Some Americans may not want to admit this, but the majority of items produced in this country are by no means subtle. The full size pickup truck is as American as apple pie and there is no denying that these dinosaurs are anything but “in-your-face”. They are made to be big and marketed in a way that doesn’t hide their size but rather flaunts it. Big beds, big tires and even bigger engines are needed to even stay competitive and without those items checked off the list, a truck can simply kiss any bragging rights goodbye. Not having to worry about hanging its head in shame among entry-level full size trucks is the all American 2011 Ram 1500 4X4 Outdoorsman.
No where other than the United States would a vehicle of this magnitude exist. Assembled in Warren, Michigan, the Ram has had some interesting recent history. Branded as a Dodge for 20 years, the current generation has changed that by dropping the Dodge name. Under the brand name ‘Ram Trucks’, all Chrysler LLC full size pickups are now simply called Ram. With the new name change comes a new face, updated engines, innovative cargo features and a revised suspension all specific to the fourth generation Ram. Most important of these changes is the suspension which now uses a coil sprung rear set up rather than leaf springs for the 1500. This has improved handling over the previous generation as well as safety. Fortunately, payload capacity has not been hindered by the change compared to the older Rams.
Our test truck was as American as they can get. Featuring the new for 2011 Outdoorsman package, the base for our tester is the Ram 1500 SLT Crew Cab 4×4. Starting MSRP is $35,010 which includes such items as Sirius Satellite radio with an Alpine sound system, remote keyless entry and part-time four wheel drive with an electric transfer case switch. The Outdoorsman package, which costs $2,595 is what makes our tester special. Featuring things to keep any woodsman happy, the Outdoorsman comes with a larger 35 gallon fuel tank, 115 volt auxiliary outlet, all terrain tires, tow hooks, a limited slip rear differential with lower 3.92 axle ratio, skid plates and a very special version of the patented Ram Box cargo system. Integrated into the bed itself are lockable storage boxes and inside the driver’s side Ram Box on the Outdoorsman is a gun rack. That’s right; a gun rack. Chrysler is banking on this being a highlighted feature for the model. At $1,895, the Ram Box isn’t a cheap option and with the addition of the $1,310 5.7 liter Hemi V8, $1,200 media/navigation system and $495 back-up camera, our tester came out with a final MSRP of $44,585.
The Outdoorsman actually manages to standout among the already handsome standard Rams. The rear bumper is higher than the standard trucks and the exhaust is a simple single exit. This is a nice feature considering rear exit exhaust tips can usually get ‘hung up’ or damaged while off road. The front bumper is a standard grey which works well with the rest of the Hunter Green body and the massive tow hooks make themselves known. The slanted grill is muscular and even a bit retro if not brutish. Everything blends together nicely with the beefy, all terrain tires and overall, the Outdoorsman looks like it would be right at home in a Mad Max remake. It is however slightly disappointing to see the cheap, Outdoorsman sticker on the side as it looks and feels like an afterthought.
Putting the Ram’s macho looks aside, this truck’s most intoxicating aspect can be found under its hood. The 5.7 liter pushrod Hemi V8 (named so for its hemispherical combustion chambers) makes a boat pulling 407 lb-ft of torque. More impressive than its torque rating is its horsepower figure which is a muscle car worthy 390. The power-band that this engine contains is almost perfect: the heavy torque gets things going while the horsepower takes over and keeps the velocity from stalling. The Ram surges forward with remarkable force and would give any sporting car a run for its money in a straight line. With so much muscle and a sound track that would make the Beach Boys proud, this is easily one of the best engines to come out of Chrysler LLC in a long time.
The Hemi may be a Mopar fans dream, but sadly the Ram’s transmission isn’t always up to the task of handling it properly. The automatic in our test truck is Chrysler’s RFE five speed which has been around since 1999. Even though shifts feel smooth, this is not the most responsive transmission. Gear changes, especially downshifts, take a while to happen and leave the driver waiting longer than would be expected from a vehicle with this much muscle. Even in manual mode, upshifts simply took too long to happen and the transmission actually gave an impression of being confused. This plus a sloppy shifter makes one hope for an updated six speed auto to find its way behind the wonderful Hemi sometime soon.
Driving the Ram is, despite its overall size, rather easy. The steering is feather light and makes the big truck surprisingly maneuverable. Parking lots are never a hassle and the over-sized mirrors are so helpful that the backup camera isn’t really needed. The ergonomics are nicely laid out and the touch screen media center is very user friendly. There is plenty of space in the front as well as the rear leaving no chances of discomfort. A nice change of pace is the Outdoorsman’s simply trimmed interior: there is no pretty wood grain to get scratched up or to worry about. The Ram isn’t pretending to be something that it is not; it is a truck built to get stuff done. The bed, even though inhibited by the Ram Boxes, easily swallowed a mattress for this driver’s niece and the integrated cargo rails with hooks were a welcome addition.
The 2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman should be very proud of its existence. It has its flaws and despite featuring a Multi-Displacement System (MDS) that deactivates a group of cylinders to boost economy, our tester still only mustered an average 14 mpg. That rating however seem to be just a side effect of being a full size truck as no other competitor can claim anything remarkably better. With that in mind, the Ram does what it was set out to do: be a truck. It has the muscle to pull, the cargo space to haul, the capability to traverse almost any terrain. The Outdoorsman also gives off that special charm that can only come from an all-American pickup. It may not be the most refined vehicle out there, but the Ram is refreshingly easy to live with and is by no means overly complex. In a world where time must be taken to figure out how to simply start most new vehicles, it’s that simple but effective engineering that makes this truck so appealing. In the 2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman, nothing will stop you from getting things done.
