2025 Ram 3500 Trucks

The Ram Heavy Duty has been given a significant update for the 2025 model year. Seemingly everything from the powertrain to the interior, safety and towing tech, and styling and comfort has been updated this year. And for the most part, these upgrades are to a truck that was already arguably the most comfortable and one of the most capable trucks in its class. The Ram Heavy Duty lineup is built to tow heavy trailers and carry significant payload, putting it squarely in competition with the Ford F-Series Super Duty, Chevrolet Silverado HD, and GMC Sierra HD. This lineup also includes the off-road enthusiast-leaning Power Wagon and Rebel.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of heavy-duty trucks, including the Ram Heavy Duty.

This year, the Ram Heavy Duty gets a significant update, with improvements to nearly every aspect of the truck. The front end is crisp and clean, without losing its muscular stance. All diesel-powered trucks now use an updated version of Ram’s high-output Cummins. There’s a new 8-speed automatic transmission backing both engines. Inside, a new Uconnect system runs through an available 14.5-inch screen. There’s a digital instrument cluster, as well as a screen for the front passenger. There are several safety features that are now standard, and there are new features and settings that come in especially handy when towing or on the job site.

There are seven trim levels, and of those, only the Rebel and Power Wagon aren’t available as 3500 trims. Within the 2500 (3/4-ton) and 3500 (1-ton) lineup, there is a choice of Regular, Crew, and Mega cab configurations, but not with every trim level. To further muddy the waters, Ram’s Big Horn trim is replaced by the Lone Star in Texas. With all but the Rebel and Power Wagon, rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard. However, you can add 4-wheel drive (4WD) as an option for around $3,000. Dual rear wheels are only available with the regular cab, which limits it to the Tradesman and Big Horn/Lone Star 3500. The priciest Ram HD is the 4-wheel-drive Ram 3500 Limited Mega Cab at $93,855.

Generally, the starting prices in this segment are highly competitive – all (Ford F-Series Super Duty, Chevrolet Silverado HD, and GMC Sierra HD) start within $1,000 of each other. If you don’t need to pull a massive horse trailer or a giant tree stump out of the ground, the 1/2-ton Ram 1500 starts at $42,270. It was also significantly updated for 2025.

Before buying the Ram HD, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. To date, the Ram HD trucks hold their value about as well as comparable competitor trucks.

There are two engine choices with the 2025 Ram Heavy Duty, both of which are backed by a new 8-speed automatic transmission. The Ram Heavy Duty line comes standard with a 405-horsepower 6.4-liter gas engine, and you can opt for a 430-hp 6.7-liter turbodiesel inline 6-cylinder, which is essentially the same as last year’s High Output version. The only trim level that isn’t available with the diesel is the Power Wagon.

The gas engine is quick off the line, with plenty of power. It may be the base engine, but if you don’t need to tow 36,000 pounds, it’s a great choice. Shifts are smooth, and because the transmission is shift by wire, using the column shifter is light and easy, with none of the clunkiness of the traditional column shift.

We towed with the turbodiesel up Davis Dam, which is a significant grade. The Cummins was smooth and steady, and the 8-speed automatic held one gear nearly all the way up. It felt like it had plenty of power in reserve, a feeling that was reinforced by the engine’s impressive response when unladen. Also, because of the updates for 2025, this is now one of the quietest diesels you can get in a heavy-duty truck.

The Ram 2500 has a nice, comfortable ride, thanks to the use of coil springs in the rear. New suspension tuning ensures the ride is even nicer for 2025. The 3500 uses rear leaf springs, but with the available adaptive air suspension — also available in the 2500 — the ride is quite pleasant.

Fuel Economy

Heavy-duty trucks aren’t subject to EPA mileage tests; consequently, there are no estimated mileage numbers. But, expect per-gallon fuel economy in the teens, which is average for the segment.

Not only are Ram trucks known for comfort, but the trucks have upscale interiors with logically placed controls that are easy to use. Some of the interiors are downright luxurious, arguably the most opulent choice in the segment. There is also new tech inside, including a new version of Uconnect that runs through an optional 14.5-inch screen and a 10.25-inch dedicated screen for the front passenger. The driver benefits from a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a digital rearview mirror and dual wireless phone charging pad are available. What’s especially nice about the passenger’s screen is that the driver can’t see it when behind the wheel, and there are controls near the screen where the passenger can connect a phone and run it through the screen,

There are three cab choices: Regular, Crew, and Mega Cabs. The Mega Cab is a super-sized crew cab that’s available on the 3500. The Mega Cab has more rear legroom, as well as more cargo space behind the rear seats.

The 2025 Heavy Duty lineup received a significant refresh for the 2025 model year. With that came new grilles, and sharper-looking LED headlights and taillights. Grille designs are more aggressive and different for each trim. In addition, each trim level has its own unique styling cues, including wheel and tire packages, brightwork, badges, and graphics. Power towing mirrors are available, and you can use the power mirror to control both the large mirror and the smaller spot mirror.

