A Mid-Sized Ram Is Coming. Rejoice!

"M.T. Blake" (autohabit)
09/17/2018 at 18:50 • Filed to: fingers crossed, promise to keep, ram, mid-sized, dodge, fca, diesel, 4x4, 4wd, double cab, manual transmission, hopefully

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! We need another Tacoma, Ranger, and Colorado/Canyon competitor. Please be diesel, four door, and manual transmission. Can we ask for a straight axle front? Probably not. Modern consumers are a bunch of wussies.

You’re probable new mid-sized Ram in the US. A re-branded Ram 1200 as a Dakota?

Per !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and already rounding the automotive universe online... this will be a new mid-sized Ram with BODY-ON-FRAME construction. I’m guessing it will be based on the Ram 1200. It won’t be based on the Ram 750/700 overseas that is uni-body and a little smaller.

His safety vest and boots are too clean - he doesn’t do this for a living.

I am excited that we will have another mid-sized pickup making it our way. I love anything that is a competitor to the Toyota Tacoma. Not that I hate Toyota’s... I own a late-model 4Runner... I just enjoy variety! Competition keeps things fresh!

It looks more European to me - Ram 700

I am a little bummed out that we’re not getting the smaller Ram 750 too. Look at it ! It’s uni-body but since the departure of the Subaru Baja, we could use a UTE in the US. There is a segment of us that would consider buying one if it was the right price ( Read: Cheap ).

If the Ram 1200/Dakota come s to our shores, I hope they actually call it something other than Dakota. I am not a fan of the Dakota. It was all the sub-par Dodge quality in a not-so-efficient package. There has got to be a better name out there than Dakota... how bout the ‘ Small Horn ’!

Two sticks just like you’ve always wanted.

The efficiency argument is the main one against any mid-sized pickup. If it gets only slightly better MPG, why buy one instead of a half-ton? Do you really need it to be smaller to park or store it ? In America we don’t have the space issues that older countries have. We have wide open spaces! Our land is bigger, just like the people...!

A small, diesel, four door pickup should be very efficient. I’m betting that the manufacturers could squeeze over 30 MPG combined if they really tried. Try they should and try we should demand.

We shall see! C’mon Ram don’t let me down!

DISCUSSION (20)

jasmits > M.T. Blake
09/17/2018 at 19:13

I don’t really get why solid front axles have vanished from everything besides HD trucks and Jeep Wranglers. My 1990 Range Rover(solid front) doesn’t really drive any worse on pavement than my 1991 4Runner(IFS) did, besides the excessive body roll that can be attributed to no sway bars and tired shocks .

Honestly, if I pay attention to the ride itself(and ignore the tired driver’s seat and the excessive amount of noise resulting from a substantial roof rack and no headliner) it’s on par with or better than my Tacoma and it tracks perfectly.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > M.T. Blake
09/17/2018 at 19:27

Well, since it’s going to be built in the same Toledo plant as the current Wrangler, and Wrangler based pick-up, it may have the same suspension set up as they do. Probably not, but maybe? I’m just happy that Fiat/Chrysler is adding another vehicle to the Toledo plant. I wish it was something that was less dependent on low gas prices to be successful, but we’ll take what we can get.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > M.T. Blake
09/17/2018 at 19:31

It makes good sense to utilise the Jeep pickup frame for another model.

Especially when that frame is already tooled up for both LHD and RHD and it’s actually a company product rather than licenced buy-in that’s at the end of its days (Mitsubishi L200/Triton) and probably won’t be available to FCA upon refresh anyway (because Nissan, Mitsubishi, Renault and M-B already have dibs on it).

My only concern would be the payload. The Wrangler pickup payload is laughably small (660 kg from memory). For the RAM version to be practical and competitive with other mid size utes like the Ranger , it would need a 900 kg payload capacity and be rated to tow up to 3500 kg...

bubblestheturtle > M.T. Blake
09/17/2018 at 19:41

Kinja'd!!!

Potato pic’s of one of these near Mexico.

M.T. Blake > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
09/17/2018 at 20:06

Let’s hope it gets good milage.

M.T. Blake > bubblestheturtle
09/17/2018 at 20:07

Nice!!!

BahamaTodd > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
09/17/2018 at 22:51

I’m thinking it will be the on the same (or similar) frame of the Wrangler but with IFS.

Should have nothing to do with the global Ram 1200.

BahamaTodd > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
09/17/2018 at 23:06

Midsize trucks in the US max out about 700 kg (1500 lbs) payload. Tacoma is as low as 500 kg (1120 lbs). Some fullsize trucks also have similar payload. A few years ago some versions of the the Ram 1500 diesel had a payload capacity under 450 kg (1000 lbs).

Trucks in the US are built for comfortable ride quality (especially since they’re usually empty) - not high payload.

John-Palazzo > M.T. Blake
09/18/2018 at 00:26

I think you meant Mitsubishi L200 Triton and Fiat St rada.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > M.T. Blake
09/18/2018 at 00:54

Straight-axle front end on a mid-sized truck...

WHAT?

Why would anyone want a mid-sized truck that handles like a deuce-and-a-half?

Isn’t the point of a mid-sized truck to be more civilized and space appropriate to real-world conditions than a heavier-duty vehicle, not LESS civilized?

That is like asking for a limousine option when shopping for a MINI Cooper.

Frankly, a mid-sized truck should go back to the concept of a Rampage, and not only have an independent front suspension, but a DRIVEN front end like every other CUV , where the weight and traction happens to be most of the time on most pickup trucks driven on the street with empty beds...

hell, Rear wheel assist only, with parallelogram leading-link and strut rear suspension, and rear electric traction motors... have the bed floor 6 inches off the ground, and the rear wheels completely outboard of the bed.

M.T. Blake > John-Palazzo
09/18/2018 at 01:26

I hate how they do that, yes, the genesis of the Ram isn’t Ram at all!

M.T. Blake > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
09/18/2018 at 01:27

Think Comanche. Or if you don’t have experience with those, Cherokee. My Cherokee rode fine and it is probably smaller than any mid-sized truck today.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > M.T. Blake
09/18/2018 at 01:31

Isn’t that what the upcoming new Wrangler-based pickup is going to offer?

M.T. Blake > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
09/18/2018 at 03:39

I believe so. We can’t have two?

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > BahamaTodd
09/18/2018 at 06:31

Yeah I’m aware of that...it’s why American trucks are typically only useful in America.

pip bip - choose Corrour > M.T. Blake
09/18/2018 at 07:25

MQ Mitsubishi Triton!

BahamaTodd > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
09/18/2018 at 09:17

Also keep in mind the rating systems are different.

For example the C hevy/Holden Equinox 2.0L should be exactly the same but the Holden has a towing capacity of 2000 kg (4400 lbs) while the Chevy on ly has 1587 kg (3500 lbs).

This is how towing capacity is determined in the US:

http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/towing/1502-sae-j2807-tow-tests-the-standard/

The Ghost of Oppo > M.T. Blake
09/18/2018 at 10:06

Dude in neon vest photo: Is the truck that small, or bad scaling in photoshop ?

M.T. Blake > The Ghost of Oppo
09/18/2018 at 10:42

Good point. It does look a bit wonkey.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > BahamaTodd
09/18/2018 at 18:17

I wasn’t really focusing about tow capacity for that very reason. It’s more about payload in this instance since a ute or pickup is supposed to be able to carry a load. And the forthcoming Wrangler dual cab pickup clearly can't... especially if it is full of passengers.