Dodge RAM 08, RAM 2008 Buyer's Manual

08 DODGE RAM

LOOK AT DODGE RAM, AND IT HITS YOU LIKE THE SEVERAL TONS OF BRICKS YOU’RE CARRYING: QUALITY IN RAM IS MEASURED BY ITS OWN QUALITIES. LIKE DEPENDABILITY THAT STARTS WITH A PUNISHING REGIMEN OF PREPRODUCTION TESTING. LIKE LONGEVITY YOU SENSE DURING YOUR FIRST TEST-DRIVE — AND WHICH YOU MIGHT MEASURE OVER THE NEXT FEW DECADES. TODAY, DODGE RAM QUALITY RANGES FROM THE ALL-NEW 4500 AND 5500 CHASSIS CABS TO THE FAVORITE: RAM 1500 QUAD CAB.® THESE ARE THE LONGEST-LASTING,* MOST DURABLE† LINE OF FULL-SIZE PICKUPS. THIS IS QUALITY IN MOTION — ON THE JOB, STREET, OR TRAIL. THIS IS ’08 DODGE RAM.

*Base d on R.L. Pol k & Co. Vehicles in Ope ration registrati on statisti cs CY 1987-2006.

†

Durabili ty based on lo ngevity.

2008 LINEUP

08 DODGE RAM

Prope rly secure all c argo.

YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A PICKUP WITH EVERYTHING. YOU’RE LOOKING IN THE RIGHT PLACE. RAM.

The more you look into ’08 Dodge Ram, the more you realize: there’s much more here than meets the eye. After all, this family of pickups is known for legendary power,

reliability and durability. Other truck manufacturers simply don’t subject their vehicles to this degree of rigorous testing — and they wouldn’t dare produce a pickup as

commanding as Power Wagon.

1) Ram 2500 Regular Cab SLT in Bright Silver Metallic 2) 3500 Chassis Cab SLT Dually in Flame Red with Dump Body Upﬁ t 3) 1500 Quad Cab® Big Horn in Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl

4) 3500 Quad Cab Laramie Dually with the available 6.7-liter Cummins Dodge Accessories by Mopar 5) 2500 Mega Cab Rock Rails, Accessory by Mopar. Look to the back pages for the most popular accessories for Ram.

Keep looking, and you’ll see that the quality of Dodge Ram is what makes it the leader.

Laramie with the available 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel in Inferno Red Crystal Pearl 6) Power Wagon in Flame Red with available

Turbo Diesel in Bright Silver Metallic suited up with Diamond Plate Toolbox and Premium Side Steps — Authentic

08 DODGE RAM

1500 QUAD CAB

Ram 1500 Quad Cab Big Horn 4x4 in Sunburst Orange.

DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. GO BEYOND ITS STUNNING PRESENCE. IN FACT, GO WAY BEYOND.

The stand-apart styling of Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab models — that bold, pushed-out front end, signature crosshair grille, and muscular stance — works like a magnet

on the eye. Power? The available HEMI

to improve their trucks’ mileage. Comfort? From leather-trimmed Laramie interiors to YES Essentials

navigation systems, we’ve got it covered. Want more? Head over to dodge.com/ram/1500

*Availa ble on 1500 Regul ar and Quad Cab mod els. 13 city to 18 h ighway, EPA est . mpg with MDS. Re sults depend o n driving habi ts and conditi ons. †Not comp atible with af termarke t fabric-prot ecting coati ngs.

V8 features the brilliantly innovative Multi-Displacement System* (MDS) — and all but attacks the competition as they struggle

®†

stain-resistant, odor-resistant, antistatic seat fabrics to top-notch

1 GRAB THE SPORTING LIFE

Score big. Ram 1500 models with the Sport Group — Regular Cab and Quad

— put ever y point in your favor. Like the available 5.7-liter HEMI® V8

Cab

with MDS.* On 4x4 models, electric-shift transfer case. Front bucket seats.

Authoritative, 20-inch wheels and tires. Options include UConnect

Hands-Free Communication System, antispin dif ferential, full-screen

NAV radio, AM/FM/MP3/stereo, power sunroof, and more. Authentic Dodge

Accessories by Mopar, like the Fiberglass Tonneau Cover shown to the left,

are also available. See the accessories pages in back for more information.

2 INSIDER INFORMATION

Interior of 1500 Quad Cab with Sport Group is a Ram exclusive: cloth-trimmed

low-back bucket seats with adjustable head restraints, or available two-tone

leather-trimmed front bucket seats.

