A At first glance, the silver 2008 Ram 5500 chassis-cab outfitted with a Reading dump body parked a tad rakishly outside Danbury (CT) Dodge looked like nothing more than a nicely beefed-up pickup. But looks can be deceiving. This truck (part of the Dodge commercial lineup that also includes the Class 3 Ram 3500 and the Class 4 Ram 4500 it was introduced alongside last year) is a lot brawnier than
A At first glance, the silver 2008 Ram 5500 chassis-cab outfitted with a Reading dump body parked a tad rakishly outside Danbury (CT) Dodge looked like nothing more than a nicely beefed-up pickup.
But looks can be deceiving. This truck (part of the Dodge commercial lineup that also includes the Class 3 Ram 3500 and the Class 4 Ram 4500 it was introduced alongside last year) is a lot brawnier than any pickup I've had the pleasure of driving. And it should be said that spending a weekend with this biggest Ram demonstrated it lacked neither the interior appointments nor the road manners of its lighter-duty siblings.
Dodge says its Ram 4500 and 5500 chassis-cab models “join Class 4 and 5 capability, power and versatility to its long-lasting and durable line of full-size pickups.” But what the Ram 5500 made me think of was how different 1960s-'70s muscle cars were from the sedans they were based on.
For one thing, consider that beating under this Ram's hood was a Cummins 6.7L turbodiesel pushing out 305 hp. and 610 lb.-ft. of torque (standard on all 4500/5500 models) mated to an Aisin automatic transmission with no less than 6 speeds (a 6-speed manual is also offered). And helping keep all that power under full control of this operator was the standard exhaust brake and beefy brake system-a four-wheel ABS hydraulic system with 15.34-in. discs and twin piston 66-mm calipers front and rear.
The upshot was this truck — despite the hefty albeit unloaded dump body it carried — rolled up miles of rolling back roads with aplomb. I passed folks going up hills and I let the retarder do most of the braking for me on the down slopes. And a light snowfall gave me the excuse to try out the two-speed transfer case (standard; an electronic version is optional) although the Aisin automatic offered so many speeds I probably would have been just fine without four-wheeling it.
Voice your opinion!
To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!
We understand the challenges you face in consolidating inventory, reducing theft, and tracking revenue. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate checklist to help you evaluate your...
In today's competitive landscape, gaining an edge is vital. That's why top fleets are utilizing trailer telematics to boost efficiency and we've captured their secrets. Introducing...
Why Mirror Camera Systems are the next step for fleet safety and exoneration While many commercial trucking cameras are similarly marketed, they are not all created equally. The...
Discover how modern fleet maintenance software can drive step-change improvements in shop efficiency, cost control and vehicle productivity, along with how to calculate the ROI...