KING OF THE “TRUCK” HILL
WE TEST RAM’S NEW LINE OF HEAVY HAULERS
In the realm of full-size trucks, the battle to determine who will reign king of the hill is an ongoing quest. Horsepower and torque, payload and towing capacity, and creature comforts and safety are permanently at the tip of the spear. When Ram’s engineering team took to upgrading their heavy-duty platforms, improving on the already impressive fleet was a formidable task. The advantage they had was that much of the technology implemented in the new 1500 last year could be supersized.
This spring, we joined the Ram team in Southern California to drive their 2500 and 3500 models. Available were two- and four-wheel drives, single and duallys, basic Tradesman models, as well as the luxurious Limited. We towed the heftiest of loads over steep and twisty mountain roads and traversed technical dirt two-tracks that would test any 4WD. Enter Ram’s '19 fleet of heavy haulers.
Peeking under the doorsills reveals an all-new chassis crafted from high-strength steel, which adds rigidity and reduces mass. When combined with a number of aluminum body components, the new models are more robust and up to 143 pounds leaner. Active Tuned Mass Modules (ATMM) fitted to the chassis limit harmonic vibration, which results in reduced noise levels in the cabin. Unique to the industry is Ram’s traditional use of live, or solid front axles on three-quarter and one-ton four-wheel-drive models. Many may argue that an IFS offers a more comfortable ride, but you simply can’t beat the proven reliability and rugged dependability of a live axle. All four-wheel-drive models feature coil-sprung link suspensions, and a rear air suspension is optional on all but the Power Wagon. More on the Power Wagon later.
Towing and payload have also been raised across the board. We spent a morning on mountain roads in a Cummins-equipped 3500 Limited Crew Cab dually with a trailer and eight-tons of gravel attached to the gooseneck. While this might have been a white-knuckle experience in a lesser vehicle, braking into tight turns and accelerating up the next grade was pure joy. It was a windy, bumpy old road, and we were impressed with how well the rear suspension controlled the load.
The standard 6.7L diesel generates an impressive 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque, but if you opt for the high-output option you will experience the most powerful engine in the class: 400 hp and 1,000 lb-ft of torque. Add the Max Tow package (2WD only) and your towing and capacity numbers hit a whopping 35,100 and 6,570 pounds. We verified this
in a 3500 dually Tradesman with a dual-axle gooseneck flatbed and 18,800 Case excavator in tow. Impressive!
Ram was the last holdout when it came to a manual transmission in a heavy-duty diesel. But with this new generation of high-output motors, manual cogs will be a thing of the past. All will be automatics, a 6-speed and 8-speed for the diesel and HEMI, respectively. Transfer cases will be of the 2.64:1 BW 44 line, with either the electronic or manual shift depending on engine/transmission combination. Axles are AAM units ranging from a 9.25-inch ring gear in the Power Wagon to a massive 12-inch gear with the Max Tow package.
Ergonomics and Safety
As with the previous models, the instrument panel and dash remain in clear view from the driver seat. The high-end models have power everything, heated and cooled seats, and steering wheel controls to manage most amenities. The new Gen-4 Uconnect is available with a 12-inch screen that can run multiple applications simultaneously. With Ram’s new 360-degree video monitoring system, you can split the screen to view left and right sides of your load when towing. There is also a wireless remote camera you can place anywhere; we found it ideal when fitted to the back of a 35foot horse trailer. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and SiriusXM 360L offer unlimited entertainment options, and the premium, 17-speaker audio system will rock your socks off.
Storage options have been expanded throughout the cabin, including a dual-level console that will accommodate a few dozen hoagies. The rear seats not only recline, but also fold forward to create a flat, door-to-door deck with various storage cubbies. An abundance of 12-volt and USB power ports on the front and rear consoles will keep electronics charged or synced with Uconnect. Mounted on top of the dash is what Ram calls an Active Noise Cancellation system, which reduces in-cab levels by up to 10 decibels.