Dodge is back in a truly big way with the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks.

Arriving in Canadian showrooms early next year, these are the first new vehicles to emerge from the Fiat-Chrysler partnership that was formed after the domestic auto industry meltdown.

RAM HD trucks come with two engines, three transmissions, three cabs (regular, crew cab and mega cab), two- and four-wheel-drive, single or dual rear wheel, two bed lengths (six-foot-four-nches and eight feet) and six trim levels, one trim level more than our American friends.

Not counting interior and exterior content and add-ons like snowplows, there are literally thousands of ways to custom order your Ram HD pickup.

These trucks are mammoth.

Driving down back roads in lower Michigan, the 20-foot long Mega Cab “dually” had a tire patch that spanned the road from shoulder to centre line.

For someone like myself unused to vehicles of this size, it was like threading a needle with a boulder.

And I expected it to ride like a boulder too.

But, considering its gross combined weight of up to 11,113 kilograms (24,500 pounds), it was actually easy to point in the right direction.

Along with its size, the new 2500/3500 pickups will not be confused with any other mode of transportation on the road.

Dodge officials said they built on the big rig looks of the light duty 1500 Ram which buyers love.

But, when it came to styling, HD buyer focus groups saw themselves as being different from light-truck buyers, so the 2010 HDs got a big dose of muscle from the fenders and hood to the much bigger Dodge signature crosshair grille.

In truth, the grille had to be bigger to facilitate cooling, but the end result is a rig that looks like it can do the job.

And, to get that job done, the two engines offered are a standard 5.7-litre Hemi V8 producing 383 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque with a standard five-speed automatic transmission.

Also available is a Cummins-sourced 6.7-litre, inline six-cylinder turbo diesel making 350 horsepower and no less than 650 pound-feet of torque with a six-speed automatic or the only six-speed manual in the industry.

With an extra low first gear, the manual gives the RAM extra grunt with very heavy loads on difficult terrain.

The diesel is so clean it already meets next year’s emission standards.

Even without costly urea-ammonia injection technology, the Cummins still eliminates up to 90 per cent of nitrous oxide.

This diesel is so strong and reliable it only needs an overhaul every 350,000 miles or 560,000 kilometres.

Depending on how it is fitted out, the 2010 Rams compared to the last iteration offer: increased gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) on 2500 4x4 crew cab diesel models to 9,600 pounds from 9,000 pounds; increased GCWR on 3500 dually models with diesel, auto transmission and 4.10 rear axle to 24,500 pounds from 24,000 pimds.

The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups come standard with the only exhaust brake in the segment (diesel-equipped models).

This feature reduces brake fade, prolongs brake life and provides confidence and safety when hauling heavy loads on downhill grades.

Large front (360 millimetres) and rear (358 millimetres) brakes with integrated anti-lock brake system increase brake life and braking stability.

In addition, new 2010 Ram transmissions include electronic range select, which enables the driver to manually limit the highest available transmission gear, allowing manual upshifts and downshifts based on road speed and engine speed.

A tow/haul mode switch enhances tow capability while towing.

Tow/haul mode is available on both five-speed and six-speed automatic transmissions.

Newly added is the Crew Cab version.

The configuration has mushroomed from about 20 per cent of the market five years to almost 70 per cent today.

Along with the Regular and Mega Cab, these trucks can be fitted out like luxury cars on the inside with features like two-tone upholstery with full-width contrasting

stitching on the instrument panel; premium seating with heat and ventilation; heated rear seats, heated steering wheel; automatic temperature control; two-tone upholstery; memory seats, radio and mirrors; navigation; adjustable pedals and numerous infotainment options including: Uconnect Multimedia with a 30-gigabyte hard drive and an available first-in-segment 10-speaker surround-sound system.

There are a number of nifty features, like an available centre console with an upper area big enough for a laptop and equipped with a power point and a lower bin deep enough to accommodate hanging file folders.

Below the floor of the Crew Cab there are two plastic bins, each big enough to hold 10 cans of your favourite beverage, along with

the ice to keep them cold.

There are improved trailer-tow mirrors with integrated turn signals, memory function and puddle lamps.

The larger seven-in by 11-in trailer-tow mirrors offer improved visibility with larger convex glass surfaces.

Mirrors flip up and out in a vertical configuration for improved visibility around wide trailers.

Trailer-tow mirrors are now standard on 3500.

As an added convenience, a class IV receiver is now standard on all Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups.

Dodge claims the 2500 and 3500 Mega Cab models offer best-in-class interior room in the segment, including the largest, longest cab (143.2 cubic feet, 111.1 inches long); largest interior cargo volume (72.2 cubic feet); largest cargo volume behind rear seat (7.7 cubic feet); largest flat-floor load area (16.8 square feet); largest second-row leg room (44.2 in); largest rear-door opening (34.5 in wide, 35.5 in high); largest rear-door open angle 85 degrees); and first-ever reclining rear seats (22- to 37-degree seat-back angle).

There wasn’t one on hand during the press launch, but the Power Wagon intrigued me.

For use in areas inaccessible by any other means, it is equipped with electric-locking front and rear differentials, electronic disconnecting sway bar, Bilstein shocks, 32-inch BFGoodrich off-road tires, underbody skid plate protection, 4.56-axle ratio for hill climbing and a custom-built Warn 12,000-pound winch that is accessible through the front bumper.

As mentioned there are six trim 2500/3500 models with base pricing starting with the ST at $33,995/$48,545; SXT, $34,995/$47,545; SLT, $35,995/$48,545; TRX-TRX4, $42,840/$46,590; Power Wagon 2500, $50,590; Laramie, $48,645/$58,045.

Making an impact in the auto industry is always at good thing and these first new Fiat/Chrysler products say the new company is back in a resounding way.

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