3 THE ULTIMATE HEAD ROOM

Open the available power sunroof (with a one-touch button), and you’ve got

unlimited air space.

4 THE R ADIO YOU WATCH

Convenience at your ser vice. The available navigation system radio in Dodge Ram

encompasses a wide range of beneﬁ ts, including SIRIUS

Satellite Radio.† SIRIUS

Satellite Radio delivers over 130 channels, including 100% commercial-free

music, sports, news, talk, enter tainment, trafﬁ c and weather. Fac tory-installed

SIRIUS Satellite Radio includes a one-year subscription. For more information,

go to sirius.com.

5 YES ESSENTIALS

‡

IS A MUST

It’s a clean look. Cloth seats for all Dodge Ram models feature YES® Essentials

stain-resistant, odor-resistant, antistatic seat fabric. Technolog y this good

seldom spills over.

6 PLAY THESE NUMBERS. YOU’LL WIN

The versatilit y of Ram Quad Cab includes front seats that split in 40/20/40

conﬁ gurations for ﬂ exibility in hauling, a folding center seat that becomes an

armrest or writing surface — and the best number of all: 121.6 cubic feet. That’s

best-in-class

* Available on 1500 Regular and Quad Ca b models. 13 c ity/18 highway, E PA est. mpg wit h MDS.

Result s depend on dri ving habits an d conditions. trademarks o f SIRIUS Sate llite Radio Inc . All other tr ademarks, service marks and logos are the property of their respectiv e owners. Fo r full terms an d conditions, v isit sirius.com. Pri ces and programming ar e subject to change. Not available in AK and HI. fabric-protect ing coatings.

when it comes to interior volume.

†

“SIR IUS” and the SIRIUS do g logo are reg istered

Based on full-size exten ded cab pickups .

‡

Not compatible with aft ermarket

LENGTHY, TORTUROUS TRIALS. UNJUST PUNISHMENT. ALL BECAUSE WE DO THINGS RIGHT.

Our engineers call them “events.” They represent everything you’d never do to your Dodge Ram. And we do them, over and over, on a schedule that runs nonstop, 24/7.

The testing that eventually ensures Ram quality means going to the extremest of extremes. With apologies to the ﬁ ne people of Baja, we’ve recreated the worst road we found

there; our drivers run Rams in compressed time frames to equal 150,000 customer-equivalent miles — our minimum benchmark. That’s one event. We have many more.

Others? Load up a Ram at maximum GCWR — up to 24,000 lb — and tow it for a few thousand hours. Drive a few dozen Rams into walls, ditches, water-ﬁ lled pits. Such brutality

is sickening — literally: it’s so jarring that test drivers are regulated to a limited time behind the wheel.

08 DODGE RAM

QUALITY AND DURABILITY

THE BATHS: CORROSION AND ELECTRICAL PROTECTION

Think of it as a treatment to improve the long-ter m health of your Ram. T he baths — both fresh and salt water — take corrosion and water intrusion testing to the extreme. Because we test on a near-daily basis,

we’re able to offer some of the best corrosion protection in the business. Simultaneously, we’re able to test the wiring, connections, boxes and terminals, ensur ing tight, protective ﬁ ts and wires and cables that

stand the test of time.

WHEN IT COMES TO QUALIT Y, WE’RE DRIVEN.

Our events cover all components and systems. The reasoning behind

such comprehensive testing is as unexpected as the brutality of the

events themselves. Instead of starting with a method to test Ram at

the limits of performance, we start by considering all the various

drivers and uses of a Ram pickup in everyday life — and then we design

events to test that usage to the extreme. So when you’re on gravel,

cobblestones, or serpentine mountainous roads, know that we’ve been

there. When you’re towing a trailer uphill, know that we’ve done that.

Time after time. For more, visit us at dodge.com/ram/durability

1 THE STEPPED HILL CLIMB: SUSPENSION, STEERING, DRIVETRAIN

You’ll probably never take on a road this tough, but if you do — we’ve already

been there. Engine, transmission, steering components and all suspension

elements are subject to treatment sympathetically described as “brutal.”

This is a Power Wagon exclusive event.

