“The 2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn is the hottest thing in trucks right now,” says an enthusiastic Craig Barkway, General Manager of Leduc Chrysler. He's raving about the top of the Ram line-up, which Chrysler claims is “the most luxurious and well-appointed Ram ever built” and available as a 1500, 2500 Hemi and 6.7 L diesel, and 3500 diesel. “The Dodge Ram is still the toughest for hauling,” Barkway adds, “but we've made it more comfortable for those long road trips.”
Chrysler Canada is having a big spring push and the local Chrysler dealership has invited me to their big two-day sale. Since for many people Dodge Ram is the RV tow vehicle of choice, I've dropped in to nosh and nibble and talk to the sales staff about what's new for the RVer in the 2011 line-up.
“The differences are really only in body style and interior finish,” sales consultant Miguel Hornazabal assures me. “There's been no change to the towing capacity, no change to the load capacity. The 2011 Ram trucks are still the heavy haulers.”
So the fancy new 2011 Ram Laramie Longhorns, especially the heavy-duty 3/4 ton diesel models that appear to be most popular as trailer-tuggers, are still true to their commercial roots. They'll still haul a hefty fifth-wheel or tow a terrific trailer.
Quieter, Cleaner Cummins Diesels in Dodge Ram Trucks
Although nothing seems to be particularly new for 2011, the Cummins 6.7 L diesel continues to provide up to 650 lb-ft of torque and 350 horsepower, according to information at allpar.com. Chrysler continues to emphasize these points in their marketing for the 2011 models:
- No diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) required – yet still meets emission standards
- High fuel-injection pressure for improved performance
- Common-rail fuel system combined with sophisticated electronics for quieter operation
- Improved cold starting ability
- Electronic controls for improved throttle response
- Diesel Particulate Filter to remove soot from exhaust gas
- The six-speed manual transmission remains standard for the Ram Heavy Duty diesel models
Trailer Tow and Payload for 2011 Dodge Ram Trucks
“You've still got up to 9600 pounds payload capacity,” says Hormazabal. “It's all in here.” He passes me a 2011 sales brochure. I excuse myself so he can go work with a customer, then I grab a coffee and scan the chart in the back of the booklet. Yep, depending on cab configuration and axle ratio, the Ram 2500 HD diesel can tow up to 22,000 GCWR, haul a payload of up to 9600 lbs. For the 3500 HD (diesel only) the figures are 26000 and 12,200 respectively.
Sales consultant Danny Leblanc later adds some comments relevant to the RV-owning customer. “You include driver, passengers, gear, food, bedding, all that, it's easier than people think to get overloaded.” Sounding thoroughly knowledgeable as he discusses king pin loading, weight distribution, and other factors, he concludes , “You gotta look at more than just the GCWR.” Leblanc also points out that the Dodge Ram comes well-equipped for towing, complete with an optional integrated factory trailer brake for only $250. (Having one installed after-market can cost considerably more).
Improved Interior in New Dodge Ram Laramie Longhorn
Okay, what are the big changes for the interior that make this Dodge truck so hot? “It's got all the bells and whistles,” says Barkway. “The goal was to make driving this truck as comfortable and convenient an experience as possible.”
- Full leather interior with engraved details on the instrument panel, burled walnut woodgrains,
- New fabrics – Russet leather and laser-etched Dark Brown are new for the Laramie Longhorn
- Convenience features such as remote start, two-zone heating, back-up camera, heated and ventilated front/heated rear seats.
- A full electronic control center with satellite radio, GPS navigation, hard drive, hands-free communications,
- New built-in Garmin navigation system (previous non-Garmin system still available)
Of course, the exterior is all duded up too, with new colors such as Sagebrush Pearl, Rugged Brown, Saddle Brown, Deep Cherry Red (replacing Inferno Red), and Hunter Green. All colors subject to availability.
So what does this mean for the RVer? All the heft of the Dodge Ram for pulling the rig, an eye-catching exterior, plus a level of comfort aimed at rivaling that of luxury sedans. Getting there can indeed be half the fun.
Thomas Alan Gray - Tom has been writing for over 30 years; curiosity leads him to dig into a wide variety of topics.
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