You know you’re up there with the eagles when you can see the top of a Ford F-150 driving alongside you on the highway. Like when you’re in a Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie 4x4, say.
Sorry. My mistake. I still instinctively associate the names Dodge and Ram. Probably because I’ve been doing it since 1981. The pickup truck scene is unflappably conservative, and it has no doubt rubbed off on me.
In any case, whatever its name may be, this truck I drove is a true juggernaut. The words “Heavy Duty” have never ringed so true. Like the Ford Super Duty and GM’s twins, the Silverado HD and Sierra HD, this truck targets buyers of big four- and six-wheel workhorses.
From commercial vehicle to family hauler
These vehicles are designed to haul heavy loads, either in the cargo box or on a trailer. They’re purchased by large corporations as well as ordinary folk who use them for their family companies, farms or outdoor activities. And that’s why these trucks, like Heinz ketchup, come in 57 varieties. You’ve got your three-quarter ton model (2500), your one ton model (3500), your Regular Cab (two doors, three seats), your Crew Cab and your cavernous Mega Cab.
In the case of the Ram 2500, the manufacturer offers no less than six variants: between the base SXT version and the high-end Laramie are the SLT, TRX, TRX Off-Road and Power Wagon. So my Laramie tester was far from the poor man’s truck. Standard equipment included heated and ventilated front seats, a heated leather steering wheel, the Uconnect hands-free phone system, a dual-zone air conditioner, a nine-speaker audio system and even a heated rear bench. The only thing missing was the glass moonroof (included on the options list). I could’ve been driving a Chrysler 300C!
And that’s not all. Our Laramie also featured a satellite navigation system with touch screen, adjustable pedals and even a back-up camera (optional ParkView), the perfect companion to the ParkSense sensor system (standard). Together, they help keep you from remodelling the rear bumper.
Sorry. My mistake. I still instinctively associate the names Dodge and Ram. Probably because I’ve been doing it since 1981. The pickup truck scene is unflappably conservative, and it has no doubt rubbed off on me.
 |
| The size of the Ram 2500 Laramie 4x4 is impressive.(Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
In any case, whatever its name may be, this truck I drove is a true juggernaut. The words “Heavy Duty” have never ringed so true. Like the Ford Super Duty and GM’s twins, the Silverado HD and Sierra HD, this truck targets buyers of big four- and six-wheel workhorses.
From commercial vehicle to family hauler
These vehicles are designed to haul heavy loads, either in the cargo box or on a trailer. They’re purchased by large corporations as well as ordinary folk who use them for their family companies, farms or outdoor activities. And that’s why these trucks, like Heinz ketchup, come in 57 varieties. You’ve got your three-quarter ton model (2500), your one ton model (3500), your Regular Cab (two doors, three seats), your Crew Cab and your cavernous Mega Cab.
In the case of the Ram 2500, the manufacturer offers no less than six variants: between the base SXT version and the high-end Laramie are the SLT, TRX, TRX Off-Road and Power Wagon. So my Laramie tester was far from the poor man’s truck. Standard equipment included heated and ventilated front seats, a heated leather steering wheel, the Uconnect hands-free phone system, a dual-zone air conditioner, a nine-speaker audio system and even a heated rear bench. The only thing missing was the glass moonroof (included on the options list). I could’ve been driving a Chrysler 300C!
And that’s not all. Our Laramie also featured a satellite navigation system with touch screen, adjustable pedals and even a back-up camera (optional ParkView), the perfect companion to the ParkSense sensor system (standard). Together, they help keep you from remodelling the rear bumper.
 |
| These vehicles are designed to haul heavy loads, either in the cargo box or on a trailer. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |