Dodge RAM; Built to Take on Anything

In 2015, RAM Trucks Australia created a joint venture with Walkinshaw Automotive Group, who have Australia’s only factory-authorised and purpose-built right-hand-drive remanufacture facility, located in Melbourne.

They’re so confident in their remanufacturing process, they invited a couple journalists from Practical Motoring

to check it out. We happily accepted. We used Werribee 4WD Proving Ground to put two RAM 2500s through the absolute wringer over the course of two days.

The RAM 2500 Laramie eclipses just about every other dual-cab ute on-sale in Australia. Its thumping 6.7-litre six-cylinder Cummins turbo-diesel engine makes 276kW of power and 1084Nm of torque absolutely sets it apart. That’s more than double that of a Ford Ranger (470Nm) and almost double a Land Cruiser 200 Series (650Nm). But it gets better — it can haul 913kg in its tray and has a maximum braked towing capacity of 6,942kg. This is basically double the 3,500kg that many utes in Australia can tow.

But it gets better still — it can carry its maximum payload in the tray and tow its maximum braked capacity at the same time. It’s another example that sets it apart.

The re-engineered RAM 2500 is perfected with a fit and finish that’s better than many other ‘original’ right-hand drive vehicles, and all the ‘new’ parts are certified as original equipment.

These trucks are surprisingly capable both on and off-road. Here’s looking forward to boot camping future models.