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RAM’s “Long-Hauler” Concept Is The Ultimate Cross Country Hauler:

Towing, Comfort, & Range...

Back in February, we briefly about the growing occupation of expediting or “hot shot trucking”. While there are several different options now available to the commercial trucking world, not many people realize that RAM was actually working on building a truck for those who haul heavy loads across the country.

2011 Ram 5500 "Long-Hauler" Concept. (Ram).
2011 Ram 5500 “Long-Hauler” Concept. (Ram).

Enter the 2011 Ram 5500 “Long-Hauler” Concept. Based on the Class 5 Ram 5500 Crew Cab Chassis-Cab which was designed to suit the needs of anyone that tows multiple or heavy trailers, drives long distances, or small business owners looking for a “workhorse” at the job site, RAM designers ditched the Crew Cab configuration for the much larger Mega Cab passenger compartment.

The next step was to add an 8-foot box to the chassis. To fill out the gap between the Cab and box with the extended length chassis, RAM then fitted a mid-ship fuel tank to extend the range between refueling stops. Combined with a second frame-mounted tank and a third, optional, bed-mounted auxiliary tank, the total fuel capacity equaled 170 gallons.

2011 Ram 5500 "Long-Hauler" Concept. (Ram).
2011 Ram 5500 “Long-Hauler” Concept. (Ram).

Under the hood of the Long-Hauler Concept was the legendary 6.7-liter H.O. Cummins Turbo Diesel inline six-cylinder rated at 800 lb.-ft. of torque. The Cummins was mated to a 6-speed Aisin AS68RC automatic transmission with a four-wheel-drive (4×4) transfer case coupled to a 4.88 Dana 110 axle with dual rear wheels.

The Long-Hauler Concept rode on a 197.4-inch wheelbase and 37,500 Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). It was the perfect combination for those wanting to step up from the traditional Class 3 (1-ton) and Class 4 trucks. The overall length of the Ram Long-Hauler Concept was a massive 24 feet, with a height of 79.1 inches, and a curb weight of about 9,300 lbs.

2011 Ram 5500 "Long-Hauler" Concept. (Ram).
2011 Ram 5500 “Long-Hauler” Concept. (Ram).

Riding on a full Kelderman Air Suspension front and rear and 19.5-inch Alcoa aluminum wheels, on-road driving dynamics was civilized and even the toughest road surfaces were easily absorbed providing the driver and passengers with a smooth, comfortable ride. In fact, the Ram Long-Hauler Concept’s ride qualities were more in line with those of a 3/4-ton truck. The suspension package was also self-leveling with a kneel feature.

On the exterior, the Long-Hauler was painted with a Brillant Black exterior paint accented by White Gold Metallic color two-tone on the body side moldings and wide wheel flares at the front and rear. The scheme mimicked that of the production Laramie Longhorn paint scheme

2011 Ram 5500 "Long-Hauler" Concept. (Ram).
2011 Ram 5500 “Long-Hauler” Concept. (Ram).

Upfront, a bull bar extended the entire width of the vehicle. For full use of the bed, a spare tire was located under the floor of the pickup box. To help make the trailer line-up easier was a camera showing the full-new of the pickup box. This would make production with the Center High-Mount Stop Lamp with Cargo View Camera now part of the Towing Technology Group.

A custom hitch-access tailgate allowed for easy hook-ups without the need to open or remove the entire tailgate.

Inside, interior noise levels were heavily dampened with an upgraded NVH package that ensured a quiet cabin environment. The Long-Hauler Concept included 2+2 leather seating with a specific, high-comfort driver seat. Rear passenger comfort was assured with power-adjustable footrests and a rear center console that includes a refrigerator, cup holders, and tray tables. With the interior Wi-Fi enabled, passengers could easily work on laptop computers connected to the Internet during long drives.

2011 Ram 5500 "Long-Hauler" Concept. (Ram).
2011 Ram 5500 “Long-Hauler” Concept. (Ram).

Additional cabin features also included a laptop storage area and a safe for valuables. Interior items designed to keep the driver monitoring of vehicle performance included a tire pressure monitoring system, rear axle temperature gauge and exhaust gas temperature, and boost gauges. Convenience features included an inductive charger and DVD player with an overhead screen for rear-seat passengers could enjoy their favorite programs and entertainment. The rear seats and console also folded flat for additional storage or as a berth for resting.

RAM used the Long-Hauler Concept for customer feedback to see if such a vehicle was wanted by its customer base. RAM identified a potential market for a Class 5 pickup, including race car teams, car haulers, RV owners, ranchers and rodeo competitors, boaters, and commercial expediting operations. The Long-Hauler Concept went on a tour of 8 truck shows across the midwest during the summer and fall of 2011.

2020 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab Limited with Rancher Upfit. (Ram).

While RAM didn’t end up producing the Long-Hauler Concept, it now offers a luxury Chassis-Cab on its Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 Chassis-Cab lineups. We are sure there is plenty of people looking for such a truck to come to market in today’s world.

