Ram uses real wood and metal, and the redesigned dash houses a gorgeous optional 12-inch touch screen. Each trim level has its own design, with attractive premium and durable materials. Interior Comfortįor 2019, the Ram Heavy Duty trucks have stepped up their already impressive interior appearance and quality. While we still would like to see the turbodiesel under the hood of the Power Wagon, awesome suspension and disconnecting sway bars are only part of why the Power Wagon is such a beast off-road. It benefits from improvements made to the Ram 25, as well as a 360-degree camera and an all-new Warn winch with synthetic line. We also sampled the Power Wagon, the ultimate off-roader in the Heavy Duty line, which is based on the Ram 2500. It blocks some of your vision in the rearview mirror and doesn’t fold down. The only real issue we had was with the rear-center seat’s headrest. The truck’s 12-inch center screen looks terrific but is not as intuitive as the 8.4-inch screen for daily use. The interior is quiet, damping the sound of the diesel to a quiet murmur. The ride was very comfortable, slightly firmer than you’d find in a half-ton truck and pleasant for the daily drive. Putting it in Auto mode helps keep the truck at a constant speed while the truck descends. This truck also had the smart diesel brake-exhaust system, which uses engine braking to slow the truck when going downhill, so you don’t have to ride the brakes. A slight squeeze of the throttle and you easily reach freeway speeds, and shifts are just as smooth as with the gas engine. There’s something to be said for smooth power that seems infinite. The Ram we spent the most time in was incredibly easy to recommend for most Heavy Duty truck buyers: the 2500 Limited Crew Cab with the standard-output Cummins turbodiesel and air suspension. With the 2500, you have a maximum towing capacity of 19,370 pounds and a payload capacity of 4,520 pounds - incredible numbers, but not the 35,100 and 7,680 of the 3500. Transmission shifts were smooth, and the steering had just a touch of play, the right amount for when you’re towing.Ī note about towing: While the 3500 model is the more capable of the two, most people prefer the softer ride and lower price of the 2500. The V8 is technically the base engine, but buyers will be happy with the power it provides. Acceleration was quite good, and the V8 offers plenty of midrange passing power. We drove a 3500 powered by the 6.4-liter V8 backed by an 8-speed automatic. With the 2019 Ram Heavy Duty 25, you have a choice of two engines, a 6.4-liter gas V8 and a 6.7-liter turbodiesel inline-6. Previous generations of Ram HD trucks didn’t have the resale strength of their Ford, Chevy and GMC competition. Check out KBB.com’s Fair Purchase Price tool to see what others in your area are paying for heavy-duty Ram pickups. Base prices are in line with those of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD and the 2019 Ford F-250, and while there are some variations with each manufacturer, it is easy to spend nearly $80,000 for a fully loaded 3/4 ton (2500, 250, etc.) and well over $80,000 for a one-ton (3500, 350 and the like). If you want the standard-output turbodiesel, that adds $9,100 to the bottom line, and the 3500-only high-output turbodiesel costs a total of $11,795 beyond the cost of the truck with the gas engine. (All prices include $1,695 destination charges.) Pricing for the Laramie Longhorn begins at $57,995, and the top-of-the-line 2500 Limited starts at $62,995. The mid-range 2500 Laramie, only offered in Crew and Mega Cab, starts at $50,795, and the Crew Cab-only Power Wagon is $54,595. The base-model fleet-friendly 2500 Tradesman starts at $35,090, which is the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), followed by the better-equipped Bighorn at $39,340.
The 2019 Ram Heavy Duty 2500 will be offered in five trim levels, plus the 2500-only Power Wagon.