basic ram a solid hauler but new one on the way

The Ram will carry a payload of 1,385 pounds and pull 7,700 lbs. of trailer and cargo behind it. But naturally my white test truck with its black grille and bumpers added quite a bit to take it from its 4x4 base price of $25,836, all the way up to $32,545 … not so bare bones.

The biggest chunk of that was the $1,310 to add a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that cranks 383 horsepower and adds heavy-duty transmission oil and engine coolers. The test truck also added $1,295 for the RamBox system and then there were a load of other good items to help with towing and trailering, including an anti-spin rear axle to give the four-wheeling truck even better traction.
Here’s my main concern though. At $32 grand and change the truck has none of the basic power equipment that even $15,000 economy subcompacts offer. No power windows (not that I can’t crank windows), no power door locks and no power mirrors.

Really, it’s that final one that hurts in a big pickup where you’ll have to walk around to the passenger’s side just to adjust your mirror. Power mirrors are a safety feature, especially if you’re a tradesman backing your truck on a construction site.

I’d also expect a compass in the truck. Chrysler and Dodge (which is what Ram used to be known as) were among the earliest makes to include a compass in the mirror. But there is none here, which seems cheap, even on a low-cost truck.

That rant aside, the Ram is a strong and useful truck that drives well in all respects. The Hemi V8 is a blast, literally. It’ll crank the truck up to highway speeds in a flash. You feel like you’re in a very tall muscle car.

This 6-speed automatic transmission is smooth and shifts effortlessly too, like a fine sedan. Note that for 2013 a new Ram is available and comes with a torque-laden 3.6-liter V6 standard, but also with a new 8-speed automatic. A preliminary test drive of that recently showed it to be excellent for most truckers’ needs and felt downright luxurious.

Note too that the Tradesman is out of the lineup for 2013 as the new model rolls out. So if you’re in need a work truck, snag one of the 2012s while there are still a few on the lots.

Ram’s power rack and pinion steering is fairly precise for a big pickup, delivering decent road feel and relatively quick steering with only a bit of play in the wheel. There is stability control and four-wheel disc brakes too, very useful when pulling a trailer.