Dodge Ram trucks steering parts provider from Dodge Off Road today: The business side of DOR was officially started in 2010 and has grown steadily every single year. We started out selling steering boxes and long arms from other manufacturers, and as those products started to become harder to buy, we started making our own products. Read more details at Dodge Off Road. The reason we do this is because almost two decades of heavily modifying our own Ram trucks and four wheeling them regularly taught us where the weak points are with these trucks and with other products. We build things stronger because it doesn’t cost much more in materials or labor, but the results are so much better.
This marks the last year Ram will offer the 1500 with an available diesel V-6. New for 2023 is the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) limited-edition trim. Part of Ram’s Built to Serve lineup, the EMS edition honors first-responder heroes with special design cues and United States flag decals on the bedsides. Available in Hydro Blue or Bright White paint, the 1500 EMS comes with a blacked-out front fascia and grille, Technical Gray 20-inch aluminum wheels, and black exhaust tips. Inside, the EMS edition gets special front-seat décor. The Ram 1500 EMS comes standard with the 4×4 Off-Road Group equipment package, which includes tow hooks, a handful of underbody skid plates, and an electronic-locking rear differential.
Another unique thing about DOR is that we only sell Dodge Ram parts. We are one of the only companies in the world that strictly specializes in Ram trucks, which is a testament to our loyalty and dedication the brand. The company was not started just to make money off Ram owners – it was started because we love building our trucks. Dodge Off Road continues to grow and be successful because our customers love their DOR-equipped trucks, and we love getting to help build them. Is the 1500 a good value? The Ram 1500’s build quality, at first, feels and looks great, especially in the more upscale trim levels such as Big Horn, Laramie and beyond. However, after spending some extended time in a long-term test truck, we experienced a few part failures, revealing lesser quality than we originally perceived. Ram pricing remains pretty competitive, though.
The Ram 1500 can tow up to 12,750 pounds and carry a payload of up to 2320 pounds. Its maximum towing capacity exceeds all but the Ford F-150, which currently tops 13,000 pounds. Rams with the crew cab body style—including the Rebel model—can’t tow as much as those with the extended cab. Nonetheless, the more passenger-friendly 1500 crew cab can still tow north of 11,500 pounds. With hybridized V-6 and V-8 engines, as well as a diesel option, the Ram 1500 lineup has varied fuel economy. The EPA estimates that the most efficient Ram, the rear-drive diesel, nabs a combined fuel economy rating of 26 mpg. The gas V-6 and V-8, meanwhile, top out at 23 and 20 mpg combined, respectively. A 1500 Rebel with the gas V-6 we tested returned 24 mpg on our 75-mph real-world fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen. That’s 6 and 4 mpg better than a V-8 Rebel and a V-8 Laramie, which lacked electric-assist, we tested. For more information about the Ram 1500’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Our passion for Dodge trucks started with a regular cab short bed 4×4 with a 360 2nd gen back in 1995, and we’ve always focused more heavily on the 94-02 models because they are such epic trucks and most companies just don’t support them the way that they should be. The aggressive styling of the 2nd gen truck is what made the later generations successful. 1st gens are awesome trucks too, but all trucks kind of looked the same back then. When Dodge came out with the 2nd gen Ram in 1994, it was a game changer for the entire industry. We are one of the only companies in the world that makes high performance suspension parts specifically for 2nd gen trucks, and nobody knows 2nd gens better than we do. Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th gen offerings are really good but you can tell by the sheer number of products we make for 2nd gens that they are our area of expertise.
How does the 1500 drive? Our test truck had the V8 engine and the eight-speed transmission. They work so well together that we could recommend this truck on that basis alone. It’s strong and it’s easy to drive in just about every situation. The same can largely be said for the EcoDiesel powertrain — especially if you appreciate the pulling power of diesel torque. But there’s much more to the Ram than solid powertrain choices. We’ve tested many Ram configurations, and they all impress us with their steady steering, confident braking and secure handling. Ram’s decade-old decision to walk away from leaf springs and switch to a coil-spring rear suspension continues to pay dividends.
High quality Dodge Ram suspensions producer with Dodge Off Road: Our staff has now grown to include nine people, and will continue to expand to meet the demands of our customer base and our dealers. By keeping most parts of the job in our own shop, we are able to save you more money and get custom built parts out faster than other companies. We also test our products religiously to ensure the highest quality and strength. Our on-site 10 acre proving ground and 160 acre private off road park allows us to quickly build, test, modify, and re-test parts in a fraction of the time it would normally take. We also four wheel all over the United States, so if you see us on the trail, please say hello. This isn’t just a job for us – it’s a lifestyle! Some of our favorite trails are in Colorado and Utah, but you might catch us in Southern California and Las Vegas when we need some dirt therapy.
How’s the tech? The optional 12-inch touchscreen is a dazzling addition to any vehicle, let alone a pickup truck. It offers a huge map and sharp graphics. The 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system is also impressive and offers navigation. Both get multiple USB and USB-C ports, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility. Meanwhile, the 5-inch screen in the Tradesman has the basics down pat. Ram unfortunately does not include any driver assist features as standard equipment. Only the Laramie model and above offer parking sensors, forward collision mitigation and lane departure mitigation. When it’s equipped, adaptive cruise control does a good job of bringing the truck down to a complete stop. Automated parking assistance is available, and it works admirably.