2 CROSSING THE RUBICON: THE MOST SEVERE OFF-ROAD CAPABILITIES

Yes, the boulders are a replica of the Rubicon Trail in central California. And yes,

we’ll put a Ram Power Wag on

transmission, transfer cases and axles, along with all ancillary components,

including shocks and skid plates.

on it day af ter day, to test it all: brakes,

3 COBBLESTONE PATH: SUSPENSION AND DURABILITY

One of the many events used to continuously improve the quality and

longevity of Ram: a series of random and uneven surfaces. By compressing the

testing, we can achieve the customer equivalent of 150,000 miles on these

surfaces; it’s ideal for tuning a suspension to critical tolerances.

4 MAKING THE GRADE: TRANSMISSION AND TOWING,

UNDER A CRITICAL LOAD

We expect you to be pulling a fully loaded trailer uphill in your Dodge Ram —

which makes our mountain testing crucial to perfor mance to reﬁ ne the towing

and hauling capabilities of all Ram pickups.

RAM QUALITY. ABOVE ALL, IT PROMISES TO BE COMPLETELY UNCOMPROMISED.

1 SPECIALIZED ENGINE R ADIATOR

The design for Dodge Ram separates the engine r adiator from the t ransmission cooler — which translates into lower operating temperatures and ma ximum cooling dur ing heavy towing.

2 SEPARATE TRANSMISSION COOLER

Along with operating efﬁ ciencies, engineering a distinct transmission cooler offers another major advant age: complete elimination of any possibility of cross-ﬂ uid contamination.

3 AVAILABLE F RONT TOW HOOKS

Dodge’s tow hooks are mounted securely for a completely solid hookup point and are mounte d higher than on competitive models — a design convenience immediately obvious and practic al if you’re in mud or deep snow. As well, the front hooks are tested to hold up to double the maximum Gr oss Vehicle Weight Rating (GVW R).

4 S TEEL CRUMPLE ZONES

Designed-in proactive safety and securit y measures are essential to Ram design — and to your well-being. By helping absor b

energ y in the event of a front collision, they help protect you — and reduce the chance of damage to the frame itself. Standard on all Ram models.

5 LARGE ENGINE MOUNTS

On Ram 1500 models, massive engine mounts help reduce noise and vibration — while also helping to maintain that legendary durability and reliability over the long haul.

6 WIDE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS

Beef y transmission mounts prov ide another Ram advantage: they help reduce noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). They al so function to securely harness the massi ve amount of torque generated by the available HEMI

V8 power plant.

7 TUNED SUSPENSION

To further reduce noise, vibration, and harshness — and to contribute to a more comfor table ride — the suspension components and frame are “tuned” for the best overall per formance without sacriﬁ cing ride quality.

8 THE AVAILABLE ELECTRIC-SHIFT

TRANSFER CASE

It delivers capability at the touch of a ﬁ nger. The transfer case in Ram 4x4 1500 models offers operation in ﬁ ve separate modes — including 4WD HI and LO positions — that lock both dri vesha fts together f or when the going is really rough.

9 STAGGERED MONOTUBE

REAR SHOCKS

Off set shock absorbers are standard equipment for capability and are found on all 1500 and Mega Cab

models. Mounted inside the frame for increa sed protection, with a “staggered” design, they help reduce the axle wrap and wheel hop that can occur under certain acceleration and towing conditions.

10 HIGH-STRENGTH SPRING-STEEL

REAR LEAF SPRINGS

Our rear spr ings are mounte d directly over the rear a xle — an engineer ing design that increas es ground clear ance and thus offers greater off-road capability.

Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab® 4x4 with available HEMI® V8.

11 THE FAMOUSLY RELIABLE

HOTCHKISS REAR SUSPENSION

This solid rear axle (with longitudinally mounted leaf springs) is the ultra-tough rear support for all R am models, including Chassis Cabs. Hotchkiss qualit y is part of the Ram legacy, proving itself over time — and ter rain.

12 FULLY BOXED PARTIALLY

HYDROFORMED LADDER FRAME

The stiffest frame in Ram histor y is an essential factor when analyzing Ram’s outstanding handling and road manner s.

13 THE AVAILABLE ELEC TRONIC

STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP)*

ESP is one of the best rea sons to look at Dodge Ram. This system intelligently uses ste ering wheel angle, yaw (tur ning) rate, lateral acceler ation sensors and four individual wheel-speed sensors to determine a variet y of appropriate brake and throt tle actions — including braking and closing the thrott le when necessar y. The ESP on Ram actually includes a variety of systems. Hill Start Assist applies the brakes momentarily to

prevent roll-back on hills; it’s par ticularly valuable with manual tr ansmissions or during trailer towing. Trailer Sway Control is another ESP system, which uses sensors to discer n lateral (or yaw) forces at the rear of the vehicle caused by a swaying trailer. It automatically applies specific br ake corners to help eliminate sway.

