If you are just looking for a 2wd, I would definatly recommend the sport or larame with Hemi and bucket seats (gives you the floor style concole shifter).
It will haul your boat, a ton of gravel, and a few girls you'd meet at the country buffet. Towing/payload specs on dodge website.
Don't be afraid of the hemi or 4wd though, I get 21 on the highway, 15-16 in town (lots of hills to climb)

 

Which is funny to me because I had to look all over for one that didn't have the bucket seats It's nice to have occasional seating for 6, the console is a big waste of space in my opinion I like having the shifter on the column.

You can get the SLT with the buckets too, most of the ones I found had them.

 

I only got it because my wife and dad loved it. After I ordered it I regreted adding the option. Untill it came in, now it's my favorite feature. I originally wanted a stick, but people are ***s nowadays and don't know how to drive them. (another topic) I like the control of selecting gears because of all the hills and snow. I figured for a 2wd if he ever wanted to do some performance stuff, the shifter would be awsome for that. Anyhow, I thought I would hate the concile but I love it.

 

After owning a '98 and an '02 I gotta say that the 2009 Ram is the best of the 3! As a matter of fact... I think I like it better than my '05 Grand Cherokee!

 

Ha! LOL!

 

Wow thanks for all of the responses. Now to answer a couple of questions. I am trying to stay cheap I just bought my wife a new Commander last year and that Jeep is loaded Hemi, leather etc... I got a great deal but I really do not want two 30K plus vehicles. That pretty much covers why not the hemi or the 4wd. MPG really doesn't matter to me because the company I work for pays for the fuel. The biggest reason I am looking at the 3.92 is because it is the only one that they have that is white and that is what I am looking for, the 3.92 is just a bonus to me. I drove a rental with the 3.55 and it seemed like a dog off the line so I hope the 3.92 will help that. As for the Price I am looking to be out the door for 21K. To me that is the most important thing to me. Maybe in a few years I can upgrade but for now this seems like a good option for me. Thanks again for all of your input. Hopefully I be transferring over the the 4th gen forum soon.

 

Quad cab 2wd with 4.7L in an SLT should be no problem for about 21K. Just start looking on the web at the inventory of all your local dealers and get in contact via email with their internet sales manager. Make sure they know you are looking at multiple dealers online.

If you don't need the SLT, an ST should be even cheaper

My Crewcab 2wd 5.7L SLT was 25K (Plus tax & license)

 

Love this truck. I have had an 05, 07, and an 08 Ram and the 09 is by far a better truck. I pull my 26' Sea Ray Sundeck with trailor and fully loaded its approx. 6500 - 6700 lbs and it is no problem at all. I agree with everyone else and definately get the 5.7 and 3.92. My 05 had the 4.7 engine and there is a big difference. You will kick yourself later if you don't.

 

I Love mine man! Almost had it two weeks now. Drives like a car. I put a magnaflow exhaust system on it yesterday, she's got a nice throaty rumble to it now! Tossing on a stage 2 Airaid mxp intake next week. I got every bell and whistle available except for the rear dvd player. haha http://http://www.facebook.com/photo...35463&comments

 

^^ Be sure to post pics on here in the 4th Gen sticky.