Ram Expands RamBox Lineup, Lowers Pricing

2012 Ram with RamBox option. Image: Chrysler Group LLC

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2012 Ram with RamBox option. Image: Chrysler Group LLC

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For years, one  tradeoff of owning a pickup was the lack of a locking trunk. If you needed to keep a laptop or camera bag out of sight and secure, your options were limited. Ditto for tools, especially over-sized things like shovels or post-hole diggers.

Honda debuted a locking trunk in the bed of its Ridgeline pickup, but it wasn’t really big enough to accommodate long or oddly-shaped items. Enter the RamBox, launched by Ram (then Dodge) on its fourth-generation Ram pickups in 2009.

The RamBox converts the previously unused bed sides into lockable storage. The compartments are weatherproof, and even feature floor drains for easy clean out. Better yet, they’re large enough to hold things like golf clubs, tool boxes, shovels and kayak paddles.

Until now, the RamBox option was only available on short bed Ram 1500 models, with a bed length of 67 inches. For 2012 Ram pickups, the Chrysler division has expanded the RamBox lineup to include 76-inch bed models, boosting RamBox storage capacity by 18 percent.

The longer bed gives RamBox buyers 8.6 cubic feet of storage, versus 7.3 cubic feet on short bed models, and it's now available on Ram 2500 and 3500 models as well.

Better yet, RamBox pricing has dropped by 32 percent. For either size bed, the RamBox option is just $1,295. and that buys you more than just lockable storage.

The RamBox package also includes an adjustable bed divider and expander, which allows owners to use the tailgate as part of the bed, or split the bed into multiple segments. It also includes a cargo rail system with adjustable cleats to make tying down oversize loads easier.

The RamBox is now available on 80 percent of Ram pickups. Need more of an incentive to check off this option box? Opt for the long bed RamBox, and you can carry up to 140 cans of beer for your next weekend camping trip.

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Ram Expands RamBox Lineup, Lowers Pricing

2012 Ram with RamBox option. Image: Chrysler Group LLC

Newsletter Stay up to date on car reviews, buying guides, articles and more

2012 Ram with RamBox option. Image: Chrysler Group LLC

Enlarge Photo

For years, one  tradeoff of owning a pickup was the lack of a locking trunk. If you needed to keep a laptop or camera bag out of sight and secure, your options were limited. Ditto for tools, especially over-sized things like shovels or post-hole diggers.

Honda debuted a locking trunk in the bed of its Ridgeline pickup, but it wasn’t really big enough to accommodate long or oddly-shaped items. Enter the RamBox, launched by Ram (then Dodge) on its fourth-generation Ram pickups in 2009.

The RamBox converts the previously unused bed sides into lockable storage. The compartments are weatherproof, and even feature floor drains for easy clean out. Better yet, they’re large enough to hold things like golf clubs, tool boxes, shovels and kayak paddles.

Until now, the RamBox option was only available on short bed Ram 1500 models, with a bed length of 67 inches. For 2012 Ram pickups, the Chrysler division has expanded the RamBox lineup to include 76-inch bed models, boosting RamBox storage capacity by 18 percent.

The longer bed gives RamBox buyers 8.6 cubic feet of storage, versus 7.3 cubic feet on short bed models, and it's now available on Ram 2500 and 3500 models as well.

Better yet, RamBox pricing has dropped by 32 percent. For either size bed, the RamBox option is just $1,295. and that buys you more than just lockable storage.

The RamBox package also includes an adjustable bed divider and expander, which allows owners to use the tailgate as part of the bed, or split the bed into multiple segments. It also includes a cargo rail system with adjustable cleats to make tying down oversize loads easier.

The RamBox is now available on 80 percent of Ram pickups. Need more of an incentive to check off this option box? Opt for the long bed RamBox, and you can carry up to 140 cans of beer for your next weekend camping trip.

View the original article here

Ram Expands RamBox Lineup, Lowers Pricing

2012 Ram with RamBox option. Image: Chrysler Group LLC

Newsletter Stay up to date on car reviews, buying guides, articles and more

2012 Ram with RamBox option. Image: Chrysler Group LLC

Enlarge Photo

For years, one  tradeoff of owning a pickup was the lack of a locking trunk. If you needed to keep a laptop or camera bag out of sight and secure, your options were limited. Ditto for tools, especially over-sized things like shovels or post-hole diggers.

Honda debuted a locking trunk in the bed of its Ridgeline pickup, but it wasn’t really big enough to accommodate long or oddly-shaped items. Enter the RamBox, launched by Ram (then Dodge) on its fourth-generation Ram pickups in 2009.

