The 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty marks a change for the Dodge Ram pick up. With the previous two generations the Heavy Duty (2500/3500) Dodge Rams used the same exact body as the light duty 1500 model. This year the designers decided to make the Heavy Duty truck unique, keeping the distinct look of the 2009 Ram while make it look beefier and mightier than it's little brother.

The Exterior of the 2010 Heavy Duty Ram retains the refined look of the 2009 Ram 1500, but it is extended upward to make the engine compartment taller, the extra room is needed for the Cummins Diesel inline 6 engine.

"We brought some of the best design cues from our Dodge Ram 1500 to the new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty, yet we set the 2500 and 3500 pickups apart from our light-duty trucks," said Ralph Gilles, Vice President – Design. "The 'big-rig' styling is even more pronounced, with the classic Dodge look that conveys bold, powerful and capable."

The powertrains for the 2010 Ram HD remain unchanged from the previous years. You can either get the 390 horsepower 5.7L Hemi engine, or opt for the 6.7L Cummins TurboDiesel. The the CTD remains the favorite powerplant of the HD Rams as the option is picked over 90% of the time.

The most durable and reliable engine in its class, the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel features standard oil-change intervals of 7,500 miles. It also has life-to-major overhaul intervals of 350,000 miles, providing more than a 100,000-mile advantage over the competition.

Backing up the 6.7-liter diesel is a choice of either a G56 six-speed manual transmission or a 68RFE six-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed manual has an ultra-low first-gear ratio, which makes it ideal for heavy hauling requirements, while the six-speed automatic offers ease of driveability and towing.

The Hemi was redesigned in 2009 with some new features to improve power, efficiency, and life of the engine.

• Variable Valve Timing (VVT)
• Increased compression ratio
• Active intake manifold with long runners for low-end torque and short runners for high-rpm power
• Improved cylinder head port flow efficiency
• Reduced-restriction exhaust and induction systems

The Hemi comes with the 545rfe automatic transmission. The 545rfe features a gear select that lets you pick the gear as well as tow haul mode to allieviate gear hunting while the truck is under load.

Two 4x4 transfer cases are available – the NV 271, a manual unit standard on ST and Power Wagon models; and the NV273, an electric shift-on-the-fly transfer case, standard on SLT and Laramie models.

A choice of four axle ratios are available on new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups, depending on equipment level: 3.42, 3.73, 4.10 or 4.56.

All of these powertrain options culminate in a GVWR of 9,600 lbs, GAWR of 5,200 lbs, and a towing capacity of 25,400 - all improvements over the previous generation.

The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty is a capable offroad machine as well. Returning for the 2010 model year is the ever popular Powerwagon. This offroading beast comes equipped with electronic locking front and rear differentials, an electronic disconnecting sway bar, 32-inch BF Goodrich off-road tires, underbody skid plate protection, 4.56 axle ratio, and a Warn 12,000 lb winch.

"This is the continuation of the reinvention of our Dodge Ram lineup," said Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep Brands. "Over the past five years, Dodge has gained market share in the heavy-duty pickup segment, and to stay on that track, Dodge keeps innovating. Our new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups will continue to build on our momentum."

The ride for the new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 is greatly improved thanks to the coil linked rear suspension replacing the leaf springs. While the 2010 Heavy Duty Ram could not use the same system, hauling and towing capacity require the leaf springs, the ride is greatly improved. New C-pillar hydro mounts were added to improve damping through the frame-bending mode frequency in order to better manage shake and after-shake response. The resulting ride is one that's a lot more comfortable than the current third get Ram Heavy Duty trucks.

Additional storage locations are built into the instrument panel, front and rear door panels, seat backs, and even the floor – in the crew-size cab, two in-floor bins located in the rear footwells of the crew cab offer storage enough for ten 12-ounce cans. Bins have removable liners for easy cleanout. Upper and lower glove boxes provide a total of more than 800 cubic inches of storage.

The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 introduced the first crew cab model ever available for the Dodge Ram. The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty will make use of the Crew Cab as well. The 2010 Heavy Duty Ram will also continue the Megacab that was introduced in 2006. Thse two along with the single cab and quad cab give the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty a total of four cabs for customers to choose from.

Customers also wanted choice in packaging and equipment. Five distinct trim levels are offered – ST, SLT, TRX, Laramie and Power Wagon. Each has a unique appearance and offers various equipment options.

"We went all over the country to learn how people really use their heavy-duty trucks at work and play," said Accavitti. "We did our research with a cross-functional team, because we create new vehicles with cross-functional teams. And what we learned, we brought to the process of creating the all-new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy-Duty pickups."

