Torque and towing are top of mind with the new 2018 Ram 3500, designed to handle heavy trailer loads with ease
When Ram Trucks was spun out of the Dodge brand to become its own division in 2009, the intention was to provide truck buyers with the legendary power and longevity that the name has been attached to for decades.
The company has continued to hold to that standard with the launch of the 2018 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty. Equipped with a Cummins diesel, the truck is designed to provide towing power and torque that meets all the needs of owners who are called on to pull heavy loads on a regular basis.
Ram takes heavy-duty towing and hauling seriously. With the start of 2018 model year production, the Ram 3500 will offer 930 lb.-ft. of torque and the exclusive ability to tow 30,000 pounds (13,608 kg) with a fifth-wheel hitch.
"Ram maintains capability leadership by delivering the highest-ever torque rating for a pickup truck and heaviest fifth-wheel trailer towing capacity," said Mike Manley, Head of Jeep & Ram Brand. "We understand the attributes most important to our customers within the heavy-duty segment; they demand hard-working, long-lasting capability."
As a distinct brand, Ram has been able to concentrate on its core customers, and ensure that they have access to the features that are valuable to their operations. With the 2018 truck, Ram has focused on towing through development of a new hitch design and improvements to the heart of the truck: the engine.
Working closely with Cummins, the 2018 diesel improvements include higher boost limits through a variable geometry turbo and flow rate increases through the fuel delivery system enabling the 6.7-litre I-6 to produce an additional 30 lb.-ft. of torque.
This improvement ranks the Cummins engine ahead of others in the class, according to the manufacturers, with 930 total lb.-ft. of torque, while maintaining the diesel's hallmark durability and efficiency.
The 30,000-pound (13,608-kg) fifth-wheel towing up-rating is made possible by an in-house hitch design from Ram Engineering. The upgraded capability allows the Ram 3500 to haul the heaviest travel trailers in the industry, according to the company.
Ram's new hitch will allow customers to move away from Class 4 and 5 trucks to haul trailers that would have otherwise been limited to 24,000 pounds (10,886 kg).
Ram 3500 Heavy Duty maximum gooseneck and conventional hitch maximum trailer weight ratings for 2018 are 31,210 pounds (14,157 kg) and 20,000 pounds (9,072 kg), respectively.
