We also opted for the four-wheel-drive system with an optional electric shift-on-demand transfer case. We backed that up with the optional 'anti-spin' differential carrying 3.92 gearing. The Hemi comes bolted to a five-speed automatic with automanual operation. That starts with the biggest, most powerful engine available in the regular-duty Ram, the 390-horsepower, 407 pound-feet of torque 5.7-liter Hemi V8. What we got was no less than the ultimate 1500 Series Dodge Ram. Just because the Ram is a truck doesn't mean it has to be an uncomfortable truck.

That's right: Our truck has a heated steering wheel to go with its heated and ventilated, leather-covered front seats. And you know what? Our bare hands will be kept warm and toasty the whole time thanks to the optional heated steering wheel. We might even do some light off-roading in it. We will load it with children, adults, adults who act like children, mulch, bed frames, statuary.whatever. We will tow vintage cars and motorcycles with it. We also will commute in this Hemi-powered beast. To which we, the proud possessors of a brand-spanking-new Inferno Red 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Crew 4x4, say, 'Hell yes, it's a coffee shop truck.' We plan in the next year to frequent a whole slew of coffee houses in our monster-size, chrome-slathered, coil-spring-having Ram.

The Best Full Size Truck I've Ever DrivenĪt the press introduction of the 2009 Ford F-150, one Ford employee derided the also-new-for-2009 Dodge Ram as a 'coffee-shop truck.' This was meant to imply that, unlike the beefy Ford, the Dodge was, you know, a sissy truck.

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