Once you get into the three-quarter-ton size of pickups, you’re into a brand new world of heavy-duty. These take your regular full-size pickup to an entirely new level. With more power, torque, and a stronger suspension than a half-ton pickup, these trucks are true beasts with a more affordable price tag than the even larger 3500 pickups. The Ram 1500 was the most awarded half-ton pickup on the market last year, and its 2020 model looks to continue in its track. Now, with that in mind, it’s important to understand the 2500 and 3500 models do come out later in the model year. So while the 2020 Ram 1500 is in showrooms now, the 2020 Ram 2500 will not be available for sale until sometime later in the year. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start gearing up for what the pickup will be offering.
Right Around The Corner
Don’t worry about being forced to wait months on end for the 2020 Ram 2500. It’s fully produced and making the rounds with vehicle testers and safety inspections. In fact, Motor Trend just named the 2020 Ram 2500 as its Heavy Duty truck of the year. So if you want an award-winning pickup that’s notching major awards before even being released to the public, you’re in store for one heck of a heavy-duty truck.
Rear Options And New Tweaks
The 2020 Ram 2500 is coming with two-bed options. You can opt for the regular size bed, which measures in at 6-foot-4 inches. Or you can go for the supersized “mega” cab, which is a full 8-feet. You can also opt for either the single or dual rear wheels, giving you the extra support for when you want to tow heavy-duty equipment
The 2500 is not a light truck, yet Ram doesn’t want to just give up on fuel numbers. It set out to produce a durable, strong truck and yet shed weight when possible. The majority of the body is new, high-strength steel. This means you won’t have the metal breaking and snapping issues you might have with a Ford Super Duty. And yet in the places around the truck where you’re less likely to experience physical damage, Ram has opted for aluminum. For example, the hood of the truck is aluminum. The aluminum hood and larger grille make not only for a more aerodynamic front, but it helps pull in more air, which is important as the 2500 and 3500 both have the largest radiator and intercooler system ever put into a Ram pickup.
Entertainment Features
All of the information listed here (and throughout) are noted inclusions on the 2020 Ram 2500. There are a handful of features that Ram has not yet released specifics on, so if we’re missing a few bits of info here and there, it’s because Ram is still holding back. But don’t worry, everything included is accurate, and as the heavy-duty pickups are hitting dealers in the coming months, you’ll be able to obtain a full report then (this here is just to wet your whistle on the award-winning pickup).
Ram has continued to lead the way in terms of technology included in a pickup. The company continues to lead the way, turning the 2500 into a mobile command center. The base model does come with a 5-inch touchscreen featuring Uconnect (Chrysler’s user interface in its vehicles). However, you can upgrade to either an 8.4-inch touchscreen or a full 12-inch touchscreen. Everything feels right at home, but it’s difficult to go from the full-foot back down to 5-inches. If you plan on towing anything (if you’re buying a 2500 you probably are), the larger screen sizes are recommended as there are additional towing features built into the screens. That way, there’s less backing up and guessing where you are in relation to the trailer hitch, which was always a pain back before rear-view cameras.
The pickup also features five USB ports, wireless charging (as long as your phone accepts it), an AUX switch bank, plus “RAM Bins” for stowing items under the rear floor. This helps keep everything hidden when you don’t want to just leave items in plain sight.
Engine Specs
The base engine on the 2020 Ram 2500 will be the 6.4L V8 Hemi that produces 410 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque. One of the great features on this massive engine is, if you’re not towing anything and don’t need the added torque or horsepower, the engine will tap down to 4 cylinders, allowing you to squeeze as much out of every drop of fuel as possible. If you’re more interested in a diesel option, you can go with the Cummins Turbodiesel, which is a 6.7 I6, which produces 370 horsepower and 850 lb-ft of torque.
There is another diesel option, although it is only available on the 3500 (but it’s worth mentioning). This larger I6 Cummins increases the horsepower to 400 and the lb-ft of torque to 1,000. With that engine, you can tow 35,100 pounds and have up to 7,680 of payload. That’s more than most light-duty pickups can tow in general.
Fuel Specs
Did you know the EPA doesn’t rate heavy-duty trucks for fuel efficiency? The government likely doesn’t even think about it. Instead, they slap the gas-guzzler tax on the pickup and call it a day. However, Motor Trend did put the pickup through its test (these numbers are usually slightly under what the manufacturer will say as manufacturer numbers are obtained in perfect driving conditions). According to the Motor Trend numbers, the Power Wagon trim package of the 2020 Ram 2500 (which is the rugged off-road trim variation of the truck), netted 10.2 miles per gallon in the city and 15.3 miles per gallon on the highway. If you went with the turbodiesel engine on a 4×4 version, the fuel economy jumps to 13.2 in the city and 18.0 on the highway. If you think about it, 18 miles per gallon for a pickup of this size is pretty good. Most light-duty pickups from a decade ago (and even 2020 models) can’t get those kinds of numbers. And you’re doing it with a massive turbo diesel H.O. Cummins engine that produces 850 lb-ft of torque.
Discover What All The Fuss Is About
If you’re considering a heavy-duty pickup, there’s usually a reason behind it. While plenty of people buy light-duty pickups because they like the design, the safety, or the ability to toss gear in the bed whenever, those who buy a heavy-duty pickup plan on using it. The 2020 Ram 2500 is one such pickup that continues to push the bar, both with the internal luxury and with its engine and towing performance. But what is it that you look for when shopping around for a heavy-duty pickup? Do you want something that is pure numbers all the way around, or do you want something that is a mobile command center with all the tech and luxury features you could ever want? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to know what interests you in a heavy-duty pickup.