As you would expect with a heavy-duty truck, the 2500 and 3500 are larger than the 1500 1/2-ton equivalent. However, the 2500 and 3500 are about the same size as their competitors, meaning if you are used to driving a 3/4- or 1-ton truck, the Ram’s size and footprint will be about what you would expect. What is different from a 1/2-ton is that you can get a Heavy Duty Crew Cab with an 8-foot bed, and you can get the Mega Cab with a 6’4” bed. That makes these trucks longer than 1/2-tons, and the available dual rear-wheel (dually) setup on 3500 trucks makes them wider, too. Optional lockable bed storage, called the RamBox, is available.

Towing Cameras
A 360-degree surround-view camera and a Cargo View camera, both part of the Tow Tech package, are available on every trim level. You can also add your own camera or a Mopar camera that can show you what’s behind your trailer when the rearview mirror is blocked.

Handy Truck Bed Gear
The 2500 and 3500 are available with the RamBox lockable, drainable bed storage, which also comes with a 115-volt outlet. You can also get a cargo rail system with four cleats and a truck bed divider.

Power Inverter
This new option makes the truck bed even more functional. The onboard power inverter can provide up to 2.4kW of power through two covered outlets. You turn it on with a switch on the inverter and control it through the main touch screen in the cabin.

Helpful Towing Tech
An available digital rearview mirror can typically show a video feed of what’s behind the truck without passengers’ heads or cargo getting in the way. It also has a tow mode, so the trailer can “disappear.” With Trailer Reverse Steering Control, the driver turns a dial on the center console in the desired direction, and the system handles the steering while the driver controls the brakes and throttle. There’s an engine control system that’s designed to sense when the truck is loaded or unloaded, and in turn adjusts the transmission’s shifts. And the trailer tow mirrors are power telescoping and even the smaller magnified section is power-adjustable.

Displays of Strength
You would be hard-pressed to say with a straight face that Ram doesn’t offer enough large displays in its trucks. The gauge cluster is a 12.3-inch digital setup that’s configurable. Beyond the standard 8.4-inch navigation screen is an available 12-inch screen or a 14.5-inch unit. In addition, this is the only heavy-duty truck that offers a screen for the front passenger. This 10.25-inch touchscreen includes an HDMI outlet and is only visible to the passenger. It can mirror a smartphone and allows the passenger to help with navigation and keep an eye on external tow cameras.

Power Wagon
Available only as a 2500 Crew Cab, this is the off-road specialist. In addition to sporting 4-wheel drive as standard, it also offers a disconnecting front anti-roll bar to provide as much axle articulation as possible. Other goodies are a Warn Zeon-12 winch (rated at 12,000 pounds and with a kink- and fray-resistant synthetic line), electronic locking front/rear differentials, and a specialized Bilstein suspension.

Harman Kardon audio
Only available as an option in the top Limited trim, this 17-speaker/900-watt surround-sound system would be an appropriate finishing touch for any luxury interior.

The base engine on all trim levels is a 6.4-liter V8, with 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. With the exception of the 2500 Power Wagon, which only comes with the gas engine, the Ram 2500 and 3500 are available with a Cummins 6.7-liter inline-6 turbodiesel. Its peak horsepower is at a low 2,800 RPM. But the real headline grabber with the diesel is the torque: 1,075 lb-ft, accessible at a very low 1,800 RPM. Both use an 8-speed automatic with a column-mounted shifter. There is no more dash-mounted dial on the Heavy Duty.

As a comparison, the Ford Super Duty’s standard diesel has 1,050 lb-ft with a 1,200 lb-ft High Output option, while the Chevy/GMC equivalent makes 975 lb-ft.

Towing and Payload

The maximum towing capacity for the 2025 Ram Heavy Duty is 36,610 pounds with a gooseneck or fifth-wheel – and that’s when towing with the 3500. With the 2500, the maximum towing capacity is 20,000 pounds. The Silverado and Sierra HD can tow up to 36,000 pounds, while the segment leader is the F-350, at 38,000 pounds.

When it comes to payload, the Ram Heavy Duty maxes out at 7,590 pounds in the 3500 and 4,320 in the 2500. That compares to 7,234 in the Silverado 3500 and 3,689 pounds in the Silverado 2500. The F-250 has a payload capacity of up to 4,246 pounds, while the F-350 can carry up to 8,000 pounds of payload.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The Ram HD’s bumper-to-bumper limited warranty protection is the class standard of three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Limited warranty coverage for the powertrain is also the segment norm’s five years or 60,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

As is the case with its rivals, the Ram HD trucks have not been submitted to any third-party crash or safety tests. Standard advanced safety technologies include forward automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and a surround-view camera. Front and rear parking assist, active lane management, traffic sign recognition, and drowsy driver detection are available.