brulaz wrote:
Looking to get a 4x4 truck this Spring and will probably upgrade to a new HD at the same time, perhaps even diesel.
We don't need, and can't afford, anything fancy, so would like to look at a 2500/3500 RAM ST (Tradesman in the States) with the SXT option (cloth seats, rugs, remote keyless entry), but all they have on the local lot are RAM Laramies and such. Way out of our price range.
So before traveling far to see one, thought I'd first ask here how people like them for long drives. A few questions in particular:
- are they as quiet as the next higher grade, the SLT?
- does the manual driver seat have a lumbar adjust?
- does the steering wheel adjust up/down?
- any regrets not spending the extra $$ on an SLT?
We are looking at other brands too, but just wanted to concentrate on the RAM for now.
Many thanks for any comments.
I have a well optioned Tradesman and I love it. The truck is my daily driver and we have gravitated towards using it on longer family trips as well because with the Softopper I bought it carries a lot of cargo easily (important - wife, three daughters and dog).
I think the sound insulation is the same. It's a quiet cruiser although not as quiet as the other diesels. There is no lumbar adjustment on the drivers seat but I do think the seats are very comfortable. The steering wheel tilts up/down but does not telescope in/out.
I have no regrets I'd consider material at this trim level. The biggest thing I gave up was leather which is nice with kids, but my plan there is to use the cloth seats till they start to wear and then have good aftermarket leather installed for $1-2k. The interior overall is great as far as I'm concerned, with the two caveats being that the door arm rests are pretty hard and I wish the steering wheel telescoped. The exterior is awesome and very clean - I actually think it looks quite a bit nicer than the higher trim levels where you get the gaudy grill and tacked on fenders. I like a cleaner look to the point that I debadged all the stuff on the front doors and just left the C on each fender - I don't need somebody in an airliner to be able to read what kind of truck I'm driving. The stock tires suck (all trim levels) and I don't like the chrome wheels, so when the stock shoes wear out I'll swap in some nice aftermarket 18" wheels.
My truck has the Cummins, 4wd, chrome/popular equipment, factory bedliner, 5.0 radio, auto, IBC, anti-spin rear diff, cold weather, protection group and a few other options I'm not remembering off-hand. Sticker was at $51k, I paid $39k. Not exactly cheap, but a good deal in today's truck pricing environment. She tows our fifth wheel like an animal.
