2012 Ram 4500 and 5500 medium-duty (Class 4 and 5) Chassis Cab
commercial trucks are available with an optional 30,000-lb. gross combined
weight rating (GCWR), an increase from 26,000 lbs.
"This is a direct
benefit to our core customers in agriculture and the construction industries,"
said Fred Diaz, President and CEO, Ram Truck Brand and Lead Executive for U.S.
Sales ? Chrysler Group LLC. "Essentially, this will help our 'work truck' work
harder and meet our customers' towing needs."
30,000-lb. GCWR and
Max Tow
The new Ram 4500/5500 Chassis Cab GCWR upgrade is part of an
optional "Max Tow" package, and is available on both regular and crew cab models
and in 4x2 and 4x4 configurations.
The Ram Max Tow package includes a
new transfer case gear set and chain and sprocket upgrades, recalibrated
transmission software and an enhanced collection of thermal management
devices.
Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cab trucks come equipped with the
proven, commercial-grade 305 horsepower (228 kW) @ 2,900 rpm and 610 lb.-ft.
(827 N?m) @ 1,600 rpm 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine.
Max Tow is
available on Ram Chassis Cab trucks equipped with the optional, commercial-grade
Aisin six-speed automatic transmission and 4.88 rear-axle ratio. A 4.44 axle is
standard on 4500 models and not available with the Max Tow package. A
class-exclusive six-speed manual transmission is standard on Ram 4500 and 5500
Chassis Cab models.
The 30,000-lb. GCWR gives the Ram Chassis Cab a
4,000-lb. increase in trailer-towing capabilities, up to a maximum of 22,300
lbs. on a Ram 4500 or 5500 Chassis Cab equipped with a six-speed automatic
transmission and unsurpassed GCWR on Class 4 Chassis Cab trucks.
Ram 3500
Chassis Cab trucks are powered by the 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 and will add a new
six-speed automatic transmission in 2012 that will increase GCWR to 20,000 lbs.
? a 3,000-lb. increase ? as well as provide an increase in fuel economy. With a
standard 383 horsepower, 400 lb.-ft. of torque 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine, the
Ram 3500 Chassis Cab delivers best-in-class horsepower and torque. The Cummins
Turbo Diesel is available an option on Ram 3500 Chassis Cab
trucks.
Designed for Towing
Ram Chassis Cab trucks
are specifically designed for towing, with features such as the strongest
exhaust brake in the industry ? 49 percent stronger than the nearest competitor
? and the largest brake rotors and pads in their class. Ram has also upgraded
the trailer brake controller on Chassis Cab trucks to include electric over
hydraulic capability, to further enhance its towing ability.
"Customers
are always focused on towing more," added Diaz. "It's a simple matter of
economics. More towing and payload means fewer loads. And fewer loads mean lower
fuel bills. For commercial customers, cost of ownership is a primary
consideration."
Ram Chassis Cab Trucks Deliver Best-in-Class
Performance
Ram Chassis Cab trucks offer class-leading performance
in many key areas, including a best-in-class combination of brake pad wear,
brake fade resistance and exhaust brake performance. They also deliver
best-in-class fuel economy. In a recent head-to-head comparison, the Ram 5500
Chassis Cab was 10 percent more fuel efficient than its direct competitor ? and
that can add up to thousands of dollars a year in owner savings.
Among
Ram's best-in-class features:
- Best-in-class standard Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 19,500 lbs.
- Ram Chassis Cab brakes last twice as long as the competition under severe
use
- Ram Chassis Cab trucks have 160 percent less brake fade than the competition
- Ram Chassis cab trucks stop in less distance in both wet and dry conditions
when carrying
- a heavy payload
- The Ram Chassis Cab's diesel exhaust brake is more effective than the
competition's
- Ram Chassis Cab offers a better turning radius ? by 10 feet ? than
competitors
- Ram Chassis Cab trucks offer the largest standard fuel tank ? 52 gallons for
superior
- operational range
- Ram Chassis Cabs offer the lowest cost of ownership in the segment, based on
significant owner expenses, including fuel economy, brake wear and tire wear
- Ram Chassis Cab trucks come with the best powertrain warranty in the
business: five years / 100,000 miles
Cummins Turbo Diesel
The Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, with its proven inline-six
architecture and cast iron block and head, has been providing decades of
reliable service in everything from agriculture and construction equipment to
over-the-road heavy trucks.
Ram Trucks powered by Cummins diesel engines
have been the benchmark of power, durability, reliability and fuel economy since
1989, the first model year that Ram offered the Cummins engine. This partnership
is defined by more than two decades of long-lasting, hard-working
history.
