2022 Ram 3500 Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?
The 2022 Ram 3500 is a full-size, one-ton pickup truck. This is a heavy-duty truck, designed to tackle the toughest jobs. Sometimes a regular full-sized truck just isn't enough. That's where the Ram 3500 comes in. It offers massive amounts of power and torque for hauling and towing.
Here's a look at what's new for the Ram 3500 in 2022. We will cover ten of the best reasons to buy a new Ram 3500 along with some reasons why it may not be right for everyone. The Ram 3500 will be compared to its two biggest competitors, the Ford F-350 Super Duty and the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD.
What's New For 2022?
The Ram 3500 gets the latest Uconnect 5 Infotainment System. This is an upgrade to an already great system. It promises to be faster and to add more features for 2022. There's also a new special-edition model called the Silver Edition. This package will be available for The Lone Star and Big Horn trim levels. It comes with plenty of cosmetic features such as chrome trim on the outside and black accents on the inside.
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2022 Ram 3500 – The Pros
1. Strong Powertrain Options
The base model of the latest Ram 3500 comes equipped with a 6.4-liter, V8 engine. This engine produces 410 horsepower with 429 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain gets an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Ram 3500 is also offered with a 6.7-liter, High-Output, Cummins Turbo-Diesel. This is an inline six-cylinder engine that produces 420 horses and a whopping 1,075 pound-feet of torque.
2. Great Steering and Handling
The Ram 3500 features a re-circulating ball type of steering. There's a hydraulic power-assist system to make steering this large truck easier. Steering is smooth, responsive and accurate. The turning dynamics and handling are surprisingly good for a pickup truck. The multi-link front suspension and rear leaf suspension add to the great overall feel of driving the Ram 3500.
3. Strong Towing Capabilities
A Ram 3500 equipped with the diesel engine offers some of the best towing numbers on the road today. When properly equipped, a diesel-powered Ram 3500 can tow an amazing 37,090 pounds. Even with the base-level, gasoline-powered V8, this truck can still pull up to 14,370 pounds. That's really more than enough for most jobs or recreational activities.
4. The High Maximum Payload Capacity
Not only can the 2022 Ram 3500 tow with the best of them, but it can haul quite the load in its cargo box too. Diesel-powered models once again lead the way. A Ram 3500 with the Cummins Turbo-Diesel has a maximum payload capacity of 7,680 pounds. A Ram 3500 with the gasoline-powered V8 can haul loads of up to 3,240 pounds.
5. Impressive Off-Road Performance
The 2022 Ram 3500 offers impressive off-road capabilities. Most models are available with 4X4 all-wheel drive for superior traction. There's always plenty enough power and torque to get this truck over off-road obstacles and through sand or mud. The Ram 3500 features a robust suspension system that can hold up to all kinds of abuse. This truck can get to just about any remote worksite or camping location while still hauling a heavy load.
6. An Attractive Exterior Design
The latest Ram 3500 has an attractive exterior design. It's both rugged and handsome. It looks like the type of strong truck that was engineered for heavy-duty work. It still, however, will look just as well at the office or country club as it does at a worksite. The Ram 3500 offers some great exterior features such as LED headlights and taillights, distinctive wheel designs and a bold front grille.
7. A Comfortable and Well-Equipped Interior
The comfortable and quiet cabin really sets the Ram 3500 apart from its competitors in this class of truck. The seats are well-padded and supportive. High-quality leather upholstery is available. The Limited Longhorn models get Mountain Brown Premium Leather for the seats. The Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control should keep everyone comfortable in any weather conditions.
8. A Well-Designed Infotainment System
The Uconnect 5 Infotainment System is an upgrade over last-year's system. It has a faster processor and a massive touchscreen display. The home screen us completely customizable. Five different users can save and instantly recall their settings. There's even a voice-activated, built-in navigation system. Bluetooth is available for streaming music, and Voice Command allows for easy hands-free access as well as hands-free phone calls.
The Uconnect 5 System also offers towing-specific pages and towing-navigation info. There are USB ports for charging your smartphone or other devices. A 4G WiFi hotspot means everyone in the truck can stay connected. An HD AM/FM stereo is standard while a Premium Sound System by Harman Kardon is available. The upgraded sound system features 17 premium speakers and 900-watts of power for amazing sound and volume.