Along with performance, reliability, and comfort the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty includes many new safety features. 25 to be exact:

• Anti-lock Brake System (ABS): Senses and prevents wheel lockup, offering improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery conditions
• Advanced multi-stage air bags: Uses either an Occupant Classification System or a Low-risk Deployment Air Bag for the front passenger
• BeltAlert: Periodically activates a chime and illuminates an icon in the instrument cluster to remind the driver and front passenger to buckle up if a vehicle is driven without the driver being properly belted
• Brake/Park interlock: Prevents an automatic transmission or transaxle from being shifted out of Park unless the brake pedal is applied
• Child-protection rear door locks: Disables the rear doors’ inside-release handle via a small lever on the door-shut face
• Constant-Force Retractors (CFR): Distribute force or load exerted on a seat belt, and then gradually releases the seat-belt webbing in a controlled manner
• Crumple zones: Designed to compress during an accident in order to absorb energy from an impact, decreasing transfer of that energy to occupants
• Electronic brake force distribution: Adjusts braking pressure front to rear, based on weight distribution of passengers and cargo, to minimize brake dive during hard braking
• Energy-absorbing steering column: The manual-adjust steering column utilizes two hydro-formed coaxial tubes that move relative to each other in order to allow the column to move forward for enhanced energy absorption during a crash. The power-adjust steering column employs a calibrated bending element that deforms during column stroke for optimal energy management
• Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS): Makes it easier for emergency personnel to see and reach occupants in the event of an accident by turning on the interior lighting and unlocking doors after air bag deployment. Also shuts off the flow of fuel to the engine
• Height-adjustable seat belts: Allows occupants to raise and lower the shoulder belt. Encourages seat-belt usage by offering a more comfortable fit
• HomeLink universal home security system transceiver: Stores three separate transmitter radio-frequency codes to operate garage-door openers, security gates, security lighting or other radio-controlled devices
• Interior head-impact protection: Interior pillars above the beltline and instrument panel, including areas around windshield and rear window headers, roof and side-rail structures, and shoulder-belt turning loops specifically designed to limit head-impact force
• Knee bolsters: The lower instrument panel and the glove box door are designed to properly position the occupant, enabling air bags to work effectively
• Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) Child Seat Anchor System: Designed to ease installation of compatible aftermarket child seats
• Low-risk deployment air bag: Front-passenger air bag that uses unique shape, venting, folding patterns, advanced inflators or a combination of these four technologies to position and inflate the restraint properly for a belted passenger, while also meeting federal safety requirements for out-of-position, small occupants and rear-facing infant seats. Occupants are advised to always sit properly in their seats with the seat belt fastened. Children 12 years old and younger should always be seated in the back seat correctly using an infant or child restraint system, or have the seat belt positioned correctly for their age and weight
• Parksense® Rear Park Assist System: Assists at low speeds in Reverse to detect stationary objects. Consists of visible (interior lights seen with rearview mirror) and audible warnings for the driver
• Power-adjustable pedals: Allows brake, accelerator and clutch (if equipped) pedals to move toward or away from the driver in order to achieve a safe and comfortable seating position for improved vehicle control
• Remote Keyless Entry: Locks and unlocks doors, and turns on interior lamps. If the vehicle is equipped with a vehicle-theft security alarm, the remote also arms and disarms that system
• Seat-belt pretensioners: During a collision, the impact sensors initiate front seat-belt pretensioners to immediately remove slack, thereby reducing the forward movement of the occupants’ heads and torsos
• Sentry Key® engine immobilizer: Utilizes an engine key that has an embedded transponder with a pre-programmed security code to discourage vehicle theft. When the key is inserted into the ignition, the controller sends a random number to the transponder and the engine is allowed to start. If an incorrect key is used, the engine will shut off after a few seconds
• Standard side-curtain air bags: Extends protection to all outboard front- and rear-seat passengers. Each side air bag has its own impact sensor in order to autonomously trigger the air bag on the side where an impact occurs
• Supplemental side air bags: Provide enhanced protection to the driver and front outboard passenger in certain impacts. Each side air bag has its own impact sensor which autonomously triggers the air bag on the side where the impact occurs. Supplemental side air bags are housed within the outboard side of each front seat
• Three-point seat belts: Front outboard seating positions and all rear seating positions in the Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy-Duty pickups have lap and shoulder belts
• Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM): Informs driver when tire pressure is too low. SLT and Laramie systems display actual tire pressure at each wheel. Pressure-sensor modules within the valve stems of all four road wheels send continuous radio-frequency signals to a receiver and the system (2500 only)
• uconnect phone: Uses Bluetooth technology to provide voice-controlled wireless communication between the occupants’ compatible mobile phone and the vehicle’s onboard receiver. The hands-free option promotes safety, freedom, value and flexibility

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"The Heavy-Duty segment comprises about a third of the full-size truck market, and its customers are the most brand-loyal in the industry," said Accavitti. "With five models, we want to provide them with the ultimate lineup of heavy-duty pickups."