2004 Dodge Ram 2500 / 3500 - Reviews - Buying Guide
2004 Dodge Ram 2500 / 3500 Buying Resources:
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2004 Dodge Ram 2500 / 3500 Review:
Dodge has invested a lot of time and money in its heavy-duty
pickup truck lineup, which features ¾-ton 2500 models and
1-ton 3500s, and for good reason. These heavy-duty pickups
now account for a third of all Ram truck sales. So in the
end, both Dodge and the consumer benefit from the continuing
evolution of the truck.
This year’s changes see a new automatic transmission for
the High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel and other equipment upgrades.
They hope to inject more appeal into the already award-winning
heavy-duty series.
Dodge Ram 2500s and 3500s come in regular cab or Quad Cab
four-door crew cab models. Quad Cabs have an added three-passenger
rear seat and either a 6.3 or 8-ft cargo bed; regular cabs
come with the 8-ft bed. Dual rear wheels come with most 3500
models.
Under the Hood
There are four engines offered across the line. The base
model is a 5.7-liter V8 with 330 horsepower at 5400 rpm and
375 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm. Up one is a 5.9-liter turbo
diesel inline 6-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower at 2900
rpm and 460 lb-ft of torque at 1400 rpm.
Another engine is an 8.0-liter V10 with 305 horsepower at
4000 rpm and 440 lb-ft of torque at 2800 rpm. Finally, there’s
the High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 engine and its newly
available 4-speed automatic transmission. It cranks out a
mean 305 horsepower at 2900 rpm and 555 lb-ft of torque at
1400 rpm.
Four-wheel drive heavy-duty Dodge Rams have an all-new recirculating
ball system with lower internal friction for better responsiveness.
In fact, the four-wheel drive Dodge Ram heavy-duty pickup
has the quickest steering ratio in the industry.
Standard Features, Options Packages and Style
It’s not all about power though. Dodge Ram Quad Cabs in the
heavy-duty segment also add cargo-carrying versatility.
The rear seats offer an optional 60/40 split, which allows
the rear seat cushions to fold up and create a tall storage
area from floor to ceiling. Also optional is a steel floor
section under the back seats that can fold open to form a
flat load floor.
Laramie models consist of an optional package with available
heated leather seats, among other things. Other options for
2004 include the U-Connect hands-free cellular phone system
and a new integrated radio/navigation system.
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