How Ram Trucks Raised the Standards and Changed the Game.

The pickup world shifted on its axis back in 2018. That’s when the new-generation Ram 1500 began rolling from Ram Trucks’ world-class, $1.5-billion factory in suburban Detroit. From its chiseled styling to a knockout interior and innovative tech, Ram sent a seismic wave through the industry: Americans would never look at a pickup the same way again.

Few had imagined a tough-as-nails truck could be this versatile, comfortable and bursting with features: Was this really a pickup, or a luxury car in disguise? The Ram 1500 Limited became the red-carpet showpiece, including genuine wood trim, richly grained leather and a 12-inch Uconnect touchscreen. That touchscreen quickly became a national talking point in trucks, dwarfing rivals in screen size and intuitive features. The dramatic screen paired smartly with a configurable center console, large enough to use as a work table, or to swallow a laptop.

The Barritts have driven their Ram—in striking Pearl White—from New Hampshire to their winter place in Naples, Florida, where it’s been ideal to haul gear for offshore fishing. Barritt, who also owns a Jaguar SUV and an Audi convertible, is thrilled with the Ram 1500's own luxury and available convenience features: The 12-inch Uconnect screen, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, and heated and cooled seats.

“I don’t know of any truck that has cooled seats in back, and when you’re driving with people in Florida, that’s awesome,” he says, along with the available height-adjustable air suspension that makes it easy for people to climb in or out. And that standout suspension delivers a remarkably smooth ride.

“All the noise cancellation built into it is really beautiful,” he says. “The truck drives so quietly. They really deserve credit for what they’ve done.”

He’s been impressed with the quality and attention-to-detail as well.

“I took it in for a scheduled service at around 10,000 miles and didn’t have anything to tell the dealer to do; no squeaks, rattles, nothing. We’re really counting on this truck to last.”

Ram Trucks has elevated that quality by elevating owners and Ram-driving employees, responding to their needs and suggestions in a 24/7 feedback loop of refinement and quality control. In fact, Ram is tested to meet the demands of a “Top 5%” of owners who put their trucks to the most grueling tests. That includes towing, with Ram engineers designing heavy-duty trailers in-house to ensure every customer truck passes muster. At the hardiest end of the spectrum, the Ram 3500 can tow up to 37,100 pounds. Owners can plop 7,680 pounds of payload in its sturdy bed. Its Cummins^® Turbo Diesel amasses 1,075 pound-feet of torque, more than some commercial semi cabs. It’s the first truck in its segment to top 1,000 pound-feet of torque.

“The Ram has become our go-to truck even for daily driving, if we run to the grocery store or the bank,” Meyer says. “It’s exceeded [my] expectations for anything in the class.”

Bottom line? Ram Trucks’ performance, capability and quality starts on the drawing board. Sophisticated design meets top-flight engineering, with obsessive testing and metrics at every stage of development. In 2020, hundreds of thousands of new Ram pickups rolled off the line at the ultra-modern factory near Detroit — Stellantis’ largest in North America—backed by 7,200 American workers whose pride and skill are also integral to the truck’s success. But the ultimate judgment comes on every street, work site or backroad in America where you’ll find a Ram: Among models built over the past 30 years, Ram has the highest percentage of trucks still on the road. More than Ford, more than Chevy. No wonder Ram is the most-awarded light-duty truck in America, with the highest owner loyalty—and now, more and more converts who are ditching rival pickups to join the Ram team.