Ram is receiving rave reviews over its revamped heavy duty Ram line up. Fans are impressed that a version of the 2019 Ram Heavy Duty truck has the ability to tow 35,100 lbs. It also has a new payload capacity of 7,680 lbs.
In announcing the 2019 Ram Heavy Duty line up, Ram said that they are making the larger trucks much more like the popular Ram 1500 trucks. The 2018 Ram 1500 was just awarded North American Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Ram is now upgrading the interiors and also now making a Sport trim package available for the larger trucks. Ram announced the new packages at the New England International Auto Show in Boston.
It used to be that in the larger versions of any truck line, you had few exterior options and had to take whatever was offered that suited the work you needed to accomplish. It appears those days are over, as the truck wars heat up. More and more packages are available, with a huge variety of options and exterior colors. It also shows that more and more trucks are being purchased as family vehicles and not just relegated to work sites. There are now more options for interior seating, storage and creature comforts.
More Options in Interior and Exterior
As an example of the greater range of options now available, the new 2019 Ram Sport packages will be available in 12 colors including Billet Silver, Patriot Blue and Diamond Black Crystal. So much for the boring work truck.
The Sport package comes with body color bumpers, door handles and grille trim.
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In announcing the redesigned 2019 Ram 2500 and 3500, Reid Bigland, the head of the Ram Brand FCA said “Ram Heavy Duty owners constantly demand the highest levels of capability to tackle the biggest jobs and with 35,100 lbs. of towing capacity, pulled by 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque from our Cummins engine, we now hold the most important titles within the segment. We’ve also surrounded owners in luxury and technology that, until now, was unavailable in a heavy-duty pickup. The highest quality interiors, active safety systems and of course our award-winning Uconnect technology contribute to the best Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks we have ever built.”
The Sport package includes an all-black interior, with a black headliner and black accents. Sport trims also include the Ram’s front and rear park assist system built into the bumpers. All of the different cab and powertrain options are offered with the Sport trim. To get the Sport trim, you have to buy at least the Big Horn/Lone Star or Laramie level of 2019 Ram 2500 or 3500.
Power and Capability
While body color bumpers are nice, real truck lovers will tell you that the big draw is all about performance and capability and the new Ram 2500 and 3500 have plenty of both. The new Cummins 6.7-liter I-6, high output Turbo Diesel delivers up to 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1,800 rpm and 400 horsepower @ 2,800 rpm.
The standard engine in the 2019 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty is upgraded to the 6.4-liter HEMI V-8, delivering class-leading 410 horsepower and 429 lb.-ft. of torque. Ram did not release fuel economy ratings.
Ram also did not say how much the Sport trim package will add to the cost of the 2019 Ram 2500 and 3500.
Technology and Storage
Ram claims that the 2500 and 3500 have the largest amount of in-cabin storage space in the industry. The RamBox Cargo Management System includes versatile, weatherproof, lockable, illuminated and drainable storage bins built into the bed rails. New for 2019, RamBox features a 115-volt outlet with up to 400-watts of power.
The new interiors feature loads of new technology. The 2019 Ram Heavy Duty features the Uconnect 4C NAV on a 12-inch fully configurable touchscreen, which can display one application, such as the navigation map, across the whole 12-inch screen, or can be divided in half, operating two different applications at once. Ram specifically designed this screen, also featured in the Ram 1500, to be large enough to be easily operated, but not so big that it is distracting to the driver.