Horses, cows, bulls, and hogs

Cowboys, ranchers, singers, and clowns

Music, shopping, eating, and big fun

The rodeo is all said and done

As the many trailers all leave town

They’re hitched to the best rides around

In trucks as wide and big as Texas

They’re tough enough to keep the paces

With many brands from which to choose

For the next seven days, Ram 1500 is what I cruise

If you love trucks, living in Texas is like a dream come true. What other state is there where manufacturers make a model of their truck just for a state? That’s the power of Texas. Being as specific to theme a truck after Texas is one thing but when adding the fact that the truck is best in class for its segment coupled with luxury. Well, my friend that is called an easy choice. Why else would you pick any other truck to buy? If that it is not convincing enough keep reading and I am sure to have you hooked by the end of this article.

The 2018 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 is unlike any truck I have seen. So much so that it left me speechless. That’s hard to do considering the volume of auto reviews I write. I was at a lost for words because the truck is simply gorgeous especially in the two-tone bright white with brown undertone along the bottom of the truck. I know that is not the usual description associated with a truck but it is beautiful upon first glance and further exploration of it will make any buyer fall in love and say repeatedly, “Wow, wow, and wow!”

Looking at the Ram 1500 whose height is just over 77 inches, I have never felt so small. This truck is huge! Sitting on 20-inch aluminum polished wheels with brown inserts, the Ram 1500 is king in the light-duty pickup division. The ground clearance is nine inches. It does not take on a boxy shape but rather embraces its curves for better aerodynamics. The buckle inspired Ram Longhorn branding is right there in your face letting all know it is not your average truck. Chrome detailing enhances the luxury look on the upscale grille with Ram badging, LED lights, mirrors, door handles, and everywhere. Side mirrors are a triple threat in that they are heated, power folding, and auto-dimming.

I had a slight panic attack thinking when looking at the size of the Ram 1500. “How am I going to get in this thing?” I thought. Lucky for me (and short people), the Ram 1500 comes with wheel-to-wheel side steps and a grab bar to aid in accessing the vehicle’s cabin. The side step also extends just past the cabin to help with getting to the truck’s bed. In the 4x4, the bed length is six feet four inches with two sizable Ram lock boxes on the sides. Equipped with a spray-in bedliner, there is a switch to control the LED lights inside the bed.

Opening the door, I couldn’t believe I was viewing a truck. The two-tone color combination of Canyon Brown/Light Frost resembled that of well creamed cup of coffee. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy. I was relaxed and comfortable in the 8-way powered front seat that can be heated and ventilated. Backseat passengers also can experience the joy of heated seats. The steering wheel can be heated and houses buttons for media and cruise controls. In front of the driver is a well-stacked driver information digital cluster system that is full of facts from the basic of how much gas is in the tank to the vehicle’s performance level all on a seven inch full-color screen.

In the center is the over-the-top infotainment center. What really caught my attention was the artistry that detailed the silver enclosure around it. So beautiful! Featuring UConnect 8.4, drivers can control navigation, a suite of apps, Bluetooth technology, dual zone air control, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Android Auto, Apple Car Play and more with improved graphics and resolution. Standard and most necessary is the backup camera. I could not park without this thing. Not only did the backup camera give me the best picture, the driver information system shows visually how close I am to hitting something and beeps. The center of the truck provides lots of storage in some usually common wasted spaces. I really like the two-part center console with one smaller section for your phone and USB connections and a deeper section that is big enough to store an average size laptop computer. Cup holders are everywhere. Plus, the big bonus and so needed wireless phone charger. Yes!

Space is really the ruler of the cabin. I was blown away especially about the amount of legroom that was in the backseat. There are about 40 inches of legroom alone and more space can be added when folding the backseats up for additional cargo. Secret storage compartments can be found under the backseats. Usually, that is not a place for taller individuals. Although I didn’t have my taller friends climb in the back to test it out against their long limbs, I do believe they would be most comfortable. Ram does not shortchange backseat passengers either. They have access to heated seats, household plug outlet, more than two-cup holders, air controls, and more. All seating is wrapped in premium leather with exposed stitching and Longhorn branding. Front seat back pockets are upgraded from their normal slit to closures that resemble belt buckles. The power sunroof that lets light in is optional on the vehicle for an extra $1,100 bucks. All premium materials of wood, aluminum, and leather are very prominent throughout the cabin.

Under the hood, the Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn is working with a 5.7 Liter V8 Hemi engine with 8—speed transmission. Shifting gears in the Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn takes some getting used to as turning a knob controls it. Yea, you read that right, a knob. But don’t worry it is rather easy to maneuver. I actually really started to like it as the week progressed. Even though I was scared to drive such massively big truck I felt more and more at ease the more I drove it since the ride was so nice. I felt like a queen on her throne as I glided down the roads of the bayou city no matter how many potholes I encountered. Handling was amazing. Controls are abounded in the cabin to utilize the four modes to control air suspension, which can also be controlled remotely before the engine start if equipped with the keyless remote. With a 32-gallon fuel tank, the Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn is very fuel efficient having economy ratings of 15-mpg city and 21-mpg highway to get 5.9 gallons per 100 miles. If I had to make any improvements, it would be the addition of safety features like lane departure alert, collision alert, and auto-braking. But it does have advance ParkSense front and rear airbags for safety.

All that I have said is grand but what about the real reason people buy trucks. These guys are workhorses known for their tow ability. The Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn is not shabby in this area. It boasts a max towing of 10, 240 pounds with a maximum payload of 1,680 pounds. Wowsers!

So now that I have you drooling with desire to own one of the longest lasting pickup trucks price has to be on your mind. This kind of luxury and style in a workhorse does not come cheap but it is not out of range either. The 2018 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 base price starts at $53,595. Add style that has a southwest Texas theme can be added to your truck with Longhorn packaging for $1,395.

Now you know why the Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn sets the bar for a premium luxury truck. Work, pleasure, and luxury meet to make a remarkable driving machine. Visit Ramtrucks.com or your local dealer for more information.