Thinking Outside the Box: The Revolutionary RamBox

How often do you use the bed of your truck to haul tools, cargo, and other gear? Any search for a Ram dealer in Edmonton will show you why Ram is a pioneer in the automotive industry. The automaker is renowned for building some of the most luxurious, capable, functional, and affordable workhorses on the road. So, how does it manage such a feat? By thinking outside the box.

One of Ram's most notable innovations in the truck segment is the revolutionary RamBox cargo management system. Introduced in 2009 on the Ram 1500, the RamBox transformed the best-selling Ram truck into a functional and versatile vehicle capable of meeting every need and demand. In celebration of that accomplishment, here's a closer look at the RamBox's evolution and why it remains the only feature of its kind in the industry.

An Age-Old Problem With Trucks

The truck evolved out of necessity in the early 1900s, as farmers and businesses replaced the horse with a faster and more capable option. For decades, trucks were nothing more than tools or utilitarian workhorses meant to get a job done without thought to comfort, convenience, or functionality. But, as drivers demanded more and trucks increased in popularity, automakers like Ram proved that a truck could be a rugged workhorse and a comfortable chariot.

However, automakers struggled with adding functionality and versatility because of the basic truck design. The traditional body-on-frame platform limited their design options as the wheel wells impeded the size of the truck bed and posed an obstacle when hauling larger or bulkier cargo. While other automakers gave up, Ram rallied not by reinventing the wheel but by working around it. Instead of redesigning the truck bed, Ram added function to what was already there.

Ram's Solution: The RamBox Cargo Management System

After ongoing research, Ram discovered that more buyers were drawn to trucks because of their capability and functionality. These findings prompted Ram to respond to the need and design a functional storage system to enhance the Ram lineup. After a dozen different designs, the final product debuted on the 2009 Ram 1500 as the RamBox.

As an industry-first cargo management system, the RamBox transformed the truck bed into a more functional space by using the wheel wells for additional storage. On the 2009 Ram 1500, the RamBox side bins ran almost the full length of the standard 1.7-metre bed and stretched as wide as the wheel wells. Weatherproof, drainable, and lockable, the boxes also featured integrated lighting for optimal visibility. But just how much could they hold?

Designed with accessibility in mind, the 2009 RamBox system featured lids with swing hinges capable of opening 90 degrees for easy access. Once open, the bins offered 207 litres of storage space. In practical terms, the bins could hold around 240 cans of soda, making the RamBox an ideal storage solution for everything from tools and small equipment to beverages and beyond.

More importantly, the RamBox design didn't impede the bed's functionality. Instead, Ram worked with the existing structure to maximize the available space. The result was the same capability drivers expected of the Ram 1500, with its adjustable bed extender, divider, and rail system, but with added storage.

"RamBox meets the number-one unmet need among pickup truck owners. Truck buyers want dry, lockable storage, and RamBox not only meets that need, it takes it a step further with the addition of built-in lights and drains," RamBox designer Mark Allen reported in 2009. "And there's still enough room between each bin to lay a sheet of plywood flat in the pickup bed."

Although Ram limited the availability of the RamBox to the best-selling Ram 1500 for the first two years, the segment-exclusive storage system quickly earned its place in the Ram lineup. Its versatility and growing popularity led Ram to expand its availability to every trim level and the Heavy Duty lineup. Additionally, Ram made the RamBox available on the longer, 1.9-metre bed, increasing its storage capacity by 18%, from 207 litres to 244 litres.

RamBox Design and Features

Today, you'll find the RamBox is available across the Ram lineup available to Edmonton drivers, transforming 2022 models like the Ram 1500 into functional workhorses that offer some of the largest cargo capacities in the segment. As mentioned, the RamBox system runs the length of the truck bed, using the negative space along the sides of the bed and over the wheel wells. But what features make it so unique and versatile?

Weatherproof and Drainable

Functional storage is a must-have for any truck, but storage that is weatherproof and drainable is a next-level luxury. Truck beds endure all the elements and take a beating when hauling cargo, so for Ram to engineer a durable cargo management system that can handle both is an incredible feat. So what does this mean for you? Since the RamBox bins are weatherproof, you don't have to worry about protecting your cargo from rain, sleet, snow, dust, and other debris.

Just as crucial as being weatherproof, the RamBox bins are also drainable. When hauling cargo or storing tools, the RamBox is destined to accumulate dirt. Since the bins are drainable, washing the RamBox is hassle-free. You can also use the bins as coolers, filling them with ice and your favourite beverages for the next sporting event at the Brick Field or your next campout at Rainbow Campground. Once you're home, pull the plug to drain the water and cleanup is done.

Lockable

Think about how much you've invested in tools, camping gear, and other equipment. Unfortunately, hauling these items in the bed of your truck makes them easy targets for thieves, often causing added stress and worry as you wonder if anyone is messing with your gear while you're not in or near the truck. Ram took this concern into account when designing the RamBox system, making the bins lockable using the truck's key fob. This lets you quickly and conveniently lock the truck and the bins, leaving no question that your gear is secure.

Power and Lights

Ram thought of everything when designing the RamBox cargo management system. You'll never have to dig for a flashlight to find your tools or hunt for a power outlet because the RamBox bins have both! Conveniently integrated into the design, the RamBox's lighting gives you a better view and makes it easy to find everything you need even after sunset. In addition, you never have to go without power with the built-in 115-volt power outlet. The power outlet can run a compressor and other small equipment, making it ideal whether you're camping out with friends or running power tools at a job site.

Thinking Outside the Box

Consumer demands and needs often breed innovation, especially in the automotive industry. As truck fans asked for more versatile storage solutions, automakers kept stumbling over the traditional body-on-frame truck platform, unable to work around the intrusiveness of the wheel wells. Fortunately for our customers, Ram thought outside the box, delivering a solution that no other automaker has managed to rival over the last decade.

The RamBox cargo management system is the only one of its kind in the truck segment, earning Ram a coveted place as an industry pioneer. Since its debut in 2009, the RamBox has satisfied the cargo-hauling needs of countless Canadian drivers and continues to impress with its spaciousness, versatility, and functionality. But, more importantly, it doesn't take away from the sophisticated style of the Ram lineup and, instead, integrates itself as a thoughtful part of the design of Ram's best-selling lineup.