14 AVAILABLE 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC

TRANSMISSION

It endured brutal abuse before acceptance by Dodge — over 2 million miles of cumulative testing before achieving the qualit y required for a Ram. (For mor e on testing and quality, see following pages. Complete speciﬁ cations are always online at dod ge.com/r am/durab ilit y)

No system, no matter how sophisticated, can repeal the laws of physics or overcome careless driving actions. Performance is limited by available traction, which snow, ice and other conditions can affect. When the ESP warning lamp in the speedometer flashes, the driver needs to use less throttle and adapt speed and driving behavior to prevailing road conditions. Always drive carefully, consistent with conditions. Always wear your seat belt.

1 NEW CAMSHAFT DESIGN

The revised 4.7-liter utilizes a modiﬁ ed camshaft

with newly designed lobes; the result is a cleaner

burn sequence in the ﬁ ring process that increases

power utility while reducing emissions.

4 DUAL SPARK-PLUG DESIGN

Applying two spar k plugs per c ylinder started with

the 5.7-liter HEMI

V8 — but the efﬁ ciencies were

too persuasive to ignore: more ef ﬁ cient burning

of fuel, with reduced emissions and better idle.

Here’s performance measured in miles covered — and in bar rels of oil saved. While giving you

a choice of fuels, the revised 4.7-liter Fle x Fuel V8 also generates its own brand of energy:

a long, ﬂ at torque “curve” is ideal for mos t common wor k applications. Horsepower is “slow hill”:

outstanding acceleration f rom take-of f to highway cruising. Factor in an increased compression

ratio (9.8:1), aluminum cylinder heads, and aluminum pistons. All contribute to efﬁ ciency.

2 MORE CAMSHAFT STRENGTH

It’s not only modiﬁ ed in shape, but increased

in strength. With higher stiffness requirements,

we’ve determined that SADI — Selectively

Austempered Ductile Iron — wor ks best.

3 NEW DUAL MA SS VIBRATION DAMPER

Another modiﬁ cation with direct beneﬁ ts to the

drive — and driver: the new vibration damper

contributes to further lessening of NVH — noise,

vibration, and harshness.

310 horsepower @ 5,650 rpm 330 lb-f t of torque @ 3,950 rpm

5 FUEL CALIBRATION

We learned from the best — so the fuel calibration

on the revised 4.7-liter Flex Fuel V8 employs the

same strategy as the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI

6 MODIFIED E XHAUST MANIFOLD

It’s all about fuel ef ﬁ ciency, which is why we modiﬁ ed

the actual geometry to the exhaust manifold,

resulting in improved, less-restricted exhaust ﬂ ow.

7 FORGED STEEL CONNECTING RODS

It’s a per formance issue, which is why the steel

connecting rods in the 4.7-liter Flex Fuel V8 are for ged,

resulting in an optimized strength-to-weigh ratio.

8 FLOATING PISTON PINS

Our design utilizes “ﬂ oating” technology —

engineering that translates into durabilit y by

improving the wear resistance of both the piston

pin and the piston itself.

9 EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS

We look for durability everywhere we can. Even

the exhaust manifold gaskets command attention,

which is why the 4.7-liter gaskets are composed of

multilayered steel with integrated heat shields.

V8.

POWERTRAIN

08 DODGE RAM

THERE’S A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK. THE REVISED — AND VERY REFINED — 4.7-LITER FLEX FUEL V8 POWER PLANT.

As fuel prices ﬂ uctuate, the more important it becomes to turn to other fuel sources than conventional gasoline.

To create the technology that enables the choice, Dodge turned to one of our most popular engines — the 4.7-liter V8 —

to harvest both efﬁ ciency and grain-based E85 ethanol.

It’s built on the same engine block as the previous iteration — and from there, it just gets better. With the same displacement —

yet with greater performance through increased horsepower and torque — the revised 4.7-liter V8 offers Flex Fuel capability,

allowing you the choice between unleaded gasoline, E85 (an ethanol blend made from grain, with far fewer harmful emissions),

or any combination of the two. It is the engine of tomorrow — and it’s available on Dodge Ram 1500 Regular Cab and Quad Cab

models today.

