Pennsylvania Fairgoers Flock to Ram Thrill Rides
By John Matras
The way people were lined up along the chain-link fence, backs to one of the glittery country fair midways as they watched pickup trucks negotiate obstacles, you might think they were watching a stunt show or a scaled-down monster truck show.
But they were not.
They were watching a promotion for Ram pickups at the recent Bloomsburg Fair, where Ram was giving demonstration rides of the Ram 1500 over a dirt track in an open field. The Bloomsburg Fair, located in its namesake town in central Pennsylvania, is the largest agricultural fair in the state and one of the largest in the East, complete with horse pulls and livestock judging, plus carnival games and rides, live music and ethnic food. It's farm country, and it's pickup country.
So although the population numbers may not match those of the Baltimore or Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas, the pickup truck demographics of the region swamp those of the major urban centers. Ram's demo drive was a natural for the area, said Ram's Jerry Hunter, who brought the event to the fair for the first time this year.
The point was to show the off-road bona fides of a Ram 1500 pickup. More than a show for the fence clingers, the ride-alongs were free — something that fairgoers accustomed to paying for everything found hard to believe.
The exhibition rides, all in crew cabs, included a demonstration of articulation, with the trucks driving through a series of alternating pits that drop one corner while the opposite corner rises off the ground.
That was followed by a hillside of death that tipped the trucks 30 degrees from horizontal without the trucks tipping over, a thrill for the ride-alongs. Next up was a stop on a steep upslope to show off the hill-holder feature, and then the Ram waded through a rocker-panel-deep pool, with the drivers making sure to mention the triple door seals keep the carpet dry.
Tight S-turns displayed the tight turning radius of the Ram 1500 crew cab, and alternating logs demonstrated the pickup's prowess in crawling in 4-Low.
People invariably left the Ram demo grinning. Their favorite part? Almost to a person, it was the 30-degree side slope. People didn't know a pickup could do that, and now we have visions of teenagers doing that with Dad's truck. Kids: Don't try that at home.
One older guy did say what he liked best was the comfortable ride and the quality interior. Yeah, sure, sir, but what about that side slope?
With weather cooperating during this year's Bloomsburg Fair, some 4,000 people took the Ram thrill ride and it looked like another 4,000 were turned away.
And that's not counting the people behind the fence. So for Hunter, that meant mission accomplished.
Comments
Thats a really cool promotion. Looks so fun even though you cant drive.
WOOOHOOO I'M FIRST I'M FIRST I'M FIRST!!!!! I'VE NEVER BEEN FIRST!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!! WOOOOHOOO!!!! FIRST FIRST FIRST. IN YOUR FACE EVERYONE!
NICE ARTICLE BTW
The streak continues Jeramiah
This website can learn a thing or two from Journalist in Mexico, here's what they are doing down South.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6_YhzvJP9U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cWu5ZqzK8I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqAfRGHpvtI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPeMjbTR-Hk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3tl5dNM1JQ
Now just imagine a Power Wagon. ;) (the original 4x4 truck)
Guts
Glory
Ram
Rules!
P.S. GIT R DONE!
They must be doing this between all the recalls or they keep changing trucks.
They had two fire extinguishers per staff member and one in the back of the truck, just in case. Ram doesn't want to have another move back-fire on them.
A Raptor would destroy all...
When will this website get a moderator to weed out the idiots? Honestly, Mark Williams, get it together.
Speaking of recalls, when is ford going to recall the EGO Boost?
Can u imagine what would happen if a F150 did the same course.
You get one of those things wet and we all know what happens next. Dam truck starts acting like a constipated Chiwawa.
All this talk about ram recalls. Which would you rather have a company that fixes problems or one that denies they have a problem?
A Raptor would destroy all...
Posted by: DB | Oct 5, 2013 5:08:15 PM
Funny, The Craptor's frame would have bent. lol
Built ford tough.........NOT!
Good thing they didn't use a f150 5.0L the alternator on the bottom of the engine for all the mud and water to get on it and mess it up haha! Built Ford Stupid
GM and Ram fanbois write the dumbest comments.
