2014 Ram 1500 Tradesman on 2040-cars

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If you can't Ram it, you can plow it

While the auto industry is mostly focused on the would-be Geneva Show reveals, there's another show going on in Indianapolis about commercial work trucks. At the show, Ram revealed it would offer a Snow Plow Prep package for the 2021 Ram 1500. Ram already offered a similar (but better named) package for the 2500 called the Snow Chief Group, so this represents an expansion of availability. The package adds exactly what it says: the basics needed to hook up a snow plow. Under the hood, there's an upgraded 220-amp alternator to handle the load of the extra lights and motors from a plow, plus a wiring harness to plug in said plow. It also removes the active air dam to make room for plow mounts and adds a sliding rear window with defroster. All this adds $195 to the price of your four-wheel-drive Ram, which can be equipped as a Tradesman, Big Horn or Laramie with either the eTorque 5.7-liter V8 or 3.0-liter turbocharged EcoDiesel V6. It's a little less comprehensive than the 2500's Snow Chief Group, which adds the alternator, plus a limited-slip differential, auxiliary dash switches, clearance lamps, off-road tires and a transfer case skid plate, but that package also costs more at $845. One important note for any wannabe Mr. (or Ms.) Plows out there: neither the 1500 or 2500 packages include a plow. For that you'll have to go to an aftermarket plow manufacturer. For example, the Ram 1500 shown above has a Meyer Drive Pro plow, which costs over $5,000. So keep that in mind, or you may find yourself using your family to record a homemade commercial for your plow business just to pay for the huge truck you bought. Related Video:

Ram recalls HD pickups for loose windshield wipers

Ram is recalling heavy-duty pickups (Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500) built between April 27, 2019, and March 9, 2020, to address a potentially defective windshield wiper design that can result in loose and/or underperforming wipers that don't rotate properly on their pivot arms when activated.  "Some 2019-2020 MY Ram [...] vehicles may have been built with one or both windshield wiper arms with an improperly formed wiper arm head joint," Ram said in its defect notice to NHTSA. "An improperly formed wiper arm head joint may not properly form the splines of the head joint on the wiper arm, which can allow the joint to strip and result in the wiper arm failing to operate properly when the system is activated." "An improperly functioning wiper system may, in certain circumstances, lead to a diminution in road visibility which can cause vehicle crash without prior warning," it said.  Symptoms of a defective wiper arm head joint could be similar to the diminished performance of a worn wiper blade, but vehicles with the defect may exhibit other warning signs, such as wiper blades that don't sit in their normal "rest positions" (Ram's words, not ours) when set to "off."  Dealers will tighten the nuts on the wiper arm head joints for customers as part of the campaign.  Recalls RAM Truck Commercial Vehicles

Ram 1500 Limited Longhorn Southfork Edition returns for 2022

Ram has steadily banged out packages and upgrades this year for the 2022 1500 pickup. So far we've had the Mopar-assisted G/T, the off-road ready Backcountry, the luxed-up, celebratory Limited 10th Anniversary, and new Uconnect 5 infotainment. At the same time, the brand that topped the 2021 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study has reworked how options and packages can be combined in order to keep the assembly lines running. Mopar Insiders reports that there's another special package coming for next year called the Longhorn Southfork Edition. This returns a name last seen in 2018 on the Laramie Longhorn Southfork Edition, but for next year it starts with the top standard trim to become the Limited Longhorn Southfork Edition.  Three years ago, the Southfork made do with a couple special colors and lots of extra leather and suede. Since this new one starts with the Limited there will be plenty of hide, as well as suede in places like the door bolsters, plus laser filigree detailing and a Mopar bright pedal kit. The special interior hue is called Mountain Brown. But the 2022 Southfork gets a tad more rugged utility, the Bed Utility Group comprising Mopar's deployable bed step, four adjustable tie-down hooks, and pick-up bed LED lighting, as well as a spray-in bedliner and Ram's Multifunction tailgate. The package sticks with the standard 20-inch painted and polished wheel, here wrapped in Falken Wildpeak A/T tires that usually require adding the Off-Road Group.   MI's dealer sources say the Limited Longhorn Southfork Edition will start at $1,295. Assuming the 2022 Ram 1500 Limited pricing doesn't increase from its present $62,645 after destination and the package can be bought standalone, a buyer can get away for around $63,940 if opting for the sole no-cost exterior color of Ivory White Tri-Coat.  Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.