We drive the 2014 Ram 3500 High Output Diesel

The Dodge Ram 3500 High Output Diesel can really haul

Let's pretend that you wanted to move a very heavy load up a very long and steep hill. What vehicle would you use? We were at that point and selected a Dodge Ram 3500 dually for the job. Then we loaded it up and headed for the hills to see how it would perform and the results were amazing.

The Ram heavy duty pickups with the Cummins turbo diesel engine are well known for their strength and durability. The first thing that struck us was how quiet the engine was compared to some of the older Cummins engines. The older Cummins were very loud and crude but the new version is smooth and quiet. The renowned 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel I-6 is now available in three versions.

The first version is paired with the only available six-speed manual transmission, which features a wear-compensating clutch for lifetime like-new performance and a dual-union shift tower to accommodate a compact shift pattern. This combination delivers 350 horsepower at 2,800 rpm and 660 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,500 rpm.

The second option matches the Cummins to the 68RFE six-speed automatic transmission. This version cranks out 370 horsepower at 2,800 rpm with 800 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,600 rpm. This version is available in the Ram 2500.

A very comfortable interior

The big daddy is the 6.7-liter Cummins High-Output Turbo Diesel I-6 for the Ram 3500 which is paired with the Aisin six-speed automatic transmission (AS69RC). In addition to 385 horsepower at 2,800 rpm, the most powerful Cummins generates torque of 865 lb.-ft. at 1,700 rpm. The AS69RC transmission features wide gear ratios that contribute to impressive shift performance, efficiency and drivability.

The Ram Heavy Duty also features another innovation, the industry-exclusive Ram Active Air intake system. When the intake system senses extreme heat, it draws cooler air from the front of the vehicle – a function that also engages at high altitudes for superior throttle response in low oxygen environments.

When conditions are wet from snow, ice or water-fording, the system pulls air from an under-hood inlet, clear from snow packing and water. The Ram 3500 boasts a best-in-class GCWR. A contributor is the 11.8-inch rear axle matched with the high-output diesel engine boasting a 300 mm hypoid gear set, a four-pinion helical differential and a cooling-fin equipped aluminum differential cover for optimal thermal management.

"The new 2014 Ram Heavy Duty capability story starts with a new frame and suspension, complemented by powerful engines to deliver top-of-segment tow capacities of 30,000 pounds on the 3500 and 17,970 pounds on the 2500," said Mike Cairns, Chief Engineer of Ram Trucks.

"Although the Ram Heavy Duty line can haul like a freight train, customers will be amazed at the comfort level thanks to new link coil and air suspension options."

With all of the engineering that has gone into the Ram 3500, we decided to put it to a test by loading a 12,000 pound trailer to the Ram and going from sea level to a height of about 6000 ft. The hills which climb the Sierra Nevada and Rocky mountains are long and steep. Some of the hills just seem to go on forever not allowing trucks to breathe. Consequently, we have seen many trucks with overheated engines and transmissions on the side of the road.

We stayed pretty close to the speed limits to avoid a ticket but also to improve our fuel economy which averaged about 10.5 mpg. The Ram did benefit from a cool night with temperatures in the 60's. We don't think the Ram would have had any issues no matter what the temperature was though.

The truck was a beast as it pulled the trailer up hills and never was bothered by anything. It easily stayed at the speed limit and sometimes we even had to back off because it would have exceeded the speed limit. It is very nice to be able to pass big trucks up hills while towing a heavy load.

The Dodge Ram 3500 High Output Diesel unloaded

A great engine is nice but how it drives is also important. Ram Heavy Duty trucks feature frames built with high-strength 50,000 psi steel, including eight separate cross-members, hydroformed main rails and fully boxed rear rails for optimal strength and mass efficiency. Heavy Duty trucks generally have suspension equipped for constant, heavy payloads. This leads to a harsher ride when unloaded.

The Ram 3500 will continue to feature the rear Hotchkiss leaf spring system, but will now offer a supplemental air suspension system. By adding supplemental air bags to the rear suspension, Ram engineers were able to soften the leaf springs, allowing for more unladed suspension movement. When a high-load capacity condition exists, the air suspension automatically fills the rear air bags to level the truck and improve stability and ride quality – even with a best-in-class 30,000-lb. trailer. The great benefit was how stable our dually truck was with all that weight behind it. Driving up and down hills with the surefootedness of the Ram was fantastic.

A great tow vehicle needs big brakes and the Ram comes with four-wheel disc brakes as standard. Front rotors measure 14.17 inches (373 mm) in diameter and are clamped with dual-piston calipers; rear rotors are 14.09 inches (356 mm) also use dual-piston calipers. The Ram Heavy Duty features four-channel electronic stability control (ESC) for dual rear-wheel (DRW) Ram 3500, the first ESC application on DRW applications in its class, making ESC standard on all Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 offerings. Our truck also had a built in exhaust brake that also helped when climbing down hills.

All of this engineering and technology do not come cheap. The Ram 3500 prices start at $30,910 which sounds great. Add in the Cummins High Output diesel and your price is now $40,260 with no options. Our mid-grade truck with dual rear wheels, crew cab, and four wheel drive came out to $63,000. Add more options and you can be looking at a $70,000 truck quickly. The key is not to get carried away and only select the options that you really need and you can get a fantastic truck that will haul almost anything.