2020 Ram 2500

The 2020 Ram 2500 is not your average work truck. There’s a reason this heavy-duty three quarter ton marvel tops many people's "best truck" lists. In fact, there are several reasons, and they’re not all the conventional ones you might think of when envisioning a big pickup. Sure, the Ram 2500 dominates in categories like available torque and towing capacity, but where it stands out most is uncommon for its category. You see, the Ram 2500 infuses style into the equation in a big way. It’s visible on the exterior and palpable as you slide into the driver’s seat.

This dovetails nicely into the needs of today’s truck-buying public. What exactly do buyers look for in a heavy-duty pickup? Usually, capabilities like towing capacity are at the top of the list, but these days they’re also looking for comfort, infotainment features, and even a little luxury. In a word, today’s pickup truck buyers want versatility. They want their truck to perform on the job site, but they also want a weekend family vehicle. They’re towing boats and RVs and taking road trips, and the minimalist cabins so common with older work trucks just aren’t conducive to a family getaway. Rear seat room, premium sound, and even safety are now at the forefront, and luckily for big truck customers, the folks at Ram have a pretty terrific answer: the 2500.

Levels of the Ram 2500

The Ram 2500's first trim is the Tradesman, starting at $33,895 and ventures into the $60,000 range on the high-end Limited trim line. While the 2500 is very affordable at the entry end of the lineup, the higher-end trim lines may give you a little bit of sticker shock. Still, once you see the plethora of options included in that price, you’ll quickly realize that what you’re getting is not only a highly capable work truck but a plush feature-feature filled vehicle with things you’d expect to find solely on a luxury import.

The Ram 2500 is a solid choice, though, even if luxury options aren’t your priority. The truck comes in several different trims that span a wide range of prices and equipment. In fact, the Ram 2500 comes in six distinct trims: the Tradesman, the Big Horn, the Laramie, the Power Wagon, the Laramie Longhorn, and the luxurious Limited. Additionally, each trim is available with different cab and box size configurations.

The Ram 2500 Tradesman is offered in a regular cab with a long bed and crew cab with either a standard bed or a long bed. The Big Horn and Laramie offer those options plus an aptly-named Mega Cab with a standard bed. The Ram 2500 Power Wagon is available only in a crew cab with a standard bed, and the top-end Laramie Longhorn and Limited offer a crew cab with either a standard or long bed, and a mega cab with a standard bed.

As a true off-road heavy-duty trim, the Ram 2500 Power Wagon is a standout. With features that are specific to its trim, the Power Wagon wears its taller stance like the angry, gritty workhorse it was designed to be, offering a whopping 30 inches of water clearance ability and unparalleled off-roading capability. With all that dirt-loving performance capability, you might only be yearning for decent grab bars on the interior, but, in fact, a fully-equipped Power Wagon will get you heated seats and steering wheel, that 12-inch touchscreen we’re so excited about, and the surround-view camera.

Overall, the Ram 2500 has many trims and various options from off-road beasts to highway cruisers. This is important because every truck driver has different needs. And because the Ram 2500 has so many options, drivers can all find a model for them.

Ram Power

The 2020 Ram 2500's performance dominates the heavy-duty class with its max towing capacity of 19,6780 lbs. And that towing capacity is even more helpful when we consider the technology that supports it. The Ram 2500 is equipped with available state-of-the-art towing safety aids that make both attaching a trailer and driving safely while the trailer is towed a breeze.

The Ram’s 360° Surround View Camera with Trailer Reverse Guidance View is the ultimate trailering companion. It gives drivers an adjustable display screen view of the truck and trailer, allowing for full control when maneuvering with a trailer. You can also get Trailer Camera Wiring for an auxiliary camera mounted to the back of your trailer. Plus, there is an available bed-lowering function on the Ram 2500 that will automatically lower the suspension to make trailer hook-up easy and painless. It’s one of those why-didn’t-we-think-of-that-sooner options that drivers will really appreciate.

The Engine Options

But, what powers the Ram 2500 that makes it so powerful? There are actually two different engines available for this powerful truck. First, it is available with a 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel I6 engine that boasts a max 850 lb-ft of torque and 370 hp. And the other option, the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, offers 429 lb-ft of torque and best-in-class 410 horsepower. The 6.4-liter engine is standard on all Ram 2500 trucks, while the diesel engine is an upgrade. Either choice is great; it is dependent, though, on drivers' individual needs.

Extra Performance Features

The Ram 2500 also comes standard with a Warn Zeon Winch capable of winching up to 12,000-lbs. The Ram 2500 is the only vehicle in its class that comes standard with a factory-installed winch. Another cool exterior feature - it’s an option - is the CargoBox storage system. The Ram CargoBox system incorporates the dead space usually found over the wheel wells in the truck bed into a lockable storage compartment. When you select this option, you’ll get one on each side of the bed. The boxes include LED lighting and a 115-volt outlet. These features certainly wrap up the performance of this truck nicely, making it a more powerful and versatile vehicle.

Luxury Inside Heavy-Duty

The Ram 2500’s plush interior far outclasses other heavy-duty work trucks. In fact, it’s not even close. The Ram’s competitors are scrambling to gain purchase, but this stylish 2500 has a big head start. From the available all-leather seating on the luxurious Limited to the authentic stitching woven into the seats on the Laramie Long Horn, the Ram 2500 feels custom-made and puts the exclamation point on style. And for those who want the overall rugged look, the 2500 Power Wagon excels, with durable vinyl and cloth seating that incorporates a unique and tough-looking tire tread pattern on the seatbacks, and an all-black and graphite interior that gives it a rugged look. But no matter the trim, the Ram 2500 will come jam-packed with interior features, including technology.

Fantastic Technology

Technology is actually a standout category on the Ram 2500. Starting with an optional gigantic 12.0-inch display screen that turns the dash into a control center, the Ram can be equipped with truly cutting edge tech and infotainment options. Wireless phone charging is optional and very handy, as is the available configurable console that’s large enough to store a work laptop. The Ram 2500 pickup also comes equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, as well as optional Sirius XM Radio.

There is an available 17-speaker Harmon Kardon Premium Audio System with a 750-watt amplifier that turns the cabin into a traveling concert venue, and the active noise cancellation works to disrupt and block any offending road noise that’s picked up by strategically-placed microphones. It does this by transmitting sound waves through the speakers, which effectively cancels the unwanted noise, ensuring nothing takes away from the driving experience. All in all, these technology features make the rugged Ram 2500 luxurious so that drivers can have fun even when they are working.