Outlined here are the major technical advantages and features of the 4.7-liter Flex Fuel V8. Learn more —

when you visit dodge.com/ram/engine

IMPROVED EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION

•

The revised 4.7-liter F lex Fuel V8 utilized every

oppor tunity to retain energ y. Part of the exhaust gas

goes into the EGR — Exhaust Gas Recirculation; we’ve

addressed that, too, with a modiﬁ ed val ve and all-new

EGR tube for better ﬂ ow and improved emissions.

THE 2008 R AM INCLUD ES

A LIFET IME POWERT RAIN LIMI TED WARRAN TY.

No deductible. Non-Transferable. Not available on

SRT, diesel v ehicles, and cer tain ﬂ eet vehicles.

See dealer f or a copy of limite d warrant y and details .

TRANSFORMING 5.7 LITERS INTO 100 PERCENT DEPENDABILITY: PUTTING THE

INCREDIBLE HEMI

V8 TO THE TEST. When it comes to the HEMI V8, we’ll concede:

we’re bold to the point of audacity. For Dodge, there can be no compromise.

Second place in the public eye is really not an option. When you’ve got an engine

that carries everything demanded of the HEMI V8 — payload, passengers, and

above all, a world-famous reputation for power and quality — you do what it takes.

Including, from time to time, destroying the very engines we are so proud to build.

The development of the world-respected HEMI V8 encompassed testing that took it

beyond expectations of conventional usage. Try day-long time trials at 98% output,

or utilizing the HEMI V8 at maximum torque in real-world situations, or testing ever y

system — computer interface, electrical, electro-mechanical — in an ongoing

series of tear-downs and rebuilds until it’s as perfect as an engine can get. It’s all

connected: HEMI V8 power ➔ Dodge quality ➔ Ram durability ➔ your satisfaction.

If only ever ything worked so well. Get more connected at dodge.com/ram/hemi

345* horsepower @ 5,650 rpm 375 lb-ft of torque @ 4,200 rpm

*330 hor sepower @ 4 ,800 rpm o n 3500 models .

THE HEMI V8 HORSEPOWER AND TORQUE CHART: CONSIDER IT A MAP TO

THE WORLD OF PERFORMANCE. Put HEMI V8 power out there, and

you’ve got to take every scenario into consideration: from big farm

equipment on a triple-axle trailer to retirees in the Rockies with their

new travel trailer. The common bond? They rely on their HEMI V8.

Combine hemispherical combustion chambers, a dual-spark plug

ignition system, aluminum cylinder heads, and one of the most

sophisticated computer interfaces available and you’ve got

outstanding power with credibility that deﬁ nes reliability. Just follow

the curves: the long, broad torque curve (it starts at engines speeds

just above idle; it’s there from a dead stop) telegraphs exceptional

towing and take off. Contrast that with the impressive horsepower

line; it’s steadily ascending, reﬂ ecting superb acceleration.

IT’S INNOVATIVE, INTUITIVE, REFINED AND RIGHT ON TIME: COMBINING 5.7 LITERS OF HEMI® V8

POWER WITH MDS — THE INTELLIGENT MULTI-DISPLACEMENT SYSTEM.

As a global manufacturer of some of the ﬁ nest trucks and cars on the planet, we carry a certain

responsibility along with those impressive Ram payloads. Which is why our engineers

started working on ways to combat increasingly unpredictable fuel prices years ago.

One strategy was to re-engineer the long-trusted and heavily utilized 4.7-liter V8 into an

efﬁ cient, Flex Fuel-compatible power plant. But to address the legendary power of the

5.7-liter HEMI V8, our engineers took a different turn, reaching a radical if not brilliant

solution: MDS, the fuel-saving Multi-Displacement System.* It’s tomorrow’s engineering

today. And it’s in Dodge Ram.

Operating silently and seamlessly above 18 mph (and in all gears except reverse), MDS

transforms the powerful and durable HEMI V8 into a gas-sipping 4-cylinder* during many

daily driving situations — including while cruising at highway speeds, during low-throttle

coasting, and even while climbing low hills. Although the system deactivates four of the

eight cylinders — indeed, fuel injection to the inactive cylinders is shut off completely, and

all the appropriate intake and exhaust valves are completely closed — the engine’s equal

ﬁ ring intervals are still maintained.

The beneﬁ ts of MDS are extensive. To learn more about MDS, visit dodge.com/ram/mds

* Available on 1500 Regular and Quad Cab® model s. 13 city to 18 highway, EPA es t. mpg with MDS . Results depend on driv ing habits

and conditions.

+ 25 hidden pages

Dodge RAM 08, RAM 2008 Buyer's Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual