2024 Ram HD Expert Review
Reviewed by Duncan Brady
For those who appreciate a durable truck with top-tier capability, the Ram 3500 is a great choice. This is the one-ton dually of Ram's lineup, and we liked the current-generation truck so much we named it Truck of the Year when it made its debut. No heavy-duty pickup has won since, though that could change this year with the redesigned F-350 and Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD.
What's New
Ram's only change to the 3500 for 2024 is the addition of a Tailgate Ajar warning lamp, which is now standard across the lineup. Last year's updates were more significant, as the truck gained new options including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, new telescoping tow mirrors, improved trailer cameras, a Mopar sport performance hood, and a digital rearview mirror.
What We Think
The Ram 3500 is every bit as capable towing and hauling as you'd hope for from a dually pickup, but it's also so well rounded we named it our 2020 Truck of the Year.
Design is a strong point inside and out, as Ram offers six different front grille styles depending on the trim level, and the interior can feel like a premium mobile office. We also appreciate the intuitive UConnect 5 infotainment software, and although the available 12.0-inch portrait-style infotainment display isn't as revolutionary as it was five years ago, it's still impressive today.
Both engine options provide ample grunt, even if they don't provide the absolute highest towing and payload capacities in the segment. The diesel's transmission could use an extra couple gears. Still, the big Ram is surprisingly capable off-road, rides with surprising comfort whether or not there's cargo in the bed, and offers a handful of driver assist features. Ford and Chevy will have to deliver seriously compelling pickups to take away the Ram 3500's crown.
Engines
Ram has two solid engine options for the 3500. The standard truck comes equipped with a 6.4-liter V-8 not unlike that which could previously be had in the Charger and Challenger, here working with an eight-speed automatic to deliver 410 hp and 429 lb-ft to the rear wheels or all four.
Any truck in this segment needs a diesel option, and Ram doesn't disappoint. Upgrading from gas to diesel will set you back nearly $10K, but for that cash you get a 6.7-liter turbodiesel I-6 that develops 370 hp and 850 lb-ft in standard spec or a bananas 420 hp and 1,075 lb-ft if you go for the high-output version. Diesels are mated to a six-speed automatic.
Towing and Payload
You can tow some serious weight with a Ram 3500. Properly equipped (a Ram 3500 4X2 regular cab Tradesman with the 8-foot bed, 4.10 gears, and the high-output diesel), Ram's beefiest consumer pickup can tug 37,090 pounds. In the same configuration but fitted with the gas V-8, payload capacity reaches 7,680 pounds, which means if it could fit, you could put a Ram 2500 Rebel in the bed.
Safety Features
Heavy-duty pickups like these don't get evaluated by IIHS or NHTSA for crash safety, but Ram offers a handful of driver assists. All trims are available with a Safety Group pack that adds adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring (which automatically accounts for the length of a trailer), rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and rain-sensing wipers.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
Most modern, full-cab pickups have Mercedes S-Class levels of rear-seat room, though the heavy-duty Ram is marginally smaller inside than its direct competitors. The Ford and Chevy also offer a significant bed space advantage.
Technology
Although the Ram 3500 is available with an impressive 12.0-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on all trims, the standard fare is more basic. The Tradesman and Big Horn are all work no play with a super basic 5.0-inch touch display, and the rest of the lineup gets an 8.4-inch screen as standard. Tick the right boxes, and you can score a 12.3-inch instrument cluster display, a 360-degree camera, cargo view cameras, and 17-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio.
Recommended Trim
Ram sells a near-endless variety of 3500s—gas or diesel, RWD or 4WD, single or dual rear wheels, multiple bed lengths, multiple cab options, plus Tradesman, Big Horn, Laramie, Limited Longhorn, and Limited trim levels. Your best option of course depends on use case, but the Laramie seems like a good middle ground with its leather interior, heated front seats, parking sensors, and dampened tailgate. We'd order ours with the high-output diesel and dual rear wheels, because if you're going 3500, you might as well go big.
