The days of a trusty truck with a cloth interior and rubber floor mats may still have value in some applications, but don’t look for that in these three new machines from Ram. The company is carving a niche in the luxe areas, with new trim levels and added features for a range of buyers.
The 2019 Ram pickup has gotten plenty of attention for its new looks and the end of its crossbar grill. The lineup now gets a new Rebel 12 edition, too, but more on that later.
First up is a look at a special package for the heavy-duty truck set. The new 2018 Ram Heavy-Duty Longhorn Ram Rodeo edition was launched at the Texas State Fair, a popular place for new pickups to show up. This new machine is based on the Longhorn trim, but the Ram Rodeo version adds content to the luxury pickup. The folks at Ram are laying claim to the fact that the Longhorn edition is the “world’s benchmark for upscale pickup trucks.” And perhaps they can, given that the trim level has earned the Luxury Pickup Truck of Texas honor from the Texas Auto Writers Association two years in a row. The Ram Rodeo brings advanced tech and towing content to the line.
The Longhorn interior presents unique features and design cues, and the Ram Rodeo edition builds on that theme by adding a suede headliner against contrasting interior colors such as Black and Cattle Tan.
On the exterior, there are body-colored bumpers and side steps. The Longhorn badge stretches the width of the tailgate against available RV Match Walnut Brown, Brilliant Black Crystal, Bright White, Pearl White, Delmonico Red or Granite Crystal Metallic — which is a range of creative color names, if nothing else. The 20-inch aluminum wheels with optional painted pockets are standard on Ram 2500 and 3500 single-rear wheel trucks. Ram 3500 dual-rear wheel trucks receive 17-inch polished aluminum wheels.
The Ram Rodeo adds an essential piece — the fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailer prep package that includes a handy bed-view camera to make lining up trailers and hitches easier. The Ram Rodeo also has Ram’s rear air suspension for comfort and load leveling, when hauling payload or pulling a trailer.
The Heavy-Duty Longhorn Ram Rodeo Edition is available in a Crew Cab or Mega Cab configuration. You can get the four-by-two or four-by-four setup. And it comes standard with a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 engine, but the company does offer the optional 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel Inline 6.
As for pricing, the 2018 Ram 2500 Heavy-Duty Longhorn Ram Rodeo has a suggested list price of $60,790, not including a $1,695 destination charge. The 2018 Ram 3500 Heavy-Duty Longhorn Ram Rodeo Edition has a suggested list price of $71,260, not including a $1,695 destination charge.
