The new Ram trucks: 1000 lb-ft of torque and other feats of HD dominance
20190114192339)
The truck world has done nothing but grow in recent times. The new heavy-duty Ram pickups are out and the numbers are in. And boy, are they impressive. We dove in and got the details, and here is what you need to know about the new HD Ram trucks.
1000 lb-ft of torque
The 3500-series trucks are the true workhorses of the truck world, and Ram knows power means capability. The updated Cummins 6.7-liter turbo-diesel engine packs 400 horsepower and is the first to break into four-digit torque ratings.
35,100-pound towing capability
That torque helps bring this new Ram up to 400 horsepower to haul mountains, literally. Utilizing a fifth-wheel hitch provides the new super truck a trailer capacity of 35,100 pounds, or 17.55 tons. Hitching up that trailer will also be easy thanks to an in-bed back-up camera intended to align a fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer.
20190114192304 "The 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel has a whopping 1000 pound feet of torque output.")
Adaptive cruise with full stop capability
Putting miles on the odometer with 17 tons attached is quite taxing, but now driver assist technology has made the leap to big trucks. The software in the Ram is set up to take the work out of covering ground with a large trailer in tow. The system will even use the exhaust brake to slow the truck if you have it enabled.
30-inch grille opening
Big power and towing numbers mean a lot of underhood heat. The HD series needed additional cooling airflow, necessitating a massive 30-inch grille opening to funnel air through an absolutely gigantic 39-inch radiator. The gaping opening is styled well, but interestingly…
20190114192436 "The headlights have decreased in size, but not in power according to Ram.")
The headlights are smaller than the 1500 series
All that airflow causes the grill opening to be pushed wide, forcing the headlights to shrink. Ram states that the lights do not lose any function over the larger 1500 series units, even outperforming them in some portions of the heat map.
The truck lost 143 pounds
It is a rare sign for a new pickup to weigh less than the outgoing model, but thanks to using higher strength steel in lighter gauges for portions of the frame, an aluminum hood, and other weight saving measures, the new heavy-duty Ram loses 143 pounds overall while remaining tough.
20190114192351 "The large center screen combined with the bed view camera are set up to make hooking up a gooseneck or 5th wheel easy.")
20190114192410 "Cruise control buttons")
20190114192507 "The small camera is mounted in the third brake light which also acts as a bed light.")
