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2021 Ram 3500 review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise
6 photos

Ram 3500 highlights

Customer rating

RepairPal reliability rating

Pros

  • Massive towing capability
  • Comfortable and quiet cabin
  • Intuitive infotainment system

Cons

  • Diesel can be noisy
  • No off-road package
  • Lacks trailering tech

Mileage (EPA estimate)

(data not available)

Pricing for current inventory

(no current inventory)

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The 2021 Ram 3500 is a heavy-duty pickup truck with class-leading towing and cargo-carrying capabilities

One of the most capable pickup trucks available, the 2021 Ram 3500 boasts the highest torque and largest towing capacity in the heavy-duty pickup truck segment. Changes don’t include anything to the styling introduced in 2019, but Ram does increase towing capacity to 37,100 lbs with the high-output Cummins diesel engine that now puts out an astounding 1,075 lb-ft of torque. Various factors may impact towing capacity, including weight of passengers, cargo, and options/accessories. The 2021 Ram 3500 is also available in a Limited Night Edition that trims the exterior in black, including the 20-inch black wheels. The Ram 3500 is available with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive and can be configured with a regular cab, crew cab, or for maximum rear-seat space, there is the Ram Mega Cab. Consumers can choose basic hauling power with the Tradesman or go all the way up to the ultra-luxurious Ram 3500 Limited. The heavy-duty one-ton truck market has few entries: The Ram 3500 competes with the Chevrolet Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 3500, and Ford F-350 Super Duty.

All Ram 3500 years

What is new for the 2021 Ram 3500?

  • 3500 trims have been upgraded with CD Audio as standard equipment this year.
  • Panoramic Sunroof, Head Up Display, Automated Parking, and Rear A/C Seat(s) features are now available as options on select trims.
  • The Lonestar trim now comes with Smart Key, Parking Sensors, and Alloy Wheels as standard equipment.
  • The Laramie trim now comes with A/C Seat(s), Memory Seat(s), and Remote Start as standard equipment.
  • The Bighorn trim now comes with Smart Key and Alloy Wheels as standard equipment.
  • The SLT trim now comes with Cloth Seats as standard equipment.
  • The Limited trim now comes with Android Auto as standard equipment.
  • The Longhorn trim now comes with Android Auto and 20 Inch Plus Wheels as standard equipment.

2021 Ram 3500 trims

Curious how Ram 3500 trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

Tradesman:

  • 370-hp, 1000-lb-ft of torque 6.7L
  • 410-hp, 429-lb-ft of torque 6.4L
  • 360-hp, 800-lb-ft of torque 6.7L
  • Rear View Camera
  • Power Mirrors
  • Vinyl Seats
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Cruise Control
  • Side Airbags
  • Traction Control
  • Smart Key
  • View our Ram 3500 Tradesman inventory

SLT:

  • Includes all features available on the Tradesman
  • Satellite Radio Ready
  • Cloth Seats
  • Alloy Wheels

Bighorn:

Lonestar:

  • Includes all features available on the Bighorn
  • Parking Sensors

Laramie:

  • Includes all features available on the Lonestar
  • Leatherette Seats
  • Rear Defroster
  • Leather Seats
  • Power Seats
  • Memory Seats
  • Front Seat Heaters
  • A/C Seats
  • Heated Steering Wheel
  • View our Ram 3500 Laramie inventory

Longhorn:

Limited:

Ram 3500 photos

What We Like

Interior: The Ram 3500 features a spacious interior, especially in crew cab and Mega Cab variants. With a clean, intuitive design, the Ram 3500 can be outfitted with high-end features like leather seat trim, a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, genuine wood trim, and a power-sliding rear window.

Performance: It may not be very quick, but the Ram 3500 is supremely capable when it comes to towing or hauling. Both the V8 and Cummins diesel engines offer impressive abilities, but the latter gives the big truck the ability to tow up to 37,100 pounds, while the V8 delivers the highest payload figure of 7,680 pounds.

High tech: Ram offers the 3500 pickup with a range of high-tech features, including an infotainment system that is intuitive and easy to use. Higher-level variants get equipped with the vertical 12-inch configurable touchscreen display as well as a Wi-Fi hotspot, Android Auto™, and Apple CarPlay®.

There are multiple USB ports throughout the cabin and 115-volt household-type outlets that can deliver up to 400 watts, which is enough to run or charge power tools.

What Needs Improvement

Daily driving: When equipped with the dual-rear-wheel option, the Ram 3500 truck is 8 feet wide, which can make parking a challenge. The Ram 3500 one-ton pickup is large by design, but its size makes it difficult to maneuver in tight spaces or busy city traffic.

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Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

4.5 out of 5

2 customer reviews

RepairPal reliability rating

2
1
2
Average

RepairPal gave the Ram 3500 an overall reliability rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Average. This rating ranks Ram 3500 15th out of 19 among Fullsize Trucks.

View RepairPal's full rating of the Ram 3500

Ram 3500 features and specs

Curious how Ram 3500 trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

Bighorn 2WD 2D Regular Cab

Standard Features

  • ABS Brakes
  • Air Conditioning
  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Automatic Transmission
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • Bluetooth Technology
  • Cloth Seats
  • Cruise Control
  • Heated Mirrors
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Power Locks
  • Power Mirrors
  • Power Windows
  • Rear View Camera
  • Side Airbags
  • Tow Hitch
  • Traction Control

Optional Features

  • 20 Inch Plus Wheels
  • Alloy Wheels
  • Alpine Sound System
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Bed Cover
  • Bed Liner
  • Blind Spot Monitor
  • Dual Rear Wheels
  • Fifth Wheel Tow Hitch
  • Gooseneck Tow Hitch
  • Head Up Display
  • Heated Mirrors
  • Heated Steering Wheel
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Long Bed
  • Navigation System
  • Parking Sensors
  • Rear Defroster
  • Remote Start
  • Running Boards
  • Satellite Radio Ready
  • Smart Key
  • Tow Hitch

Drive Wheels

Rear Wheel Drive (2WD)

Engine size

6.4L

Horsepower

410

Torque (ft-lbs)

429

Engine type

Gas

Fuel capacity

32

Wheelbase

140"

Overall length

232"

Width

79.4"

Height

77.8"

Leg room

F 40.9"

Head room

F 39.8"

Front tires

LT275/70SR18

Rear tires

LT275/70SR18

Seating capacity

3

Max towing capacity

1497/14970 lbs.

Transmission

Automatic

2021 Ram 3500 FAQ

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