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Heavy-duty pickups are the sumo wrestlers of the truck world. They’re big, tough and steadfast, ready for anything you can ask of them, including pulling a trailer that is more than twice as heavy as the truck itself.

But some big trucks, such as the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Laramie Mega Cab 4X4 with the Cummins 6.7-liter turbodiesel engine, are equipped more like an upscale car than a work truck.

The test truck had heated seats, a heated steering wheel, a navigation system, satellite radio, rearview camera, Alpine stereo and a 30-gigabyte hard disc that can hold more than 4,000 songs. Chrysler created the Ram name as a separate brand for its trucks, which are no longer known as Dodges.

Not surprisingly, the price sticker, at $53,545, was also big.

The Ram Heavy Duty was named Truck of the Year by Motor Trend magazine. The Mega Cab has a back seat with limousine legroom, but the 160-inch wheelbase was a bit of a challenge in suburban parking lots.

The four-wheel-drive Ram sits so high that the floor was well above my knees. For me, getting in required some minor gymnastics and a tug on the steering wheel. My wife said that getting in with a dress would have been impossible, but then, the person who buys a truck this big is likely to be more concerned with towing capacity than ease of entry.

The two-wheel-drive 2010 Ram 2500 regular cab has a starting price of $28,165. A four-wheel-drive Crew Cab begins at $39,430, and the Laramie Mega Cab begins at $43,150.

Dodge offers a Ram Power Wagon that is designed for off-road use because it is equipped with electronic locking front and rear differentials; electronic disconnecting sway bar; Bilstein shocks; 32-inch off-road tires; underbody skid-plate protection; 4.56 axle ratio for hill climbing and a custom-built, 12,000-pound winch that is accessible through the front bumper.

Writing about big trucks is not easy because there are so many combinations of wheelbase, cab size, bed length and drive configuration. Deciphering the specification chart is like reading the a la carte menu of a five-star restaurant.

The Ram’s optional diesel engine is the ticket for serious work. This inline six-cylinder, which costs $7,615, has 350 horsepower, but more importantly, it delivers 650 pound-feet of torque. A four-wheel-drive, regular-cab Ram with an 8-foot bed can tow up to 17,300 pounds.

The Environmental Protection Agency does not require mileage ratings for heavy-duty trucks. According to the onboard computer, I averaged around 12 miles per gallon around town in the recent cold and snow.

Dodge said this engine has a standard oil-change interval of 7,500 miles and a major overhaul interval of 350,000 miles.

Backing up the 6.7-liter diesel is a choice of either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. The six-speed manual has an ultra-low first-gear ratio for heavy hauling requirements. The test truck had the six-speed automatic. A button on the shift lever lets the driver select gears manually. An integrated trailer-brake controller is standard.

The test truck’s four-wheel-drive system was most helpful during our recent snowstorms, and it was easy to engage with a knob on the instrument panel.

Safety items include anti-lock brakes and side-curtain airbags.

Price

The base price of the test truck was $43,150. Options included the automatic transmission, limited-slip differential, Cummins diesel engine, navigation system with hard disc and satellite radio, off-road tires and a rearview camera. The sticker price was $53,545.

Warranty

Three years or 36,000 miles with a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

2010 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Laramie Mega Cab 4×4

Engine: 6.7-liter, 350-hp 6-cyl.

Transmission: Automatic

Four-wheel drive

Wheelbase: 160 inches

Curb weight: 7,495 lbs.

Base price: $43,150

As driven: $53,545

MPG rating: not required for heavy duty trucks

To contact Tom Strongman, send e-mail to tom@tomstrongman.com.