Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Review

2011 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 SLT 2dr Regular Cab Pickup

New Models

Used Models

  • 2010 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Laramie 4dr Crew Cab SB DRW Pickup View photos
    2010 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Crew Cab Used TMV from $29,542 Find Used Inventory
  • 2010 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Laramie 4dr Mega Cab SB DRW Pickup View photos
    2010 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Mega Cab Used TMV from $33,997 Find Used Inventory
  • 2010 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 SLT 2dr Regular Cab Pickup View photos
    2010 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $26,720 Find Used Inventory
  • 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Laramie Mega Cab Dually Crew Cab View photos
    2009 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Mega Cab Used TMV from $30,976 Find Used Inventory
  • 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 SLT Crew Cab View photos
    2009 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $26,807 Find Used Inventory
  • 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 SLT Regular Cab View photos
    2009 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $24,877 Find Used Inventory
  • 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 SLT Crew Cab View photos
    2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Diesel Used TMV from $24,177 Find Used Inventory
  • 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Laramie Mega Cab Dually Crew Cab View photos
    2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Mega Cab Used TMV from $28,192 Find Used Inventory
  • 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Exterior View photos
    2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $20,983 Find Used Inventory
  • 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Exterior View photos
    2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $18,367 Find Used Inventory
  • 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Laramie 4dr Quad Cab 4WD SB Shown View photos
    2007 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Diesel Used TMV from $20,975 Find Used Inventory
  • 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 2500 Laramie 4dr Mega Cab 4WD SB View photos
    2007 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Mega Cab Used TMV from $24,748 Find Used Inventory
  • 2007 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Exterior Shown View photos
    2007 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $18,021 Find Used Inventory
  • 2007 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $16,201 Find Used Inventory
  • 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Exterior View photos
    2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Diesel Used TMV from $18,967 Find Used Inventory
  • 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Exterior View photos
    2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Mega Cab Used TMV from $21,310 Find Used Inventory
  • 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 2500 Laramie 4dr Quad Cab Shown View photos
    2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $16,662 Find Used Inventory
  • 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 2500 Laramie 4dr Quad Cab Shown View photos
    2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $14,752 Find Used Inventory
  • 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 4dr Quad Cab Laramie 4WD SB View photos
    2005 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Diesel Used TMV from $17,199 Find Used Inventory
  • 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 4dr Quad Cab Laramie 4WD LB DRW Shown View photos
    2005 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $15,041 Find Used Inventory
  • 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 2dr Regular Cab 2WD LB DRW View photos
    2005 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $11,742 Find Used Inventory
  • 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 4dr Quad Cab Laramie 4WD SB View photos
    2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Diesel Used TMV from $14,843 Find Used Inventory
  • 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 4dr Quad Cab Laramie 4WD LB DRW Shown View photos
    2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $13,033 Find Used Inventory
  • 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Exterior View photos
    2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $10,364 Find Used Inventory
  • 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 4dr Quad Cab Laramie 4WD SB View photos
    2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Diesel Used TMV from $11,702 Find Used Inventory
  • 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 4dr Quad Cab ST 2WD LB DRW View photos
    2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $10,435 Find Used Inventory
  • 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Exterior View photos
    2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $8,406 Find Used Inventory
  • 2002 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 4dr Quad Cab ST 2WD LB View photos
    2002 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $7,876 Find Used Inventory
  • 2002 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $6,770 Find Used Inventory
  • 2001 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 4dr Quad Cab SLT Plus 2WD LB View photos
    2001 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $6,303 Find Used Inventory
  • 2001 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $5,397 Find Used Inventory
  • 2000 Dodge Ram 3500 4 Dr ST 4WD Extended Cab LB View photos
    2000 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Extended Cab Used TMV from $5,480 Find Used Inventory
  • 2000 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $4,616 Find Used Inventory
  • 2000 Dodge Ram 3500 4 Dr ST 4WD Extended Cab LB View photos
    1999 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Extended Cab Used TMV from $4,893 Find Used Inventory
  • 1999 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $4,095 Find Used Inventory
  • 2000 Dodge Ram 3500 4 Dr ST 4WD Extended Cab LB View photos
    1998 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Extended Cab Used TMV from $4,345 Find Used Inventory
  • 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 4WD Regular Cab Duallie View photos
    1998 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $3,595 Find Used Inventory
  • 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 2 Dr ST Extended Cab SB View photos
    1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Extended Cab Used TMV from $3,483 Find Used Inventory
  • 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 2 Dr LT Standard Cab LB View photos
    1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $3,382 Find Used Inventory
  • 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 2 Dr Laramie SLT Extended Cab LB View photos
    1996 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Extended Cab Used TMV from $3,026 Find Used Inventory
  • 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 2 Dr Laramie SLT Standard Cab LB View photos
    1996 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $2,812 Find Used Inventory
  • 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 2 Dr Laramie SLT Extended Cab LB View photos
    1995 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Extended Cab Used TMV from $2,646 Find Used Inventory
  • 1995 Dodge Ram 3500 2 Dr Laramie SLT Standard Cab LB View photos
    1995 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $2,371 Find Used Inventory
  • 1994 Dodge Ram 3500 2 Dr Laramie SLT Standard Cab LB View photos
    1994 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Used TMV from $1,990 Find Used Inventory

Plenty of people want pickup trucks. They're cool regardless of whether you actually use one. But people need duallies. In the rough-and-tumble world of pickups, behemoths like the Dodge Ram 3500 with dual rear wheels on both sides (hence "dually") are the kings of the hill, the go-to vehicles for towing and hauling huge loads up said hill. When you're pulling a Bayliner, a racecar, that new fifth-wheel Coachman or a few relatives of Secretariat, you need a dually.

