The big news inside the ?95 Ram Club Cab ST and Laramie SLT is that there?s a folding rear bench seat behind the front seat. This is something that wasn?t available when the Ram lineup was introduced. And since the Ram already started with the roomiest standard cab in the business, the addition of the Club Cab creates an interior that feels vast.
However, even though Dodge rates the Ram Club Cab as a 6-passenger vehicle, rar-seat legroom is tight compared with midsize and full-size passenger cars, something that can be said for most extended cab trucks.
On the other hand, if what you?re planning to stow is stuff rather than people, the Club Cab?s extra space will obviously come in handy. It?s also worth noting that extended cabs are hot sellers, which could pay dividends at resale time.
Although front-passenger seating in the Ram LT and stripped-down Work Special models is a basic bench, our Laramie SLT had a 40/20/40 split bench up front, with seatback recliners for the outboard seating positions and a better grade of upholstery.
Our test truck included a number of convenience features that are extra-cost options in other models, including air conditioning, power windows and locks, cruise control, and an AM/FM stereo with cassette. It also had extra storage features, although storage is a strong point on all of the Rams. And like all the Ram pickups, it included a driver?s airbag and side-impact door beams.
Roominess adds up to comfort in any vehicle, and the Rams edge their competitors on this point. We also liked the high seating position that gives the driver and front-seat passengers a good view of what?s going on in traffic. However, shorter drivers may find that the Ram?s high hoodline makes it a little difficult to see immediately in front of the vehicle.
The Ram 2500 is a heavy-duty pickup designed to tow and haul heavy loads. As a result, its ride quality isn?t as comfortable as a Ram 1500, which has lower load limits. The difference lies largely in spring rates. Springs designed to accommodate heavier loads will produce a stiffer ride when the truck is empty, and the rear wheels are more likely to hop going over sharp bumps.
The ride smooths out once you?ve got a few hundred pounds of cargo in the truck bed. In our test vehicle, that load could be as much as 3285 lb.
Still, even though all-around ride quality has improved in the new Ram truck lineup, we think the Chevrolet/GMC pickup is still tops among full-size trucks in ride comfort.
Like all full-size workhorse trucks, our Ram?s handling was competent but deliberate. It takes almost four turns of the steering wheel to get the front wheels from extreme left to extreme right, and its turning circle is more than 51 ft. It?s not designed for rapid maneuvering and it refuses to be hurried. We were pleased with the performance of its 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, an option on all Ram models.
An aspect of this truck?s performance that was thoroughly impressive was its muscle. Closely related to the Dodge Viper sports car V10, the Ram?s V10 engine feels as though it would be well-suited to transporting entire buildings or towing battle tanks. It hardly seemed to notice the 5000-lb. trailer we hooked on behind.
This is the elemental force in pickup engines today. Although it doesn?t make the kind of gratifying grumble we associate with big American V8s, the Ram V10 is the new king of pickup power.