2014 Ram HD Expert Review
Reviewed by Austin Lott
New for 2014
For 2014 Ram adds a few new features to the Ram 2500HD (and 3500HD): optional rear air suspension, a new 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, a restyled interior, an updated exterior, and the 2500 now gets the same frame introduced on the 3500 for 2013 and a five-link coil spring setup for the rear suspension.
Vehicle Overview
The Ram 2500 and 3500 HD are Dodge's offerings in the full-size heavy-duty truck segment. They slot in above the Ram 1500 in the automaker's lineup.
Summary
The Ram HD lineup comes in regular, crew, or mega cab and is available with rear- or four-wheel drive. Regular cab models only get the long bed, and mega cabs only get the short beds, but crew cab models can choose either long- or short-bed configurations. The base gasoline engines for the HD trucks are a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 that makes 383 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque and the optional 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, which makes 410 hp (but only 370 hp in the mega cab) and 429 lb-ft of torque; both gasoline engines come paired with a six-speed automatic. Stepping up into the line of diesel engines presents buyers with three options, although the most powerful iteration is only available on 3500 models. Buyers of the turbodiesel 6.7-liter V-8 paired to the six-speed manual get 350 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque. The 6.7-liter diesel V-8 paired with a heavy-duty six-speed automatic makes 370 hp and 800 lb-ft of torque. Pairing 6.7-liter diesel V-8 with an Aisin-sourced heavy-duty six-speed yields 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque.
Towing with the most powerful iteration of the 6.7-liter turbodiesel V-8 and a properly equipped Ram 3500 is a class-leading 30,000 pounds. Worth noting is that if you deplete the tank of required diesel exhaust fluid, the truck won't cut engine power, unlike our diesel-powered Chevrolet Silverado HD.
The 2014 Ram 2500 crew cab received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHSTA (out of a possible five stars), but the regular and mega cab versions (which did not get overall ratings) received three- and four-star ratings for rollover ratings, where the rear-drive models got the better ratings.
What We Think
In a First Test of a 2014 Ram 3500 with the most powerful diesel engine, one editor said: "The 3500 with more than 22,000 pounds hardly shuddered when I took off with that heavy load. It even handled braking without trailer brakes. … While the logbook was filled with positive feedback, the 2014 Ram 3500 HD did have a few drawbacks, its (expected) rough unladen ride being one of them. A few other editors also commented that the truck felt like it could use more confidence-inspiring brakes and less-syrupy steering." Compared to the competition, however, the Ram is slower and less maneuverable around the test track. We enjoyed the refinement of the Ford Super Duty, and the Ram HD had more of a rough edge, hinting that it leans more toward heavy-duty than comfort. In a First Drive of a Ram 2500 Power Wagon with the gasoline 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, we said: "The Power Wagon arrives with a long list of improvements that should help it continue its reign as king of the hill among pickups. That includes a new V-8, an enhanced suspension, and a Warn winch capable of pulling two Toyota Tundras out of a ditch at the same time. During a recent Power Wagon test on the sharp rocks of Sedona, Arizona, the pickup never stumbled traversing some seriously steep climbs. It bounded over boulders with relative ease."
Key Competitors
