2016 Ram Packs 900lb-ft of Torque, Tows 31,210lbs

The 2015 Ram 3500 powered by the high output 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel offered 385 horsepower, 865lb-ft of torque and a maximum towing capacity of 30,000 pounds, making it the strongest truck in the segment in terms of both torque output and max towing. For comparison, the 2015 Ford F350 with the 6.4L PowerStroke diesel offers 440 horsepower, 860lb-ft of torque and 26,500 pounds of towing capacity while the 2015 Chevy Silverado 3500HD with their 6.6L Duramax diesel delivers 397 horsepower, 765lb-ft of torque and 23,000 pounds worth of towing capacity.

Based on these numbers, the 2015 Ram 3500 was the top dog in the segment, until Ford starting touting their new F450, which will tow 31,200lbs. Even though it is in a larger truck class, Ford claimed the title in a manner that most people consider to be little more than marketing fluff since they were essentially comparing their F450 to the Ram 3500.

However, with the online debut of the 2016 Ram 3500, the Cummins-powered 1-ton pickup offers more towing capacity than the Ford F450 and it does so with an engine that delivers more torque than any mass-produced passenger vehicle ever, with only exotic supercars packing more twist than the newest Ram Heavy Duty.

"Ram maintains leadership in all three pickup segments offering best-in-class fuel efficiency, best-in-class towing, best-in-class power and best-in-class payload," said Bob Hegbloom, President and CEO — Ram Truck Brand, FCA US. "Ram continues to break records in the most important consumer-driven titles of the pickup truck market and we’re not slowing down.”

The 2016 Ram 3500 Power
As is the case with the 2015 Ram 3500, the 2016 model year 1-ton Ram will come with a high output Cummins Turbo Diesel measuring 6.7 liters, but this new diesel mill has been beefed up to offer industry-leading numbers.

First up, while there is no mention of a horsepower increase, the 2016 Ram 3500 gets 35 more lb-ft of torque, now packing a whopping 900lb-ft of torque. Let that digest for a minute…900lb-ft of torque from a truck bought from your local dealership. The only vehicles in the world with more torque than the new Ram 3500 are the Bugatti Veyron, the Porsche 918 Hybrid and the Hennessey Venom GT, and no American production car has ever had an output anywhere near that, with the Hellcat Challenger and Charger being the closest at a mere 650lb-ft.

This torque output was achieved by modifying the 6.7L Cummins engine with a revised fuel delivery system and increased boost pressure, which is one reason why I am surprised not to see at least some horsepower gain – but maybe the company is saving that for another day.

2016 Ram 3500 Towing
The most important number for the 2016 Ram 3500 is the new towing capacity, which is rated at 31,210 pounds. The modern truck segment is one which thrives on one-upmanship, and that is exactly what Chrysler has done with their new heavy duty pickups. That rating of 31,210lbs not only crushed the Ford F350 and the Chevy Silverado 3500HD, but it also beats the Ford F450 – even if only by 10 pounds. Also, that towing capacity was measured under the SAE J2807 standards, so that power is recorded using a standardized method and not simple internal testing.

“Ram has bookended its innovation leadership in the pickup segments and thoughtfully engineered better trucks, including our Ram 1500 with real-world fuel economy approaching 30 mpg and the Ram 3500 with a mind-boggling 31,210 pounds of towing capacity, even on the hottest day,” said Mike Cairns, Director— Ram Truck Engineering, FCA US. “Our 2016 Ram Trucks own pertinent, functional titles while delivering award-winning interiors and exclusive features that entice customers.”

The 2016 Ram 3500 with the 900lb-ft engine will arrive later this year along with the rest of the 2016 Ram truck lineup.