Is the Ram Dakota Making a Come Back?

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Mike Manley, the head of Ram Trucks, had an interview with USA Today where he dropped a bit of a bombshell for truck lovers.  Here is the line that has many talking.

“You have the opportunity with a new frame for the next-generation Ram.  You have the opportunity to take a large SUV off of it because we already have a very, very capable frame today that is going to be upgraded.”

Auto Evolution latched onto this portion of the interview as a marker of what is to come from the future of Ram.  The future of the FCA has been an interesting one of late.  There have been some major course corrections due to the recent sales trends of Jeep and Ram.  FCA is putting a bigger focus on their SUV and crossover lines due to the uptick Jeep and Ram have been enjoying.

So is this a sign of what to expect from the 2018 Ram 1500?  The 1500 is due for an update according to the 5-year plan that FCA put out, even though much has changed recently so the plan isn’t being kept to exactly.

In other news from the interview, Manley also brought up bringing back the Dakota.  I could see Ram doing that.  For many of the brands, bringing back older and popular vehicles has gone over well enough.  The Chrysler Pacifica is popular so far and Jeep is bringing back the Wagoneer.  The Dakota could be the nostalgic strength for a new Ram Truck that capitalizes on the Ram sales.

If you are interested in learning more about a Ram truck contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  View our new and used line-up on our website.  Be sure to download our mobile app to keep track in real time of your vehicle when it is brought in to be serviced.  Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to us on YouTube to see more auto news and monthly specials.

Ram Trucks Headlines May Sales Increase for Chrysler

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The month of May was very positive for Ram.  With help from Jeep, Ram was one of the biggest reasons for Chrysler execs to be driving into work with smiles on their faces.  Thanks to Ram sales, Chrysler as a whole posted one of their best May sales in years.

The full gain that Chrysler posted was a 17% increase thanks to Ram Trucks.  On its own, Ram sales were up by 19%.  That number is the truck-maker’s best May sales since 2005.  Heavy-duty truck sales were also up by 34% for the month.

“Our Jeep sport-utility vehicles and Ram pickups continued to do well in May as our dealers reported brisk May sales over five weekends and the Memorial Day holiday,” said Reid Bigland, Head of US Sales for Chrysler, in a statement.

For more information on Ram trucks, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  Make sure to like us on Facebook and to follow us on Twitter for more monthly sales and auto news.

Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge – Ram Trucks Line-Up

Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge offers all the latest new and used trucks in the Ram family. From personal use to commercial needs, we have the right truck for the right job. Visit us online at www.baysidechryslerjeepdodge.net or contact us at 718-229-8700.

Chrysler Adopts New Universal Towing Testing Standard

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Here’s a tidbit about trucks that you may not be aware of, but whenever a truck company talks about towing capability, it’s not a uniformed test amongst the truck makers.  Each company has their own version of the test and that is what they are talking about in the talking points when it comes to towing in vehicles.  That means that consumer doesn’t have a real comparison point between trucks.  That is all changing however, as Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, and Nissan are looking to adopt a universal towing testing system.

Guampdn.com has the full details of what the truck makers are looking to do in the future.  They quote Bill Visni, a senior analyst with Edmunds.com as to why this will be so beneficial to buyers.  “This is good news for car shoppers.  They can compare apples to apples when they buy a new pickup.”

The majority of truck buyers are interested mostly in the towing capability.  It is the number that can really influence an owners buying opinion.  “People buy pickups to tow and haul,” said Bob Hegbloom, head of Chrysler’s Ram trucks. “These vehicles are tools. This brings a standard into place” to ensure all automakers measure their towing capacity the same way.

The Society of Automotive Engineers has already created a standardized test called J2807.  Although the companies agreed to it a few years ago it was only Toyota that used it.  The fallout from the test may explain why truck makers were so cold to using the test after initially agreeing to follow it.  By testing by J2807, the Tundra’s towing capacity dropped 400 pounds.  Moving forward, however, this will be the new standard.

It will definitely aid truck buyers in getting an honest comparison between trucks and their towing capacity.  To find out what the award-winning 2014 Ram 1500’s is, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to see more news and monthly specials.

