Ram 2500 Laramie video review
We put Ram's massive ute to work.
Whether it be a diminutive Turkish man from the Bantamweight class or a man mountain from eastern Europe taking out the Heavyweight class there is something about ability to lift outrageous amount of weight over one's head that piques people's' interest, or at least mine.
While cars can't perform the snatch or a clean and jerk, they can tow and carry a decent payload.
In deciding the gold, silver and bronze we'll keep the competition limited to dual-cab utes sold in Australia, and award the medal based on the car's ability to both tow and haul a sizeable amount of weight in the tray.
Gold medal - Ram 2500 7 tonne towing, 900kg payload
When it comes to hauling weight nothing quite compares to the Ram 2500.
Imported to Australia and then re-engineered to right-hand drive by ASV (American Special Vehicles), the Ram's numbers are as big as it is.
When using a pintle the Ram 2500 can tow an almost unbelievable 6989kg, effectively double of any of the other dual-cab utes out on the market today.
Its payload is less impressive, rated at only 913kg, about 100kg less than some of its smaller counterparts.
It towing prowess stems from its 6.7-litre six-cylinder Cummins turbo diesel engine that produces 276kW and a hypercar-esque 1084Nm of torque.
It's big, expensive and its engine gives it an unfair advantage over its competitors, but that means nought in this ancient contest of strength.
It all adds up to an easy gold medal win for the Ram.
Silver medal - Ford Ranger 3.5 tonne towing, 1000kg payload
Ford's new Ranger quickly set the new benchmark for dual-cab utes. It is one of Australia's most hotly contested categories with the likes of the Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Mitsubishi Triton featuring regularly in the monthly highest selling vehicle standings.
Its 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel - a paltry offering when compared side-by-side with the Ram - produces 147kW and 470Nm with power driven to all four wheels.
This all adds up to a class benchmark of 3.5 tonne braked towing capacity and a payload limit of about 1000kg.
Combined with a class-leading level of gear and a more refined ride it was awarded the best ute award in the most recent Drive's Car of the Year testing; all of which makes the Ford Ranger good enough for the silver medal.
Bronze medal - Mazda BT-50 3.5 towing, 1000kg payload
You might be getting a case of deja vu here, and that's because the Mazda BT-50 and the Ford Ranger were co-developed by the two brands and therefore they share the same mechanical underpinnings.
Both have the same engine and the towing capacity and payload are identical, but there can' be a dead heat in a contest like this.
The Ranger from all accounts is a superior vehicle in both its appearance and level of standard kit and the way it operates.
However, the likes of the Toyota HiLux, Mitsubishi Triton or Nissan Navara could all slot in here, albeit with slightly less load lugging ability than the BT-50/Ranger twins.
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