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In 2016, Ram continues to offer the most capable three-quarter and one- ton pickups in the segment. Ram delivers on customers' top "why buys:" Power — 900 lb.-ft. of torque with 6.7-liter Cummins Towing — Up to 31,210 pounds with Ram 3500 Towing — Up to 17,980 pounds with Ram 2500 Payload — Up to 7,390 pounds with Ram 3500 Power — 410 horsepower and 429 lb.-ft. of torque with 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 Capacity — Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of 39,100 pounds with Ram 3500 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks offer innovative features, in - cluding a five-link coil suspension with optional air suspension on Ram 2500 and a supplemental air bag suspension option on Ram 3500. The 2016 model year brings a new Ram Laramie Limited design of- fering. The benchmark in truck opulence is taken to an even higher level of sophistication and attention to detail. Featuring premium materials, such as all-black, full leather seating, real wood interior components and unique badges, Limited is a "black-tie" luxury alternative to the popular southwestern-themed Laramie Longhorn edition pickup. ENGINEERING Heavy-duty trucks generally have suspension equipped for constant, heavy payloads. This can result in a harsher ride when unloaded. The Ram 2500 offers a choice between two segment-exclusive rear suspen- sions for best-in-class ride and handling: a five-link coil system or air suspension system. The five-link coil design provides better articulation over obstacles than a leaf spring system, and the robust coil springs are more than up to the task of handling the loads required of the Heavy Duty Ram 2500 — up to a segment-best 17,980 pounds for towing. The Ram 2500 also offers a rear air suspension system. An air bag replaces the coil spring, much like on the Ram 1500. Load capacity is not sacrificed and the Ram 2500's best-in-class ride and handling gets even better with two doses of engineering innovation — five-link coil standard and air suspension option. Another benefit to the air suspen - sion design is the load-leveling capability, which automatically detects load on the rear suspension from a trailer or payload. The air pressure increases until the vehicle reaches normal ride height, leveling the truck and improving stability and loaded ride. The Ram 3500 continues to utilize the rear Hotchkiss leaf spring system, but now offers a supplemental air suspension system on single rear-wheel (SRW) and dual rear-wheel (DRW) applications. By add - ing supplemental air bags to the rear suspension, Ram Truck engi- neers were able to soften the leaf springs, allowing for more unladed suspension movement. When a high-load capacity condition exists, the air suspension automatically fills the rear air bags to level the truck to improve stability and ride quality — even when pulling a best-in-class 31,210-pound load. In the front, the Ram Heavy Duty line features an advanced three- link front suspension to ensure roll stiffness. Greater roll stiffness, also known as body roll, is an important characteristic in taller vehicles, especially trucks with heavy payloads. Roll stiffness is measured by the amount the truck's body tips side-to-side, independently of the wheels, during cornering. Ram 2500 and 3500 offer gooseneck (center-positioned ball in the bed) or fifth wheel (similar in appearance to a tractor-trailer connec - tion) capability. Additionally, Ram features an in-box connection junc- tion and a standard Class 5 receiver hitch with a four- and seven-pin connector on the bumper. POWERTRAIN Ram Truck is expanding the configuration availability of the Ram 2500 compressed natural gas (CNG) to include Regular Cab and 2WD. Equipped with a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup is designed for fleet and retail customers and offers cost and emissions benefits. The 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 delivers best-in-class horsepower and best- in-class torque among heavy-duty pickups with gasoline engines. Engineered to deliver capability, durability and bang for the buck, the largest displacement V-8 in its class provides a worthy gas-power op - tion to the segment's overall standard-bearer — the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel. Compelling numbers tell the story of the 6.4-liter, 16-valve engine with 410 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and a peak torque rating of 429 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm. Other engine options include the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, standard equipment for the Ram 2500 and 3500 (SRW). The 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel I-6 is available in three versions. 2016 Ram Heavy Duty Trucks WORK TRUCKS www.arborage.com ARBOR AGE FALL 2015 29