All American, GM recalls certain Chevy, GMC, Buick Saab, Isuzu SUV models for fire. lol
Jun 18, 2013
F150 6.2L VS CHEVY 6.2L VS RAM 5.7L towing 0-60
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz8fek_XlgA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
This is at a Chevy sponsored event btw. I really don't know why they put a 5.7L in the mix. This is more for the 6.4L, but they don't put those in a half ton.
After reading the comments in this article these links might assist those wanting to know what is going on at PUTC regarding the quality of comments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brand_tribalism
http://www.globalchange.com/financialtimesdixonfeature31oct2005.pdf
@Truckerman
Do some research and you will find an answer to your question. Pretty much no need for one since Ford already released a TSB(Technical Service Bulletin) to fix it a long time ago for anyone having any issues. Pretty much, bring it in and it will be corrected free of charge. No need for a recall since thwy already took the measures to fix the issue. Now that you have am answer you can find something else to troll about. Thanks bu-bye.
@Big Al from Oz - a few years ago I made the tribal comment and it irritated the tribes. It isn't new stuff, maybe new to sales and advertising but from a sociological/psychological perspective - the idea has been around a long time.
So.......... you get to sit in the passenger seat while a "trained professional" drives you around an artificial hard packed course with a big puddle complete with a fake flamingo.
@AllAmerican - your journalistic video's are commercials for the Mexican Market.
Well, Mexico is part of the Americas.
Now I know what your blog name stands for - "all of North America".
Aren't those trucks Hecho en Mexico?
@The Real Lou
Yeah, I realise the concept, but never read up on it.
Alex's comment in the other article had me researching the ins and outs of these blog sites.
I think many of these guys that blog crap do not even have a licence. But they are interested in pickups and should pipe down a little and listen to wisdom. They might learn.
Maybe they sit around their High School playground during play lunch big noting themselves in front of little girls (boys for Fiat/Ram guys) on their self proclaimed prowess on pickups.
In Australia play lunch is recess in schools, smoko for the real workers or morning tea if you're a public/civil servant/office worker (British?). The States call it coffee break.
I tried to make the comment comical and humourous, not trolling.
This video from 93 years ago shows Dodge off road. Their legacy continues. The first U.S.military vehicle was a 1914 Dodge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq2jY1trxqg
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100901/collector/100909988
@Truckerman.
You're a total idiot. Ford actually stepped up to the plate and recalled their Fusions despite not a signle one catching fir. Chrysler refused recalling their Jeep despite MANY fires.
Ram has had an ass load of recalls this year because of a faulty product. The "Egoboost" has the highest customer satisfaction per Consumer Reports. A few morons think they can leech money off Ford because they think they can take advantage of Ecoboost being new technology for a truck, despite having less issues than everyone else according to Consumer Reports.
@All1 Ford hasn't done crap on fixing eco boost. People are still having the same problems even after going to Ford LMAO.
http://www.f150ecoboost.net/forum/31-f150-ecoboost-problems/1139-sputtering-wot.html
@ Dafuq I didn't say anything about the Fusion. I said F150.
I don't know anything about a fusion. I only drive semi and pickup trucks. This is pickuptrucks.com I thought, and you call me an idiot.
@ ALL1 there is no fix for the F150 EGOBOOST. Ford will fix other repairs free of charge,but not the engine ghost problem. They don't know how to fix that problem.
So you do your research and stop trolling.
@ Johnny doe thanx for the link.
@The Real Lou
Yeah, I realise the concept, but never read up on it.
Alex's comment in the other article had me researching the ins and outs of these blog sites.
I think many of these guys that blog crap do not even have a licence. But they are interested in pickups and should pipe down a little and listen to wisdom. They might learn.
Maybe they sit around their High School playground during play lunch big noting themselves in front of little girls (boys for Fiat/Ram guys) on their self proclaimed prowess on pickups.
In Australia play lunch is recess in schools, smoko for the real workers or morning tea if you're a public/civil servant/office worker (British?). The States call it coffee break.
I tried to make the comment comical and humourous, not trolling.
@The Real Lou
Yeah, I realise the concept, but never read up on it.
Alex's comment in the other article had me researching the ins and outs of these blog sites.
I think many of these guys that blog crap do not even have a licence. But they are interested in pickups and should pipe down a little and listen to wisdom. They might learn.
