2012 Dodge Ram Truck - Repair Manuals Blog

Dodge Ram Truck Debut

Dodge Ram Trucks, officially known as the Ram Truck Division, is an American brand of light to medium-weight commercial vehicles. It was founded in 2010 as a spin-off from Dodge under the moniker of the Ram Pickup truck line. The 2012 Dodge Ram Truck shined in the lineup as usual. In November 1914, Dodge produced its first vehicle, and in 1917, it joined the truck industry. The first Dodge Ram pickup truck didn’t appear until 1981, even though it debuted with a ram hood decoration in 1932. These early Dodge Rams were just restyled variants of a different truck Dodge released in 1972.

The Ram had a minor facelift in 1986, which included the addition of its signature crosshair grille. The pickup’s dramatic big-rig appearance debuted in 1994, with a prominent vertical grille and hood positioned above the front fenders. Sales more than doubled in a short period of time, then doubled again. In 2002 and 2009, there were further redesigns. After the 2011 model year, the Dodge Ram label was abandoned, making the 2012 Dodge Ram Truck the first branded under the Ram Label.

What’s New

Dodge Ram Truck has significantly updated its popular 1500 pickup truck series for the 2012 Dodge Ram. With a distinctive grille-forward design, the Ram 1500 light-duty pickup truck emphasizes aerodynamic style. Added focus on ride comfort with a segment-exclusive coil-spring rear suspension and storage innovation with the RamBox. Ram has introduced the Ram Tradesman, a new entry-level model for 2012 that has Hemi V-8 power in a vehicle with a low entry price.

The Fiat-Chrysler produced Ram 1500 competes against the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, and Toyota Tundra. Certain models seat up to six passengers. The 1500 Tradesman HD is only available in a two-wheel-drive conventional cab with a long bed and is powered by a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and a six-speed automated gearbox. The 1500 Tradesman HD has a payload capacity of 3,100 pounds and can tow up to 11,500 pounds when fully equipped.

Six new paint colors, a redesigned steering wheel, and the spread of the RamBox across the range are among the major 2012 Ram improvements. For 2012, the range now gets a high-end Laramie Limited trim. Full-leather seats, piano-black inside decor, 20-inch aluminum wheels, and carpeted floormats are all standard on the vehicle.

Powertrain

The Ram 1500 comes with three engines: a 215-horsepower 3.7-liter V6, a 310-horsepower 4.7-liter V8, and a 390-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi. The V6 has a 4-speed automatic gearbox, while the V8s have a 5-speed automatic transmission. Exclusively Ram and the Tundra provide the biggest, most powerful engine option on Regular Cabs, with the V6 available only on smaller rear-wheel drives.

The two V8s are available with either two- or four-wheel drive, and only Ram and the Tundra give the largest, most powerful engine choice on Regular Cabs. The superb 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with 390 horsepower is a good choice, and it’s not only standard in Sport, Laramie, and Laramie Longhorn models.

The engine is also the best fuel-economy option in the line-up, thanks to its cylinder-deactivation technology. The result is a boost in gas mileage to 14/20 mpg (or 13/18 mpg with four-wheel drive), and its HEMI charm ripples through every time you stomp on these trucks.

All models employ the same gearbox as last year but have been recalibrated to choose a previously available but unused gear while downshifting in manual-shift mode, can reach 60 mph in 6.1 seconds from a standstill.

Interior Features

The 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 makes the most of its size by offering plenty of internal space and one of the best full-size truck cabins. Its front seats are comfortable for extended drives, while crew cab variants provide enough rear-seat room. Regular cabs can seat up to three people, while quad and crew cabs can hold up to six people. A six-speaker audio system is included, as well as an auxiliary connection.

Power windows and door locks, satellite radio, a touch-screen media interface, a USB connector, Bluetooth, GPS, and a rear-view camera are all available options. RamBox compartments, which are enclosed storage wells fitted beside the bed, are also available for the Ram 1500, and critics praised the convenience and extra lockable storage these boxes offer.

Styling

The 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 is a standard pickup truck, with a bold design and a variety of bed and cab options. The Ram 1500 comes in three cab sizes: Regular, Crew, and Quad Cab, as well as three-bed lengths: 5’7″, 6’4″, and 8’0″. Mossy Oak Badging and a camouflage patch on the tailgate differentiate the new 1500 Mossy Oak Edition for 2012. It’s been carried over from a 2009 redesign again this year, and there’s little reason to change its looks: its strongly identifiable outline, the tall, chromed grille, and the tidy swells around its wheel wells are as tasteful and distinctive as ever. The Ram’s front end is forward-tilted, like many Dodge automobiles, yet it’s still as aerodynamic as other trucks.

Service Manual

The 2012 Dodge Ram manual covers the specs, operation, and routine maintenance of the vehicle. A Dodge Ram Repair Manual may be needed to successfully service or repair the truck properly.

Is the 2012 Dodge Ram Truck Safe?

Ram’s crash-test results are divided by body type by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Regular Cab vehicles get just three stars overall, whereas Quad Cab and Crew Cab editions receive four stars. The IIHS awards the Ram range strong front and rear crash safety scores. Four-wheel antilock disc brakes, stability control, hill-start assist, trailer-sway control, front-seat side airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags are all standard safety features on the Dodge Ram 1500. All service must be completed with an approved repair manual. Traction control and Trailer-sway Control are also standard on the 2012 1500s. Both Rear Park Assist and a Rear Back-Up Camera are also available as an option.

Verdict

The 2012 Ram 1500’s body-on-frame architecture provides the kind of ride quality you’d expect from a truck meant to haul a half-ton payload. The coil springs in the rear suspension keep the ride pleasant on the highway when the cargo bed is empty. The V8 models’ new six-speed automatic transmission improves fuel efficiency and towing capability. Enabling the Ram to compete more effectively with Ford, GM, and Toyota trucks. Even the cheapest model has some chrome on the front rather than the pure industrial grey seen on some other manufacturers’ basic models. The Ram’s rear suspension is distinctive in comparison to the competitors, and the design is less conventional. There are plenty of Rams to pick from with so many variations.