2013 RAM HDs driven/tested
CLICKY Looks pretty impressive.
Forum Discussion
What is important is how the trucks actually perform in the real world and not the specs put on the press releases. There is the SAE J2807 process for testing and it was used by the people at mrtrailer.com in 2011 and by Car and Driver in 2012 (April issue reported results) and it covered actually hauling of very heavy loads up and down steep grades and accelleration and stopping distances and handling with these heavy loads.
Specs do not tell you how well a truck is going to handle with a 15,000 lb. trailer in tow going through the mountains or even in city traffic. It provides no information about how well the suspension, engine, exhaust brake, transmission, and electronics work together to manage heavy loads.
What is curious is that Ram upgraded the frame for the 2013 1-ton trucks but not the 3/4 ton trucks. When GM upgraded the frame and other components in 2011 they were applied to both 3/4 and 1-ton pickups. Ram and Ford seem to purposely emasculate the 3/4 ton trucks for reasons I cannot fathom.
Specs do not tell you how well a truck is going to handle with a 15,000 lb. trailer in tow going through the mountains or even in city traffic. It provides no information about how well the suspension, engine, exhaust brake, transmission, and electronics work together to manage heavy loads.
What is curious is that Ram upgraded the frame for the 2013 1-ton trucks but not the 3/4 ton trucks. When GM upgraded the frame and other components in 2011 they were applied to both 3/4 and 1-ton pickups. Ram and Ford seem to purposely emasculate the 3/4 ton trucks for reasons I cannot fathom.