Maybe they sit around their High School playground during play lunch big noting themselves in front of little girls (boys for Fiat/Ram guys) on their self proclaimed prowess on pickups.
In Australia play lunch is recess in schools, smoko for the real workers or morning tea if you're a public/civil servant/office worker (British?). The States call it coffee break.
I tried to make the comment comical and humourous, not trolling.
@The Real Lou
Yeah, I realise the concept, but never read up on it.
Alex's comment in the other article had me researching the ins and outs of these blog sites.
I think many of these guys that blog crap do not even have a licence. But they are interested in pickups and should pipe down a little and listen to wisdom. They might learn.
Maybe they sit around their High School playground during play lunch big noting themselves in front of little girls (boys for Fiat/Ram guys) on their self proclaimed prowess on pickups.
In Australia play lunch is recess in schools, smoko for the real workers or morning tea if you're a public/civil servant/office worker (British?). The States call it coffee break.
I tried to make the comment comical and humourous, not trolling.
@Truckerman.
You were talking about a manufacturer's willingness to recall, and I said Ford actually steps up to the plate and Chrysler does not.
@Johnny Doe.
Ford has no reason to recall the Ecoboost because it doesn't have any significant problem. RAM has had like 6 recalls this year for actual problems.
As far as this article, it should be noted that Ram, like Chevy has an airdam on their front overhang that impedes on ground clearance and approach angles.
@Dafuq Not a problem? Read the link people are damn near getting rear ended or in other traffic accidents due to losing power and sputtering. I say its a big problem you spend 30 plus grand for a new truck and it runs like a beat up out of tune 1940s Ford. JUNK!
Guys on here always love to exaggerate rumors and minor issues regarding Ford.
The Ecoboost F-150 has the highest customer satisfaction in consumer reports.
@Al from Oz
What the heck are you on about Austrailia is the biggest market for brand loyalty.
@johnny does truckerman
Yes, the Ecoboost had an issue of water building up in the intercooler on some trucks. The water would get ingested into the engine. Not enough todo damage but enough to cause misfires. Ford has a eengine protection mode called limp mode. It cuts two cylinders when it detects multiple misfires so it will not damage the engine. While in limp mode, you can still accelerate, just not very quickly kind of like how a 5.3L accelerates. It lastts for thirty seconds and returns to normal. Only a fraction of trucks were effected by this depending on humidity and how easy it was for the intercooler to build up water. It was the engine itself but the intercooler that was causing the issue.
You can call it junk all you want cause I can give a rats @$$ what you think since your opinion holds no validity in the real world. It is just wasted bytes of font on a computer as far as I am concerned as I am sure what I say is the same to you guys.
I actually like the name Ego-boost though. That is what you feel when you pull away from a 5.3L. I guess since are making names, we can just call the new 5.3L an Ego-tech because that is what the technician will have when he works on them all the time.
@dafug, "You were talking about a manufacturer's willingness to recall, and I said Ford actually steps up to the plate and Chrysler does not."
Sure,you can believe that. lol
August 1, 2013 11:34 AM Ford Motor Co agreed to pay nearly $17.4 million in a settlement with U.S. auto safety regulators for failing to act quickly enough last year to recall vehicles with a defect that may cause unintended acceleration.
Is this what you call Ford stepping up to the plate?
Stay thirsty my friend. lol
Yeah you're right I can give a rats @$$ about a eco boost, but I'm still give people info and links about the engine to educate them self that these engines still have problems like it or not. The eco boost still isn't fixed correctly people are still having problems.
@All1
I know the feeling as that is how I feel when I pull away from a twin turbo 3.5L V6 pickup.
I work for Lance Funk Farms in American Falls, Idaho. He bought 5 of his managers the 2013 Eco-Boost. They suck. Honestly. They are not made for mud or farming at all. I went to go use my managers to get some lights. I turned it on, put it in drive, and it wouldn't go. It was completely gutless. I had to shut it off, then turn it on again. Then it acted normal. It guess it has something to do with the fuel system. All but one have been acting this. The one that hasn't, hardly goes in the mud. True Story. Oh, and they only have no more than 40,000 miles on them.
