Which heavy duty truck is the best

Ram is going big and playing fair. Thanks to a recalibrated and more powerful engine, the 2015 Ram 3500 can now claim best-in-class torque output and towing and payload capacity. Additionally, Ram says it achieved those tow ratings by adhering to SAE J2807 test criteria, making it the only automaker to use the standard in both its light and heavy duty trucks. To achieve these claims, Ram tweaked the Cummins 6.7-liter turbodiesel I-6 with “aggressive” fuel delivery and turbo boost calibration. Horsepower stays put at 385 hp, but torque is now rated at 865 lb-ft (at 1700 rpm), which is 15 lb-ft more than before. The engine will produce this power only when it’s mated to the Aisin six-speed automatic transmission, otherwise power drops a bit with the 68RFE six-speed auto or the six-speed manual. That torque rating puts the Ram ahead of the Ford F-Series and its 6.7-liter turbodiesel V-8, which makes 860 lb-ft, but more horsepower at 440 hp. Meanwhile, the 2015 Chevrolet … [Read more...] about Tweaked 2015 Ram Heavy Duty Claims Best-in-Class Towing

We sat down with Ram’s director of marketing, Robert Hegbloom, and vehicle line executive Michael Cairns, to talk about branding, diesels, and mid-size trucks. Oh, and the subject of the new aluminum-intensive F-150 came up, too. Car and Driver: It’s been four years since the switch from Dodge to Ram, and it seems the public is finally acclimated to the name. How has the change affected internal operations? Michael Cairns: At the time of the change, we were undergoing a lot of organizational changes, and Sergio Marchionne wanted to establish clear brand identities. Until then, Dodge was tasked with managing car and truck lines, and the truck side was starting to dominate. So ultimately it helped Dodge strengthen its identity as a car maker as much as it did Ram as a truck Brand.Robert Hegbloom: It really let us build our own image. Actor Sam Elliot does the voice-over work in our commercials, and his voice has become the image and persona of the brand, which probably … [Read more...] about Ram Execs: “Aluminum is the Best Material to Use for Beer Cans” [2014 Detroit Auto Show]

If the journey is indeed more important than the destination, then the new EarthRoamer XV-HD could be worth every penny of its $1.5 million asking price. This off-road-ready recreational vehicle starts life as a heavy-duty four-wheel-drive Ford F-750 work truck equipped with a turbocharged diesel 6.7-liter V-8. Paired to a six-speed automatic transmission, the Brobdingnagian bent-eight makes 330 horsepower, which is arguably a paltry number given the host of heavy features fitted to the truck by EarthRoamer, a Colorado firm that has been building outrageous overland expedition vehicles (all wearing the XV designation) since 1998.Equipped with chunky 46-inch-diameter Michelin XVL tires, Fox shocks, a rear air-spring suspension, an array of LED lights, a hydraulic winch that can pull up to 30,000 pounds, and 12 inches of ground clearance, the XV-HD is an off-road enthusiast’s dream house on wheels. Although the engine’s limited power peak surely restricts … [Read more...] about This $1.5 Million Off-Road-Ready Truck Is the Ultimate Tiny Home