Ram Shows “The More You Know, The More You Tow”

For years, Ram has been known for its excellence in towing trucks. With Ram’s wide selection of trucks, however, it can be tough for truck shoppers to figure out which vehicle is best for their needs.

In order to better educate consumers, Ram is offering a new service on their website called “The More You Know, The More You Tow.” Shoppers can find out the max payload, max tow, price, and other specs on each car. They can sort models by regular, quad, or crew as well as choose the box length, type of transmission, and 4X4 or 2X2 wheel drive. Once they narrow it down, they can sort the results by maximum towing, maximum payload, highest price, or lowest price.

All of these features are great, but by far, my favorite feature of their “The More You Tow” tool is their Towing Basics section. They have included definitions for common towing terminology that many people looking at their first towing truck might not know. They also included how much trailers, boats, cars, RVs, construction equipment, building materials and upfits normally weigh, so let’s say that a shopper knows that they need a truck for their boat trailer but don’t know which truck can handle it. By using the Towing Basics with the truck search tool, they can find out which trucks can handle their trailer.

When you’re done browsing Ram truck models online and ready to get behind the wheel, stop by Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. You can also find Bayside on Facebook and Twitter and keep up to date with the latest deals and incentives from Ram.

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Ram Dakota

The Ram Dakota wants to make sure you get a high level of quality not only out of it’s visual exterior but also from it’s intense performance. It combines an industrial exterior with well rounded capability that brings the best in a midsize pickup. At first glance, you’ll see a chiseled hood that ends in the cross-hair grille signature of Ram trucks. On both ends of the grille are the rectangular headlamps and standard fog lamps. It just gives off the air of a powerful truck that looks like it’s ready to tackle anything the back roads have to throw at you. Want to spice up the look even more, then you can add chrome tubular side steps from Mopar that also have textured stepping surfaces. There’s also the chrome exhaust tip to really give people the impression that your truck means business.

Once the door is opened and you take a gander inside, the first thing that stands out is the seating. Ram wants to make sure that you fall in love at first sight, an easy thing to see with the seat fabric. Available in all sorts of fabrics and colors, from cloth to leather trimmed. No matter the choice, the fabric is engineered to be stain, odor, and anti-static making sure you have the best seating even after time. It seats up to six passengers and the rear bench seats can also fold up to allow for more hauling cargo space.

For the power-train, the Ram Dakota comes with a choice of two engines. With the 4.7 liter V8, it has a high compression ratio with efficient cylinder head port flow. It’s horsepower is 302 and torque is 329 lb-ft. The other available choice is the 3.7 liter Magnum V6 engine. This engine offers electronic throttle control and exhaust gas recirculation that helps to lower emissions. The horsepower this one gives is 210 horsepower and torque is 235 lb-ft. The V8 comes with a 5 speed automatic transmission while the V6 is 4 speed automatic.

The Dakota is a versatile truck meant to appeal both the outdoors man and the causal truck driver. For that person who likes to get off the beaten path and take a jaunt to the Jersey Shore for a boat ride, the Dakota has the best in class maximum towing of up to 7200 lbs. Not enough, well then the Dakota also happens to be the best in class for maximum payload. You can bring your boat and plenty of gear in the back for camping or what not along with you with the truck being able to hold up to 1800 pounds. There’s also a two inch receiver available through Mopar.

The Dakota definitely encourages going off road. Not to worry though, the Dakota is built to handle like a dream. If you’re dealing with snow on the road to Atlantic City, no problem because the Dakota has an available anti-lock brake system to help keep you in control when the road isn’t at it’s best. There’s also an available anti-spin rear differential meant to transfer the torque better to the wheels to keep better traction. The wheel options go from 16 inches to 18 inches. Every wheel is designed to be both stylish and efficient, like the Dakota itself.

Safety is a major factor in the Dakota, with just as much effort put into keeping you and anyone tagging along for the ride as was into the design of the truck. All the handling options keep the Dakota on the road during the harshest of weather, be it snow or rain. Also included for protection is the multistage airbags for the driver and front passenger. They compliment the supplemental side curtain airbags that give an extra layer of security to the two rows of seating. The trucks frame design includes crush zones to absorb energy. All this combines to ensure that you’re safe at all times.

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