Rumble Bee Specifications
by Don Kress
In 2004 and 2005, Dodge produced its Ram pickup truck with a distinctive yellow and black styling package reminiscent of the 1970s Dodge Super Bee. The Dodge Ram Rumble Bee was a limited production pickup truck built only on the two-door short-bed truck platform in either 4x2 or 4x4 final drive options. The Rumble Bee featured Dodge's most powerful Hemi at the time, Dodge's famous engine series featuring a domed or hemispherically shaped combustion chamber. In the two years of production, only 8,700 of these special edition trucks were created.
Engine
Dodge's Hemi engine used for the 2004 and 2005 Rumble Bee was the standard 5.7-liter, Hemispherical head, V-8 engine offered in those years. While the truck was a limited edition, it did not include a special engine or any additional performance tuning to set the truck apart from other Dodge Ram pickup trucks. The Rumble Bee's Hemi V-8 engine produced 345 horsepower and 375 foot-pounds of torque. The engine was a cast iron block fitted with aluminum heads and features a bore of 3.92 inches and stroke of 3.58 inches. The Hemi 5.7-liter V-8 is set up as a 90-degree push rod-style engine.
Body
The 2004 and 2005 Dodge Rumble Bee was only available on the short-bed single cab pickup truck produced that year. The trucks were painted either yellow or black to match the Rumble Bee emblems, and include a color-keyed front air valance, side skirts and rear air dam, which were specific to the Rumble Bee for those years. The seats are slate gray leather or cloth.
Towing and Hauling
Towing and hauling capacity of the Rumble Bee were unchanged from stock Dodge Ram Hemi pickup trucks. These trucks are rated to tow at least 8,500 pounds with proper Class III or IV hitch mounts installed. Payload capacity of the 2004 and 2005 Dodge Ram Rumble Bee is at least 1,500 pounds.
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy on the 2004 and 2005 Dodge Ram Rumble Bee pickup trucks fitted with the Hemi V-8 engine was classified as extremely poor. These trucks, with an automatic transmission, averaged only 12 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway, according to government fuel economy testing. The rear end gear ratio of these trucks was 3.92-to-1, which for many vehicles was an economy gear ratio intended to boost fuel economy numbers. The size and inefficiency of the Rumble Bee Hemi engine, however, coupled with the truck's 2 ton curb weight returned low fuel economy despite the gear tuning.
Writer Bio
Don Kress began writing professionally in 2006, specializing in automotive technology for various websites. An Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified technician since 2003, he has worked as a painter and currently owns his own automotive service business in Georgia. Kress attended the University of Akron, Ohio, earning an associate degree in business management in 2000.
