What do you do with 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque? Pull anything you want. That’s the capability of the 2019 RAM 3500 when equipped with the 6.7-litre Cummins High Output turbo diesel engine. Actually, the maximum towing capacity of the RAM 3500 is listed at 15,921 kilograms when properly equipped, which is likely more than my house weighs, but there is much more to the RAM 3500 than just a powerful engine.
The RAM 3500 is offered in five trim levels, with the workhorse Tradesman model with a starting price of $45,745. I tested the top-of-the-line Limited Mega Cab 4x4 model with a starting price of $85,495. The addition of options such as the High Output diesel engine, Aisin heavy-duty six-speed automatic transmission, sunroof, and comfort and convenience features brought the window sticker price to $101,545, which is a lot to pay for a truck but then this is a lot of truck.
First of all, the Limited model is a luxury vehicle. Leather bucket seats up front are roomy and comfortable, while the huge back seat area of the Mega Cab provides more leg room than a limousine. Fold the rear seats down and it could be used as a double bed! Heated seats front and rear, with cooled front seats and a heated steering wheel add to the comfort of the automatic climate control. All these comfort features as well as the navigation, sound system, camera system and vehicle information are displayed on the 12-inch tall touch screen display that dominates the centre dash. This bright display is the largest in the industry and it is designed with clearly marked areas. The information is easy to see at a glance. Touch one of the icons at the bottom of the screen and the display instantly switches to a large control panel for simple operation of features.
Between the front bucket seats is a console that is a marvel in itself. The bottom area is large enough to hold a laptop and files while the folding armrest has compartments for smaller objects. Four cup holders on a sliding tray system cover the middle of the console while at the front there is a place to set cell phones and a pen. The left phone holder has a built in charger pad so you don’t even have to plug in your phone. Every time I looked at the truck I found more useful features.
Visibility from the driver’s seat is great in all directions — even up through the large sunroof. If you need to see something close up, the camera system lets you see multiple views, behind the truck, into the box, in front of the truck and even to the side. Parking sensors also aid when running errands into the city but this is a large 3500 series truck and fitting it into small parking spaces can take a couple attempts.
On the road, the Ram is a delight to drive. The heavy-duty suspension does make the ride a bit firm on rougher roads but I would never class it as harsh. When driving at 100 km/h, it feels like you are only doing about 50 km/h! The interior is extremely quiet and the only time you may realize there is a diesel under the hood is on cold starts, but the expected diesel clatter is even muted there. This fall, Cummins produced the three-millionth diesel engine for RAM trucks and this engine is more refined than ever. The steering is light but precise and the adaptive cruise control works great in heavier traffic. The system also includes forward collision warning with active braking.
Switching between 2wd and 4wd modes is done with the push of a button to the right of the steering column, while switches below the 12-inch touch screen control trailer braking, tow/haul mode, parking sensor off controls and the engine exhaust brake. The exhaust brake controls engine exhaust back pressure to slow the engine and vehicle when braking. It can be turned on or off manually or set to automatic operation with the switch and is really useful when towing a heavy load down long grades.
As a luxury truck, the RAM 3500 Limited is equally comfortable taking you to town as it is going to the field. Power folding side steps make getting into the cab easy and it will impress friends, whether you are taking them to the theatre or towing that big boat or horse trailer across the country.
The specs
Model: 2019 Ram Limited 3500 Mega Cab
Configuration: Five-passenger pickup truck
Engine: 6.7-litre Cummins high-output, turbocharged, diesel producing 400 horsepower and 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque
Drivetrain: 6-speed automatic, electric shift two-speed transfer case, 4x4
Brakes: Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS
Special features/options: Blind-spot information system, adaptive cruise control, heated and cooled leather seats, navigation system with voice control, remote start, power folding side steps, 17-speaker, high-performance audio system, trailer sway control, engine exhaust brake
MSRP: $101,545 (as tested)
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