2019 Ram HD 2500 Laramie Longhorn Mega Cab
2020 intends to be a milestone year for Heavy-Duty trucks, in which the redesigned Ram made it to dealerships early as a 2019 model. But the Ford Super-Duty, while …., is due for a mid-cycle refresh, and the GM twins, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra follow the redesign of the 1500 light duty pickups. The import models, the Toyota Tundra and up until year, the Nissan Titan, are not even in the hunt.
In fact, it was recently announced that the Ram HD received the Motor Trend Magazine Truck of the Year.
On September 24, 2015, Ford unveiled the 2017 Ford Super Duty line at the 2015 State Fair of Texas. This marked the first all-new Super Duty line since their 1998 debut, the frame is made from 95% high strength steel and the body (like the F-150) is made from high-strength military grade aluminum alloy.
The Ram Heavy-Duty 2500/3500 follows that of the 2019 Ram 1500 redesigned, which has so thus far has turned out to be a bonified winner, beating the Silverado as the second-best pickup behind the venerable F-150. But the Ram HD has one over the others by offering the Mega Cab, an extended cab that has even more room leg room extending the rear seat further back. You can literally get lost in the rear seat area.
Appointment-wise, the Laramie Longhorn is head-to-head up there with the likes of the GMC Denali and F-150 Platinum/Limited, though it’s more like the F-150 King Ranch with its unique leather and wood treatment. Except that its 12-inch infotainment screen is nearly the size of the Tesla Model S and X. I see this feature coming from the competition in just a few short years.
For 2019 Ram has revised its 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty pickup trucks with an eye toward making them quieter, more luxurious, and smoother-riding, and with increased towing and hauling abilities. Yes, our Laramie Longhorn did not have the air bag suspension of its 1500 counterpart, but the ride was truly superior than that of the last generation, which was way better than the previous.
Heavy-duty trucks (which typically use 2500/3500 or (in case of the F-Series) use the F-250/F-350 nomenclature) are extra robust pickups built primarily for towing and hauling, compared with the more mainstream 1500/150 half-ton pickups. When not dressed out to the nines these rigs are often used by commercial contractors, ranchers, and farmers during the week, and on weekends by people who haul horses, RV trailers, or big boats. I recommend a Dooley if your needs required pulling a fifth wheel, but our single wheel tester is perfect for anything requiring a tong-pull.
Properly equipped, a 2019 Ram 3500 can tow an astounding 35,100 pounds and handle a 7,680-pound payload, which includes the weight of the passengers in the cabin as well as cargo in the bed.
In other words, the heavy-duty Ram 2500 is a lot of truck. It sits so high off the ground that the power operated running boards are a necessity to help passengers get in or out. On top of that, its length and height make it a bear to drive and park in congested areas, or maneuver around just about any parking lot. And it’s so big that it might not fit into your home garage. But despite its size and brawn, the Ram 2500/3500 has become a sophisticated machine all its own.
One thing observed was that the Ram Laramie Longhorn didn’t have was the typical radio antenna, something the F-150 and GM trucks still hold onto. Yet radio (as well as satellite reception) was clear as a bell. The other pleasant surprise is that the gear selector was column mounted, as appose to the rotary dial of the light-duty Ram trucks.
For 2019, Ram has made advanced safety systems available on its heavy-duty trucks for the first time, including such key features as forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind spot warning (BSW), and rear cross traffic warning.
Our Ram 2500 HD Laramie Longhorn Mega Cab came with the 8-foot bed, to experience what it’s like to live with a 260.8-inch-long behemoth for a few days here’s my impressions:
While gasoline V8’s are available across Ram, Ford and GM’s lineup, diesel is the preferred engine of choice amongst buyers. For Ram, it’s the almighty Cummings, which produces …..
Our Ram HD 2500 Mega Cab came with the venerable 6.4-liter Cummings Diesel powerplant, which produces. Ford has the PowerStroke while GM has the Duramax with an Alison 10-speed transmission. A small note is that while Nissan XD does never shared this Cummings powerplant with the Ram, that engine won’t be around for 2020. The GM Durmax has been tied up in court over parts that work with US-spec diesel fuel.
Options were abundant, matching Ford’s amenities tit for tat. Like the F- Series our tester came with a standard power glass sunroof was of normal size, as oppose to the panoramic roof which Ford offers. Ram also offers a similar roof as an extra upgrade. All told, the sticker was as reasonable $79,645 . One thing appreciated was the column shifter, as oppose to the rotary dial of the light duty pickup.
When the agency delivered the Ram to me, it was driven by a young woman shorter than my petite wife. She parked it in the driveway, alongside my son’s 2017 F-150. Needless to say it made his truck look like a medium-size pickup.
My son and co-writer and I took the Ram HD Mega Cab to Richland Chambers Reservoir to look at property. It was smooth sailing down Hwy 287 from Arlington, however keeping the truck at least 80 mph was damn near impossible.
Night Edition new for 2020
Available on the Big Horn and Laramie trims, the Night Edition features a black grille and grille surround, specific badging and wheels (20-inch on Big Horn, 22-inch on Laramie), exhaust tips, and dark bezels for head and taillamps. Color choices are more varied than might be expected, including Bright White on the Big Horn, Ivory White on the Laramie, plus Flame Red, Billet Silver, Granite Crystal, and Diamond Black. The Night Edition really only involves minor changes, but the overall effect is distinctive and should resonate well with a large swath of the buyers.
Revisions for the 2020 Ram HD trucks include optional lane-keeping assist, adaptive steering, and trailer tire-pressure monitoring on all trim levels; blind-spot monitoring, including trailer coverage, is now available on certain models. The optional auxiliary camera system now supports two separate cameras. Crew-cab models with an 8.0-foot bed now get a standard 50-gallon fuel tank, and the Power Wagon can get optional black wheels. The two new colors Hydro Blue and Olive Green are also available on the HDs.
Vehicle Type: 2019 Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn
Powertrain: 370-hp, 6.7-liter inline-6 turbodiesel engine; six-speed automatic transmission; four-wheel drive
MSRP: $59,400 Options: $18,550: Cummins turbodiesel engine, Longhorn Level 1 Equipment Group (17-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, 12-inch infotainment screen, power running boards), rear air suspension, power sunroof, Safety Group (forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, adaptive cruise control)
Destination fee: $1,695
Total cost: $79,645
