2023 Ram 2500 Tradesman on 2040-cars

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Mopar announces retractable bed step for Ram's 1500 and Heavy Duty pickups

As trucks get taller, hopping into the cargo box without performing contortionist-like moves becomes increasingly difficult. Mopar solved this problem by developing a retractable bed step that's compatible with Ram's pickups. When it's not needed, like when the truck is moving, the step is tucked under the cargo box. Where it's mounted depends on the model. It can be bolted on the left side of the hitch (if equipped) on 1500 trucks equipped with the 60/40-split MultiFunction tailgate, or directly below the driver-side corner of the bumper in Classic and Heavy Duty models. Either way, users can extend it with their foot, so they can step into the box even if their hands are full. Mopar noted it makes the step with high-strength aluminum, and it applies either a black e-coat or a powder-coated finish for better durability. There's no word on whether users can install it on their own, or if it needs to be added by a technician, but we can't imagine it requires cutting or welding. Odds are it's held by sturdy bolts. Mopar cargo box step for Ram 1500 View 4 Photos On sale now in the United States and Canada, the retractable bed step developed for trucks with a split tailgate wears part number 82216265AB, and it's priced at $395. It can hold up to 350 pounds. If your 1500 has a one-piece tailgate, the step you need also offers a 350-pound capacity but it carries part number 82215289AG and it costs $365. Heavy Duty owners need to ask for part number 82215842AE and set aside $365. Mopar didn't forget about motorists who own an older truck. Part number 82214245AD corresponds to a step that fits the last-generation 1500, which is still available new as the 1500 Classic, and it can hold 300 pounds. It was developed to fit single- or dual-exhaust models, according to Ram, and it's the cheapest of the bunch at $304. Numerous aftermarket manufacturers offer extendable bed steps, it's an accessory that has been around for years, but Mopar's stands out because it's covered by a warranty that's valid for two years regardless of mileage, or for the remainder of the truck's three-year, 36,000-mile warranty. If you're looking at the competition, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra twins are available with steps integrated into the cargo box and the rear bumper, so they don't extend, but the latter's MultiPro tailgate can be configured as one wide step. Chevrolet might soon offer it, too. Related Video:

2020 Ram 2500 Power Wagon caught completely undisguised

The next-generation Ram 2500 Power Wagon was spied without a hint of camouflage covering it on the road. New headlights and taillights are full LED units, and they look epic. The design is reminiscent of the 1500, but Ram definitely put a slightly different spin on them. It resembles the Ram Rebel to a certain degree, but with a dose of more hardcore truck-style to it. We're digging the look for now. Traditionally, the Power Wagon is a much more off-road ready Ram. We'd expect this one to have the same locking differentials front and rear, a front anti-roll bar disconnect and a lead for a winch cable, leaving it the only factory truck that offers a winch. The engine is most likely the same 6.4-liter V8 with 410 horsepower too. Its bumpers are entirely new, along with the fender flare design on this truck. It all comes together and gives the Ram Power Wagon its traditional look while still meshing with the complete redesign the 2019 Ram 1500 received. How Ram let this 2020 model year truck venture out into the world uncovered is mighty confusing. Maybe Ram wanted everyone to see it? We'll only be guessing for the time being. The 2500 Power Wagon is expected to make its debut in 2019. We'd imagine the most likely scenario for that one is at the Detroit Auto Show in January where the redesigned 2019 1500 was revealed. For now, feast your eyes on the next Power Wagon to grace our roads. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Car dealership in East Texas destroyed by tornado

Few things are as fundamentally and unconditionally destructive as a tornado. These cataclysmic phenomena pass through towns, leaving nothing in their wake but ruin and despair. According to an NBC affiliate in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, a car dealership in nearby Canton was hit by a tornado Saturday night. No employees were hurt. Four other people in the area weren't so lucky. Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Canton's new showroom and service center were pounded by the storm, leaving dozens of cars in various states of ruin. Some merely lost windows, while others were flipped and left on their sides or roofs. Photos show piles of cars stacked up like Hot Wheels dumped on the ground. According to a statement from the National Weather Service, winds reached speeds of up to 140 mph. Two other tornadoes were reported in the region. The area has been declared a disaster zone and first responders from up to 100 miles away have swarmed in to help out those in need. According to Reuters, the storms Saturday killed 11 people nationwide. Related Video: News Source: NBC DFW, National Weather Service, Reuters via Automotive NewsImage Credit: Reuters Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM tornado