2009-10-22
Dodge launches 2010 Ram trucks at 7 Canyons Ranch
By Judith Pannebaker
“This is truck country and over half the trucks parked on Bandera’s Main Street are Rams. There isn’t a better place than the Texas Hill County to launch the 2010 Dodge Ram pickup,” offered Kimberly Shults, southwest regional communications manager for Chrysler.
The Heavy Duty Ram 2500 and 3500 series was introduced to automotive writers from across the United States on Tuesday, Oct. 13, and Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7 Canyons Ranch in Tarpley. “Texas is truck country. It made sense to launch the new model right here where the battle is fought,” Shults added.
The locale was also ideal, she said.
“The topography on this ranch is perfect for this kind of thing. We can take the writers off-road and into canyons and let them see what the new Ram can really do,” Shults explained.
As Bill Jinkins, a freelance journalist from the Fort Worth-Arlington area, explained, “This series has an increased towing and hauling capability. They’re a different generation and have a edge to the products that have been out there for a while.”
Apparently other big news for the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickups is the addition of a crew-size cab to accommodate customers who want a workhorse truck with the convenience of four full-size doors. The models also come with five distinct trim levels, offering unique appearances and various equipment options.
Additionally, the Dodge Ram Power Wagon has been re-introduced in these models. The power wagon includes electric-locking front and rear differentials, an electronic disconnecting sway bar, Bilstein shocks, 32-inch BF Goodrich off-road-tires, underbody skid plate protection, a 4.56 axle ration for hill climbing and a custom-built Warn® 12,000-pound winch that is accessible through the front bumper. Whew!
The Ram 2500 can carry up to 3,160 pounds and the hauling capacity of the 3500 is 5,150 pounds. Also, the 3500 model can pull a maximum of 18,500 pounds.
The ranch roads at 7 Canyons Ranch turned out to be a challenging proving ground, according to owner Mark Grubbs. Referring to the recent precipitation, he said in an interview, “Tuesday they were slingin’ a little more mud, but they had good traction on Thursday. There was no drag on high center.”
Clearly pleased that his ranch had been selected as the site for the inaugural introduction, he said, “We’re proud that Dodge has chosen our ranch to introduce the new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty truck lineup. We depend the reliability of Dodge in the real world – that’s why we own three. We work them hard both on and off road hauling hay, pallets of feed and wildlife stock trailers.”
Primarily a hunting ranch, 7 Canyons specializes in whitetail deer.
According to Shults, 24 new Ram pickups were driven from the factory in Saltillo, Mexico, to Tarpley for last week’s presentation.
The next launch will take place in Michigan for automotive writers from the eastern half of the United States and Canada.
Chrysler upper management is convinced their beefed up pickups will readily find a market in spite of a still-faltering economic climate.
“No matter what you think of the economy, or what kind of vehicles people say they want, one of every eight vehicles sold in this country is still a full-size pickup truck,” said Mark Heber, head of Dodge Ram marketing.
Official pricing on the new trucks won’t be released until Friday, but word on the street indicated sticker prices will range from the mid-$20,000 range for the basic work truck versions to more than $50,000 for the beefed-up Laramie with dual rear wheels and a 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel engine.
But wait, there’s more
In 2011, Dodge plans to introduce a “new crew” of commercial-grade work trucks – Dodge Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs.
With a little luck, that launch will also take place at Tarpley’s 7 Canyons Ranch. There isn’t a better place to put industrial-strength four-wheeled workhorses through their paces.