The Dodge Ram 3500 is now in its fourth generation, and its styling is based on the second generation's styling rebirth, which showed that a full-size pickup could be made to resemble something other than a cinder block. Like its smaller brothers, the heavy-duty 1-ton Ram 3500 boasts a muscular, rugged look that takes heavy inspiration from big rigs, specifically their "shouldered" fender design and prominent grille. And why not, when the 3500 is about the closest thing you can get to a Freightliner?

New or used, a Dodge Ram 3500 is a solid option for truck buyers in need of serious towing and hauling capacity. This big-hauling Dodge has a loyal following addicted to that classic muscular styling -- and with names like "Hemi" and "Cummins" emblazoned under the hood, there's plenty of actual muscle to back it up.

Current Dodge Ram 3500
The current Dodge Ram 3500 heavy-duty pickup is available in three cab styles: regular, Crew Cab (with four forward-opening doors) and Mega Cab (jumbo crew cab). The regular cabs come with a long bed only, while the Crew Cab has either a short or long cargo bed. The Mega Cab rides on the same wheelbase as the Crew Cab long bed but pairs an even bigger cabin with the short bed. Trim levels range from base ST to midgrade SLT and luxurious Laramie. With the exception of Crew Cab short beds, all Ram 3500s have a dual-rear-wheel axle.

The 2010 Ram 3500 is available with either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. A 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-6 is standard and cranks out 350 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual with an option for a six-speed automatic. The Cummins comes with a big-rig-like exhaust brake that provides additional stability and braking power when towing.

We're fond of the Dodge Ram 3500's powerful diesel engine, available manual transmission and wide range of body styles. It's also quite pleasant to drive, and the interior boasts numerous available luxuries. However, it should be noted that redesigned heavy-duty trucks from Ford and GM have also debuted fairly recently, so our recommendation is to consider the different offerings closely before making a final decision on the Ram.

Used Dodge Ram 3500 Models
The current fourth-generation Ram 3500 debuted for 2010. Compared to the previous Ram 3500, the current generation has revised styling, a more upscale interior, a retuned suspension and the new Crew Cab, which replaced the previous generation's Quad Cab body style.

The third-generation Dodge Ram 3500 was produced from 2003-'09. Only the regular and Quad Cab (crew cab) body styles were available initially; the Mega Cab (really big crew cab) squeezed into the lineup in 2006. This was also the year that Dodge restyled the heavy-duty Ram's interior, added higher-end convenience features and freshened the front-end styling. Available trim levels were ST, SLT (known as the SXT with the Mega Cab) and Laramie.

The Mega Cab was only available with the short bed, while the regular cab was only equipped with the long bed. The Quad Cab was offered with either and -- unlike the previous generation -- featured forward-hinged rear doors. The short-bed Quad Cab was the only 3500 model available with a single rear axle; the rest had dual-wheel rear axles. All models were available with two-wheel or four-wheel drive.

A 5.7-liter Hemi V8 was initially the standard engine, offering 345 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque. This hefty power plant could be ordered with a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. Discontinued after 2008, the absence of the Hemi left the familiar 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel-6 (350 hp, 650 lb-ft) as the only power plant. Originally, the diesel engine was a somewhat less powerful 5.9-liter Cummins, with the switch to the updated 6.7-liter Cummins occurring in 2007. A 305-hp 8.0-liter V10 was optional in 2003 only.

In reviews, we noted that the third-generation Ram 3500 had more power, increased towing capacity, better handling and updated styling compared to the second-generation model. In fact, it's close enough to the current model in terms of all-around abilities that we'd definitely recommend taking a look at used models from this generation -- you're bound to save a bundle, and you'll still be getting an extremely capable truck.

The second-generation Dodge Ram 3500 was produced from 1994-2002. The base engine was a 5.2-liter V8 engine, with an 8.0-liter V10 or 5.9-liter Cummins turbodiesel optional. Unlike the current generation, the 3500 was only available with a dual rear axle. In 1998, the Quad Cab was introduced with twin rear-hinged doors and a larger backseat. The interior was also redesigned that year, which included the addition of a standard passenger-side airbag with a cutoff switch. In 2000, improvements were made to the steering and suspension, while a high-output Cummins turbodiesel joined the lesser oil burner in 2001.

At the time, we commented favorably about the truck's user-friendly cab, competent handling and powerful V10 and diesel engines. One downside of the Ram was that rear-seat room in the Quad Cab was cramped when compared to the room available in competing pickup trucks.

The original generation of the 1-ton Dodge Ram was actually known as the Ram 350 and was produced from 1981-'93.

Read the most recent review for 2011 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500

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