2008 Dodge Ram 3500 - Vehicle Reviews

Overview

The 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 can compete with Ford and the new one-ton trucks from General Motors, Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 3500. It is one of the world's most capable pickup trucks.
The Ram is available in a variety of configurations: regular, quad cab (crew cab) and mega cab (a jumbo crew cab). The regular cab comes with only a long cargo bed, while the quad cab has a choice of short or long beds. The mega cab rides on the same wheelbase as the quad cab long bed, but pairs an even bigger cabin with the short bed.

Powertrain and performance

The Ram 3500 is available with rear-wheel or four-wheel drive and comes standard with a 5.7-liter, V-8 engine. It produces 345 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque. For the V-8, a five-speed automatic transmission is optional and a six-speed manual standard. For the diesel, Dodge also includes an exhaust brake. This is an unusual feature for a from-the-factory pickup, and is designed to provide additional stability and braking power while towing heavy loads.

Body and Styling

Ram 3500 has an awesome front bench-seat configuration, with space to comfortably hold three occupants in a 40/20/40 seating arrangement. There�s a center business console can for laptops or computers. Quad cab models have a folding rear seat. Leather upholstery and adjustable pedals are standard in the Laramie model. Dark maple burl wood grain for the instrument panel and door accents is now available on Laramie models. Sunburst orange and detonator yellow are new exterior colors for 2008.

Safety Features

No crash tests have been performed on the Ram 3500, but earlier the lighter Ram 1500 rated all stars in head-on collision. Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes are standard, while side curtain air bags are optional. Optional on the SLT and standard on the Laramie are power-adjustable pedals.