2016 Ram 3500 on 2040-cars

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Ram 3500 Heavy Duty recaptures the torque and maximum towing crowns

Correction: A previous version of this story mistakenly reported the horsepower of the high-output Cummins engine as 400. It actually produces 420 horsepower. The text has been updated to reflect this. Just as supercar builders are in never-ending battles for horsepower and track times, the pickup truck builders pursue torque and towing capacity, two things that the 2021 Ram Heavy Duty has improved enough to earn the coveted "best in class" designation, if only by a bit. The titles go to the Ram 3500 with the high-output version of the turbocharged 6.7-liter Cummins straight-six. Horsepower is seemingly unchanged, but torque is up by 75 pound-feet to 1,075. This increase comes from additional boost from the turbo and additional fuel flow from the fuel injection system. The added torque also bests the Ford Super Duty's 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel by 25 pound-feet, and the Chevy Silverado HD's 6.6L Duramax V8 by 165. But both V8s beat the Cummins' 420 horsepower; the Ford by 55 and the Chevy by 25. As for towing, the Ram 3500's maximum fifth-wheel towing capacity has increased from 35,100 pounds to 37,100 thanks to a redesigned gooseneck hitch. The new number just tops the Ford F-450 Super Duty's previous record by 100 pounds. It also bests the Silverado 3500HD's best by 1,100 pounds. Ford keeps the conventional tow rating crown (towing from a rear-mounted hitch) at 24,200 pounds with the F-450 compared to the Ram 3500's 23,000 and the Chevy Silverado 3500HD's 20,000. One final update to the 2021 Ram Heavy Duty line is inside the truck. It's now available with a digital rear-view mirror, switchable to a normal mirror. It should be handy for owners who regularly carry loads that obscure the rear window and, in turn, the rear-view mirror. The new Ram Heavy Duty models will be available at dealers this month. Related Video:

Ram Truck digs in with Laramie Longhorn-inspired Case backhoe

Some combinations seem natural immediately like chocolate and peanut butter, but others take a little more consideration before they begin make sense. That is exactly the situation with the new partnership between Ram and heavy equipment-maker Case to build a one-of-a-kind Ram 3500 with a matching, customized Case 580 Super N Wide Track Backhoe. The unique combo is currently on display at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014 show in Las Vegas, NV, and afterwards will go on tour for the rest of the year at Ram- and Case-sponsored events.
While it is undoubtedly odd to see a modified backhoe, it almost gets cool when you se the interior. Both vehicles the same two-tone gold and black paint scheme, and the backhoe's cab has been refinished to match the truck with shades of brown leather, Laramie badges and chrome trim. If you have to be in a backhoe, this one looks like the one to choose. Plus, this might be the first backhoe ever with chrome wheels.
The truck that the backhoe is attached to a Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 with a 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel with 850 foot-pounds of torque, plus an improved transfer case and heavy-duty transmission. Like its matching heavy equipment friend, the truck is also supposed to offer a mix of luxury and working ability. Scroll down for the full press release on this very curious combo.

Should heavy-duty pickup trucks have window stickers with fuel mileage estimates?

If you were to stroll into your nearest Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Nissan, or Ram dealership, you'd find a bunch of pickup trucks. Most of those would have proper window stickers labeled with things like base prices, options prices, location of manufacture, and, crucially, fuel economy estimates. But you'd also run across a number of heavy-duty trucks with no such fuel mileage data from the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA doesn't require automakers to publish the valuable miles-per-gallon measurement for vehicles with gross weight ratings that exceed 8,500 pounds. That makes it difficult for consumers to compare behemoths powered by turbocharged diesel engines – between one another, and between smaller, gasoline-fueled trucks. Consumer Reports doesn't think it should be this way, and it's spearheading an effort (PDF link) to get the government to require manufacturers to publish fuel economy estimates. In its own testing, CR found that heavy-duty pickups powered by Ford's Power Stroke, GM's Duramax, and FCA's Cummins diesel engines (which doesn't include the Ram's EcoDiesel) get worse fuel mileage than their lighter-duty gas-powered siblings. We're not so sure HD-truck buyers are unaware of this fact – big diesels don't really come into their own until big loads are placed in their beds or attached to their trailer hitches. Under heavy workloads, the diesel trucks will almost certainly return greater efficiency than a similar gas-powered truck. What's more, HD trucks with lumbering diesels in general make the driver feel more confident while towing due to greater torque at low engine RPM than gas trucks. They also offer greater max-weight limits. Still, we agree EPA fuel mileage estimates should be offered for heavy-duty pickups. And we think the comparisons provided by Consumer Reports might be interesting to potential buyers. Click here to see the results of CR's tests, and let us know what you think using the poll below. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty: First Drive View 22 Photos News Source: Consumer Reports Government/Legal Green Read This Chevrolet Ford GMC Nissan RAM Fuel Efficiency Truck Commercial Vehicles Diesel Vehicles poll gmc sierra hd chevy silverado hd