How Do You Know If You Need A Bigger Truck?

When you set out on your search for Ram trucks for sale, and start seeing all kinds of horsepower and torque numbers and towing and payload ratings, how do you know when it’s time to start looking for a three-quarter or one-ton Ram? After all, the half-ton trucks have increased their capabilities a great deal recently, claiming that they can do the work of the previous 2500 generations. You want to be able to tow your boat to the lake, and you want to be able to haul when you need to, so you’re considering a Ram 2500 or 3500, but do you really need that much truck? That’s a great question and one we get a lot here at Orange Coast in Costa Mesa, CA. You want to make sure you have enough truck to tow your trailer and boat, otherwise, there can be safety and performance concerns, so let’s take a look at some of the differences between the Ram 1500, Ram 2500, and Ram 3500.

We’ll start with the Ram 1500 because everyone should start here. The Ram 1500 has come a long way in towing and payload capacity as the truck wars have heated up between the big three truck makers, and Ram is right in the middle of this battle. Offering unheard-of capabilities for a half-ton truck, you’d be surprised how hard the Ram 1500 can work for you. So, looking at the various Ram trucks for sale is an entirely different undertaking than in the past. Now, you’ll find not only trucks that do serious work but trucks that can also function as a daily driver, with diesel engines that return incredible fuel efficiency and luxury interiors that are more luxurious than luxury cars. So let’s breakdown the Ram trucks to help you decide how much truck you really need.

Ram 1500: Is a Half-Ton Enough?

The 2020 Ram 1500 has the highest half-ton diesel tow rating, so if you are looking to tow heavy and for excellent fuel efficiency, this is a great option. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 produces best-in-class torque of 480 lb-ft and returns 20 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway. The Ram 1500 is consistently voted as the best truck in the 2020 model year due to its powerful engines, incredible ride quality with the available class-exclusive air suspension, and modern interior. You won’t find a better truck on the market, but what are we looking at in terms of payload and towing capacity, and how does this translate into real-world utility?

The 3.0-liter turbodiesel can tow up to 12,560 pounds. This is plenty of power to tow your boat, for sure, and many travel trailers as well. With this engine, you would be in the safe range of towing many travel trailers and boats, so this engine would be enough to take you and your family to your favorite camping spot or lake. The other engine that would be a great option for towing is the 5.7-liter V8 with 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. With a tow rating of 12,750 pounds and fuel efficiency of 19 MPG combined, this is another great powertrain option for towing heavy and often.

With these two engines, you will probably be able to settle on a half-ton truck, depending on the kind of towing and hauling you do. However, if you haul for work and tow really heavy loads and often, or have a travel trailer that exceeds the recommended towing capacity, it might be time to consider moving up to a three-quarter-ton Ram 2500.

Ram 2500: Is It Time for a Three-Quarter-Ton?

The Ram 2500 has two good engine options for towing, so depending on what kind of work you are doing, and what you’re hauling, a three-quarter-ton Ram may be all you will need. Its base engine is a 6.4-liter V8 that makes 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. This engine can pull 17,540 pounds, so if you have a big boat, this is a great option. If you tow for your work, this option would also be a good choice as it can handle the strain of pulling heavy loads day in and day out. The other great thing about this engine is that it has the best payload capacity of the two engine options at 4,010 pounds.

The other engine for the Ram 2500 is a 6.7-liter turbocharged diesel inline-6 with 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque. This engine can tow up to 19,680 pounds, making it the best engine for towing heavy so far. Even if you have a heavy boat, you won’t be able to feel anything behind you on the boat ramp, so it’s a good thing you’ll have the cameras to remind you it’s there. A camera system can show what’s hidden behind the boat or trailer too when on the move, so you’ll be able to tow safely with ease. Trailer tire-pressure monitoring is also available. But if this significant power still is not enough for you, there is more with the Ram 3500.

Ram 3500: For Serious Towing

Able to tow up to 35,100 pounds and with a payload capacity of 7,680 pounds, this truck is built for just about any fifth-wheel trailer. The Ram 3500’s 6.7-liter turbocharged diesel inline-6 displaces 400 hp and 1,000 lb-ft of torque for serious towing needs. You will be sure to tow with confidence with the Ram 3500, no matter which engine you choose. The base engine offers serious towing capacity as well and varies depending on the configuration you choose.

If you consider that the average weight of an RV is around 5,000 pounds, and the average weight of a trailer is around 5,000 pounds, with the average weight of a boat being about 3,500 pounds, you can use just about any of these trucks for most recreational uses. But you’ll want to look at the three-quarter-ton and one-ton Rams if you work a heavy-duty job because you’ll need a heavy-duty truck. Many people who work these types of jobs gravitate toward the Ram heavy-duty pickup trucks for a reason. They are dependable in the most extreme environments, and you just never know how much rock you might be hauling the next day.

Stop by Orange Coast Ram Today!

The best way to know which Ram truck is right for you is to stop and chat with us. We love talking trucks, and our expert staff is trained in all things trucks. Whether you need a truck to take your boat out occasionally or are looking for a serious work truck and have your own company, we’ll help you find the perfect vehicle for your situation.

We have been family owned and operated for over 30 years, and our goal is always to earn the respect of the community. We have over 1,000 new and used vehicles for sale to choose from, and if we can’t find the perfect truck for you within 72 hours, we’ll make your first payment on any other Orange Coast vehicle you choose. And if you’d rather pre-order it, we’ll have it delivered to your driveway. We’re confident we’ll be able to get in the truck that suits your lifestyle and needs and look forward to talking with you about what you need out of a truck. Ram trucks are the best trucks on the market—stop by and see for yourself! You will not be disappointed.