The Rundown
An eight time truck of the year winner from Motor Trend, the Ram 1500 is no stranger to the limelight. This popular truck has been winning awards since 1994 and even won the aforementioned award three times in a row from 2019 to 2021, a feat no other truck can claim. This popular pickup truck is known for its reliability and impressive performance. One of the trucks to survive the test of time, we are excited every year to see what the Ram truck has to offer. Over the years the 1500 has improved quite a lot, but used models still have quite a lot to offer. As one of the most reliable pickup trucks, older models can be found with low miles and quite a bit of life left in them. Not only that but older models are still able to tow amounts comparable to modern trucks and might even have more favorable features such as steel frames, or even manual transmissions. The Ram 1500 is a competitive truck and even its older models can be viable options in the modern market. Here is a brief guide to the current and past couple generations of the Ram 1500, showing you the available engine options and towing capacity.
Third Generation 2002 – 2008
This is one of the biggest updates the Ram truck has ever seen, and is one of the most popular generations the truck has ever seen. This was one of the most popular generations because of its impressive performance and styling. This generation is one of the main reasons the Ram 1500 began to be one of the most popular trucks on the market. For the third generation Bluetooth radios were introduced, and modern creature comforts worked their way into the base configurations. This truck was able to tow anywhere from 2,900 pounds to 8,650 pounds depending on model year and available equipment.
- 3.7 liter Magnum V-6 with 215 horsepower and 235 lb.-ft of torque
- 4.7 liter Magnum V-8 with 235 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft of torque
- 5.7 liter hemi V-8 with 345 horsepower and 375 lb.-ft of torque
Fourth Generation 2009 – 2018
This is the first generation that had rear seats that could recline. The 1500 lost the mega crew cab options and this became exclusive to the 2500 and 3500. The fourth generation also had a better mix of fuel efficient engines and towing capacity. Outside of the current generation. This generation was able to tow between 3,650 pounds and 10,150 pounds depending on model year and available equipment.
- 3.7-liter magnum V-6 with 215 horsepower and 235 lb.-ft of torque
- 4.7 liter Magnum V-8 with 235 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft of torque
- 3.6 liter Pentastar V-6 with 305 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft of torque
- 5.7 liter hemi V-8 with 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft of torque
- 3.0 liter EcoDiesel V-6 with 240 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft of torque
Current Generation 2019 – Present
Rated as the best truck in class by Car and Driver in 2023, the modern Ram is built to compete. With some of the best options right out of the box, this is the most powerful Ram 1500 yet, with some of the most modern creature comforts available. This Ram is truly sitting on top of the mountain. The current generation of Ram 1500s can tow anywhere from 11,500 pounds to 12,570 pounds depending on equipment and trim.
- 3.6 liter V-6 with 305 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft of torque
- 5.7 liter Hemi V-8 with 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque
- 3.0 liter EcoDiesel V-6 with 260 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque
Summary
The Ram 1500 has a wide variety of used truck models available. Each of them offers the best of that year. If you have questions about which Ram 1500 is the best option for you, do not hesitate to call. You can also browse our available Ram trucks to see if we have any used options currently in stock.