The 2019 Ram 1500 Tradesman dropped 225 lbs, improving performance
Attendees of NTEA’s The Work Truck Show were given a sneak peek. A panoramic screen offering a cinematic feel accompanied the new trucks, showcasing the interior, the specifications, and video of the trucks in action. Ram had some new vehicles to reveal, and the 2019 Tradesman was one of them.
This truck was built for the commercial market, and the new model doesn’t disappoint.
NEW
The 2019 Ram 1500 features the eTorque mild hybrid system, which is essentially a replacement for the alternator on the engine with a belt-driven motor generator unit that performs multiple functions. The motor generator unit works with a 48-volt battery pack to enable quick start/stop function, a short-duration torque addition to the engine crankshaft in certain driving situations, and brake energy regeneration.
The small, air-cooled battery pack mounts to the rear wall inside the Ram 1500’s cabin. The case is insulated to reduce noise from the dual cooling fans. Cooling air is drawn from inside the truck and vented by the built-in cabin exhausters.
The eTorque captures energy during deceleration and braking to charge the battery pack. And, this work truck feels more like a pleasure truck as eTorque enhances the driving experience of the 2019 Ram 1500 by adding torque to the crankshaft during gear changes, minimizing noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH).
Both V-6 and V-8 eTorque motor generator units employ a pair of belt tensioners to keep the eight-rib drive belt tight when the unit is generating electricity or adding torque to the crankshaft. The V-6 and V-8 engines with eTorque retain a conventional 12-volt starter motor used for cold starts and first start of the day due to its greater efficiency in extreme temperatures.
IMPROVED
Weight affects performance. The engineers at Ram developed the 2019 1500 to weigh 225 lbs less than previous models. A properly equipped Tradesman can tow up to 12,750 lbs and offers up to 2,300 lbs of payload in the four-door quad cab. And, don’t be scared to tow to the limit. The new Ram 1500 is equipped with the largest front brakes in the segment at 14.9 inches, ensuring load safety.
A segment-exclusive, multi-link rear coil suspension provides best-in-class ride and handling qualities, and a coil-spring setup centralizes and absorbs bumps and impacts while reducing the amount of friction in the spring system. The Ram-exclusive, four-corner air suspension system is also available, balancing any load.
Get connected with Uconnect 5.0, with a five-inch screen and hands-free calling. It is standard on the Ram 1500, along with one year of SiriusXM radio, a 12-volt auxiliary power outlet, three USB ports, one auxiliary port, and automatic headlamps.
Standard equipment includes 160-amp alternator, 730-amp maintenance-free battery, 3.21 rear axle ratio, front and rear Frequency Response Damping (FRD) shock absorbers, black grille and steel bumpers, cargo bed lamp, rear-view camera, halogen headlamps, locking tailgate, power windows and door locks, keyless entry, and a theft-deterrent system.
VERSATILE
With two cab styles (Quad and Crew) and two bed lengths (6 ft, 4 inches and 5 ft, 7 inches), the Ram can carry a load of workers and a load of, well, load.
A 3.6-L Pentastar V-6 with eTorque mild hybrid system comes standard, or opt for a 5.7-L HEMI V-8 or 5.7-L HEMI V-8 eTorque. The eTorque motor generator is slightly different between the 3.6-L Pentastar V-6 and 5.7-L HEMI V-8 applications. The Pentastar eTorque unit is liquid cooled and mounted on the front of the engine. The HEMI V-8 eTorque unit is air cooled and mounted in the traditional alternator location.
There is a long list of available options for the Tradesman: 3.21 or 3.92 rear axle ratios, rear electric-locking differential, anti-spin rear differential, 180-amp alternator, off-road package with factory suspension lift, folding trailer-tow mirrors, rubber floor mats, spray-in bedliner, Mopar chrome side steps and bumper step, and trailer brake controller.
NEED MORE?
Ram Commercial truck brand recently partnered with Verizon Connect (featured in our March issue) to bring its customers Ram Telematics, a technology for fleets that allows commercial vehicle managers to turn vehicle data into operational savings.
Ram Telematics is a built-in system offering a number of benefits such as vehicle data, diagnostics, and driver behavior information and benefits fleets of all sizes.
Ram Truck is proud to invest in its products with great looks, refined interiors, durable engines, and features that further enhance capabilities, and as an owner of the 2019 Ram Tradesman, you’ll be proud, too.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Find out more about the
2019 Ram 1500 Tradesman, visit www.ramtrucks.com.
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS: APRIL 2018 ISSUE
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