When Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli was Chief Executive Despot at the Home Despot, he hung his monstrous paycheck on such gimmicky products as the Peter Arnell-inspired ergonomic fire extinguisher. now ensconced in Auburn Hills, Nardelli is banking on the RamBox storage option to move its all-new Ram in the teeth of a stiff anti-truck headwind. And that ain't working out so well. Despite Nardelli's and Co-President Jim Press's relentless "game changer" hype, the Ram Box is not good to go. Automotive News (sub) reports that Dodge has not priced the RamBox yet, but "dealers say they have heard discussions of an option price of $1,600 to $2,100." But the New Chrysler wants dealers to order the option without knowing what it will cost, a limb the dealers aren't eager to walk out on. "Until I've seen the RamBox and how it's priced, you're not going to be getting any orders from me," says one Dodge dealer. "I think the RamBox is going to be a big seller if it's priced reasonably. I don't want a bunch of trucks sitting on my lot without it. What the hell is the problem? Where's it at?" This is probably not the way Chrysler was hoping the RamBox would change the game. "We're trying to get a balance between volume and price," says Marc Seguin, senior manager for Ram marketing. "It's a tough thing to price. We're trying to understand how much volume we can sell." Meanwhile, the dealers are left fuming. "To launch the truck without the RamBox is just ridiculous," says another unhappy pusher-man.
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$2,100.00 for a box?? Doesn’t a supply box cost, oh, $50.00 for a nice home at…Home Depot?!
Yes, yes, I know it’s some super cool option, that you can lock (oooh) and that’s water-proof (aaah) on the side of the truck. However, being 6’8″ or having a ladder will still be necessary to access it, so what’s the big deal? Didn’t Honda already come up with storage boxes in the Ridgeline?
They’re expecting a box to sling trucks for them?
I want some of whatever they’re smoking for Burning Man.
If you don’t get the box, then you just get unused waste of space instead? This looks like a feature that should just come standard on every truck.
I don’t subscribe to Automotive News and therefore did not read the article, but doesn’t it look like the box is noticeably wider than the side of a regular pickup? If so, did they make the whole truck bed wider, or did they steal width from inside the bed?
More proof the big 2.whatever still can’t think outside the box…
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The RAM Box doesn’t seem like such a good idea in practice. I guess it gives you a place to put stuff that you can lock, but if you want that, just buy an extended cab truck. An extended cab serves the exact same function as the RAM Box, only with more space, passenger-carrying capacity, and it doesn’t steal room from the cargo bed.
But wait–the RAM Box is only supposed to come in crew cab models. Which makes it even more superfluous. Just put stuff on the back seats. If it’s dirty, put it in the bed. Get a tonneau cover. Or for that matter, just get one of the supply boxes at Home Depot like AKM said. One would think Nardelli, considering he once ran Home Depot, would know they already sell a RAM Box–at fifty bucks no less–for anyone who needs it.
Nice lipstick, same old pig.
The Ram box does not steal any appreciable amount of space from the bed. It is still able to hold a sheet of plywood flat in the bed, with some room to spare on the sides.
In order to accommodate the Ram box, the Ram is wider, but it also utilizes the extra space afforded by the 5-link independent suspension for the box.
And don’t discount the extra space they provide; each Ram box can comfortably hold a set of golf clubs in their bag. Since there are two on each vehicle equipped with them, you’re talking total space equivalent to that of aftermarket boxes that do actually eat into bed space.
An aftermarket truck cap is also weatherproof, lockable, and costs about $2000. The difference is it protects the ENTIRE CONTENTS of the back of the truck, including the afore-mentioned $50 Rubbermaid bin where you put all your grimy stuff (or all your clean stuff if you prefer).
A storage box didn’t help the Titan sell.
Looks like a rust magnet. Contents are secure unless they fall out of the wheel wells.
$1,600 to $2,100?!!!
And on top of that, it’s too obvious for smuggling.
interesting to contrast this typical chrylser debacle with the underbed storage space in the ridgeline. a nice idea, included with every truck, no muss or fuss (rustfree), smooth and efficient launch by honda. no wonder chrysler’s sinkin and honda’s sailin.
and btw, thanks so very much for the “pusher-man” reference, the steppenwolf song brings back some very cool memories.
really – who cares – nobody with any brains would pay for this
interesting to contrast this typical chrylser debacle with the underbed storage space in the ridgeline. a nice idea, included with every truck, no muss or fuss (rustfree), smooth and efficient launch by honda.….
Try to get something out of that nice Honda bed box when there’s 500 lbs of gravel in the bed….you’ll be piping a different tune…Rambox is a good idea, but Dodge will probably botch the execution by making the parts really cheaply…
First of all, I think you guys are underestimating the demand for something like this. People who actually use their trucks for work, or need storage for things that won’t fit (or things that they don’t want) in the cab, will eat this thing up.
Second, the actual box is plastic, not steel. There’s probably a steel outer box, but the actual part where the stuff goes is plastic. The box also has seals, just like a car trunk, so the chances of any water leaking in are slim to none.
Around these parts you can buy the whole 2008 truck for slightly less than $22k Canadian including the 13% sales tax. That is with 4 doors, a hemi and four wheel drive. Quite well optioned.
It’s a nice idea, and could actually be a selling point if it were a no-cost standard feature on all 2009 RAMs, but an extra $1000+ is going to turn off more buyers than it attracts.
With the market rapidly running away from people buying trucks for casual daily drivers with no real need for a truck the Dodge Ram is in a lot of trouble as it is.
