Just about every breed of pickup truck can be had in a bare-bones, work-truck package, but Ram has a special name for it: Tradesman. While many value-line trucks offer austerity on all fronts, Ram takes a different tack by assembling a more thoughtful mix of practical, low-cost features that appeal to the construction class. For example, a V-8 engine is standard on the Tradesman, but you still get to crank the windows by hand. This is a truck for a purist, not a weekend enthusiast.
Introduced last year, the Tradesman has exceeded Ram's expectations, contributing to the Chrysler truck brand selling 23% more pickups in 2011 compared to 2010. And Ram, which split from Dodge in 2009, claims to be gaining in marketshare points and resale values, as well.