1995 Dodge Ram review

1995 Dodge Ram Wagon
A modest hallelujah for this big people mover

By Professional Test Driver

Overview

You say the choir at your church is in open rebellion because the old church van has become too decrepit - and perhaps a little too holy - for occupancy by mortals?

They're saying, "No new van, no Christmas carol sing-off." Is that what's bothering you? Well lift up your hearts, brothers and sisters: Your Dodge dealer is prepared to solve thy problem.

Dodge, Ford and General Motors all offer full-size vans and window vans (known as wagons). But only Dodge offers one that's specially designated for church groups. It's called the Church Value package, and we're not sure whether it includes hymnals.

But it does seem clear that a big wagon capable of carrying up to 15 parishioners could just as easily transport the same number of non-parishioners. And we doubt your Dodge dealer will check your credentials or make you sing a few bars of Handel's Messiah before he'll sell you one.

The intriguing distinction of the Church Value package aside, Ram Wagons and Vans have a lot in common with their competitors from Ford and GM. They're big, rugged and can haul mass quantities - people, in the case of the wagon, cargo in the case of the van.

Distinctions, and they're subtle, lie in the area of powertrain choices, features, dealer proximity and how your local dealer stacks up in terms of service.

Walkaround

Thanks to a restyled front end, the Ram Wagon looks a little more contemporary than GM's big vans, Chevy Sportvan and GMC Rally Van. However, down there where it counts, it's pretty much the same van Dodge has been selling since 1971.

In a vehicle like this, there's something to be said for continuous development rather than sweeping redesigns.

Appearance counts, of course. That's why Dodge put a new rounded nose, with flush-mounted aero headlamps, on this van last year.

But functionality is the key in a big van, and over the course of the last 24 years the engineers at Dodge Truck have been quietly improving all aspects of their van's ability to get the job done.

The biggest of these improvements, one that also affects the Ram pickups, occurred a couple of years ago when all the Dodge truck engines were redesigned. The net result was a dramatic increase in power output across the board, which inspired a new marketing name. They're all Magnum engines now, and they generally match or exceed the performance of comparable engines from Ford and GM.

There is an exception, however. Ford and GM both offer big-block gasoline V8s and big diesel V8s in their vans, engines that expand load-carrying capacity and extend towing limits up to 10,000 lb.

The biggest of the Ram Wagon engines is a 5.9-liter V8, with 230 hp and 330 pound-feet of torque, providing a maximum towing limit of 9000 lb. But the big gasoline V8 engines from Ford and GM provide more muscle for really heavy jobs, and Dodge doesn't offer a diesel (advantages in durability and fuel economy) for its van family.

Dodge has simplified basic model designations for 1995 on a basis of load capabilities, and they're similar to the Ram pickup line. The standard Ram Wagon and Van is the 1500 series, powered by a 3.9-liter V6. Next is the 2500, with the 3.9 V6 as its standard engine and a 5.2-liter V8 available as an option.

The 3500 is the workhorse edition, with the 5.2-liter V8. Dodge also offers a compressed natural gas version of this same engine.

All '95 Ram Wagons come with 4-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS) as standard equipment. The Vans are equipped with rear-wheel ABS, with 4-wheel ABS offered as an option. Other safety features include a driver's airbag and side-impact door beams.

Beyond these basics, there are essentially two trim levels - the base Wagon and the more comfortably furnished SLT - plus special packages. Besides the Church Value package, there's also a Family Value package - we're sure Dodge doesn't mean to suggest that the two are mutually exclusive - and a Tradesman package on the Van. As the name suggests, the Tradesman version is basically a commercial van, light on amenities and light on the buyer's checking account.

Like their competitors, the Ram Wagons can be ordered in a variety of seating setups to accommodate up to 15 folks. There's a choice between a traditional sliding side door or a hinged door.

There's also the same long laundry list of comfort and convenience options.

We didn't have a choir available to help us with our evaluation, so our test van was a 2500 SLT, with the 5.2-liter V8 and seating for eight.

Interior Features

Like its competitors, our Ram Wagon felt open and airy inside, a function of its big interior and many windows. Everyone gets a good look at the scenery, and the driver has a commanding view of what's going on ahead, thanks to the high seating position that goes with a full-size van.

Although Ford's big Econoline wagons have a much more contemporary appearance inside, the Ram Wagon has all the basics, and the control layout - though only average - shouldn't pose any operating problems once you're past the initial familiarization process.

A particularly nice touch in our test van was its center console. It had the requisite bins, cubbies and cupholders, plus a flat surface on top that could serve as a small table or mini writing desk. But we really liked its position. Instead of being between the front seats, it sat on top of the rear of the transmission, which made it much easier for the driver and front-seat passenger to reach. There was also a slide-out storage drawer built into the base of the front passenger's seat.

Speaking of tables, one option is a travel package that includes a dinette table.

Our test van had comfortable cloth-upholstered bucket seats in the front, with bench seats behind. The rear seats were removable, as they are in competing vans.

Driving Impressions

Big vans are essentially full-size pickups wearing cargo-container bodywork, and consequently their on-road behavior is trucklike.

The Ram Wagon is no exception to this generalization. It's elephantine by passenger-car standards, slightly above average compared with its competitors. Stiffer shock-absorber tuning, revised last year, helps keep body roll in check during cornering without too much compromise in ride quality, but handling distinctions in big vans are virtually academic. Easy-does-it applies across the board.

Like all big vans, the Ram Wagon has lots of power-steering assist - too much for good road feel, but welcome when you're trundling around in parking lots.

Our test van's V8 engine delivered acceptable performance, and we'd recommend it as a minimum for a vehicle this size. The 3.9-liter V6 delivers good power, but when curb weights start climbing north of 4000 lb. - a vehicle's weight before you start adding passengers or cargo - you want V8 torque to keep up with traffic.

Summary

Ram Wagons are solid, tough customers that can be expected to do a good job for a long time.

The Ram Wagon isn't quite as refined inside as the Ford vans, and it lacks the big V8 and diesel engine options available in the big vans from Ford, Chevy and GMC Truck.

But if absolute maximum towing and/or load-carrying capabilities aren't your top priority, the big Dodge certainly merits a look-see.

Its Magnum V8 engines compare favorably with the numbers from Ford and GM, there are plenty of civilizing add-ons available, and the pricing structure is attractive. We think the choir will be happy.

Source By :http://nctd.com