Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab SLT
Dodge engineers blessed this all-new ¾- ton Dodge Ram with a boxed frame, a revised five-link solid-axle front, and long-leaf rear suspension. Gone are the Dana 60 axles of the previous 2500 series Ram, and in their place are new AAM assemblies with a high-pinion 9 ¼-inch front and a 10 ½-inch rear. We punished these axles, and it wasn't until we plowed into a rock with the front diff that they showed any signs of weakness (our fault, not the axle's) by losing the gear lube. Also new for 2003 is the much anticipated 345hp 5.7L Hemi engine. We instantly fell in love with the sound of this engine echoing through Mopar Performance exhaust that comes with the truck, but we were disappointed by the engine's lack of low-end torque and all around non-earth-shattering power. Don't get us wrong; it has enough guts to outrun the H2, Silverado, and F-150 in the quarter-mile and will impress any current Magnum 360 owner. It's just that we were hoping for V-10 power from this V-8 engine--and for now this Hemi doesn't quite live up to its horsepower heritage.
The rest of the chassis, however, is up to the task with brakes, steering, and ride quality that were all better than the F-250 we tested. The five-speed automatic transmission has firm shifts and will let the engine scream up to redline before every gear change under full throttle. The transmission shifter itself uses the unique shift pattern we found in the ½-ton Ram. Speaking of shifters, the electronically controlled NVG 273 transfer case uses a dash-mounted dial that looks more like it should control the fan motor than shift you into low range. If you order the NVG 271 you will get a conventional floor shifter, but both transfer cases use slip-yoke rear output shafts when the Ford NVG 271/273 in Super Duty trucks uses a bolt-on flange. As a total package the new Hemi Ram scored very well in all categories and probably would have done better in the test if we didn't have a Ram 3500 to compare it to.
General
Manufacturer: Dodge
Model: Ram 2500 Quad Cab SLT
Base Price: $29,830
Price as Tested: $38,075
Options as Tested: Customer Preferred Package 26H (tow hooks, 8-way power leather seats, rear 60/40 split folding, LT265/70R17 tires, 17x8 cast-aluminum wheels, power adjustable pedals, electronic shift-on-the-fly transfer case, foglamps, body-color side moldings, bright body-color grille, Infinity AM/FM/CD/cassette, 7-speaker stereo, leather-wrapped steering wheel with stereo controls, overhead console with trip computer, flat-folding load floor, sliding rear window, auto-dimming rearview mirror, woodgrain instrument panel, dual-zone A/C controls, keyless entry, security alarm, and transfer-case skidplate), Trailer tow group (750-amp battery, Class IV hitch, 7-pin wiring harness), supplemental side airbags, heated front seats, five-speed automatic transmission, 4.10 gears with antispin differential, folding trailer tow mirrors, BFGoodrich on/off-road tire upgrade, under-rail bedliner
Engine
Type: OHV Hemi V-8
Displacement (liters/cubic inches): 5.7/345
Bore & Stroke (inches): 3.92x3.58
Compression Ratio: 9.6:1
Induction Type: Sequential, multiport fuel injection
Fuel Requirement (octane)/Capacity (gallons): 89 recomended, 87 acceptable/34
SAE Peak Horsepower: 345 @ 5,600 rpm
SAE Peak Torque (lb-ft): 365 @ 4,400 rpm
Transmission
Type: 5-speed automatic overdrive
Model: 545RFE
Ratios: First: 3.00:1; Second: 1.67:1 (upshift) 1.50 (kick-down); Third: 1.00:1; Fourth: 0.75:1; Fifth: 0.67; Reverse: 3.00:1
Transfer Case
Type: 2-speed part-time with electronic shift
Model: NVG 273
Low-Range Ratio: 2.72:1
Axles
Front Type: AAM 9 ¼-inch
Rear Type: AAM 10 ½-inch with limited slip
Hubs: N/A
Ratio: 4.10:1
Suspension
Front: Live axle, 4-link with track bar and coil springs
Rear: Live axle, longitudinal springs
Steering
Type: Power-recirculating ball
Turns Lock-to-Lock/Ratio: 2.75/15.40:1
Turning Radius (feet): 44.6
Wheels
Size (inches): 17x8
Material: Cast-aluminum
Tires
Size: LT265/70R17
Brand: BFGoodrich Rugged Trail
Brake System
Front: 13.9-inch discs with ABS
Rear: 13.9-inch discs with ABS
Weight (pounds)
Curb Weight: 5,954
Advertised GVWR: 8,800
Mileage
EPA Estimate (city/hwy. mpg): N/A
As Tested (mpg): 7.88
Acceleration
Standing ¼-mile (seconds @ mph): 17.88 @ 77.73
Braking
60-0 mph (feet): 162.27
Dimensions (inches)
Wheelbase: 140.5
Overall Length: 228
Overall Width: 95
Overall Height: 77.75
Front/Rear Track: 69/68.5
Front/Rear Overhang: 39.25/48
Minimum Front Ground Clearance: 8.25
Likes
*Performance exhaust sound
*Still a solid front axle
*Best stereo in the test
Dislikes
*Seats are too flat and too firm
*Slip-yoke rear driveshaft
*Not as much power as we hoped
Bottom Line
The Ram truck to buy if you can't afford the Cummins engine