In case you did not know it, Dodge no longer makes pickup trucks. Sure, you can still by trucks at your local “Dodge” dealer but for about a decade now they have been branded Ram, although most folks seem to have missed that message.
2017 Ram 1500 Lone Star Silver/Images courtesy Ram
And here is another little tidbit – for the past couple of months, Ram pickups have taken over the No. 2 spot of best-selling vehicles in the U.S., moving ahead of the Chevrolet Silverado but still not quite in sight of the Ford F-Series. One reason Ram may be doing so well is models such as the 2017 Ram 1500 Lone Star Silver edition we recently tested.
Ram trucks are not new around these parts as they have been garnering accolades about as long as they have used the brand moniker Ram. I remember Ram’s introduction at the Detroit Auto Show where they held a cattle roundup in downtown to the front steps of the convention center on a cold January morning. Quite the sight, especially for Motown, but Ram is no stranger to the Lone Star State and Ram marketing mavens have been embracing that fact for quite some time with the Lone Star packaging that now adds a Silver designation. Not sure if that signifies some type 25-year anniversary or what but I sure did like the review truck.
Our Ram 1500 Lone Star Silver tester arrived in Crew Cab fashion on a 4×4 chassis. Ram engineers switched the light duty truck to a coil spring rear suspension design a while back and have never looked back. This is without a doubt the smoothest riding truck in town. We have tested Ram models loaded and unladen and at times they heavy cargo or tongue (bumper) loads can cause a little sagging in the rear but hey, sagging in the rear is in these days so I suppose it’s OK. And to be honest, how many of you are loading your half-ton pickups to the limit anyway? Yeah, thought so.
Yes, the test truck did have a HEMI – the uber-popular 5.7-liter gas V-8 with hemi-spherical head design (that’s where HEMI comes from, you know). The 395hp engine that generates 410 lb. ft. of torque is mated to standard TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic gearbox and the two work effortlessly to provide smooth power across the entire powerband including plenty of low-end grunt.
The Lone Star Silver package offers some premium upgrades including new luxury grille with chrome surround and chrome wave mesh inserts as well as new bright belt moldings, chrome side mirrors, chrome side steps that stretch wheel-to-wheel, and chrome 20-inch wheels. Inside are new dual-tone cloth and vinyl high-back bucket seats.
Other amenities we enjoyed in our review truck include Uconnect 8.4 NAV infotainment system controlling the premium Alpine audio system, 115-volt auxiliary power outlet, remote start system, power locking tailgate via remote keyfob, LED bed lighting, ParkView rear backup camera, electronic shift-in-demand transfer case, spray-in bedliner, and anti-spin rear differential.
Several years back Ram pioneered the transmission shifter knob on the dash inside the cab of its light duty trucks and after just a short period of adjustment, this design becomes appreciated while also freeing up space.
The Ram 1500 rides and drives amazingly well, even in 4×4 form. It is surprisingly quiet with very good maneuverability and handles quite well in town or on the open road. Rough pavement (and non-pavement, for that matter) is no match for the truck that seems to just swallow up any surface disturbance. There is ample room for up to six adults in the Ram as the center console can be folded upright into a seat. Your sweetie can ride next to you just like they could decades ago before the days of safety technology.
Pricing for the 2017 Ram 1500 Lone Star Silver Edition begins at $38,995 with our loaded Crew Cab 4×4 tester arriving with a final sticker of $49,485. Fuel economy is rated at 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway.
Since the Lone Star Silver package was unveiled at last fall’s State Fair of Texas and it does have the nickname for Texas in it, I surmise it is only available in the home state of LBJ and Georges H and W. For the other 49 states, I am sure Ram’s marketing team has a special edition for you all too, bless your hearts.