People buying a truck for work buy a truck for what is under the skin – the engine, frame, suspension and capabilities thereof. Until Dodge can build a truck with frame as strong as and with as little flex as the F-150 (or even the Silverado), a suspension that gives competitive payload and towing numbers, and transmissions that don’t blow out with any frequency they aren’t going to have a real player in the work-truck market.
Unbelievable. I thought this was in the same vein of the tool chests in the 70s Ford Ranger (full-size) truck and the Nissan Titan.
Because if it prices at $2100, that’s too close to the F-150 Midbox, which is a far superior design (I’ve messed with both) and has already proven itself in government/commercial fleets.
Droid800 : Second, the actual box is plastic, not steel. There’s probably a steel outer box, but the actual part where the stuff goes is plastic. The box also has seals, just like a car trunk, so the chances of any water leaking in are slim to none.
Correct on both counts. I think it had drain plugs too. Its a little hard to remember because Chrysler PR pretended the 2009 Ram didn’t even exist at the NAIAS, preferring to focus on those three hybrid concepts that will never make production.
Isn’t this supposed to be the truth about CARS? I have no idea what a “Ram Box” is, not being a contractor or electrician. Nor do I care. I’m sure a whole lot of people do, but jeez, what’s next? Schoolbus-driver steering wheel options?
Actually, this option sounds kinda cool to me. Safe storage has been a big pickup bugaboo. Since trucks often serve as personal transport, what has been missing is secure, and out-of-sight, storage for personal property. Especially luggage when travelling. The rear space in an extra-cab is no good, because the cargo is visible (and therefore attractive to thieves.) Bed covers are problematic because they are a: expensive, and b: more or less hard to remove for occassionally moving really big stuff. So this thing sounds promising, if it is well-made and priced right.
It sounds like a good idea to me, but I wouldn’t buy the truck around it. Those things depreciate like yellow bananas, and they weren’t doing much better before the price of gas went up.
Yeah, this will help move these junkers…
“CRYCO” – Give up already…
Wow! What a great feature to make the Tundra even better! These guys at Toyota are brilliant, they came up with a way to take a FS PU and make it better! They beat the 2.8 at their own game AGAIN! No wonder Detroit’s going bankrupt! I’m sure when the price is actually announced it’ll be really cheap, but even if it wasn’t I’d probably pay $5,000 extra for it, and so would all my buddies! Genius!
Oh, I mis-read the article. This thing comes on a Dodge? What a stupid piece of crap idea. They won’t be able to give it away.
I’m surprised that no one pointed out that the Chevy Avalanche has had storage compartments like this since its introduction.
“Chrysler PR pretended the 2009 Ram didn’t even exist at the NAIAS”
ummm…what were all those (randy) cows outside Cobo about, then?
Anyone want to buy one of the man-bags that they put the Ram truck press kit in? I’ve got extras…
Chrysler PR put big bucks into the truck intro, too bad (for Ford too) the timing for a big truck could not have been worse
Cool feature.
“dealers say they have heard discussions of an option price of $1,600 to $2,100.”
That’s retarded.
phil :
interesting to contrast this typical chrylser debacle with the underbed storage space in the ridgeline. a nice idea, included with every truck, no muss or fuss (rustfree), smooth and efficient launch by honda. no wonder chrysler’s sinkin and honda’s sailin.
First of all, the Ridgeline’s sales are in an epic downward spiral (down 47% in July).
Second, Honda put the spare tire in their storage space. Pray you don’t get a flat with a loaded bed.
Third, it’s a completely useless space if you have to put something in the bed. It’s only useful if you’re not hauling anything, or else you’d have to move whatever is back there anytime you want something out of the “trunk.”
The Dodge solution is a good compromise for a real truck owner. Honda just wanted a gimmick for the urban cowboy to latch onto.
Great a place to stow my lucnbox! Is that thing wide enough to hold a circular saw?
Will that saw be there after a 10 year old with a flat-bladed Cracksman screwdriver gets through with it?
66Nova : ummm…what were all those (randy) cows outside Cobo about, then?
My bad, how could I forget that? BM covered that intro while I was blogging for the site. That was a busy coupla days.
For this reason, we really need more than two media passes to these shows.
hey Sajeev–I feel your pain. Unless you’re with the mass market print media, NAIAS has gotten stingy with the passes in the last few years; I only got one because an overseas colleague was unable to use his. And not only do you need more passes, you really need the ability to be in two places at once to get all the goodies out of NAIAS.
Even having attended the Ram truck “event”, I didn’t remember anything being said about the box–the cows were very distracting, especially for the folks in the front row who were within range of some lethal looking pointy horns.
Is it ventilated so that the kids arrive alive?
Honda didn’t “come up” with anything…. they copied from the Chevrolet Avalanche… to the extent that they often refer to the Ridgeline as the “Honda Avalanche”. I saw the Ram Box in person and… at 5’4″, I can get into the storage just fine without a ladder or any assistance. The boxes are large and will hold a full set of golf clubs with no problem… or a case of beer! They are set up to work as coolers as well, with drainage. I put my daughter’s snowboard in one so they would hold a standard circular saw plus a bunch of other tools with no problem. I personally think it’s a great option. I don’t want a big storage box sitting in the bed of my truck. I just think they should have had it ready when the truck launched. I’m not buying one without it.
Oh my gosh – just read more. You guys talking about the suspension… have you DRIVEN one??? The suspension is completely new and this thing rides great. We took it on various tracks at the Dodge event… the suspension is awesome and I’m a Chevy girl. We have a 2003 Ram now and the suspension sucks. Seems to me there are a lot of people griping on here with 0 experience with the actual product. Go see one and take a drive. I’m more than willing to pay the extra money for the Ram Box… if it ever comes out.