9. Modern Driver-Assist Technology
The 2022 Ram 3500 comes equipped with plenty of technology for both convenience and safety. There's an Adaptive Forward-Lighting System for enhanced visibility. The 15-degree, turning headlamps also assist with navigating dark roads. There's Forward-Collision Alert with Active Braking. There's even a 360-Degree, Surround-View Camera System to help the driver stay aware of their surroundings.
The Lane-Departure Warning and the Lane-Keep Assist features lower the possibility of lane drift. Ram's ParkSense Front and Rear Park-Assist features make getting this large truck in and out of parking spaces a lot easier. Adaptive Cruise Control and a Tire-Pressure Monitor are also available.
10. Standard Safety Features
Every trim level of the Ram 3500 has a good amount of standard safety features. There are front-impact airbags for the driver and front passenger. There are also side-impact, seat-mounted airbags up front. Four-wheel ABS brakes are standard to prevent brake lockups. There's also a security system.
Reasons Not to Buy a 2022 Ram 3500 – The Cons
1. A Noisy Diesel Engine
The 6.7-liter, Cummins Turbo-Diesel, I6 Engine has plenty of horsepower and the most torque of any available powertrain option for the 2022 Ram 3500. Consequently, it offers the highest towing and payload capacities of any available engine. Unfortunately, the diesel engine is quite noisy. Buyers will have to decide if the capabilities are worth the extra sound pollution.
2. Diesel Models Have an Outdated Transmission
The diesel engines also have another problem in addition to the noise. They come paired with an outdated transmission system. The lack of an available manual transmission is unfortunate. Diesel versions of the Ram 3500 come stock with an older 6-speed automatic transmission. Thankfully, a 10-speed automatic is optional, though it will increase the cost.
3. It's Hard to Park
The 2022 Ram 3500 is a really big pickup truck. It may be hard for some drivers to maneuver around town. This is somewhat mitigated by the truck's great steering dynamics and handling. It's always hard to get in and out of parking spaces, however. Part of this is due to the dual-rear-wheel axle that makes the back end extra wide.
4. Top Trim Levels Are Pricey
The base model of the Ram 3500 is competitively priced for its class. The higher trim levels, however, do get really expensive as one moves up through the models. There are a few alternatives with comparable features and a lower MSRP. These competing models won't provide the same capabilities or interior comfort and quality as the Ram 3500, though.
How It Stacks Up to the Competition:
2022 Ram 3500 vs 2022 Ford F-350 Super Duty
The Ford F-series trucks have long been some of the best-selling pickup trucks in North America. This makes the F-350 the top competitor to Ram's 3500. Both are classified as full-sized, one-ton trucks. The Ram 3500 is significantly cheaper when compared to the Ford F-350. Ram has a more comfortable interior and provides a more refined ride.
Both vehicles offer comparable safety features and driver-assist technology. The convenience features are similar as well. Ford has higher towing and payload capacities when only comparing gasoline engines. When diesel engines are taken into account, however, the Ram can tow or haul significantly more weight. A diesel-powered Ram 3500 also offers more horsepower and torque than the Ford F-350.
The Ford F-350 Super Duty is no doubt a great truck, but it falls short of what the Ram 3500 can do when it comes to capabilities. Ram's 3500 is also a more comfortable truck to spend time in. Ram wins hands down here.
2022 Ram 3500 vs 2022 The Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD
Another strong competitor for the Ram 3500 is Chevrolet's Silverado 3500 HD. The Silverado has a lower payload capacity at 7,442 pounds compared to the Ram's maximum of 7,680 pounds. It also falls short of the Ram's towing capacity, though it can pull a respectable 36,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Ram, once again, offers more power and torque than its competitor.
The Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD is less expensive than the Ram 3500. This is true at almost every comparable trim level. This makes the Silverado a really good bargain. The Ram offers better off-road performance. It offers a more quiet and smoother ride on paved roads as well. The interior of the Ram is once again superior, though both trucks do have comparable standard convenience features.
Both vehicles have similar driver-assist tech and safety features. The Silverado may be an interesting choice for some due to its overall value, but the Ram 3500 is a superior truck in almost every category.
Conclusion
The 2022 Ram 3500 offers the perfect blend of performance, capabilities and comfort. It's a real workhorse of a truck, but also really versatile. It's perfect as a heavy-duty work vehicle and perfect as a comfortable, almost luxurious, daily driver. It can tow, haul and go off-road as well as, if not better than, any other truck in its class. If you're in the market for a full-sized, heavy-duty, one-ton truck, it doesn't get much better than the Ram 3500.
