The 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup Truck is in Stock at Bonham Chrysler Dodge Jeep

Oct. 23, 2010 - PRLog -- The 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 is the best pickup if you want to experience how good Chrysler design and engineering can be when it’s really good.  

The 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup Truck remains a full-size pickup leader, with stand-out styling, plenty of muscle, and a level of refinement no other half-ton quite matches. Changes to the 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup Truck involve new trim packages and upgraded accessories. Added to the SLT trim level is an Outdoorsman package that replaces the previous TRX version and includes assorted off-road upgrades. Also new is the Laramie Longhorn package, the 2011 Dodge Ram 1500’s luxury-minded answer to the plush Ford F-150 King Ranch and GMC Sierra Denali models. Newly offered features include power folding heated side mirrors, a new navigation system, and a factory spray-on cargo-bed liner.

Styling: The 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup Truck's styling is the same as the 2010 Ram 1500’s. It’s again highlighted by the buzz-cut, forwarding-leaning grille that gives this truck much of its character. This pickup’s body itself is surprisingly aerodynamic, which helps reduce wind noise.

The 2011 Ram 1500 Pickup Truck comes in three cab styles: a two-door regular cab, an extended-length Quad Cab with two small rear doors, and the longer Crew Cab body with four conventional doors. The regular cab rides a 120.5-inch wheelbase and offers cargo-bed lengths of 6.3 feet and 8 feet. The 2011 Ram 1500 Quad Cab and Crew Cab use a 140.5-inch wheelbase. The Quad Cab has the 6.3-foot cargo box. The Crew Cab has a 5.6-foot box; all beds are wide enough to hold a 4x8 sheet laid flat.

The 2011 Ram 1500 Pickup Truck returns a broad range of trim levels, from work-truck basic ST, better equipped SLT, lively Sport, and the luxury Laramie. Added to the SLT trim level for model-year 2011 is an Outdoorsman package that replaces the previous TRX version and includes assorted off-road upgrades. Also new is the luxury Laramie Longhorn package with a unique two-tone paint treatment and a rich leather and wood-trimmed interior.

The 2011 Ram 1500 Pickup Truck remains the only full-size pickup to use coil-springs instead of leaf springs in conjunction with its solid rear axle. The affect is class-leading ride comfort and chassis control over bumps. Its towing capacity, when properly equipped, ranges from a meek 3,600 pounds with the V-6 all the way up to a class-competitive 10,450 with the Hemi.

Pickup Trucks like the 2011 Ram 1500 are categorized as “half-ton” pickups based on a loose definition of their payload, which is the maximum weight a truck can carry in passengers and cargo. Payload varies by body style, bed, and engine, but the 2011 Ram 1500’s payload ratings range from 1,340 pounds to 1,860. That’s generally class-competitive, though the 2011 Ford F-150 with its turbocharged V-6 claims a 3,060-pound payload ceiling. Heavier-duty versions of these pickups are also available. With beefier chassis and offering diesel engines, they’re tailored for commercial users, tradespeople, and serious towing. The Dodge Ram 2500, for example, falls into the three-quarter-ton category and the Ram 3500 into the one-ton category. The Ram 3500 has a payload ceiling of 5,130 pounds and can tow up to 17,500 pounds.  

The 2011 Ram 1500 Pickup Truck trim configurations starts with ST and SLT designations, ascend through Outdoorsman and Sport trims, and top-off with the Laramie. The Laramie is available as a Quad Cab and Crew Cab only; other Ram trims are available in all three cab styles. Technically, the Outdoorsman is a package available on SLT models and replaces the TRX version; it includes assorted off-road upgrades. Also new is the Longhorn package for Laramie models. Other packages include the sporty R/T for two-wheel-drive regular cabs; it adds a 4.10:1 performance axle ratio and 22-inch polished forged aluminum wheels, among other items.  

Mechanical: The 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup Truck is available with an advanced new four-wheel-drive system, but carries over the 2010 Ram 1500’s engine lineup. That’s a small surprise because many observers expected the 2011 Ram 1500 to be available with Chrysler’s new Pentastar V-6, which was introduced in the redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and is filtering through the 2011 Chrysler Group (Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram brands) lineup. The dual-overhead cam all-aluminum V-6 launches in a 3.6-liter displacement with horsepower ratings ranging between 280-305 and a minimum of 260 pound-feet of torque, depending on the model. The Pentastar eventually will replace seven less-sophisticated Chrysler Group V-6s and the company says it’ll bring an average 7 percent fuel efficiency improvement compared to those engines.  

Like all full-size pickups, the 2011 Ram 1500 is based on a rear-wheel-drive design. Referred to in this context as two-wheel drive (2wd), rear-drive is an advantage when the cargo bed is full and there’s traction-enhancing weight over the wheels that also propel the truck. A 2wd pickup with a bed that’s empty or lightly loaded, however, can suffer poor grip on slippery surfaces. That’s where four-wheel drive (4wd) comes in.

The 2011 Ram 1500’s basic 4wd system apportions power between the front and rear wheels for better traction, but does not have a center differential that would allow it to remain engaged on dry pavement without risking drivetrain damage.

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Bonham Chrysler is proud to serve Bonham, Sherman, Mckinney, Dallas with quality Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep vehicles. With models like the Ram 1500 Pickup Truck, we have something for every taste and need. Come visit us at 1522 W. Sam Rayburn Drive in Bonham, TX to see our vehicles and take one for a test drive.

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Bonham Chrysler is not just your Bonham, Sherman, McKinney, and Commerce area Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep dealership, we also provide a full line of services dedicated to our Texas customers. From Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep car repairs performed by expert mechanics, to OEM Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep auto parts, to car loans, Bonham Chrysler is the smart choice for your automotive needs.

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