Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Review

2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 SLT Regular Cab Shown

Plenty of people want pickup trucks. They're cool regardless of whether you actually use one. But people need duallies. In the rough-and-tumble world of pickups, behemoths like the Dodge Ram 3500 with dual rear wheels on both sides (hence "dually") are the kings of the hill, the go-to vehicles for towing and hauling huge loads up said hill. When you're pulling a Bayliner, a racecar, that new fifth-wheel Coachmen or a few relatives of Secretariat, you need a dually.

The Dodge Ram 3500 is now in its third generation, and its styling is based on the second generation's styling rebirth that showed that a full-size pickup could be made to resemble something other than a cinder block. Like its smaller brothers, the heavy-duty 1-ton Ram 3500 boasts a muscular, rugged look that takes heavy inspiration from big rigs, specifically their "shouldered" fender design and prominent grille. And why not, when the 3500 is about the closest thing you can get to a Freightliner?

New or used, a Dodge Ram 3500 is a solid option for truck buyers in need of serious towing and hauling capacity. Although newer and more visually interesting heavy-duty pickups from GM and Ford may be more appealing, this big-hauling Dodge still has a sizable, loyal following addicted to that classic muscular styling. And with names like "Hemi" and "Cummins" emblazoned under the hood, there's plenty of actual muscle to back it up.

Current Dodge Ram 3500

The current Dodge Ram 3500 heavy-duty pickup is available in a variety of body style and trim configurations. A regular cab, a Quad Cab (crew cab) and Mega Cab (really big crew cab) are the choices of body styles, while trim levels consist of the very basic ST, the volume-selling SLT (known as the SXT with the Mega Cab) and the luxurious Laramie.

The Mega Cab is only available with the short bed (76 inches), while the regular cab is only equipped with the long bed (98 inches). The Quad Cab is offered with either, and unlike the past generation, features forward-hinged rear doors. The Quad Cab with a short bed is the only 3500 model available with a single rear axle; the rest have a dual-wheel rear axle. All models are available with two-wheel or four-wheel drive.

Standard on all Ram 3500 trucks is a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-6 that's rated at 350 hp and 650 pound-feet of torque and comes with either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.

We're fond of the Dodge Ram 3500's powerful diesel engine, available manual transmission and wide range of body styles. However, it should be noted that redesigned heavy-duty trucks from Ford and GM have recently debuted, and their newer designs might prove to be more appealing. Our recommendation is to test-drive the different offerings before making a final decision on the Ram.

Used Dodge Ram 3500 Models

The current-generation Ram 3500 debuted for the 2003 model year. Compared to the previous-generation Ram, it had more power, increased towing capacity, better handling and updated styling. This model has received a number of important upgrades in the past few years.

Only the regular and Quad Cab body styles were available initially; the Mega Cab squeezed into the lineup in 2006. This was also the year that Dodge restyled the heavy-duty Ram's interior, added higher-end convenience features and freshened the front-end styling.

A 5.7-liter Hemi V8 was initially the standard engine, offering 345 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque. This hefty power plant could be ordered with a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. Discontinued after 2008, the absence of the Hemi left the 6.7-liter diesel as the only power plant. A 305-hp, 8.0-liter V10 was optional in 2003 only. Originally, the diesel engine was a somewhat less powerful 5.9-liter Cummins, with the switch to the updated 6.7-liter Cummins occurring in 2007.

The previous-generation Dodge Ram 3500 was produced from 1994-2002. The base engine was a 5.2-liter V8 engine, with an 8.0-liter V10 or 5.9-liter Cummins turbodiesel optional. Unlike the current generation, the 3500 was only available with a dual rear axle. In 1998, the Quad Cab was introduced with twin rear-hinged doors and a larger backseat. The interior was also redesigned that year, which included the addition of a standard passenger-side airbag with a cutoff switch. In 2000, improvements were made to the steering and suspension, while a high-output Cummins turbodiesel joined the lesser oil-burner in 2001.

At the time, we commented favorably about the truck's user-friendly cab, competent handling and powerful V10 and diesel engines. One downside of the Ram was that rear-seat room in the Quad Cab was cramped when compared to the room available in competing pickup trucks.

The original generation of the 1-ton Dodge Ram was actually known as the Ram 350 and was produced from 1981-'93.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.