After first claiming the title of the Motor Trend 2013 Truck
of the Year, the 2013 Ram 1500 has continued to pile up awards with the newest
honors coming from the Detroit Free Press and the National Rifle Association.
The 2013 Ram 1500 might not look vastly different on the
outside from the 2012 model year pickups aside from the high tech projection
headlights but a host of new technologies including adjustable air suspension,
active grille shutters and a new 8-speed automatic transmission have made the
new half ton Ram the most advanced option on the market today.With a list of industry firsts including
those mentioned above in addition to the efficient and powerful pair of engines
– the 2013 Ram 1500 is the most efficient and most capable half ton truck on
the market today.
First off, the National Rifle Association’s official magazine
– American Hunter – has named the 2013 Ram Outdoorsman its Vehicle of the
Year.The Ram 1500 Outdoorsman offers
all of the same goodies as the rest of the 2013 Ram lineup but the Outdoorsman
includes the standard Ram Box storage system that allows for secure, dry, and lockable
storage of firearms in the bedside compartments.The adjustable air suspension system with a variety
of settings to make for easier off-roading makes it easier for the modern hunter
to get into the deep woods in stock form while also offering incredible power
and fuel economy.
Next, joining the NRA and Motor Trend, the Detroit Free
Press announced that the 2013 Ram 1500 is their 2013 Truck of the Year.The people at the well known Motor City
newspaper found that the best in class fuel mileage, “workhorse capability” and
unique technologies made it the best truck on the market today.
As time goes on and more awards are announced, we can expect
to see the 2013 Ram 1500 continue to rack up honors.So far, Motor Trend, the Detroit Free Press
and the National Rifle Association have recognized the Ram 1500 as the best
truck on the market today and there is a good chance that more publications
will feel the same way when it comes time for more 2013 “Of The Year” awards to
be announced.Most importantly, the 2013
Ram 1500 is in the running for the 2013 North American Truck of the Year – an award
that will be announced next month at the 2013 North American International Auto
Show in Detroit.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
