2009 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500

If you need to do a lot of heavy hauling and towing and you need to look good doing it, the 2009 Dodge Ram 3500 is your kind of truck. This stylish gargantuan may not fit in your present garage, but the Ram 3500 can haul, in one easy trip, all you need to build a bigger garage. With five wheelbases - 140.5-inch, 143-inch, 160.5-inch, 163-inch, and 167-inch - to choose from; three cab configurations: the three-passenger Regular Cab, the six-passenger Quad Cab, and frame-stretching Mega Cab; a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive; two bed lengths: 6.4 feet and 8 feet; dual or single rear wheels; and either the standard six-speed manual transmission or the available six-speed automatic lashed to the standard 6.7-liter inline six-cylinder turbodiesel, there’s bound to be an '09 Ram 3500 to fit just about anyone’s needs.

The Ram Pickup 3500 can, when properly equipped, haul up to 12,200 pounds of payload and tow up to 16,350 pounds. Indeed, Dodge is so proud of its Ram pickup line that they use the Ram logo to brand all their vehicles, from sedans to Sprinters.

All Ram 3500 trims pack the 6.7-liter OHV inline six Cummins turbodiesel that, hitched to a standard six-speed manual transmission with overdrive, grinds out 350 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. Some of the creature-comfort and convenience features in the base ST trim level include 17-inch steel wheels, an engine hour meter, a CD player with four speakers, a tilt steering wheel, A/C, and an exhaust brake – a favorite feature for an overwhelming number of owners in '08, though its awkward switch placement on the dash is annoying for some.

The Ram 3500 SXT for 2009 includes some additional standard features such as a compass, outside temperature gauge, power doors, windows, and (heated) mirrors, as well as cruise control. Ram 3500 SLT trims add Sirius satellite radio, while Laramies feature such standard equipment as height-adjustable pedals, dual-zone temperature control, Infinity speakers, leather-trimmed upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated power six-way driver's and front passenger seats.

Options for the ’09 Ram 3500 include the six-speed automatic transmission, a power accessories group, a class IV trailer tow package, supplemental side airbags, chrome-clad aluminum wheels, and a transmission cooler. An SXT Package is available for the ST trim that features a bright grille, the SXT Appearance Group, remote keyless entry, and cruise control. For the higher-end SXT, SLT, and Laramie trims, additional options include a power-sliding rear window, power sunroof, rear seat DVD entertainment system, leather-trimmed bucket seats, a six-disc CD player with seven Infinity speakers, uConnect, a universal garage door opener, remote starting, and a DVD-based navigation system.

Safety features for all 2009 Ram 3500 trim levels include four-wheel disc ABS, a passenger-airbag deactivation switch, electronic brakeforce distribution, side-impact door beams, a three-point seatbelt for the middle rear-seat passenger in the Quad and Mega Cabs, and advanced multi-stage front airbags. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS have crash-test data for the Ram 3500.

There have been complaints by owners of ’08 Ram 3500s that the anti-pollution equipment necessary with the turbodiesel downgrades both performance and gas mileage (no EPA mileage estimates are available for the Ram 3500). Most owners, however, were aware that the Ram 3500 is, above all, a work truck and consistently praised its roominess, towing and cargo capabilities, and, of course, its rugged good looks.

By Eric Tallberg