RAM’s sheepish entry ride

Big Horn adds to local line-up … btw, it’s named after a sheep.

THE vehicle model name certain to trigger giggly innuendo has returned to this market.

Owners of any Isuzu sports utilities built in the early 2000s that might still be around now can take solace that there’s a second, erm, ‘member’ of the Big Horn club - this time it’s a version of the RAM 1500. 

RAM will likely have to steel itself for “that’s a big one” style comment in respect to their derivative, which it reminds is using a name that is famed in Stellantis circles and takes its cue, from the famous Big Horn sheep, which roam the Rockie Mountains.

The variant has arrived to fill in for the old DS generation RAM 1500, which remained in production for more than a year after the latest DT generation landed, it’s role being to provide a budget alternate to the newer tech truck. 

The DT Big Horn will, once DS supply has exhausted, be the cheapest RAM - but at $129,990 it is a lot pricier than that DS, which is in run out for $99,990.

Like other DTs, the Big Horn runs a 291kW/556Nm 5.7-litre petrol V8 and eight-speed gearbox. The eying has a mild hybrid system, cylinder deactivation and stop/start function, which when behaving optimally brings fuel burn down to a cited 12.2 litres per 100km. 

It has a 4.5 tonne max braked towing capacity but the payload of 878kg means it is stiffed by one-tonne utes.