Ram 3500 2021 Review

Among truck owners, numbers matter. They settle claims, justify choices and validate bragging rights. This year, the 2021 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty holds two of the biggest ones among full-size heavy haulers.

First, the Ram 3500 HD's optional turbodiesel six-cylinder engine delivers a claimed 1,075 lb-ft of torque. That figure beats the Ford F-Series Super Duty lineup's Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 by all of 25 lb-ft. The Duramax turbodiesel V8 in Chevy and GMC trucks musters no more than 910 lb-ft. Second, the Ram 3500 HD boasts the highest gooseneck/fifth-wheel towing capacity of any full-size heavy-duty pickup truck, at 37,100 pounds, depending on the configuration. The Ford Super Duty is slightly behind at 37,000 pounds, while the limit for the Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD is 36,000 pounds.

The Ram's numerical advantages matter much less in real-world situations — all of these heavy-duty trucks are supremely capable for towing and hauling. Yet there are still plenty of other reasons to select the 2021 Ram 3500, including its comfortable seating and wide range of available technology and driver assistance features. It's definitely worth checking out if you're shopping for a heavy-duty truck.

Which 3500 does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Ram 3500 is available in five trim levels: Tradesman, Big Horn, Laramie, Longhorn and Limited. Regular-cab, crew-cab, and Mega Cab (the extra-large crew-cab) configurations pair with standard (6 foot 4 inches) or long (8 foot) cargo beds and rear- or four-wheel drive.

Engine selections include gasoline and diesel power plants:

• Standard 6.4-liter gas V8 (410 hp, 429 lb-ft) with an eight-speed automatic
• Optional 6.7-liter Cummins turbocharged diesel inline six-cylinder (370 hp, 850 lb-ft) with a six-speed automatic
• Optional high-output version of the diesel with 420 hp and 1,075 lb-ft

Equipment highlights for each trim level are as follows:

Tradesman When you seek the maximum capability at the minimum price, the Tradesman offers:

• 18-inch steel wheels
• Locking tailgate
• Vinyl seats and floors
• Manual locks and windows
• Air conditioning
• Cruise control
• 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Bluetooth hands-free calling
• Backup camera
• Tire fill alert system

Big Horn The Big Horn goes beyond the basics, adding:

• Chrome exterior trim
• Power, heated tow mirrors
• Power windows
• Power door locks with remote keyless entry
• Cloth seats and carpeted floors
• Trailer brake controller

Laramie For a little more luxury and livability, the Laramie supplies:

• 18-inch aluminum wheels
• LED headlights and taillights
• Power-folding chrome tow mirrors
• Power-sliding rear window
• Soft-opening tailgate
• Leather seats
• Power-adjustable, heated front seats
• Power-adjustable pedals
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated steering wheel
• 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• Satellite radio
• Nine-speaker premium sound system
• Remote engine start
• Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)

Longhorn For a more premium pickup, the Longhorn installs:

• Upscale design details
• LED cargo bed lighting
• Spray-in bedliner
• Remote tailgate release
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Premium leather
• Front bucket seats
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats
• Navigation system
• Connected services including 4G LTE Wi-Fi

Limited Choose this trim for the most luxurious and technologically advanced version of the Ram 3500:

• 20-inch wheels
• Power running boards
• Exclusive leather seats
• Real wood interior trim
• 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless smartphone charger
• Blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change)
• Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is approaching from the side while reversing)

Depending on trim level and configuration, numerous individual and packaged options are available for the 2021 Ram 3500. Significant upgrades for the truck include:

• Dual rear wheels
• Cargo bed storage bins (RamBox)
• Night Edition package with blacked-out exterior trim
• 17-speaker premium Harman Kardon sound system
• Digital rearview camera
• Trailer-reverse guidance camera
• Towing equipment, including fifth-wheel/gooseneck preparation
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Ram and the car in front)
• Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Ram and its surroundings for tight parking situations)