You’ve heard the name, and you probably know the reputation, but if you haven’t experienced a seat behind the wheel of a Ram Tradesman 1500, you only know part of the story. Owners and fleet managers alike choose this Ram pickup because of its array of features. Ram trucks are built to last, as evidenced by the fact that over the past 30 years Ram boasts the highest percentage of pickups still on the road.
“Ram Truck identified a demand in the full-size pickup market for a truck specifically designed and optioned for vocational use,” says Nick Cappa, Ram Truck spokesperson. “In 2011, Ram launched the Tradesman trim in regular cab models only. It included work truck features such as a bed liner and towing package. The response was incredible.”
STANDARD FEATURES
The Ram Tradesman 1500’s trim is equipped for hard work. Among other standard features, Tradesman includes a Class IV trailer hitch, seven-pin trailer wiring for round and flat plugs, backup camera, spray-in bed liner, 40/20/40 split bench seat, and in-floor rear storage. A new Fleet Telematics Module is optional for vehicle tracking efficiency.
Many of the Tradesman 1500’s standard features are geared toward safety. Those features include dynamic front crumple zones, front seat-mounted side airbags, side-curtain airbags, side-impact door beams, four-wheel disc antilock brakes, heavy-duty rear shock absorbers, and electronic stability control. In front-impact events, crumple zones bear the brunt of the force, helping keep passengers safe. In side-impact situations, supplemental side-curtain airbags deploy downward to cover side windows, and side-impact door beams direct the force away from passengers.
Stability control keeps drivers in charge under adverse conditions, and includes Hill Start Assist, Rain Brake Support, Trailer Sway Control, Brake Assist, and Ready Alert Braking. Standard antilock brakes help prevent lockups when drivers stop quickly on ice or another slick surface. Hill Start Assist kicks in when a heavy load makes it hard to move forward on an incline. The system keeps pressure on the brake so the truck won’t roll backward while the driver moves his or her foot to the accelerator.
POWERFUL PRESENCE
This truck boasts powerful powertrain choices of either the standard 3.6-liter V6 24-Valve VVT Engine, or the available 5.7L V8 HEMI® V8 engine which provides 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. The standard class-exclusive TorqueFlite® 8-speed automatic transmission affords effortless shifting via an instrument panel-mounted Rotary E-shift.
STRUCTURE AND BALANCE
The Ram frame’s steel strength is 50,000 psi, and includes a hydro-formed tubular front frame unit, and eight tough crossmembers.
When a job calls for hauling a heavy load, sometimes the road shifts the balance. That’s when drivers appreciate the available class-exclusive Active-LevelTM Four-Corner Air Suspension system that provides automatic load leveling. The system includes:
- Air springs for raising and lowering the truck to five height settings
- Dashboard controls for manually adjusting clearance
- Smart sensors that lower the truck automatically to increase efficiency at certain speeds
The trucks can be customized to suit your fleet’s needs with such options as: a Crew Cab with either a 5-ft 7-inch or 6-ft 4-inch bed length, Quad Cab® with a 6-ft 4-inch bed length, Regular Cab with more forward cab room and either a 6-ft 4-inch or 8-ft bed length, Tubular Wheel-to-Wheel Side Steps for easier truck bed access and improved aerodynamics, a tonneau cover, LED lights, and a spray-in bedliner.
The Tradesman 1500 incorporates an available class-exclusive RamBox® Cargo Management System into the bed’s side rails. The lighted and drainable box provides a secure, easy-access container for organizing and storing tools, and can be locked and unlocked with the rest of the truck via the available Remote Keyless Entry.
Ram’s comfortable interiors offer options such as the new Uconnect® 4C NAV infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, 4G LTE, HD RadioTM, Apple CarPlay, Android AutoTM7, and more. The optional Driver Information Digital Cluster with a 7-inch color screen is customizable. On Crew Cab models, there is an in-floor rear cargo compartment to keep tools and other belongings stowed. Heavy-duty vinyl split bench seating comes standard.
“By keeping the cost low and including the most valuable options for a work truck, Ram has created an easy package for fleet owners to work with and still retain healthy resale,” Cappa says.
Factor it all together, and you might decide it’s time to see what all the talk is about.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Find out more about Ram Trucks, visit www.ramtrucks.com.
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MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS: NOVEMBER 2017 ISSUE
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