RAM TRUCKS 1500 Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

RAM Trucks didn't rush to launch its first fully electric pickup, but it came packed with technology and features never seen on other vehicles in its class.

Stellantis knew that pickup lovers were not very fond of electric cars, so it tried to convince them with one that could outperform any other truck in its class. Moreover, it offered them not just a utility vehicle but one that could provide on and off-road performance, comfort, a touch of luxury, and huge versatility.

RAM vehicles looked mean, and the automaker wanted to keep that, and it did. At the front, it placed an illuminated badge that took center stage on the grille. It was flanked by arrow-shaped LED lights and headlights. The 1500 REV front fenders were flared to allow 275/50R22 wheels. Finally, at the back, the car featured as an option a powered tailgate (up and down) adorned by an illuminated red RAM badge.

Inside, depending on the trim level and options, the 1500 REV featured a 12.3" digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch touchscreen for the Uconnect 5 infotainment unit, and a 10.25-inch display on the passenger side. In addition, customers could choose a head-up display. But Stellantis also knew that customers used pickups also as recreational vehicles, besides their utilitarian destination, and provided them with V2L capabilities. In the frunk, the vehicle featured a 3.6 kW outlet, while at the back, it was fitted with a 7.2 kW plug to power tools, refrigerators, homes, or charge other BEVs.

The new STLA platform featured a frame specifically designed for body-on-frame vehicles and provided a two-motor system. These, combined, provided up to 654 hp (481 kW) for both axles. RAM offered an option for two battery packs: a standard 168 kWh and a 229 kWh large battery pack. The former ensured a range of 350 miles (563 km), while the latter reached an astonishing 500 miles (805 km) for the 800 volts architecture pickup.

The pickup-trucks are often used for leisure and less for work. The Ram 1500 TRX was just that kind of vehicle that could jump over any obstacles and still be able to offer comfort.

Back in the days, a pickup truck was used for farmers to haul stuff around, pull a trailer, and take the family to the church on Sundays. But some evolved into fierce, powerful vehicles with the only purpose to be useful for families, but offer a great level of satisfaction and pleasure for the driver.

The 1500 TRX was based on the Ram 1500 and it offered a rough look, with all-terrain tires and a muscular stance. The grille featured a Predator-like design with the big RAM letters on it. A rugged underbody aluminum shield was exposed under the bumper, covering the front area and protecting the engine and part of the gearbox. Due to the high-lift kit, the suspension featured a longer travel and a rugged look.

But inside, the TRX offered a cabin comfortable enough for four, maybe five, passengers. The dashboard was cluttered with buttons all over the place: on the center stack, on the steering wheel, and on the left side of the driver. The center console featured only the gear-selector and cup-holders.

The biggest difference between the TRX and the rest of the Ram 1500 range was on the technical side. A 702 hp Hemi V8 engine was implanted under the hood and paired to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The 11.8” (300 mm) ground clearance was 2” (50 mm) higher than on the regular 1500. The 35” tires were fitted as standard on the 18” light-alloy wheels.

The fifth generation of the RAM 1500 was unveiled at the 2018 North American International Auto Show. It was offered with two cab configurations and four trim levels.

The 2019 model of the RAM Trucks was offered in two main lines: the 1500 and the 2500 Heavy Duty. While the 2500 was built for harder jobs, the 1500 was designed and engineered to cope with daily driving and family trips around the country. It was the family/work pickup-truck able to tow a boat and still offer enough comfort for five adults.

Unlike the Quad Cab, the Crew Cab offered a longer cabin, with a choice of short or long bed in the back. The big, front fascia was the same, with a black, unpainted grille for the base model and a chromed one for upper trim levels and the Texas-only Lone Star. The aggressive style for the Rebel was backed up by an off-road package that included special 33” MT Tires.

Inside, the basic level offered a U-Connect infotainment system with a tiny 3.5” screen. Depending on the trim level it could have been enhanced up to a 12” screen and navigation system. Due to a longer cabin, the Crew Cab offered more room in the back for three adult passengers.

Under the hood, the Ram 1500 featured a mild hybrid with a 48v configuration battery pack and a starter/generator, while the top version featured a 5.7-liter V8 unit. Both versions were mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 2018 1500 Quad Cab was the daily-driver pickup-truck offered by RAM. As it is already known, Dodge name was no longer used for the commercial vehicles.

Instead of going for better hauling or offroading, the RAM 1500 Quad Cab went for more comfort for its customers. Even if the base model didn't offer some nice interiors with soft materials all over the place, it did offer coil spring suspension that improved the ride quality and it was much softer than the leaf-spring systems offered before by RAM trucks.

