a 5.7-liter V8 that delivers 383 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque, hence the large capacities. The power is more than enough for an unladen truck, and I'd bet that if you fill up that enormous bed, it'd handle that as well.

There's a relatively smooth 5-speed automatic transmission, with a manual mode. The shifter switch is on the shift column, which I guess makes sense, but unless you're in 4WD Low, you'll probably never use the manual mode.

The Dodge Ram 2500 rides like a truck, duh! But the ride quality is good on decent roads.; On less-than-decent roads you tend to feel every bump and ripple. If you want a softer ride, don't opt for the 2500.

As I said, this truck is designed for work with no frills. other than a good audio system. The doors are manually unlocked with no remote. The widows are the old fashioned kind; you wind them down. And it's a standard cab, so the space behind the front seats is minimal. There's room enough for a tool box and some small luggage or grocery bags, but don't expect to put the kids back there.

Amenities such as a driver's side visor mirror are missing, but there are two 12-V outlets in the dash and an AUX input for your iPod. The Ram 2500 has cruise control, "Toyota" style (by this I mean it's exactly like the one Toyota use son most of its vehicles, and it's simple to use).

There are clothes hooks behind the front seats, which is actually a good location since anything hanging there won't obstruct rearward vision.

I liked the huge fold-down arm rest/center console. It has a compartmentalized interior with fold-down dividers. A laptop computer will fit easily inside. There's no need to keep this console raised, because no one could sit there anyway because of a huge center hump. There is a seat belt if anyone would like to try it.

Other storage areas include huge door cubbies, as well as one in the dash over the glove box. There's another in the center console by the 4X4 shifter and a "cell phone" cubby by the driver's knee. There's a nice change tray located above the audio system.

I found the cloth front seats to be comfortable with good side support. They're manually adjustable, of course, but there was no problem finding a comfortable back angle as well as position relative to the wheel and pedals.

As a big truck, there's also a big bed. Our tester had an under-the-rail bedliner ($245) that protected the base metal. However, if you put something in the bed and it shifts to the middle, you'd better be prepared to climb into the bed to retrieve it.

The Dodge Ram 2500 rides high, is hard to get into and rides hard. But it's a working truck, and as such it does its job well with a minimum of fuss and frills.

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