Emilio, I'm just up the road from you in IF. I will ask my bro-in-law if he knows you guys, he gets around to all the farmers down there selling pressure washers.
Look up eco boost problems on you tube. Not good.
Glad to see something got fixed. The Ram wasn't four-wheeling too well in the Pacific Ocean a few months ago.
@Emilio Palacios Sounds bout right I'm doing pipe lines for MSL oil & gas corp right now can google them. They have two eco boost we put a D5 Cat track in the bed and the thing wouldn't move. Guy said it happens a lot he has to restart it multi times to make it run right sometimes.
Mean while my Father buys a 2013 f150 stx 5.0L just reach its first oil change. Let me tell you, you need be almost 6 foot tall( or a stand ladder) to even reach the dip stick. The oil filter points downward so oil runs out all over as soon as you unscrew it. Ford put this little plastic oil collector to move the oil to you're drain pan, but it don't work oil pours out all over you're drive way. Then I got to looking the put you're alternator on the bottom of the engine so you got to stand on you're head to change it plus all the water and mud you hit splashes all over it to kill it even faster. If you ask me Ford has forgotten how to make a easy to maintain engine. My father 5.0 has been okay other then a random oil gauge drop to 0 but he shut the truck off fast then restarted it and the gauge worked again, and some times if he takes this one turn on his way to work it act likes the track control kicks on even though the tires don't spin.
Touche HemiV8, Ford didn't step up to the plate on that situation. Of course Ford has never had a life threatening situation with the unintended acceleration as far as I know. When there are hundereds of Jeeps catching fire, it's pretty dumb to deny a recall. The Jeep recall was also directly from the DOT.
Johnny Doe:
You guys can't just close your eyes and close your ears to all the Ram recalls this year.
You can search google "Silverado problems, "Hemi failure" basically anything and you will find several results, and that's clearly what a lot of you guys are doing for Ford. Consumer Reports didn't give the EcoBoost F-150 highest customer atisfaction for no reason, it's based on actual customers.
@AD you suck at comebacks, you just repeated the last part of what he said but changes the wording.
Give me a R, R Give me a A, A, Give me a M, M, whats that spell? RAM the best truck on the road.
@HemiV8
Sorry to interupt your history lesson but that Dodge Brothers vehicle is actually a rebadged Ford Model T. Dodge Bros didn't start making their own vehicles till the mid 20's. The first off road vehicles were Marmom Herrington Ford Model Ts.
@MyOpinionOnAD'sComment
You have every right to your opinion but wouldn't you rather be a man and stand by your comment or you could just hide as we know you have another screen name you normally post under.
These guys are just killing Chevrolet for that #2 spot. Very impressive!
@johnny doe
The why don't you educate people on the Chevy recals as well like the recent air bag recall on the 2014s or the movinf out of park recall on the 2013 GM trucks. Don't piss on my leg and tell it is raining by saying you just want educate people. You just want to bash Ford with anything and everything even on a settlement not even related to trucks or in recent year model vehicles.
The misfire/shudder issue has been fixed in the 2013 model trucks. I am not saying or never daid there wasn't an issue. I have never experienced the issue, but I heard that some in very humid climates have a chance of it happening. No, truck make is without its issues which is why I don't throw any stones at Ram or any other make when these recall alearts comre out. If you are going throw stones then call a truck that somebody works hard all month to pay for, then air out your own dity laundry with Chevy issies as well. They are not hard to find woth a quick google search.Do dodon't try to BS us by telling us you just want educate people when all you want to do is continue thid fanboy love by bashing everything else but GM.
@AD
You, if I cared enough about blasting Tundras on the quarter mile then I would just get that turbo upgrade kit, but I don't since I use it for towing. I am sure an Ecoboost owner can spend the same amount of money (or even less) that you did on your supercharger, and leave you behind at stop lights. I am just not willing to do so you got me on that end. Towing is a different story.
Sorry all for having to put up with me typing on my phone. I know it is really hard at times to understand and I know I should review my posts before I submit them. Does anybody know of an android app that is easier to use when posting. Even on a Galaxy Note 2 the text box is really small and hard to type in versus my forum apps. If anyone knows of a good app to make it better then please post a link. Thanks.
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