When it comes to the world of heavy duty pickup trucks, the competition is stiff. A lot of manufacturers try to be the most powerful pickup truck on the road, but only one can take home that coveted title. As Ram dealers across the nation can attest, Ram pickup trucks are a powerful contender in this category, with increased power every model year.
Ram has been one name in the pickup truck game that has been pushing boundaries when it comes to power and performance, since the first Ram truck was made back in 1981. Since then, Ram has been proving that their brand of pickup is a force to be reckoned with.
The Ram truck name has changed over the years. It has seen plenty of different generational changes and redesigns – but the heart of the Ram pickup truck has persisted. The brand took their commitment to providing the most powerful pickup truck on the road one step further, with the creation of the 2016 Ram Heavy Duty.
Class-Leading Towing Capacity
For its 2016 model year lineup, Ram upped the power ante. Creating a new generation of Ram trucks, the brand set a completely new standard for pickup trucks to perform. That new standard also happens to be the reason why the 2016 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty pickup, has class-leading towing capacity.
To demonstrate their engineering marvel, and to showcase their exceptional ability to stand out in a crowd, Ram took their brand new 3500 Heavy Duty pickup truck to the Chelsea Proving Grounds in Michigan.
Testing Out its Newfound Power
The Chelsea Proving Grounds is privately owned by Chrysler, an automotive conglomerate that also happens to own the Ram truck brand. The nearly 4,000 acre facility was developed by Chrysler for the express purpose of testing out new vehicles. A network of roads, countless off-road encounters, and plenty of terrain change make up the Chelsea Proving Grounds, making it a prime spot to test the performance of any vehicle.
This past weekend, Ram headed to the Chelsea Proving Grounds to prove one very important point: That the 2016 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty pickup truck is the most powerful in its segment. The truck that was tested boasted a powerful 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine, capable of producing 900 lb.-ft. of torque. The heavy duty Ram managed to beat out the record for a max tow rating, previously held by Ford. In the test, the 2016 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty pickup, grabbed a max tow rating of 31,210 pounds.
Jeff Johnson is the Brand Manager for Ram’s Heavy Duty Trucks, and participated in the towing capacity test at the Chelsea Proving Grounds. Not at all surprised by the superior performance of the new Ram truck, Johnson stated that, “To put it into perspective, I like to say that the competition can hook up their max load, and we’ll tow them and their trailer.” A bold statement, but one that is coming increasingly true with time. Johnson also recognizes that drivers purchase heavy duty trucks for their towing capabilities, which drives Ram to continue improving upon their numbers.
Last year, the Society of Automotive Engineers announced a standardized tow testing known as J2807, that they encouraged all automotive brands to meet. Ram was the first brand to comply with the third-party standards, with other automotive giants following shortly after.
All that Power Requires Careful Planning
Ram did not simply create a powerful pickup truck, get class-leading towing capacity recognition, and call it a day. The brand realized that having such a powerful truck in its lineup, meant that they had to create an overall experience for drivers.
Ram has equipped their 3500 Heavy Duty pickup trucks with a leaf spring style suspension, which is designed to handle larger loads. Drivers can opt for an additional air suspension that works in conjunction with the leaf spring system, to deliver a smoother ride, automatic load leveling, and more convenient trailer hookup.
The fuel delivery system on Ram’s most powerful pickup truck was also upgraded, along with the variable air intake system, and the truck’s boost calibration. The rear axle of the most powerful pickup truck in America was reinforced with stronger steel, and held together with an extra four hardened bolts, compared to other Ram Heavy Duty models.
Other Powerful Ram Truck Options
If driving the most powerful truck in America is not at the top of your “to-do” list, then you may want to consider two other Heavy Duty Rams that are available for the 2016 model year.
The already discussed 6.7-liter V8 diesel option, is also available with a 68RFE six-speed automatic transmission, that gets 800 lb.-ft. of torque. This option is 100 lb.-ft. of torque less than the Ram 3500 equipped with the Aisin transmission, but is a good choice for drivers who don’t need that much torque, and want to save some money. Ram offers the same engine with a manual transmission, which makes 350 horsepower and 660 lb.-ft. of torque. This option is the only heavy duty pickup truck on the market that is available with a manual transmission.
For drivers who want a traditional gasoline engine, the 2016 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty offers two different options. The 6.4-liter Hemi V8 boasts a still impressive 410 horsepower, along with 429 lb.-ft. of torque. The second option is a 5.7-liter Hemi V8, which makes 383 horsepower, and 400 lb.-ft. of torque.
All 2016 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty models come with exceptional towing capacity ratings, and impressive max payloads. While owning THE most powerful and capable full-sized pickup truck available to the mass consumer would be a great story to tell your friends, there are plenty of other Ram 3500 models that are capable of getting the job done right.
Affordable, Powerful, Accessible
The 2016 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty pickup truck starts at just $31,990, making it an affordable option for drivers who need a reliable pickup. The same base model gets a max tow rating of 31,210 pounds, and a max payload rating of 7,390 pounds. All 2016 Ram 3500 pickup trucks come standard with a trailer tow hitch, anti-spin rear differential, and quad halogen headlamps.
Owning such an impressive truck is no longer as out of reach as it has been in the past. Be sure to check out the brand new 2016 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty at one of your local Ram dealers, today!
