July 2008, Work Truck - Cover Story
Dodge Ram Chassis Cabs: Making Inroads in the Class 4-5 Markets
By Chad Simon
Fuel Economy Improved
At 52 gallons, the Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs have the largest standard fuel tank capacity in Class 4-5 trucks. Trailer tow capacity has also been increased for 2009.
"We’ve taken the gross combined weight rating (GCWR) up to 26,000 lbs. on the 5500 series," said Brad Pugh, Dodge product planning manager. "Across the board on all chassis cabs, from Class 3-5, we’re going to have diesel remote start for the first time. Up in the cold weather states, this allows users to warm up their trucks and helps with power take-off (PTO)-enabled equipment."
Dodge’s PTO prep group includes special wiring harnesses and controls allowing the user to adjust idle speed and RPM to run PTO equipment. A 55-percent increase in gallons per minute provides more power and capability for pumps, lifts, and hydraulic use.
According to Pugh, Dodge received third-party validation from the Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC) for providing better fuel economy than other leading OEM trucks. Ram Chassis Cabs provide $6,000-$9,000 more in fuel savings per 100,000 miles driven over other OEM models, said Pugh.
Fuel economy optimization depends on the upfit and configuration. For instance, with a large cube box, wind resistance increases, and fuel economy is worse than that of a flatbed, which encounters little, if any, wind resistance.
"The biggest reason for our fuel efficiency starts with our Cummins engine, which can achieve up to 20.2 mpg while gas models average a best-in-class 15.2 mpg. In addition, the 3.92 axle ratio is now standard for diesel models, ensuring superior fuel economy. We’ve also tried to maximize rolling efficiency of tires and match transmission gearing to be as fuel efficient as possible at highway speeds," said Pugh.
From 0 to 30 in One Year
The bulk of Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cab customers are in the construction business, and the manufacturer has made inroads into the towing and recovery business.
For example, Pugh cited the 2008 Florida Tow Show. "This year we had more than 25 trucks in the show, one of the most prominent shows in the country, which put us on par with the heavy hitters,"
Prior to the 2007-MY chassis cabs, Dodge hadn’t produced a chassis cab in a few years. "Within one year, we’ve taken 30 percent of the retail market for Class 3 chassis cabs," said Pugh. "As for the Ram 4500 and 5500 trucks that came out for the 2008 model-year, we’re seeing equal demand there. "
Brake System Enhanced
For fleets, cost of ownership is a priority, and fuel economy and maintenance are critical factors. Dodge upped the capability and stopping power of its chassis cab models while increasing brake change intervals, amounting to savings of several thousands of dollars per truck. Dodge also improved the truck’s friction material and rotor and caliper sizing.
"Our goal for designing braking systems for the Ram 4500 and 5500 trucks was to put as large as a brake setup in the wheel as we could," said Pugh. "We have larger front brakes that last twice as long as our competitors. Larger and thicker rotors (360 mm front, 358 mm rear) and calipers (upsized 7 percent to include large twin 60 mm pistons) and 14-percent thicker brake pads help to improve stopping power. The new brakes reduce brake drag, which results in a fuel economy improvement of 0.5 mpg. The trucks also feature a four-wheel anti-lock brake system and 19.5-inch wheels."