2020 Ram 1500 review: Testing out some Mopar mods

The Ram 1500 is most likely the finest 50 percent-ton truck readily available now. Certain, you could argue Ford’s F-150 has a superior lineup of powertrains or that the most recent GMC Sierra brings far more high-tech capabilities to the table. But when it arrives to items like inside excellent, about-the-street refinement and handsome excellent seems — to say practically nothing of remarkable towing and hauling capabilities — this rig is seriously the a single to beat. 

This overview device is a tiny diverse. It truly is a Large Horn design with a roomy crew-taxi overall body, four-wheel push and a 5-foot-7-inch mattress. It truly is also dressed in the optional Activity Physical appearance Deal, which gets you items like overall body-coloration door handles and bumpers as effectively as heated and electric power-folding aspect-watch mirrors, among quite a few other items. Regardless of currently being just a single move up from the entry-amount Tradesman trim, this truck nevertheless seems primo. And currently being a reduce-spec design, it really is a excellent canvas on which to paint close to $13,000 in Mopar components, a range of appearance- and overall performance-maximizing incorporate-ons that are earlier mentioned and past the truck’s $52,585 asking price tag.

Mopar, FCA’s provider-areas and aftermarket division, presents close to five hundred,000 diverse elements for the company’s broad assortment of autos, like far more than two hundred components for the Ram 1500 on your own. Upgrades to this truck are several and involve a 2-inch suspension carry as effectively as beadlock-capable wheels. There are sill guards and hood graphics, off-street wheel flares and a wi-fi phone charger inside of. Things like aspect measures, tonneau covers and splash guards are some of the most-common incorporate-ons readily available for this pickup, but unquestionably, of all the goodies included to this take a look at Ram, my favorite enhancements deal with airflow, specially into and out of the motor. 

Beneath the hood, this Ram 1500 capabilities a smooth 5.7-liter Hemi V8, a single not equipped with Chrysler’s available eTorque mild-hybrid procedure. It is, having said that, matched to an at any time-astute 8-speed computerized transmission. Assisting this pushrod motor sing like a muscle mass motor vehicle from Detroit’s glory days is a $1,250 cat-back again exhaust procedure capped by a pair of $395 black-completed tips that evaluate a burly 5 inches in diameter. This Mopar procedure is loud and authoritative, but in no way drones. It strikes just about a ideal stability amongst sportiness and civility. If I owned a Hemi-run Ram truck, I’d have a single of these exhausts in a heartbeat.

Assisting the motor fill its lungs a tiny simpler is a bolt-on consumption, which draws new air from right behind the grille. In accordance to Mopar, it presents “recognizable” improves in each horsepower and torque, nevertheless unique figures are not listed. Unmodified, the truck’s V8 is rated at a wholesome 395 horsepower and 410 pound-toes of torque. This consumption also presents a little bit of less than-hood rumble, particularly when the throttle is prodded heavily, a little something that compliments the exhaust procedure nicely. You can get a single of these setups for $925.

With freer-flowing consumption and exhaust techniques, this V8-run pickup performs effectively, nevertheless it would not sense fairly as swift as maybe it need to. Really don’t get me improper, it really is a great deal potent, but at times it appears to be like you can find far more thunder than thrust, the mighty Hemi not seriously waking up till about 3,five hundred rpm, which is unexpectedly high for a two-valve motor. As generally, the Ram 1500’s transmission is on stage, providing silky-smooth, effectively-timed shifts and aiding cut down fuel use as much as doable. This truck is rated at fifteen miles for each gallon town, 21 highway and seventeen mpg blended. Regrettably, with four-wheel push, all people Mopar components and the recurrent will need to hear that motor roar, I’m only averaging close to 13.5 mpg in mixed driving.

A assortment of updates enhance this Ram’s exterior appearance. Some of the most recognizable are off-street-model jogging boards and the RamBar, each of which are $995 possibilities. Those measures are manufactured of solid aluminum and feature an anti-slip texture. They look cool, make it much simpler to get into and out of the truck, and never stick down too far, so they shouldn’t get hung up when off-roading. As for the RamBar, this basket cope with-like accent mounts to the mattress, requiring no drilling, welding or other harmful functions to put in, nevertheless it will not fit trucks equipped with RamBox storage bins or the multi-functionality tailgate. Powder coated with a matte-black complete for extensive-term sturdiness, this strong merchandise capabilities built-in tie-downs for improved flexibility and it really is a ideal place to mount accent lights, like the 5-inch LED units supplied by Mopar. Obviously, this truck is equipped with these off-street lamps — two sets, in fact — which price tag $595 apiece. They are tremendous vivid, great for reducing through darkness while out on the path, nevertheless it really is not a excellent idea to use them on the road as they are intensive plenty of to singe the retinas of motorists in the oncoming lane. Really don’t do that.

Boosting flexibility (or detracting from it based on your stage of watch), this take a look at truck is also equipped with an in-mattress storage procedure. This $1,400 incorporate-on consists of two lockable drawers that slide out from underneath an elevated system. They roll smoothly and make a extremely enjoyable click when latching. Weather-restricted, every single a single can hold up to two hundred lbs of stuff, while the higher deck can assist a ton. Certainly, literally 2,000 lbs. This arrangement need to be extremely handy for storing electric power instruments or related items you want to keep absent from prying eyes and sticky fingers. Regrettably, this bulky accent can take up a large amount of house in the mattress, about 50 percent the cargo box’s depth, so the truck is far a lot less practical for hauling, say, a pair of dust bikes or a load of mulch. 

Lots of of the Mopar-modifications featured on this Ram 1500 are thoroughly pleasing, but a single I’m not so fond of is the suspension carry. This $1,350 option arrives with new shocks, higher handle arms, spring spacers and a handful of other items. The 2-inch carry it presents is no doubt handy out on the path, but this setup is a little bit starchier than I’d like for daily use. The Ram 1500’s strong and refined steering appears to be unaffected by this modification, which is excellent information for the reason that it is most likely the finest managing whole-measurement pickup readily available now. 

Assisting this truck look like a path-prepared beast is a $499 set of Mopar fender flares. These need to assistance guard the overall body when out adventuring, nevertheless I’m not a big lover of the black plastic they are manufactured of, nor do I care for the fake bolts punctuating their outer floor. At minimum, like the RamBar, these flares call for no drilling or other modifications to put in.

Not remarkably, the inside of this truck gets some accent like as effectively, nevertheless it did not automatically will need any updates. Even in reduce-close models, the Ram 1500’s cabin is nevertheless this segment’s finest, with a great deal of great components and uncomplicated-to-use controls. My Mopar-modified take a look at truck also capabilities FCA’s fantastic Uconnect infotainment procedure with an 8.4-inch monitor. No, this is not the ginormous 12-inch portrait show you get in larger-close models, but it really is nevertheless entirely pleasant to use, each easy and snappy. Given that this pickup is equipped with a crew-taxi overall body, the backseat is gigantic — like, critically palatial. If you are not able to get snug in this Ram, you can find no hope for you. 

As for cockpit updates, resilient-looking all-weather ground mats are a steal at $a hundred sixty five, in addition the $250 wi-fi charging pad is a need to-have merchandise as effectively so you never have to fumble with cables to keep your phone completely juiced. Upgrading the truck’s inventory, fabric-lined seats is a Katzkin leather-based inside, finish with distinction stitching and embroidered Ram logos on some of the seatbacks. These covers not only look and sense great, but they fit flawlessly as effectively, with no bagginess or crooked seams. This package is customizable, supplied in two diverse grades of leather-based and in a large assortment of colours and finishes. At $1,365, the price tag tag isn’t too extreme, either, specifically considering that that determine contains set up. 

Many thanks to its on-street refinement, attractive interiors and friendly capabilities, the Ram 1500 is already Roadshow’s favorite whole-measurement pickup. But the folks at Mopar have verified you can make a excellent truck even superior with the addition of a handful of aftermarket components. Aside from the items highlighted in this overview, there are dozens of other items readily available, so if you have received a Ram 1500, you could contemplate examining out the Mopar site for further information and facts.