Car Reviws |
| 2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman, an AW Drivers Log: Posted: 20 Dec 2010 10:45 AM PST  The Ram 1500 Outdoorsman is fitted for hauling hunting gear and towing.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: There's nothing like the security of having a rough-and-tumble, fully functional truck when it comes time to head out to hunting camp. The Ram 1500 Outdoorsman fits that bill to a T, with its wicked blacked-out grille, fender flares, all-terrain tires, trailer-towing upgrades and lockable, lighted RamBoxes equipped with gun (and/or fishing rod) Mopar RamBox Holsters. We loaded up a passel of hunting stands and gear, secured two rifles in one of the RamBox Holsters, packed our archery equipment in the back seat and hitched up a packed popup camper for a four-day excursion into the woods to deer-hunting camp. The truck towed like a dream, almost as though the 2,500-pound camper wasn't there, with the extended trailering mirrors providing a good view of everything in the vicinity of our home on wheels. Compared with our long-term Ram, the Outdoorsman is a little less well equipped on the comfort and convenience side (no automatic temperature control or seat heat, no back-seat video system) but better equipped for camping, trailering, hauling and off-roading endeavors, with its skid plates, trailer brake system, beefier suspension, off-road tires and limited-slip rear diff. Some common goodies: underfloor storage bins, iPod connector, power outlets in 12-volt and 115-volt varieties. The dual power plugs came in handy when we needed power to run important things such as the camper's little gas furnace and some lights. But we found that the heater and overhead lights drew too much power for the 150-watt maximum of the 115 outlet. Instead, we ran a 300-watt inverter off the 12-volt plug until, at some point, it quit. Luckily, we had the 115 plug as a backup. This proves the point that when you're camping and hunting, you should be able to count on your reliable equipment, but you should also always, always have a backup. In this case, the Ram came through in spades. The truck's back seat also did double duty as a storage place for equipment that needed to be secured, such as bows and fellow campers' firearms. We folded up the back seat and used it like a giant gear locker. On road, the big Ram was a capable driver, although the extra-knobby tires proved noticeably louder on the highway than the tires we're used to on our long-term Ram. Off-road, the truck was a beast, powering through back roads and trails without breaking a sweat or slipping and sliding in any way. We used some 4x4 from time to time but only needed it once in a while in some deeper mud ruts. The Outdoorsman might not be for everyone, but then, neither is the Ram. For those who want a killer truck, though, the Outdoorsman is the right tool for the job. ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR CHERYL L. BLAHNIK: Now, this is the kind of truck that would be a huge hit in my small hometown in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It has no fancy leather seats with seat warmers, no heated steering wheel. It's got some meaty tires and skid plates, so it's perfect for doing a little two-track off-roading but not so great if you're looking for a quiet ride home on the expressway. I like the cloth seats and basic interior--there's nothing worse than ruining a nice leather seat when you're out in the wilderness. Like our long-term Ram, this Outdoorsman still drove on the expressway comfortably, and I like the ride height, which enabled me to have a nice, clear view of the road ahead. EDITORIAL INTERN JAKE LINGEMAN: I can't help but think of the line from Wayne's World, "I don't own a gun, let alone many guns, that would necessitate a gun rack." But for those who do, there are two in each of the RamBoxes. I like the blacked-out grille and the two-tone paint on the Outdoorsman. It's understated. On a truck like this, the less chrome, the better, as far as I'm concerned. The Outdoorsman is supposed to be all of the stuff hunters and fishers want without any of the stuff they don't need. I'm not a hunter or fisher, but if I was, I think I'd like some heated seats. I can imagine jumping in after some ice fishing and cranking up the warmers before the car heats up. The massive clearance is a plus, and the skid plates would make for a confident trip through a forest trail. Some step bars would be nice--the cab is high up--but I'm not sure if that would bring clearance problems. The price on this truck is a bit high. It's supposed to be just the stuff you want at a fair price. The Hemi engine and crew-cab option add $5,000 alone. A few more options, and you're near $50K. That's quite a chunk of change for what should be a utilitarian ride. 2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Base Price: $39,615 As-Tested Price: $47,820 Drivetrain: 5.7-liter V8; 4WD, five-speed automatic Output: 390 hp @ 5,600 rpm, 407 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm Curb Weight: 5,391 lb Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 15/11.7 mpg Options: RamBox cargo management system ($1,895); media center 730N CD/DVD/HDD/nav radio including 30GB hard drive, 6.5-inch touch-screen display, GPS navigation, iPod control, satellite traffic ($1,565); Customer Preferred package 26T, including black door handles, body-color grille, halogen quad headlamps, all-terrain tires, painted front bumper, painted rear bumper, extra-heavy shock absorbers, tow hooks, antispin differential rear axle, 3.92 rear axle ratio, fog lamps, transfer-case skid-plate shield, front suspension skid plate, class IV receiver hitch ($1,130); premium cloth bucket seats with power lumbar adjust, rear 60/40 split-folding seat, 115V auxiliary power outlet, floor-mounted automatic shift lever, power 10-way driver's seat ($925); Luxury group, including auto-dimming exterior mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, auto-dimming rearview mirrors, overhead console with universal garage-door opener, fold-away exterior mirrors with supplemental signals, courtesy lights, sun visors with vanity lights ($680); Technology group, including rear ParkSense assist system, premium sound ($495); spray-in bed liner ($450); remote start/security group with security alarm ($335); trailer brake control ($230); rear backup camera ($200); power-adjustable pedals ($125); fold-away power trailer mirrors ($100); 32-gallon fuel tank ($75) |
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