From the outside, it was easy to recognize the RAM pick-up due to its grille design and the lower than hood headlights. An aerodynamically profiled front bumper was used to help increase the fuel-efficiency. From the side, the four-doo cabin offered a big greenhouse, that helped creating an airy feel for the interior. In the back, a standard backup camera for the whole range increased the ease of use, especially when parking.

Inside, the Quad Cab offered a standard six-passenger interior, with a two seat bench on the side of the driver and a bench-seat in the back. In order to do that, the designers installed a dash-mounted rotary knob for the automatic transmission. The U-Connect infotainment system was a standard fit with a 5” display, while an option for 8.4” and 12” are available as an option. For the audio system, the RAM 1500 can be equipped with an option of Alpine or Harman Kardon system with up to 19 speakers and a 10” subwoofer. A new 33.3” (846 mm) by 43.4” (1102 mm) panoramic sunroof also was available.

The RAM 1500 was offered with a choice of diesel or gasoline engines, between 3.0-liter and 5.7-liter.

Launched in autumn 2015, the 2016 model Ram 1500 was available in three cab versions: Regular, Crew and Quad. The regular cab was the only one available with an 8 ft bed.

While the Ford F-Series continued its glorious march as the best selling vehicle in the U.S., the other car-manufacturers tried to offer something different, for different tastes. After all, not everybody likes maple syrup.

The RAM 1500 regular cab had a different approach to the market, featuring coil springs in the back, unlike the leaf-spring solution offered by the other manufacturers. The result was a better ride comfort when the vehicle was unladen, and it didn't affect its towing capability.

From the outside, it didn't look too much different than the 2005 model. In that area, things are usually changed slowly and only from inside-out. The Laramie trim level received a chromed grille.

On the inside, for safety reasons, the center console was changed in order to get better results from the overlapping crash-tests performed by IIHS.

The biggest surprises were between the chassis and the bodywork. On the front, there was a new, 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine. Its low-end torque and fuel-efficiency was great competition over Chevrolet or Ford full-size trucks. The 8-speed ZF transmission offered for the 5.7-liter Hemi engine was another important improvement, due to its smooth gear-change. In the back, a new, option for air-suspension was added to the list.

First introduced in 2009 as Dodge Ram, the 2015 model was rebadged as RAM Trucks and followed the same numbering system that showed the payload.

In 2010, RAM Trucks was separated by Dodge and acted like a different brand inside the Chrysler group. There were hard times for one of the "Big Three," and after dodging the bankruptcy bullet, it ended up in Fiat's courtyard, and its products had to be more appealing to the market. The customers appreciated the Ram in the pickup industry, but the best-selling crown was still in Ford's HQ.

The 2015 Ram Quad Cab was the shortest version with four-doors in the lineup. It was designed mostly for light jobs that required four or five people and a light load in the bed. It featured the cross-hair grille style at the front that stood taller than the headlights area. From its sides, the rear shorter doors offered more straightforward access to the back seats. It was available in only one length option.

Inside, the carmaker had to make some adjustments to the dashboard in order to get higher grades from the IIHS crash-tests. Inside the instrument cluster, the carmaker installed a TFT display between the speedometer and tachometer, in addition to the other four gauges needed for fuel, temperature, oil pressure, and charging.

The biggest surprises were between the chassis and the bodywork. On the front, there was a new, 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engine. Its low-end torque and fuel-efficiency was a great competition over Chevrolet or Ford full-size trucks. The 8-speed ZF transmission offered for the 5.7-liter Hemi engine was another significant improvement due to its smooth gear-change. In the back, RAM added a new option for air-suspension to the list.

Chrysler started using the RAM brand for the former Dodge Ram pickup, differentiating the utility vehicles from regular Dodge cars.

When the carmaker launched the 1500 lineup in 2009, the pickup was branded as Dodge but, in 2015, when it introduced the facelifted version, that brand was deleted, so it remained only RAM 1500. The carmaker was still recovering after the world financial crisis and its new owner, Fiat, tried to find new ways of increasing the American company sales. While 1500 was not the best-seller in its class, it was still an appreciated product on the market.

After dropping the Mega Cab version, the Crew Cab remained the biggest in its lineup. Unlike the rest of the 1500 range, the pickup provided full-size four doors with easy access for the rear passengers. Thus, RAM produced a vehicle for the entire family and a working car as well. The front fascia was similar to the rest of the RAM products, featuring the crosshair grille and the angular-shaped headlights.