What do you think? Should RAM build a production version of the Long-Hauler Concept? Let us know in the comments below or on the HDRams.com forums

 

Robert S. Miller

Robert S. Miller is a diehard Mopar enthusiast who lives and breathes all that is Mopar. The Michigander is not only the Editor for MoparInsiders.com, 5thGenRams.com, and HDRams.com but an automotive photographer. He is an avid fan of offshore powerboat racing, which he travels the country to take part in.

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As the humble owner of a 2009 Dodge Ram 3500 used to pull a 15,000 lb GVWR Toy Hauler, the Ram Longhauler has an amazing appeal even though it would be a Herculean machine for my comparatively light Fifth Wheel Toy Hauler.
What crosses my mind is what such an animal would cost?
My truck with an auxiliary fuel tank totals 95 gallons which gives me an approximate 1,000 mile distance between filling.
A 160 gallon setup would give me an approximate 1,6000 distance between filling.
These estimates are based on 10 MPG towing my RV.
I drove from Mesa, Arizona to Fontana, California once without towing and averaged 17 MPG with my 6.7 Cummins.
This animal has a distinct niche as the author of the article has indicated.
However, in my humble laymans opinion, I don't see how this model would be commercially successful with such a small market.
160 gallon fuel tank supply will definitely outlast any of Elon Musk's Electric battery and the Electric Vehicle's charging station availability compromised by charging time.
A longhauler wants to "giddy up'" and go.

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If it could remain affordable it would be a great idea, but I see this exceeding the 100,000 dollar mark as the 3500 that are well equipped with bells and whistles are already at 90,000, I bought a used 2020 3500 bighorn with the standard Cummins for right at 50,000 and it cost me an additional 6000 to set it up for hot shot, I added 7500lbs Firestone air assist bags with a compressor a 91 gallon auxiliary fuel tank, A back rack with a mounted oversize light a B and W 25k fifth wheel hitch and a 20,000lbs curt hitch turn over ball, with that I am all in at 56,000 but this number will grow as I add more to my truck to make my job a little easier, yet I am far below the 100,000 mark that the “long hauler” would be hovering around.

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Ram Trucks didn't have any big news at the Work Truck show virtual event last week. ZF, on the other hand, showed off their new PowerLine 8-speed automatic transmission for medium duty trucks. Rated for 1,000 lbs. of torque, the PowerLine can handle the torque of the HD Ram's standard 6.7 Cummins, but not that of the HO. On the positive side of the ledger, the transmission is good for up to 57,000 lb. GCW.

The reason I bring this up is that this new ZF transmission is directly related to the current 8-speed found in Rams and Jeeps. ZF has stated the heavier duty version can be hybridized similar to the unit found in the Wrangler 4Xe model. I think now would be the time for a new Long-Hauler concept. The Cummins B6.7 has been powering hybrid transit buses for the last 15 years in all sorts of weather. So a diesel hybrid is not anything new. If done correctly, a contemporary Long-Hauler concept would provide an idea for a serious electrified alternative to those battery electric pickups, not yet in production, but now being offered as consumer toys.

BTW, this article on the Long-Hauler brings to mind another concept from 1998, the Dodge Big Red truck.

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Ram Trucks didn't have any big news at the Work Truck show virtual event last week. ZF, on the other hand, showed off their new PowerLine 8-speed automatic transmission for medium duty trucks. Rated for 1,000 lbs. of torque, the PowerLine can handle the torque of the HD Ram's standard 6.7 Cummins, but not that of the HO. On the positive side of the ledger, the transmission is good for up to 57,000 lb. GCW.

The reason I bring this up is that this new ZF transmission is directly related to the current 8-speed found in Rams and Jeeps. ZF has stated the heavier duty version can be hybridized similar to the unit found in the Wrangler 4Xe model. I think now would be the time for a new Long-Hauler concept. The Cummins B6.7 has been powering hybrid transit buses for the last 15 years in all sorts of weather. So a diesel hybrid is not anything new. If done correctly, a contemporary Long-Hauler concept would provide an idea for a serious electrified alternative to those battery electric pickups, not yet in production, but now being offered as consumer toys.

BTW, this article on the Long-Hauler brings to mind another concept from 1998, the Dodge Big Red truck.

I think I remember someone with knowledge posting back in the day that ultimately, the extended range that the extra large fuel tank gained you, was cutting too far into the payload/tow rating to be worthwhile on this class of vehicle.

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ZF, on the other hand, showed off their new PowerLine 8-speed automatic transmission for medium duty trucks. Rated for 1,000 lbs. of torque, the PowerLine can handle the torque of the HD Ram's standard 6.7 Cummins, but not that of the HO. On the positive side of the ledger, the transmission is good for up to 57,000 lb. GCW.

The reason I bring this up is that this new ZF transmission is directly related to the current 8-speed found in Rams and Jeeps. ZF has stated the heavier duty version can be hybridized similar to the unit found in the Wrangler 4Xe model.

Dodge/Jeep/Ram can’t complain about not having the transmission to support a 1000hp and 1000ft.lbs Hybrid Hellcat.

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