2023 Ram 3500 Tradesman on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Ram readying radical two-way split tailgate?

Ram may be preparing a new sort of tailgate that could rethink the way we access the bed of the company's pickup trucks. Rather than the typical fold-down tailgate that we know so well, patent drawings show a tailgate that combines the functionality of a traditional fold-down design with a 50/50 split that can, individually, be opened like a barn-door design or dropped flat like a standard tailgate.
Now, Ram is far from the first to toy around with something like this. The most obvious example is the Honda Ridgeline, which features a single-piece tailgate that is double-hinged so that it can open traditionally or be swung out to the side. The big news here is the split and the fact that each half can be used independently of the other. Unlike the Honda, the individual halves would be operated via touchpads.
The implications of this new design aren't entirely clear right now. It seems possible that the rendering could just be for a concept vehicle, but production is certainly possible as well - Ram has shown a real willingness to innovate in the pickup segment as of late, with features like coil-spring rear suspensions, light-duty diesels and the Ram Box bedside storage system.

2019 Ram 1500 features an updated Ram's head badge

Full-size truck owners love to make a statement. That's how we've arrived at the mile-high grilles, acres of chrome and belt buckle-esque badging you'll find on trucks like the Chevy Silverado, Ford F-150 and Nissan Titan. The new 2019 Ram 1500 made its debut this week at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show. While the sheetmetal and grille are the most obvious visual changes, the ram's head badge quietly got a modern redesign. At first glance, it appears to be the same badge that's graced Dodge and Ram vehicles for decades. Look closely and you'll see that this new one is all squared off, ditching all the curves for straight edges. It looks chiseled rather than carved and is a far cry from the detailed Ram's head that made a debut back in 1981. It also incorporates the new "RAM" lettering that replaced the crosshair in the truck's grille. View 4 Photos Little things like this do a lot to keep a vehicle fresh. Dodge seems to be the only automaker capable of changing logos anymore. Ford and Chevy are stuck with the blue oval and bowtie, so why not take advantage of a newer nameplate? Related Video: Image Credit: FCA Design/Style Dodge RAM Truck

Fiat Chrysler recalls 1.4M Ram pickups: Tailgates could open

Fiat Chrysler is recalling 1.4 million Ram pickup trucks equipped with a power locking tailgate that may malfunction and open unexpectedly. The recall affects certain Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 trucks from 2015 through the 2017 model years equipped with 5-foot-7 and 6-foot-4 cargo beds. Trucks with 8-foot beds are excluded, as are those with manual-locking tailgates. FCA says the tailgate actuator limiter tab could break and cause the tailgate to unlatch and open while driving, spilling cargo into the road and causing an accident. The company says it is not aware of any injuries or accidents related to the problem, and it will notify customers when service becomes available, expected to start Sept. 14. It will repair the problem at dealerships free of charge. Most of the affected trucks — about 1.14 million — are in the U.S., but an estimated 260,315 were sold in Canada and nearly 45,000 will be subject to recalls in Mexico and outside the NAFTA region. Related Video: