2026 Ram 3500 will surely be competitive. Approaching the Ford Super Duty, Chevy Silverado HD, and competitor GMC Sierra HD, the RAM HD offers the weight and power required to tow big trailers and move ultra-heavy goods.
Should neither of these vehicles meet your requirements for work that requires a pickup, consider the less expensive and more fuel-efficient RAM 1500.s
However, the 2026 RAM 3500 HD is about creating a comfortable environment that occasionally borders on luxury, and it is not only about tackling demanding jobs.
2026 RAM 3500 Overview
In general, the 2026 RAM 3500 is enormous. Some configurations are more significant than others. The tall Rebel and Power Wagon trims are tricky to get into, but we’re thankful that side steps are still optional on this off-roader.
The 4-door Mega Cab is interesting because it only has a 76-inch cargo bed (and 4-wheel drive 4-door Crew offers that option or a 96-inch bed. The 2-door Regular Cab is paired with a longer bed only.
Lockable storage areas on either side of the bed are also available. Like its rivals from Ford, Chevrolet, and GMC, the RAM HD also offers a dual rear wheel setup, sometimes called dually. A Mopar sports performance hood with extra air intake is optional for the Laramie and Limited versions.
2026 RAM 3500
In the world of full-size trucks, RAM has gone to great lengths to upgrade its interiors to the point that they are downright luxurious, especially on the higher trims. This also happens to HD trucks. As a result, when compared to competitors, RAM often shines.
The interior space varies because there is a choice of taxis: Regular, Crew, or Mega. If you’ve never heard of Mega Cab, don’t feel alone. More significant than the Crew Cab, this is unique to some RAM 3500 models.
The Regular Cab has one row of seats accommodating up to three passengers. Crew and Mega Taxis have two rows, with the driver and one passenger sitting in the front, plus accommodation for 3 people in the back. We found all the seats comfortable.
The Mega Cab differs from the RAM HD Crew Cab in that it has more extensive storage behind its rear seats, at 9.1 cubic Crew’shan, compared to the Crew’s 3.4 cubic feet.
The chairs also recline. Both are spacious, with a rear crew room. The Creww is 40.2 inches, and the Mega is 43.1, the highest mark for the segment.
Like most heavy-duty trucks, the Tradesman is a simple model with a vinyl floor, vinyl or cloth seating surfaces, and a small 5-inch infotainment screen.
Trim levels then get fancier and more luxurious until they peak with the Limited version. It features leather-trimmed seats, genuine wood cabin accents, a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a Harman Kardon audio system.
Tip: We recommend choosing the optional digital rearview mirror with Crew or Mega cabs because the second row of seating has a fixed center headrest that blocks the view out.
What We Expected
The 2026 RAM 3500 feels even better with some significant changes for the RAM HD truck. We hope the RAM authorities can significantly change any aspect of this hard-working truck.
2026 RAM 3500 Specs
The 2026 RAM 3500 is a heavy-duty pickup truck with enhanced towing and safety features, a more powerful engine, and better in-car technology.
Machine:
- 2026 RAM 3500 Has a More Powerful EnTorquehat Produces Nearly 1500Nm of Torque
- This truck has increased torque figures to stay at the top of the heavy-duty truck market.
Safety and attractors:
- The 2026 RAM 3500 has upgraded trailering technology, including an updated towing assist camera and advanced hitch guidance
- This truck has more safety features to help make towing more manageable and safer
In-car technology:
- The 2026 RAM 3500 has a 12-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- The truck also has over-the-air software updates
Interior:
- The 2026 RAM 3500 has a quieter cabin and premium materials.
2026 RAM 3500 Redesign
According to us, it is clear the truck model 2026 RAM 3500 The big HD will retain the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine for more extended and perhaps even double the diesel power with a new Cummins 7.2-liter inline-six in addition to the existing 370 hp and 420 hp 6.7-liter options.
The latter could eventually rival the Ford Super Duty in terms of power (around 500 hp) and esTorquely in terms of Torque (1,200 lb-ft). Of course, all this comes with some game, including the addition of ZF’s renowned eight-speed automatic transmission, which delivers 10% fuel savings and quicker throttle response.
A parallel universe of vehicle CGI is already complex at work through the imaginative world of digital car content creators. Based on this new assumption, the good folks at the AutoYa info channel on YouTube have unofficially envisioned a CGI look of the upcoming 2026 RAM 2500 & 3500 heavy-duty models and incorporated these interesting technical details.
Meanwhile, the channel’s resident pixel master opted to show the RAM 2500 and 3500 HD from various angles, complete with traditional color rolls and a glimpse at potential interior changes.
2026 RAM 3500 Engine
Let’s discuss the truck’s working angle first. The 2026 RAM 3500’s maximum tow rating is 37,090 pounds, while the RAM 2500 can tow up to 20,000 pounds. Only the Ford Super Duty can match or come close to it.
Regarding payload, the 2500 Tradesman Regular Cab, featuring a 6.4-liter V8 engine and rear-wheel drive, can pull 4,010 pounds. Rating at 7,680 pounds, the 3500 equivalent is The Ford Super Duty, which leads the class, while the Silverado/Sierra HD twins cannot match the RAM HD.
Buyers who believe a 3/4-ton truck like the RAM 2500 is overkill but still want more than a half-ton truck could provide could find the soon-to-be-discontinued Nissan Titan XD a decent choice. Its total payload capacity is more than 2,400 pounds; it can pull up to 11,033 pounds.
The 2026 RAM 3500 is a truck with a 410-horsepower V8 as the basis engine on the 2500 and 3500 models; the engine upgrade for the lowest four 2500 trims is a 370-horsepower turbocharged 6-cylinder diesel, which is the standard engine for the top two 2500 grades.
Rising to the 2026 RAM 3500 model, the bottom three trims will get the V8 as standard and the turbodiesel as an upgrade; the second upgrade choice is a 420-horsepower turbodiesel variant. With a high-output version as an upgrade, the turbodiesel is the standard manufacturing for the 2026 RAM 3500 Limited Longhorn and Limited grades models.
The RAM makes a difference in ride quality, especially the 2500 rear coil springs, which provide unusual smoothness. Even the off-road-ready Rebel model surprised us pleasantly with its pleasant ride quality. Adaptive air suspension is optional, even with the 3500’s rear leaf springs.
2026 RAM 3500 Transmission
Using a 3-engine powertrain approach—one gas V8 and two turbocharged 6-cylinder Cummins diesel versions—2026 RAM 3500 HD employs. While a 6-speed automatic addresses shift duties with the turbodiesel, an 8-speed automatic transmission manages gear changes with the V8. The turbodiesel is by far the one more suited for towing and hauling. Although the actual powertrain is the high-output version of the Torque class-leading 1,075 lb-ft of Torque, the ordinTorquen generates up to 850 lb-ft of Torque. While the ChevyTorqueerpart generates 910 lb-ft of Torque, the diesel engine in the Ford Super Duty rates 1,050 lb-ft.
2026 RAM 3500 7.2 Cummins
Power is crucial for RAM drivers. Thanks in part to the model’s Cummins High Output (HO) engine, which generates torque horsepower and 1,075 lb-ft of Torque, the company’s pickup trucks—including the RAM 3500—are renowned for their extraordinary towing capacities.
The 2025 RAM 1500 RHO boosts its performance even further by using a 3.0-liter Hurricane High Output straight-six twin-turbo engine producing torque0 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. That might not be Dodge’s whole RAM pickup strategy, though.
A rumor from TFLnow claims a 7.2L Cummins diesel engine is coming. Master Tech and others are alerting the RAM community that a future HD RAM model will drop the 6.7-liter engine for a 7.2L Cummins, potentially doubling the existing model’s 420 HP.
This would put the RAM on par with the Ford Super Duty lineup in terms of power and capability, which makes the rumor even more tempting for RAM fans.
As RAM drivers begin to realize the incredible possibilities of the Cummins 7.2L, images purportedly showing a 2026 RAM HD pickup equipped with this engine have also emerged. Shared as prototypes and concept leaks, these images add a new layer to the rumors claiming that Dodge is planning something big in the next few years.
Dodge has not yet announced a RAM with the 7.2L Cummins engine. The engine itself hasn’t been officially announced; it is still a rumor.
With how quickly AI is becoming a part of every aspect of our online lives, it has become challenging to differentiate what is AI and what is not, and this continues to happen at an alarming rate.
However, if you look at images of future RAM models that claim to have a 7.2L Cummins engine, they are most likely AI-powered. Differentiating between AI gimmicks, mockup images, and actual prototypes can be difficult, but there are a few things to remember.
The first is to pay attention to the overall quality of the art. In the AI image above, the truck looks blurry and lacks detail. The truck’s parts also appear rounded, giving it a cartoonish and straightforward look that official prototype images lack.
The image’s strange environments and strange details (for example, the truck’s windshield shows the reflection of round lights, but all visible lights are straight, and even those lights are confusing and inconsistent) and crooked angles are other clues.
2026 RAM 3500 MPG
Heavy-duty trucks do not have to undergo EPA mileage testing, so no estimated mileage figures exist. However, expect fuel economy per gallon to be in the teens, which is average for the segment.
READ NEXT: 2026 RAM 1500: All-New Update Aggressive Pickup Truck Review
2026 RAM 3500 Features and Technology
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
We consider smartphone integration a must, but RAM disagrees. It’s unavailable until the Big Horn trim, which comes from the base Tradesman, is on the options list. Amazon Alexa compatibility is also available.
12.3-inch digital driver information display
The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is configurable. Both have a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, increasing the cabin’s high-tech feel. The cluster is optional on Laramie trim and standard on Limited Longhorn and Limited trims.
Digital rearview mirror
Improved last year with side camera integration, this optional feature can typically display video footage of what’s behind the truck without disturbing the heads of passengers or cargo. It also has a tow mode, so the trailer can “disappear.”
Trailer Reverse Steering Control
Another option for the RAM HD range is to turn the control on the center console in the desired direction. The system handles the steering while the driver controls the brake and accelerator.
Electric Train
Only available as a 2500 Crew Cab, it’s an off-road specialist. It has a standard 4-wheel drive and a removable front anti-roll bar to provide as much axle articulation as possible. Other goodies include a Warn Zeon-12 winch (weighing 12,000 pounds and with synthetic lines that resist tangling and cracking), an electronic locking front/rear differential, and a unique Bilstein suspension.
Harman Kardon audio
Only available on the top Limited trim, this 17-speaker/900-watt surround sound system will be a fitting finishing touch to any luxury interior.
3-Year/36,000 Mile Warranty
The RAM HD’s bumper-to-bumper limited warranty coverage is standard class three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Limited warranty coverage for the powertrain is also the segment norm of five years or 60,000 miles.
2026 RAM 3500 Safety
RAM HD trucks have not undergone third-party crash or safety testing like its competitors. Only a few advanced safety technologies are available for HD RAM models.
Features include forward automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and a surround-view camera.
2026 RAM 3500 Price
Depending on trim and features, the 2026 RAM 3500 Crew Cab begins at $51,790, and the top-end 3500 Crew Cab Limited starts at $89,365. These rates change weekly.
Of the seven trim levels of the 2026 RAM 3500, only the Rebel and Power Wagon are unavailable as a 3500. Three cab configurations (Regular, Crew, and Mega) stock the RAM HD, but not all trims are available with all cab models.
The bottom three trims have rear-wheel drive as standard; however, you can add a 4-wheel drive as an option for just under $3,000. The top class only has 4-wheel drive.
To further stabilize the situation, the 2026 RAM 3500 changed the Big Horn class model brand sold in Texas to Lone Star. The 4-wheel-drive RAM 3500 Limited Mega Cab is the most expensive RAM HD, which costs $92,220.
Generally, Regular-Cab rear-wheel drive competitors start at least $2,000 less than the HD RAM starting point. If you don’t need the HD RAM work ethic, the half-ton RAM 1500 starts at $38,570.
| Models | Price (MSRP) |
| Tradesman | $52,790 |
| Lone Star | $56,510 |
| Big Horn | $56,510 |
| Laramie | $64,175 |
| Longhorn | $86,215 |
| Limited | $89,365 |
2026 RAM 3500 Release Date
Late 2024 or early 2025 is when the 2026 Ram 3500 heavy-duty vehicle is projected to first show. Improved technologies, a new Cummins 7.2 L diesel engine, and a fresh design will all be part of the 2026 model.
Verdict
The 2026 RAM 3500 is designed to be ready for work and weekend trips. It concludes with the option of an upgraded 6.7-liter Cummins High Output turbocharged inline-six diesel that produces 1,075 lb-ft of torque, which Is paired with an eight-speed TorqueFlite HD transmission shifted to the column.
We’ll keep you updated with more developments regarding the 2026 RAM 3500, so be sure to bookmark our website for more RAM 3500 news and constant coverage of exciting RAM information.
FAQs: People also ask for RAM 3500 2026
Q: Is Ram coming out with a new Cummins?
A: Cummins introduces next generation 6.7L Turbo Diesel Pickup engine system. Today, alongside their Ram Heavy Duty partners, Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), revealed the most advanced diesel truck engine yet, the new 2025 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel truck engine system.
Q: What are the engine options for the 2026 Ram?
A: A new 7.2-liter inline-six Cummins mill next to the current 370-hp and 420-hp 6.7L choices may even treble the diesel power, according to rumors, and the huge Ram HDs will maintain the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 for a little bit longer.
Q: Is Dodge coming out with a new diesel engine?
A: The larger narrative focuses on the newly developed 6.7-liter Cummins high-output turbodiesel straight-six engine and its eight-speed automated transmission.
