Heavy Hitter

More Torque, Capability, And Luxury For Ram’s 2019 Heavy Duty

- Jason Gonderman

It feels like it was just yesterday that we were sitting in the audience at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where the brass at Ram Trucks pulled the cover back on the all-new 2019 Heavy Duty. Rightfully so, as it was less than two months from the time of that announcement until the day we received our first taste of towing trailers with the new truck through the hills of Southern California, a time frame that’s almost unheard of.

Undoubtedly the showstopper of the big presentation was the new high-output Cummins I-6, now churning out a massive 1,000 lb-ft of torque. But don’t let the headline blind you to other superlatives; everything about the 2019 Heavy Duty line has been altered, mostly for the better. Bodies are stamped from high-grade steel, interiors are updated to match the award-winning 2019 Ram 1500, all of the available drivetrains are improved, and capability is increased across the line.

With all of the Detroit automakers launching new or updated heavy-duty pickups this year, Ram made a big splash by going first. Naturally, we were beyond anxious to get behind the wheel and put some miles under our belts. Thankfully, Ram obliged and provided a veritable smorgasbord of Rams for our perusing. We were able to sample all three drivetrains, three cab configurations, single- and dual-rear wheel, and both 3/4- and 1-ton trucks. We logged nearly 300 miles over the course of a day, and what follows are our thoughts.

Everyday Transporter