Cummins has produced over 1.7 million Cummins Turbo Diesel
engines for Ram Trucks. Today, over 80 percent of Ram Heavy Duty truck customers
purchase their truck with the legendary Cummins Turbo Diesel.
Upfitter Friendly
Maximum upfit-friendliness is
achieved with industry-standard 34-inch frame rail spacing and flat, clean frame
rails on a proven one-piece C-channel rear-frame rail boasting a best-in-class
50,000-psi steel strength. All chassis components are below the frame surface
allowing easy adaptability and versatility for virtually any upfit
application.
Further improving upfitter-friendliness, 2011 Ram 3500, 4500
and 5500 Chassis Cabs feature four all-new upfitter switches integrated on the
instrument panel. Each of these four upfitter switches are linked to an
auxiliary Power Distribution Center (PDC) located under the hood which includes
one fused 20 amp battery feed and one fused relay-controlled 20 amp ignition. In
addition to these feeds, the PDC supports four new customizable switches. Two
switches are ignition-fed and the remaining two are either battery or ignition.
Switch outputs are found under the hood in a connector for further ease of
upfit. A seven-circuit trailer harness and a special upfitter jumper cable ? a
wiring harness for ancillary power needs -- are both standard.
Electrical
connections are user-friendly thanks to one fused battery feed and one fused
ignition feed routed into the cab and to the rear of the chassis. Upfitter wire
circuits and electrical schematics are identified in the Body Builder Guide.
With built-in tandem PTO capability, all models feature a heavy-duty cooling
system in order to meet additional heat loads that are often generated from PTO
upfits and/or extreme hauling.
A special capped auxiliary fuel line on
the fuel tank makes upfitting even easier, facilitating the use
of auxiliary
equipment running on fuel. The fuel filler is routed through the frame and an
optional
22-gallon mid-ship fuel tank frees up more space behind the rear
axle for special upfit applications. Fuel and brake lines are routed together on
the frame's driver side to make better use of space along the frame, which also
provides clearance for rear exhaust routing.
Ram Chassis Cab also employs
an intelligently engineered, Cummins commercial-grade DEF system that is placed
out of the way of upfit zones, saving time and money in the upfit process.
Special Paint Colors Available
Based on customer
demand, the Ram Truck brand has added a number of special, low-volume paint
colors, including "National Fire Safety Lime Yellow" to its commercial truck
palette.
Ram Truck manufacturing operations can fulfill special paint
orders with a minimum batch size of
10 trucks, although any one customer may
order as few as a single vehicle.
Ram Truck offers the following special
low-volume paint color options for 2500 through 5500 models: Black, Bright Red,
Dark Brown, Detonator Yellow, Light Cream, Light Green, Omaha Orange, School Bus
Yellow, Timberline Green Pearl, Yellow and National Fire Safety Lime
Yellow.
The Ram Truck team is also in the process of introducing eight
additional colors to the low-volume paint palette in the near future, which will
bring the total to 29 available paint colors. The new colors, coming soon on Ram
Heavy Duty and Chassis Cab trucks include: Case IH Red, Case Construction Power
Tan, New Holland Agriculture Blue, New Holland Construction Yellow, D.T. Green,
Green Angel, S.R. Green and Robin Egg Blue.
Programmable
Features
For 2012, the Ram Chassis Cab has a customer-selectable
maximum speed. Ram Chassis Cabs can be ordered from the factory with or
programmed by a Ram Truck dealer at no charge with either 55, 60, 65, 70 or 75
mph speed limits. Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cab trucks have a best-in-class
standard 87 mph top speed, an important feature for fire, ambulance and other
safety and rescue roles.
A five-minute shutdown timer is also
available.
The 2012 Ram Chassis Cab with Max Tow will reach dealerships
in the third quarter of 2011. Max Tow pricing will be announced closer to
launch.
About the Ram Truck brand
With a work-hard,
play-hard attitude, the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest, most powerful and
capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.
Introduced in 2008, the Ram
1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to "outsmart" and "out-tough" the
competition with its bold exterior design, crafted and refined interior,
engineering excellence, superb innovation and best-in-class features and
amenities.
The Ram Truck brand added to its award-winning truck lineup
with the introduction of the 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks. Ram
heavy-duty trucks provide customers with first-time innovations and features
along with new standards of strength, utility and drivability, building on the
Ram's leadership in the heavy-duty pickup segment.
The Ram Truck brand
is further enhancing its commercial vehicle presence with a "new crew" of
commercial-grade work trucks: the new 2011 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs.
Led by an
all-new crew cab, the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a
proven frame and chassis, and engineered for maximum uptime, optimum performance
and enhanced commercial capability.