Ram announced today (Jan. 9) the official towing and weight ratings for its 2013 line of Ram Heavy Duty (2500 & 3500) pickups and Chassis Cab Trucks that will begin production in first quarter of 2013.
According to Ram, these ratings raise the Ram Heavy Duty line to the highest level of capability with best-in-class towing and best-in-class Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) - seriously raising the bar on performance and capability in the heavy duty and chassis cab truck segments.
When showing the 2013 line of Ram Heavy Duty pickups and Chassis Cab Trucks to the media at the State Fair of Texas in the fall of 2012, Ram shared many of the feature, function and productivity features of the new trucks, but would not reveal the official towing and weight ratings until just before production was to begin, according to Ram at that time.
As the media did a walk around of the trucks looking at the new features, Fred Diaz, President and CEO, Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico — Chrysler Group LLC. assured the journalists that the 2013 Ram Heavy Duty would allow owners to push and pull more than any competitor while having a truck that looks great doing it with new exterior design cues and an all-new interior featuring the latest Ram technology.
The announcement of the towing and weight ratings, made today, says the Ram 3500 Heavy Duty pickup will have a 30,000-pound trailer capacity due to a combination of a new class-exclusive 50,000 pounds-per-square-inch, high-strength steel frame, improved transfer case, higher-load transmission, an upgraded 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine with a best-in-class 850 lb.-ft. of torque and other significant driveline upgrades.
Ram’s closest competitor in this segment is limited to a 23,100-pound maximum trailer.
"We built the new 2013 Ram Heavy Duty to be the undisputed Heavy Duty 'King of the Road.' These new rigs deliver on the number one key attribute most critical to these customers: uncompromising capability,” said Fred Diaz, “Towing capability, reliability and engine performance are ranked first through third, respectively, with HD customers. The 2013 Ram Heavy Duty trucks unequivocally deliver all those things, as well as a very low total cost of ownership.”
The Ram 3500’s Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) -- which is defined by the maximum combined weight of the truck, payload and trailer -- has been raised to 37,600 pounds, which again far surpasses the closest competitor’s 30,500-pound GCWR.
Ram has increased the capability in its other truck models as well.
For 2013, the Ram 2500 will also benefit from increased towing and GCWR. At 18,350 and 25,000, Ram 2500’s towing and GCW ratings are also best among ¾-ton pickups.
Ram Chassis Cab trucks also deliver maximum capability with best-in-class towing and GCWR figures of 29,600 pounds and 37,500 pounds, respectively (5500 model).
Ram Heavy Duty adds a number of new features for 2013, including a factory-integrated fifth-wheel and gooseneck hitch mount, a 17,000-pound Class V hitch with 1,800 pounds of tongue weight and class-exclusive electronic stability control (ESC) for dual-rear-wheels.
A new Center High-Mounted Stop Light (CHMSL) –positioned camera, the first of its kind in the heavy-duty pickup category, provides a full view of the bed for easier hook-up of fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailers as well as monitoring cargo.
For 2013, all Ram Heavy Duty diesels benefit from an all-new cooling system. A high-efficiency fan, dual radiators, dual transmission coolers and low-slung charge air cooler that affords 25 percent more heat-rejection capacity. Lower operating temperatures deliver improved performance, durability and lower operating costs.
Ram is also introducing an industry-exclusive Ram Active Air intake system. When the intake system senses extreme heat, it draws cooler air from the front of the vehicle – a function that also engages at high altitudes for superior throttle response in low oxygen environments. When conditions are wet from snow, ice or water-fording, the system pulls air from an under-hood inlet, clear from snow packing and water.
Also among the upgrades for 2013 are Ram Heavy Duty front drive shafts and U-joints that are sized larger to align with the truck’s new Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR).
To handle the best-in-class towing capability of the new Ram Heavy Duty, a new front and rear suspension system with advanced geometry builds upon the chassis improvements and greatly improves overall roll stiffness.
An advanced three-link front suspension on the Ram 3500 is necessary for the vehicle’s higher GVWR and for use with heavy front loads, including snow plows. Additionally, a newly designed Hotchkiss leaf spring rear suspension on the Ram 3500 offers improved ride and handling while delivering higher towing and payload capability.
Ram showed the 2013 Heavy Duty pickups and Chassis Cab Trucks to the media at the Texas State Fair Auto Show last September saying that the 2013 line would not only have the best-in-class towing and GCWR (to be announced later), but also would have best-in-class torque, more horsepower, B-20 biofuel capability and improved fuel economy powered by the new 6.7-liter Cummins High-Output Turbo Diesel power train or the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 featuring a new six-speed automatic and exclusive manual transmissions.
The available 6.7-liter Cummins High-Output Turbo Diesel produces 385 horsepower at 2,800 rpm with best-in-class 850 lb.-ft. of torque and the standard 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 delivers 383 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 400 lb.-ft. of torque and features variable-valve timing for greater efficiency and performance. And, for the first time, the Ram 3500 would now be available with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8.
With the Cummins diesel, the new 2013 Ram Heavy Duty line will reduce operating costs with a new diesel exhaust after-treatment to deliver best-in-class 15,000-mile oil-change interval while contributing to a 10 percent fuel-economy gain.
Other 2013 Ram Heavy Duty features include: segment-exclusive front-axle disconnect that works with new transfer cases to boost fuel economy by up to 1 mpg, an unsurpassed power train warranty (5- year/100,000 mile), new frames of high-strength 50 KSI steel, eight cross member construction, hydroformed main rails, fully boxed rear rails and optional 5th wheel / gooseneck hitch mounting provisions.
New steering and suspension offer improved handling and drivability with best-in-class payload, frontal load (snow plow) and towing capabilities and standard four-channel electronic stability control (ESC) - now exclusive for dual-rear-wheel Ram 3500 plus conventional trailer hitch system upgraded to Class 5 with 17,000-lb. load capability and 1,800 pounds of tongue weight for use with 2-inch and 2.5-inch receiver hitch.
The 2013 Ram Heavy Duty line of trucks will have new interior features that include standard and premium vehicle information center, steering wheel and controls, instrument panel, door panels, interior colors and premium materials, next-generation Uconnect Access that combines a new lineup of smart media centers with a powerful new wireless platform that includes Wi-Fi hotspot capability, available premium, cluster positioned, customizable, full-color 7-inch multiview display, new Powernet vehicle electrical architecture allowing new content with improved data speeds
New passive entry, Keyless Enter ’n Go, and remote central locking RamBox cargo management system and tailgate combined with door locks along with new lighting, bi-functional halogen projector headlamps and improved quad projection headlamps combined with exclusive LED front turn signals, markers and tail lamps complete the Ram Heavy Duty line.
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