New tech allows pickup trucks to power up off road
MALIBU, California -- From the outside, pickup trucks have pretty much stayed the same through the decades -- engine, cab, cargo box. But while the shape hasn't changed much, the technology underneath has undergone a revolution.
New computer and other system capabilities have come to pickups in a way that allows them to take the toughest off--road trails with ease.
Ram's Nick Cappa went through a few of them with us recently with a Ram 1500 pickup as it took it on some serious offroad trails in the hills above the fabled beach community here.
These technologies came into play:
• Hill hold. It allows the driver to take a foot off the brake on a steep incline and not worry about rolling backwards before stepping on the gas.
•Brake traction control. It lets the truck's computers figure out optimal traction over rough roads.
•Air suspension systems. They adjust the ride height based on what kind of terrain a driver is facing.
We put them all to the test on the trail, and they showed what they can do.