Inside, the Crew Cab was a proper five-seat vehicle. It provided enough legroom for the rear passengers, while RAM spoiled the front occupants with large bucket seats and plenty of room around them. The carmaker placed a large, cooled storage compartment in the center console and three cup-holders in front of it. Its six-dials instrument panel featured an additional LCD for the onboard computer, while the infotainment system found its place on top of the center stack.

The biggest surprises were between the chassis and the bodywork. On the front, there was a new, 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engine. The 8-speed ZF transmission offered for the 5.7-liter Hemi engine was another significant improvement due to its smooth gear-change. In the back, RAM added a new option for air-suspension to the list.

The 2013 Ram 1500 was designed and built for light duties. It had more comfort features and even an option for air-suspension to increase ground clearance.

The RAM was the brand that was made after the Fiat-Chrysler marriage for the utility vehicles. For those who needed a light utility vehicle good as a daily driver and also as a partner for a handyman, the RAM 1500 was a good option.

The styling was a reshape after the 1993 Dodge Ram, with the front fenders lower than the hood. Its overall appearance was not of a rugged vehicle. In the Regular-cab version, it offered two doors and up to three seats. The 2013 model undergone a rather mild facelift than a new generation. A wider grille, LED turn-signals were among the few exterior changes. New for the pickup market was the active-shutter system that opened or closed the grille to help the thermal balance of the engine.

The Regular Cab was available with either a 6-foot-4" (1.95m) or 8-foot (2.44m) bed. For the front passengers, there was an option for two bucket seats instead of a bench. The infotainment unit featured U-Connect with either a 5 or an 8.4" touch-screen. Unique to the Ram 1500 was the optional RamBox feature, which places a pair of lockable compartments over the rear fenders inside the truck bed.

The standard engine was a 3.6-liter V6 unit mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The other two V8 engines were available with either six or eight-speed automatic. A V6 diesel was on the options list. Depending on the trim level, the RAM 1500 Regular Cab was offered with rear or all-wheel-drive.

The Ram 1500 was praised and received a lot of credits for its fuel-efficiency, especially when it was equipped with the 2013 V6 gasoline engine. The Quad Cab only added more versatility.

There were more bodywork versions for the Ram, and the Quad Cab was for those who used the vehicle on a daily basis. Its design was massive with a big front fascia, with a taller hood than its front fenders. That made it look different than the other competitors. It featured active grille shutters to help heating-p the engine in cold weather and improve cooling it was hot outside. The Quad Cab featured a four-door body-on-frame construction with a bed in the rear. That bed was available with three box sizes - 5ft7", 6ft4" and 8 ft box. (1,73m, 1,95 and 2.43m)

The Ram 1500 pickup was a daily-driver pickup. It featured a comfortable ride, including an air-suspension, and 10 trim levels to choose from. The Quad Cab offered room for five passengers. It could be equipped with just basic workaday amenities or a fully loaded luxury cabin. The 8.4" Uconnect infotainment system was available on most trims.

The most important engine for 2013 was the 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar unit, that featured state-of-the-art technologies such as variable cam lifting and was awarded for its performance as the Engine of the Year. It was mated with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic, that helped the fuel-efficiency.

The RAM 1500 was rather a family pick-up than a true, hard worker. It was designed and built for light duties. It had more comfort options and even an air-suspension on all four corners.

The RAM was the brand that was made after the Fiat-Chrysler marriage for the utility vehicles. For those who needed a light utility vehicle good as a daily driver and also as a partner for a handyman, the RAM 1500 was a good option.

The styling was a reshape after the 1993 Dodge Ram, with the front fenders lower than the hood. Its overall appearance was not of a rugged vehicle. In the crew-cab version, it offered four doors and up to six seats. The 2013 model undergone a rather mild facelift than a new generation. A wider grille, LED turn-signals were among the few exterior changes.

The Crew Cab was available with either a 5-foot-7" (1.74m) or 6-foot-4" (1.95m) bed. For the front passengers, there was an option for two bucket seats instead of a bench. In the rear, the bench provided enough leg- and headroom. The infotainment unit featured U-Connect with either a 5 or an 8.4" touch-screen. Unique to the Ram 1500 was the optional RamBox feature, which places a pair of lockable compartments over the rear fenders inside the truck bed.

The standard engine was a 3.6-liter V6 unit mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The other two V8 engines were available with either six or eight-speed automatic. Depending on the trim level, the RAM 1500 Crew Cab was offered with rear or all-wheel-drive.