The RamBox converts the previously unused bed sides into lockable storage. The compartments are weatherproof, and even feature floor drains for easy clean out. Better yet, they’re large enough to hold things like golf clubs, tool boxes, shovels and kayak paddles.

Until now, the RamBox option was only available on short bed Ram 1500 models, with a bed length of 67 inches. For 2012 Ram pickups, the Chrysler division has expanded the RamBox lineup to include 76-inch bed models, boosting RamBox storage capacity by 18 percent.

The longer bed gives RamBox buyers 8.6 cubic feet of storage, versus 7.3 cubic feet on short bed models, and it's now available on Ram 2500 and 3500 models as well.

Better yet, RamBox pricing has dropped by 32 percent. For either size bed, the RamBox option is just $1,295. and that buys you more than just lockable storage.

The RamBox package also includes an adjustable bed divider and expander, which allows owners to use the tailgate as part of the bed, or split the bed into multiple segments. It also includes a cargo rail system with adjustable cleats to make tying down oversize loads easier.

The RamBox is now available on 80 percent of Ram pickups. Need more of an incentive to check off this option box? Opt for the long bed RamBox, and you can carry up to 140 cans of beer for your next weekend camping trip.

View the original article here

Ford expands Crew Chief telematics to improve safety, efficiency and vehicle longevity

Leftlane reported on Ford’s Crew Chief telematics system as it was one of the automaker’s key features when introducing the new 2011 Super Duty, but now Ford has an update to add even more functionality to the fleet-minded system.

Not to be confused with the Ford Work Solutions or Tool Link technologies also introduced with the Super Duty and aimed at business applications, Crew Chief is a telematics system intended for tracking fleets in a business environment. Ford has now released changes and new data that shows the benefits of Crew Chief in regards to key areas such as improved safety, improved fuel efficiency and less wear and tear on several aspects of the vehicle.

Ford explains that Crew Chief operates by accessing data straight from the engine’s computer and then wirelessly transmitting that data back to a fleet manager. The fleet manager is then able to access and evaluate the data through an intuitive web-based interface. Data collection covers several areas including alerts and reports for safety belt status, oil life remaining, water-in-diesel, tire pressure and air bag status.

Fleet managers can also easily track the exact location and speed of each vehicle real-time.

As for new changes, Ford has announced the selection of Telogis as its partner to develop the next-generation of Crew Chief, as well as new functions such as Oil Life Minder – a special function that does in-depth analysis of vehicle use to give a more accurate and custom calculated estimation of oil life, rather than simply relying on miles travels or hours operated.

Ford has also been able to track thousands of hours of vehicle use, establishing a proprietary database that vehicles can now access via cellular connection in order to find optimal routes that improve fuel economy by 10 to 20 percent, as well as finding safer routes. The end result is a potentially sizable savings to business owners through reduced fuel costs, as well as reduced losses from accidents.

Ford says that an average automobile accident costs an employer $16,500 – not including injury. Add injury into the mix and the cost skyrockets to $74,000. With Crew Chief, there are several safety alerts for things such as seat belts, speeding and aggressive driving – all of which help to lower the risk of an accident or a more severe injury.

Crew Chief is currently available on F-150, Super Duty, E-Series and Transit Connect, with testing taking place on the Escape and Fusion models as well. Ford says Crew Chief can be added to vehicles after the point of sale, including non-Ford vehicles.

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Porsche expands 911 lineup with all-new Carrera 4 GTS Coupe [Video]

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NHTSA expands transmission investigation to 1.5M Ford SUVs

Wednesday, Apr 13th, 2011 @ 5:52 p.m.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has expanded its investigation into 1.5 million Ford SUVs for defective transmissions. The investigation, which now includes 2002-05 model year Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer models and Lincoln Aviators from 2003-05, originally launched in 2009.

The agency has received hundreds of complaints involving the vehicles in question rolling away after the driver had put the vehicle in park. The complaints include 85 crashes and 32 injuries. No fatalities have been linked to the transmission defect.

“We have expanded the scope of the investigation to include components other than the brake shift interlock system,” NHTSA’s director of defects investigation, Frank Borris, said.

The NHTSA’s probe is focusing on the vehicles’ transmission parking pawl assembly components. The pawl is a device that allows the transmission to lock into park.

In addition to the rollaway reports, the NHTSA has also received 883 complaints of drivers having difficulty or not being able to shift the vehicle into park.

In a separate case, Ford is facing the recall of 1.3 million F-150 models. Ford recalled 135,000 F-150s earlier this year for an airbag defect, but has refused to comply with the NHTSA’s request to recall 1.3 million addition units. The NHTSA says the F-150’s airbags can deploy without warning.

References
1.’Feds expand probe…’ view

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