It was -30 C when I picked up this shiny red Ram long-box, quad-cab, dual-wheeled 3500 with four-wheel drive – six if you want to be technical.
The truck had just been driven into town by the delivery company so it was toasty warm, but some things don’t change, even with the new high output Cummins engine.
If you let it idle for 10 or 15 minutes, the engine temperature drops significantly. The only way to get it back up is to go for a long drive or invest in a front rad cover.
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A rad cover is a “must have” item with this high output engine.
It should have large air openings because if you get the engine working, engine temperature rises quickly.
In the past, diesels had to be plugged in if the temperature was going to fall below zero. That included the newer engines with “fast glow” plugs, so I dutifully plugged the Ram in every night except one. I had to find out if it would do a cold start at -30.
It started, but it was not happy. Engine warm-up time was about 10 minutes longer than when plugged in, and it smoked like an old locomotive.
One way to warm it up a bit quicker when empty was to leave it in four wheel drive.
Churning the extra mass of gears, drive line and thick gear oils probably warmed that engine five minutes sooner than by leaving it in normal two wheel drive.
The only time I took it out of 4X4 was on the highway.
Dodge, while not directly telling you not to, does not recommend using the 4X4 system at speeds consistently higher than 100 km-h.
This Ram is big. As a quad cab long box set up to handle 12,000 pounds gross, not only did it have a long wheel base, but it was a bit wide.
Dodge put the side-view mirrors on extended stalks so they are just a touch farther out than the width of the dual rear wheels. It’s a good idea for the dimensionally challenged when going into narrow alley ways.
As for length, you had to depend on your memory to remind you there was a whole lot of truck behind the driver.
The interior was decently plush and more than functional.
The leather interior included heated front bucket seats with a twist only Dodge could do. Only the passenger side is a bucket. The driver’s side is shaped like a bucket, but has a centre console-third seat attached, making it a 60-40 split bench seat.
Ironically, this “third seat” is all but useless thanks to the floor console.
According to my kids, the rear seat was no big deal, except that it wasn’t heated. I was surprised, because previous generations of quad cabs were a bit tight in the rear.
This cab reminded me of the old “crew cabs” where three adults could fit in the back in reasonable comfort.
With the seat adjusted to my comfortable driving position, I could reach all the switches and better yet, work them with my gloves on.
The cavernous centre console had a power outlet for my cell phone and enough storage to be considered a small filing cabinet. With the lid down it served as a comfortable arm rest or writing desk.
To make my life a bit easier, I would add a good set of running boards. That giant leap for mankind every time my wife and I got in or out may be good exercise, but it stopped being fun real quick.
Ride comfort was good for a large truck. Regardless of temperature, I never felt like I was in a lumber wagon.
Cold starts on -30 days were definitely stiffer than the -1 days, but both were bearable.
Putting a bit of a load on, say 200-300 kilograms, made the ride a bit smoother.
The new HO Cummins diesel may be more quiet, powerful and fuel efficient (my personal average was 22 miles per gallon) than the regular Cummins, but Dodge
hasn’t delivered an automatic that can handle the power, so all you can get is six speed manual.
As a daily driver, moving that long lever is more like rowing a galley than a rowboat. Add in a clutch that is a touch on the strong side and you have a truck that is less than delightful in stop and go traffic.
If you want an automatic, you have to get the older and less powerful Cummins. Dodge is working on an automatic, but no one is willing to give a time frame on when it will be available.
The only way you will know if the new Ram is for you is to check out the spec sheet.
With the new body style, new engines and improvements in quality, it is worth a look.
Charles Renny is a freelance automotive columnist and a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. The opinions expressed in this column are the personal views of the writer.
