2021 Ram 3500 Review

　　

2021 Ram 3500 Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　Among truck owners, numbers matter. They settle claims, justify choices and validate bragging rights. This year, the 2021 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty holds two of the biggest ones among full-size heavy haulers.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Ram 3500 Tradesman 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of N/A undefined in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　Not Available  for 3500 Tradesman

　　3500 Tradesman

　　Tradesman 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $35,795 MSRPTradesman 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $38,595 MSRPTradesman 4dr Crew Cab SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $39,250 MSRPTradesman 4dr Crew Cab LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $39,450 MSRPTradesman 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $42,150 MSRPTradesman 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $42,350 MSRPLone Star 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $39,670 MSRPLone Star 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $42,470 MSRPLone Star 4dr Crew Cab SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $44,025 MSRPLone Star 4dr Crew Cab LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $44,225 MSRPLone Star 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $46,925 MSRPLone Star 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $47,125 MSRPLone Star 4dr Mega Cab 4WD SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $48,425 MSRPBig Horn 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $39,670 MSRPBig Horn 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $42,470 MSRPBig Horn 4dr Crew Cab SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $44,025 MSRPBig Horn 4dr Crew Cab LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $44,225 MSRPBig Horn 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $46,925 MSRPBig Horn 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $47,125 MSRPBig Horn 4dr Mega Cab 4WD SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $48,425 MSRPLaramie 4dr Crew Cab SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $51,235 MSRPLaramie 4dr Crew Cab LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $51,435 MSRPLaramie 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $54,135 MSRPLaramie 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $54,335 MSRPLaramie 4dr Mega Cab 4WD SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $55,635 MSRPLonghorn 4dr Crew Cab SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $58,630 MSRPLonghorn 4dr Crew Cab LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $58,830 MSRPLonghorn 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $61,530 MSRPLonghorn 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $61,730 MSRPLonghorn 4dr Mega Cab 4WD SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $63,030 MSRPLimited 4dr Crew Cab LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $63,185 MSRPLimited 4dr Crew Cab SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $63,485 MSRPLimited 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $66,085 MSRPLimited 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $66,385 MSRPLimited 4dr Mega Cab 4WD SB (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $67,885 MSRP

　　vs

　　$233/mo

　　Avg. Large Truck

　　First, the Ram 3500 HD's optional turbodiesel six-cylinder engine delivers a claimed 1,075 lb-ft of torque. That figure beats the Ford F-Series Super Duty lineup's Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 by all of 25 lb-ft. The Duramax turbodiesel V8 in Chevy and GMC trucks musters no more than 910 lb-ft. Second, the Ram 3500 HD boasts the highest gooseneck/fifth-wheel towing capacity of any full-size heavy-duty pickup truck, at 37,100 pounds, depending on the configuration. The Ford Super Duty is slightly behind at 37,000 pounds, while the limit for the Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD is 36,000 pounds.

　　The Ram's numerical advantages matter much less in real-world situations — all of these heavy-duty trucks are supremely capable for towing and hauling. Yet there are still plenty of other reasons to select the 2021 Ram 3500, including its comfortable seating and wide range of available technology and driver assistance features. It's definitely worth checking out if you're shopping for a heavy-duty truck.

　　

Which 3500 does zzdcar recommend?

Your decision about which Ram 3500 HD to buy depends on how you plan to use the truck and the size of your budget. Unless you can't live without leather seats, the cloth-upholstered Big Horn offers you the broadest access to cab styles, drivetrains, seating configurations and equipment at the lowest price. You can restrict options to keep the truck basic and affordable, or you can add lots of extras to increase capability, upgrade technology or improve its looks.

　　

2021 Ram 3500 models

The 2021 Ram 3500 is available in five trim levels: Tradesman, Big Horn, Laramie, Longhorn and Limited. Regular-cab, crew-cab, and Mega Cab (the extra-large crew-cab) configurations pair with standard (6 foot 4 inches) or long (8 foot) cargo beds and rear- or four-wheel drive.

　　Engine selections include gasoline and diesel power plants:

　　Standard 6.4-liter gas V8 (410 hp, 429 lb-ft) with an eight-speed automatic Optional 6.7-liter Cummins turbocharged diesel inline six-cylinder (370 hp, 850 lb-ft) with a six-speed automatic Optional high-output version of the diesel with 420 hp and 1,075 lb-ftEquipment highlights for each trim level are as follows:

　　Tradesman

　　When you seek the maximum capability at the minimum price, the Tradesman offers:

　　18-inch steel wheels Locking tailgate Vinyl seats and floors Manual locks and windows Air conditioning Cruise control 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system Bluetooth hands-free calling Backup camera Tire fill alert systemBig Horn

　　The Big Horn goes beyond the basics, adding:

　　Chrome exterior trim Power, heated tow mirrors Power windows Power door locks with remote keyless entry Cloth seats and carpeted floors Trailer brake controllerLaramie

　　For a little more luxury and livability, the Laramie supplies:

　　18-inch aluminum wheels LED headlights and taillights Power-folding chrome tow mirrors Power-sliding rear window Soft-opening tailgate Leather seats Power-adjustable, heated front seats Power-adjustable pedals Dual-zone automatic climate control Heated steering wheel 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Satellite radio Nine-speaker premium sound system Remote engine start Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)Longhorn

　　For a more premium pickup, the Longhorn installs:

　　Upscale design details LED cargo bed lighting Spray-in bedliner Remote tailgate release Rain-sensing wipers Premium leather Front bucket seats Ventilated front seats Heated rear seats Navigation system Connected services including 4G LTE Wi-FiLimited

　　Choose this trim for the most luxurious and technologically advanced version of the Ram 3500:

　　20-inch wheels Power running boards Exclusive leather seats Real wood interior trim 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system Wireless smartphone charger Blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is approaching from the side while reversing) Depending on trim level and configuration, numerous individual and packaged options are available for the 2021 Ram 3500. Significant upgrades for the truck include:

　　Dual rear wheels Cargo bed storage bins (RamBox) Night Edition package with blacked-out exterior trim 17-speaker premium Harman Kardon sound system Digital rearview camera Trailer-reverse guidance camera Towing equipment, including fifth-wheel/gooseneck preparation Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Ram and the car in front) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Ram and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

　　

2021 3500 Highlights

Type: Crew CabMega CabRegular CabCrew Cab

　　Trim: TradesmanLone StarBig HornLaramieLonghornLimitedTradesman

　　

Base MSRP	$39,250
Engine Type	Gas
Seating	6 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	24,150 lbs.
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles