Enormous US-style pick-up trucks are all the rage at the moment, and the latest one to hit our streets is bigger and badder than the rest.
The Ram 3500 American pick-up truck has arrived, promising monster towing capacity and load lugging ability.
Ram Trucks are imported and converted to right-hand drive in the local importer’s Melbourne factory after going through 200,000 hours of testing and development.
The Ram 3500 joins the same sized 2500 and the smaller petrol-powered 1500 in the brand’s growing local line-up.
Power for the 3500 comes from a giant 6.7-litre six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine making a hefty 276kW and 1152Nm.
This mass of torque allows for a max braked towing capacity of 8000kg, which is the same as the Ram 2500 and 2000kg more than the rival Chevrolet Silverado HD.
Ram has upgraded the suspension on the 3500 compared to the 250. This has increased its payload to 1724kg or about double that of the 2500.
To put all this in perspective Australia’s favourite ute, the smaller Toyota HiLux can tow up to 3500kg and has a payload of about one tonne. It’s smaller turbocharged diesel engine makes 150kW/500Nm, which is about half the 3500’s outputs.
Being Australia’s strongest ute doesn’t come cheap, the 3500 is priced from $162,950 (before on-road costs), which is about the same as two Ford Ranger Raptors.
Inside the 3500 shares its specification with the 2500, which is packed with standard luxury equipment.
The leather front seats with suede inserts have a heating and cooling function, there are soft touch materials used throughout the cabin and it has seating for six thanks to a small fold-up chair in between the two front seats.
You get a giant 12-inch touchscreen that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
A 10-speaker Alpine stereo with a subwoofer boosts the on-road experience and active noise cancelling tech and acoustic glass help keep the outside world at bay.
It has a 360-degree camera to help navigate the big truck in tight space and is complimented by trailer reverse guidance and a second rear-view camera that focuses on the tray to keep an eye on your payload.
Auto emergency braking, lane keep assist and radar cruise control are standard.
You’ll need to pay an extra $1950 if you want blind spot detection and rear cross traffic alert.
Ram Australia covers its vehicles for three years/100,000km, which is below the industry standard.
Service intervals are short at six months or 12,000km, whichever comes first.
Ram Trucks are proving t be a success in Australia. More than 2800 vehicles have found a home this year, which is an increase of 13 per cent compared to 2020.
For all the latest Technology News Click Here
