Dodge trucks have been atop the US domestic truck market for
decades now, and the strongest regional market in the world for the Dodge Ram
is the state of Texas.In light of the
Ram’s popularity in the Lone StarState,
Dodge released the 2009 Dodge Ram Lone Star Edition at the 2008 Texas State
Fair.
This new trimline, which is available at dealerships in Texas only, begins with
a Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab with either two- or four-wheel drive, powered by the
mighty Hemi.The 2009 5.7L Hemi powered
vehicles get a jump in power, to 390 horsepower and 407 lb-ft of torque.The Hemi announces itself through a the
factory-installed 4″ dual exhaust.Like
all other 2009 Rams, the Lone Star Edition is fitted with Dodge’s first in
class five-link rear suspension setup, mated to a sold rear axle, helping to
provide a smoother ride than most pickups without compromising payload or
towing capacity.
Next, the Lone Star Edition Dodge Ram is equipped with the
new RamBox storage unit, which is integrated into the bed side, and offers the
owner a waterproof, lockable, illuminated compartment, and along with that
comes a 2 foot bed extension and cargo rail system with adjustable cleats.The outside of the Lone Star Ram features a
tremendous amount of storage space, and the inside has more of the same, with
in-floor storage compartments and 42 storage areas located throughout the
interior.A lighting group package is
added, giving extra lights everywhere on the truck, both inside and out –from under hood to the vanity mirrors.Finished the interior are various leather
accents and on the exterior the tailgate mounted Lone Star Edition badge
completes the package.
The cost of the 2009 Lone Star Edition package is $1,500,
but with the required Hemi option, the total price is $2,810, but considering
that the same options added individually to a Ram 1500 would cost you around
$3,560, Texans have the opportunity to save themselves some money when
purchasing one of the most advanced trucks in the market.
"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.
