While anyone that pays attention to commercials and billboards is aware that the half-ton pickup truck market gets the lion’s share of advertising and notoriety. They are the flagships of the big truck companies, and despite their immense capabilities, are often, ironically, bought to look tough, while never actually doing anything more than hosting a tailgate. The real workers however, don’t bother with those pesky ‘little’ trucks. They go for the big boys, because they have real work to do. One of those not-so-little trucks is the mighty 2022 Ram 3500.
In terms of things you would look for in a work truck, the 2022 RAM 3500 has everything and then more. The essence of a truck is rooted in power, and the Ram has it in spades. You have a choice of a traditional gasoline power engine in the form of a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that makes an impressive 410-horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. That power is then routed through a very competent eight-speed automatic transmission on its way to either just the rear wheels, or to all four corners if you opt for the four-wheel drive setup.
If you need more power still, and subscribe to the idea that real trucks are fueled by diesel fuel, then odds are you will check the box that will get you the massive 6.7-liter turbocharged inline-six cylinder engine. This motor is available in two different tunes. The base tune will net you a serious 370-horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque, while the high-output configuration will get you a monstrous 420-horsepower and stupefying 1,075 pound-feet of torque. Either diesel funnels its power through a stout heavy duty Aisin six-speed automatic transmission that is built for the rigors of a lifetime of service and work.
You also have a choice of three different cab setups and two size cargo boxes. The regular cab, Crew Cab and Mega Cab also offer increasing interior space for crew and gear, while you can also choose between a 6.4-foot bed or a standard 8-footer. Depending on which configuration you decide to go with, it can affect the max payload and max towing figures, but truthfully, they’re all pretty impressive. Opt for the gas engine and you can have a max payload of up to 7,230 pounds, and a max tow of 17,760 pounds. Upgrade to the diesel and while your payload max will drop a bit to 6,120 (due to the heavier weight of the diesel and requisite components), your towing will basically double to a staggering 34,650 pounds.
While it’s no surprise a big 3500 series truck has gobs of power and tons of capabilities, what you might not expect is just how well done the fit and finish is on the interior of this big rig. The interior has a luxury feel to it that cannot be denied. Even when towing a yacht behind you, you could almost convince yourself you’re driving down the road in a E-Class Mercedes. There is an optional 17-speaker sound system that is controlled by a 12.0-inch infotainment touchscreen centerpiece. This system is complimented nicely by a 7.0-pinch digital instrument display. The digital theme continues with a trick 360-degree camera system that comes with four moveable trailer cameras that work with a very useful hitch light to also give the driver full confidence in how things are going immediately behind them.
Safety is paramount to Ram as well, and as such, the 2022 RAM 3500 comes replete with all the usual suspects in highway safety features — adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with active braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear-cross traffic alert and automatic emergency braking. But there is also an Adaptive Forward LED Lighting System that can light up even the darkest night roads, thanks also in part to headlamps that can turn up to 15-degrees in either direction.
So while the half-ton posers can go and have fun with trips to Costco and Lowe’s, the 2022 RAM 3500 will be busy hauling big time cargo and probably for a lot less than you might think. The base MSRP for a Ram 3500 is just $38,565. Now, as with any option-laden car or truck, that price can climb substantially depending on how check-happy you get with the options. Opt for the Crew Cab dually with all the bells and whistles and that base price can more than double pretty quickly. But knowing that you have the biggest, baddest and most capable truck out there, not to mention the look on that half-ton driver’s face when you pull up next to him, is all but priceless.
Related: 2021 Ram ProMaster 3500 Chassis Cab
