Used 2015 Ram 3500 Mega Cab

While the half-ton pickup market is the bread and butter of the industry, when it comes to serious towing and payload, it’s the heavy-duty 3/4- and 1-ton models customers rely upon. With no foreign competition to speak of, Ram has only the Ford F250/350 and Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra HD to worry about, although perhaps it’s Ford and Chevy that should be worried. With a class-leading 30,000-pound tow rating and best-in-class payload and gross combined weight rating, the Ram HD for 2015 is no slouch. Exclusive to the Ram brand is a multi-link rear suspension that vastly improves on-road comfort, while an available diesel engine with a manual or automatic transmission gives customers a wide range of choices, making the Ram our pick for heavy-duty chores.

Like its rivals, the Ford F-Series Super Duty and Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra HD, the Ram 2500/3500 HD for 2015 tells its story in numbers. The standard 5.7-liter Hemi V8 offers up plenty of power, enough to tow up to 14,000 pounds without so much as a hiccup. The larger 6.4-liter Hemi gas engine steps up when the job requirements approach 20,000 pounds, while the torque-happy 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel can dispatch loads up to 15 tons. The Ram trucks also offer some of the nicest, most comfortable cabins ever to grace a work truck, something that can’t be measured with statistics, but can definitely be felt by its owner. The Ram HD’s coil-spring rear suspension helps deliver an impressively smooth and controlled ride, and the overall feeling on the highway is similar to that of a 1500 model. The 2500 models also offer an optional airbag suspension with automatic load leveling.

Climb into a 2015 Ram heavy-duty pickup and you’ll find a very unworkman-like interior. Even base trims seem relatively polished, while upper-crust Laramie models evoke a near-luxury feel with leather-lined and climate-controlled seats, a heated steering wheel, high-quality interior materials – the list goes on. The massive center console is long and deep enough to swallow a larger laptop or multiple tablets; it can even hold a set of hanging files. Reclining rear seats are one of the perks to be had with the Mega Cab, while Crew Cab owners enjoy convenient under-floor storage compartments.

Ram heavy-duty trucks are available in three cab configurations: 2-door Regular Cab, 4-door Crew Cab and 4-door Mega Cab. Bed lengths vary between 6 feet, 4 inches and 8 feet, depending on cab style, while the rear-axle configuration can be had with choice of the standard 2-wheel (2WD) or heavy-duty 4-wheel (4WD) dually setup. Visually separating the Ram 2500/3500 HD trucks from the basic Ram 1500 truck are a larger grille, a taller hood with stamped louvers, and large chrome or black bumpers. All heavy-duty trucks are sizable vehicles: If you plan to park one in a garage, measure accordingly.

UCONNECT ACCESS
Chrysler’s UConnect infotainment system makes the complex seem easy. Featuring a big 8.4-inch touch screen, conversational voice-recognition software and simple, easy-to-read apps and menus, we think it is one of the most intuitive full-featured units available.

CLASS-LEADING POWER AND TOWING
If you’re buying a big pickup, you’re doing so for its power and ability. The 2015 Ram 2500/3500 HD provides all the boasting rights you’ll need at the work site. The 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel touts a 30,000-pound tow rating and an astounding 865 lb-ft of torque.

In base Tradesman form, the 2015 Ram 2500 and 3500 HD come equipped with a 40/20/40-split front bench seat with rear storage, air conditioning, vinyl flooring, cruise control, a driver information center, automatic on/off headlights, a tilt steering wheel, manual windows and door locks, and a 6-speaker audio system with a USB port for digital music players. Safety features include six airbags and a full complement of electronic stability aids.

The Ram HD lineup is as tech-savvy as it is tough, with an options list consisting of touch-screen navigation, conversational voice recognition, a 10-speaker premium sound system by Alpine, backup sonar proximity sensors, power-folding trailer-tow mirrors and a rearview camera for easier trailer hookups. The 2015 Ram HD also offers an integrated trailer brake as standard equipment on SLT, Outdoorsman, Laramie and Power Wagon models.

The 2015 Ram Heavy Duty is available with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8, a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, or a considerably more powerful 6.7-liter Cummins inline-6 turbodiesel. The diesel engine is available in two power outputs, with the upgraded version available exclusively in the 3500. The 5.7-liter V8 is standard issue in the 2500 and 3500. Though costly, the standard Hemi engine can be retrofitted to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of gasoline. The sole transmission for gasoline-powered models is a 6-speed automatic. Diesel models can be linked to a segment-exclusive 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic. Diesel models also feature exhaust braking for added stopping power.

5.7-liter V8 (Ram 2500)
383 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
400 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: NA

6.4-liter V8 (Ram 2500, 3500)
410 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
429 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: NA

6.7-liter turbocharged diesel inline-6 (Ram 2500, 3500)
350 horsepower @ 2,800 rpm (manual transmission)
370 horsepower @ 2,800 rpm (automatic transmission)
660 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm (manual transmission)
800 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm (automatic transmission)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: NA

6.7-liter turbocharged diesel inline-6 (Ram 3500)
385 horsepower @ 2,800 rpm
865 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: NA