The 2019 Ram Heavy Duty Is the First Pickup With 1,000 Lb-Ft of Torque

Ram’s musclebound new pickup truck just made automotive history.

Ram’s new heavy-duty pickup has beaten all other automotive brands in the race to reach 1,000-lb-ft of torque.  

The 2019 Ram HD gets there thanks to a reworked 6.7-liter Cummins High Output Turbo Diesel that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show. The ultra-hefty truck can tow up to 35,100 pounds and haul a maximum 7,680-pound payload, making it all-around superior to the Chevrolet Silverado HD.

A second variant of the same 6.7-liter diesel produces 850 lb-ft of torque, and the standard 6.4-liter, gas-powered V8 is good for 429 lb-ft of torque.   

Models equipped with the Cummins diesel run an electronically-controlled six-speed automatic that is “engineered to handle the colossal torque of the Turbo Diesel engine and increased vehicle weight ratings while delivering improved shift quality,” according to a press release from Fiat Chrysler. Gas-powered models have an eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic.  

Car and Driver has further details on other notable features: 

The truck is essentially new from the ground up, built on a new frame that makes extensive use of high-strength steel—98.5 percent, according to Ram—for improved strength and weight savings, with six crossmembers and fully boxed rear sections.

A pair of Active-Tuned Mass Modules similar to those used on the 2019 Ram 1500 help dampen vibration. Suspension upgrades include new, stronger and lighter front and rear axles, plus progressive springs and upgraded bushings. The 3500 one-ton has rear leaf springs. 

Three modes of operation control the air springs: Normal/Payload automatically detects the load and adjusts the springs accordingly, Trailer Mode allows the bed to lower about an inch to maintain a level relationship with the trailer, and Bed Mode permits lowering of the bed to simplify trailer hookup or ease loading.

Engineers strived for a sleeker profile and managed to come out of the wind tunnel with a 0.41 drag coefficient, the lowest ever for a Ram HD. The bodywork is exclusive, too, sharing no panels with the recently refreshed Ram 1500.

Combined with new engine mounts, hydraulic body mounts at the C-pillars, active noise cancellation, new exhaust components, and the aforementioned vibration dampeners, Ram says it has lowered the ambient interior sound level by 10 decibels.

Fiat Chrysler also says that the new Ram HD is the “most technologically advanced heavy-duty pickup ever.” The combination of a Uconnect 4C digital hub, HVAC controls, Apple CarPlay connectivity, and a gigantic 12-inch touchscreen that can display two windows simultaneously definitely put the high-tech truck in the running. 

Six trim options for the 2019 Ram HD include Tradesman, Big Horn (or Lone Star in Texas), Power Wagon, Laramie, Laramie Longhorn, and Limited, all of which have different grille styles.

If you’re searching for the most powerful pickup ever, look no further.