Introducing the 2019 Ram 1500

There have been many changes to the Ram 1500 over the last 10 years. In 2009 the Ram 1500 changed to a rear suspension with a coil-spring setup. In 2013 they gave the truck a Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 engine. But you can only make so many changes before starting again from scratch. This is what is being done this time around, with the all-new 2019 Ram 1500 for sale at Landmark Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

More Size but Less Weight

In the past, the Ram had an amazing ride because of the coil suspension and eight-speed transmission. The problem with that setup was that the legroom in the crew cab left a lot to be desired. This is being addressed in the 2019 Ram 1500. The new crew cab has the most legroom of all versions of the truck. There is a 4.9-inch increase for legroom. This is because the vehicle has a larger frame and also because of how well the interior space is utilized in the new version. There is so much more room in the back that they were able to install a mechanism that allows the seats to recline.

Most people would assume that because there is more material and truck that there should be more weight to this new vehicle - but there is not. Since they were able to cleverly put together the vehicle and use optimal materials, they were able to shave 100 pounds off the frame weight. They were also able to take off 120 pounds from the body weight. There were another 20 pounds taken off the suspension and running gear. By using aluminum, they were able to save 15 pounds off the tailgate. Altogether, they were able to take off 255 pounds from the crew cab Ram 1500.

One Transmission, Two Engines, Three Powertrains

The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is still here but now has a smarter transmission. The Hemi V8 is paired with an eight-speed transmission with 395 horsepower and 410 pounds per foot of torque just as before. You still get an average of 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, but because of the smarter shifting and reduced amount of weight, if feels as if the vehicle works a bit better than before. Because the frame is more stable, it gives you a smoother ride with less vibration. There are also mass dampers and noise cancellation so you won't notice when the Hemi turns off some of its cylinders to save fuel while on the highway.

The Hemi V8 will be offered standard on the Laramie, the Longhorn, and the Limited. The base engine on the Tradesman, the Big Horn, and the Rebel is the 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar. You can also get the Pentastar on all Quad Cab Rams that are not the Laramie, the Longhorn, or the Limited. The Pentastar has 305 horsepower and 269 pounds per foot of torque. But there is another change in the 2019 version - the eTorque.

Essentially, eTorque will be a replacement for the starter motor and alternator. It is a belt-driven motor with up to 90 pounds per foot of torque. It does this by generating electricity while you are braking so it can feed that electricity into a 48-volt, lithium-ion battery pack located behind the back seat. This helps make the start smoother with a start-stop feature that basically gets the truck rolling before the engine is turned on. It also helps by filling in some of the gaps that may occur during shifting. In addition, there is a similar eTorque version of the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that will give you 130 pounds per foot of torque.

Tows More, Drives Better

There has been weight taken out of the running gear, but the strength and capacity of the vehicle have increased. The new 2019 Ram 1500 has six-lug wheels instead of the original five, larger brakes (14.9-inch discs), and a redesigned front stabilizer bar that helps to maintain control in case of a potential roll situation. The coil link suspension has been fine-tuned so that the progressive-rate coil springs now get stiffer in response to added weight. The rear axle can also handle 200 pounds more across all models.

The 2019 Ram is now able to tow up to 12,750 pounds if you are using the Quad Cab with a V8 4x2. If you are using a Quad Cab V6 4x2, you can tow as much as 2,300 pounds. If you have a regular V8 crew cab, you should be able to tow about 11,000 to 11,500 with a payload between 1,800 and 1,850 pounds. This is an increase of 1,200 pounds of trailer weight and 150 to 200 pounds of payload when compared to previous models.

There is also a new feature that allows your towing system to "learn" the length of the trailer you are towing. You can tap on the reverse camera to get a close up of the hitch ball so that you can hook up your trailer with ease.

A final feature that should be mentioned is the new frequency-response shock absorbers. They have two valves that determine whether you are driving over a deep pothole or a small ripple in the road. This makes it easier for your vehicle to adjust.

Inside Game

There is a ton going on inside the new 2019 Ram 1500. There are seats that have been redesigned to have better padding and sculpting. There is also tilt/telescope steering that will accommodate any driver who gets behind the wheel. In addition to these features, there is a ton of storage volume in the center console.

The dashboard and switchgear have seen the biggest changes. The center stack is now closer to the driver so they can reach it more easily. While this setup is close, it does not interfere with the personal space of the driver. There are also knobs and dials in the truck that seem more personalized instead of cookie-cutter pieces that look like they could belong to any truck on the market.

Pricing and Availability

Overall, the Ram 1500 pricing has become simpler. The V8 is standard on all models that start with 'L' no matter the size bed or the kind of drive type. A crew cab is $300 more when it has a long bed compared to a short bed and a four-wheel drive is going to cost $3,500 more than a two-wheel drive truck. The V6 comes standard on Tradesman, Big Horn, and Rebel, but you can get the V8 for only $1,195 more. You will pay $2,800 less if you want a Quad cab instead of a crew cab and $800 more if you want the eTorque Hemi instead of a regular Hemi, so lock in your warehouse pricing today!