Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 is a mouthful to say and leaves out one other important descriptor of the truck: it is also a long-box model rather than the short-box that seems so popular. Given the length of a 2012 Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4, the short-box is what RV haulers and other city folk tend to buy because it is about a meter shorter. The long-box is more popular amongst those who actually use a truck for heavy duty work.
A long box adds two things that appeal to those who spend plenty of time using a truck for more than getting from A to B. First, the 8-foot truck box means more cargo capacity. For this Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4, the GVW is 4,355 kg (9,600 lbs.). Second, the 4,305.3-mm (169.5-in) wheelbase provides a bit of a smoother ride when loaded.
Suspension
Since Ram expects you to be hauling things and lots of them, the suspension has to be up to the task. Up front 4x4 Rams utilize a five-link system that includes a track bar, coil springs and an anti-sway bar to hold the solid front axle in place. In the rear, Dodge utilizes what is referred to as a “Hotchkiss” leaf spring suspension, which basically means multi-leaf rear springs hold a solid rear axle in place while regular shocks provide the dampening. Both the Ford F-250 Power Stroke and the GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Duramax use similar suspension systems.
Powertrain
This particular Laramie Longhorn Ram 2500 4x4 uses the optional 6.7L I6 Cummins Diesel hooked to the optional 6-speed automatic and a 2-speed transfer case. A 4.10 rear axle ratio with limited slip replaces the stock 3.42 ratio and that raises trailer towing capacity to 6,487 kg (14,300 lbs).
Ram had done a couple of interesting things with the Cummins in the Laramie Longhorn 4x4. Equipped with the 6-speed automatic, peak horsepower is 350 and peak torque for 2012 is 800 lb-ft. If the truck is ordered with a 6-speed manual, peak horsepower remains the same, but peak torque drops to 650 lb-ft. No matter how you do it, the Cummins needs to run on Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel fuel, which is to be standard in Canada and the USA by the end of 2012 for all diesel fuels. In addition, this Cummins meets all required emissions standards without using any exhaust additives.
Cowboy comfort
With the suspension, powertrain and frame up to the task, all that is left is to make sure the cab is a paragon of comfort and practicality. Ram starts off with a set of running boards that makes it easy to take that giant step up and a grab handle is set exactly right so that even the most vertically challenged of drivers and passengers can get in easily.
Once sitting in the comfortable seat of choice, you can’t help but notice that the “Longhorn” in Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn 4x4 is a trim package above that of the regular Laramie. The leather is soft, comfortable and durable. Seats are generously cut so that everyone should be comfortable. Up front the driver’s seat has a 12 way power adjustment while the passenger seat has a six-way power adjustment.
In the rear dance hall that passes for a back seat, leg room is as good as the front, but you do have to tough it out with a seat that only reclines slightly and doesn’t have seat heaters. Under the split rear seat are two lockable storage compartments.
Winter warm-up
Living with this truck from day to day in the city is a bit of a challenge. On really cold days, it takes a while to get that Cummins up to temp in stop-and-go traffic. Even at that, it does start to put a bit of heat to the inside pretty quickly. I found that if I left it in 4x4 mode, the extra friction helped get everything up to operating temperature a bit quicker.
Toughing it out in town
Another city problem is that the truck is about one and a half parking spaces long. It didn’t matter if it was parallel or angle parking, downtown or at the mall, the Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn 4x4 didn’t fit. To add insult to injury, turning around always required about two meters more space than I had.
If I were a tradesman, hauling a trailer or living in the country and needed a heavy duty truck, the Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn 4x4 with its comfortable, well-thought-out interior and Cummins Diesel would be a top contender for the job. For too long, Ram has been seen as the second or third choice for those who want comfort as well as the ability to get work done. Now, when you look in your mirror to see what is going by, it is most likely going to be a Ram.
A long box adds two things that appeal to those who spend plenty of time using a truck for more than getting from A to B. First, the 8-foot truck box means more cargo capacity. For this Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4, the GVW is 4,355 kg (9,600 lbs.). Second, the 4,305.3-mm (169.5-in) wheelbase provides a bit of a smoother ride when loaded.
Suspension
Since Ram expects you to be hauling things and lots of them, the suspension has to be up to the task. Up front 4x4 Rams utilize a five-link system that includes a track bar, coil springs and an anti-sway bar to hold the solid front axle in place. In the rear, Dodge utilizes what is referred to as a “Hotchkiss” leaf spring suspension, which basically means multi-leaf rear springs hold a solid rear axle in place while regular shocks provide the dampening. Both the Ford F-250 Power Stroke and the GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Duramax use similar suspension systems.
Powertrain
This particular Laramie Longhorn Ram 2500 4x4 uses the optional 6.7L I6 Cummins Diesel hooked to the optional 6-speed automatic and a 2-speed transfer case. A 4.10 rear axle ratio with limited slip replaces the stock 3.42 ratio and that raises trailer towing capacity to 6,487 kg (14,300 lbs).
Ram had done a couple of interesting things with the Cummins in the Laramie Longhorn 4x4. Equipped with the 6-speed automatic, peak horsepower is 350 and peak torque for 2012 is 800 lb-ft. If the truck is ordered with a 6-speed manual, peak horsepower remains the same, but peak torque drops to 650 lb-ft. No matter how you do it, the Cummins needs to run on Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel fuel, which is to be standard in Canada and the USA by the end of 2012 for all diesel fuels. In addition, this Cummins meets all required emissions standards without using any exhaust additives.
Cowboy comfort
With the suspension, powertrain and frame up to the task, all that is left is to make sure the cab is a paragon of comfort and practicality. Ram starts off with a set of running boards that makes it easy to take that giant step up and a grab handle is set exactly right so that even the most vertically challenged of drivers and passengers can get in easily.
Once sitting in the comfortable seat of choice, you can’t help but notice that the “Longhorn” in Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn 4x4 is a trim package above that of the regular Laramie. The leather is soft, comfortable and durable. Seats are generously cut so that everyone should be comfortable. Up front the driver’s seat has a 12 way power adjustment while the passenger seat has a six-way power adjustment.
In the rear dance hall that passes for a back seat, leg room is as good as the front, but you do have to tough it out with a seat that only reclines slightly and doesn’t have seat heaters. Under the split rear seat are two lockable storage compartments.
Winter warm-up
Living with this truck from day to day in the city is a bit of a challenge. On really cold days, it takes a while to get that Cummins up to temp in stop-and-go traffic. Even at that, it does start to put a bit of heat to the inside pretty quickly. I found that if I left it in 4x4 mode, the extra friction helped get everything up to operating temperature a bit quicker.
Toughing it out in town
Another city problem is that the truck is about one and a half parking spaces long. It didn’t matter if it was parallel or angle parking, downtown or at the mall, the Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn 4x4 didn’t fit. To add insult to injury, turning around always required about two meters more space than I had.
If I were a tradesman, hauling a trailer or living in the country and needed a heavy duty truck, the Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn 4x4 with its comfortable, well-thought-out interior and Cummins Diesel would be a top contender for the job. For too long, Ram has been seen as the second or third choice for those who want comfort as well as the ability to get work done. Now, when you look in your mirror to see what is going by, it is most likely going to be a Ram.
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