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Dodge Ram pickup variations include 4-door Quad Cab edition
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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WEED HEIGHTS, Nev. -- Four big and black Michelin LXT on/off-road tires spew desert sand rearward in our wake during a charge out of the gate for an acceleration test in a big Ram pickup, the full-size Dodge truck equipped in this instance with a sure-footed 4-wheel-drive mechanism, 5-speed manual gearbox and a humongous engine rigged with not the conventional 6-pack or 8-cylinder bank but a count of ten.
Work quickly through lower gears and we're hurling down an unpaved course, engine churning to exert massive torque on all wheels, tires rebounding in rapid-fire response to washboard rollers of the desert floor, driver holding foot steady on pedal to keep fuel flowing and see just what this thing can do on dirt.
What we witness is an uncommonly large pickup applying unusually strong muscle to move a massive load of metal across a barren sand box in too-scant seconds.
This Ram deftly demonstrates in the Nevada desert that it's still the biggest with the mostest -- it's got more space for people and cargo, more cab configurations, more strength from more engine options, and more macho guts than any other truck in the market.
It looks macho too.
You can tell in an instant that it's not some namby-pamby pickup whose styling imitates a car: Simply check out that unique prow with a stair-step hood line and design cues lifted from streamlined Dodge workhorse trucks of the 1940s, not to mention cabs of big semi- rigs.
The face of Ram seems unusual, strong and aggressive.
From all appearances there's no question that it was built for business -- manly truck-type business like lugging lumber and pulling a trailer, herding cattle, hauling hay out to pasture or running up a range slope and plowing into wild country, back bed brimming with camping gear.
Statistical facts about Ram support the impression.
It beats all comers with the most powerful torque-monster production engine for a pickup; out-works others with more towing and hauling capacity, then out-maneuvers them with a structural integrity and suspension system set for supporting heavy truck loads.
And among the many configurations and options in size, strength, capacity and payload, Ram continues to create innovations, such as the 4-door Quad Cab cabin design.
Last year, Ram introduced the novel idea of four doors for a Quad Cab variation of the stretched Club Cab, and for 1999 issues the option has been extended across the truck's line. With 6-passenger seating capacity, the Quad Cab has a fold-up rear bench for three, plus two rear doors for a total of four.
Dodge's big truck comes in so many configurations.
This year's issues represent 34 physical variations, not counting three trim levels and several transmission selections. The figure includes a choice of three sizes, two traction formats (rear-wheel-drive or 4-wheel-drive), five engines (from V6 and two V8s to the V10 plus a Cummins turbo-diesel), wheelbase (short and long), bed length (big and bigger) and cab configuration (regular plus Club Cab and Quad Cab).
Three weight classes segment by numbers: The 1500 denotes 1/2-ton, 2500 stands for 3/4-ton, and 3500 goes to a 1-ton hefty truck.
Ram's V10 and a Cummins direct-injection turbo-diesel 5.9-liter, in-line six show up exclusively in 2500 and 3500 variations. The 235 hp diesel is new this year, representing a second generational edition of the Cummins workhorse in a more efficient and powerful package.
To get to know these Rams intimately, we spent time driving them across the California Sierras and through the high Nevada desert -- covering pavement and dirt courses over the most challenging terrain imaginable.
At the outset we steered the least powerful Ram, a 1500 4x2 equipped with the 175 hp V6 that connects with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
This version carried us up steep mountain grades and over high-altitude passes without shirking on acceleration when passing slower traffic.
All the while we was ensconced in a cabin so large that the driver could not reach across the 3-person bench.
A center divider folded down to form an armrest, then popped its top to reveal a compartmentalized storage bin that could serve as cockpit office while on the road. Everything else inside Ram made sense, from easy-read analog instruments to convenient position of dashboard knobs and controls, even the handy storage bins and baskets scattered around the cab on lower door panels and behind seats.
The ride quality was stable and felt comfortable, thanks in part to the rigid high-strength steel chassis. Aiding this smooth sensation is a wide wheel track which combines with standard 16-inch tires and an agile suspension package that produces predictable handling characteristics, whether loaded or not.
In the Nevada wilderness we tested other Rams, including several equipped with the V10 engine, plus the two V8s and turbo-diesel.
That V10 generates awesome torque (up to 440 lb-ft at a low 2800 rpm), which not only brings lickety-split acceleration but big-time towing power too for a trailer weighing as much as 13500 pounds.
One of our favorite combinations is a 2500 (3/4-ton) Ram outfitted with 4-wheel traction and the 5.9-liter V8 hooked to an easy-shift 5-speed manual stick. Horsepower climbs to 230, with torque reaching 335 lb-ft at 4000 rpm.
This rig carried us up off-road slopes too steep to walk and through boulder fields and brush piles, down sandy dunes and high-speed pavement chutes alike. It stood tall -- with plenty of clearance for those boulders -- but rode smoothly, all the while handling with an ease and sophistication unexpected in a big 4x4 truck.
Trim levels begin with a base work truck, dubbed the WS (Work Special), which comes only as a 1500 4x2.
It contains full carpeting or optional mat vinyl, vinyl seat trim, cupholders in the cabin and a full package of lighting, dual-speed windshield wipers with intermittent setting, plus a bench seat with folding back.
The Ram ST base consumer model adds a front bench with 40/20/40 split and a stereo AM/FM stereo radio, plus bright bumpers and wheel rings, while the deluxe SLT piles on premium gear like power windows and door locks, speed controller and tilt steering wheel, a tachometer and special exterior trim elements.
1999 DODGE RAM TRUCK
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1999 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB Specs |
| Description: |
Full-size pickup truck |
| Model Options: |
Full-size pickup truck |
| Wheelbase: |
118.7 inches
134.7 inches |
| Overall Length: |
204.1 inches
224.1 inches
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| Engine Size: |
OHV 3.9-L V6
OHV 5.2-L V8
OHV 5.9-L V8
OHV 5.9-L I6 TD
OHV 8.0-L V10
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| Transmission: |
Manual/5/6, Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Rear 4x2, 4x4 |
| Braking: |
Power disc/drum/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
V6: 15/21 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 15,000 to $ 30,000 |
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