Let's compare the 1st Ram 1500

[devildodge]

Well, as I see more and more people experiencing the Payload Surprise, and people actually taking the time to figure out what their truck can tow...FOR REAL...I have decided to explore the 1st Ram 1500 the 94 to 2001 4x2 and 4x4 regular and club/quad cab.

Now I know some one will say wait, that is the 2nd Gen.

So to start this, let's talk history.

1981 Dodge debuts the redesined (slightly) Dodge truck.

From 1972 to 1980 Dodge trucks were considered D100, D200, D300 if 2wd and W100, W200, W300 if 4wd. And of course the 4wd also claimed the name Powerwagon.

So in 1981 that all became Dodge Ram if 2wd and Dodge Power Ram if 4wd. But they were still considered 100 200 300 with a change to 150 250 and 350 for HD versions of each class.

So in 1989 Dodge put a Cummins in a Ram truck, and this is when a Dodge became considered a 1st Gen...the Cummins crowed coined this term, but also kinda applied to the first time it was called a Ram.

Now this is how our current truck became a 5th Gen...2019 Ram 1500.

But, it wasn't until 1994 that it became a Dodge Ram 1500, and then in 2011 it became the Ram 1500. So really you can call the 2019 Ram 1500 a 4th Gen or a 2nd Gen, but for the sake of all things normal the comparison here will be 2nd Gen to 5th gen...specifically the 1999 Dodge Ram 1500/2500/3500 to the 2019 Ram 1500.

**disclaimer: the info found here is only for this simple comparison, for more historical info you can check out Allpar or Wikipedia

 

[devildodge]

1999 Dodge Ram 1500/2500/3500 Configurations
4x2 Regular Cab 6'6 bed (1500 only)
4x2 Regular Cab 8' bed (3500 DRW)
4x2 Quad Cab 6'6 bed (3500 N/A)
4x2 Quad Cab 8' bed (3500 DRW)
4x4 in same configurations
note: club cab was still offered

Engines
3.9l V6 (1500 only)
5.2l V8 (1500 only)
5.9l V8
8.0l V8 (1500 N/A)

Transmissions
Automatic
42RH V6 only
46RH V8 only
47RH V10/HD

Manual
NV3500 V6
NV4500 V8
NV4500HD V10

Axle Ratio
Open differential or Limited Slip
3.21
3.55
3.92
4.10

GVWR
Same for all cab/bed size, engine/transmission, and axle ratio
6400 4x2 1500
6600 4x4 1500
8800 All 2500
10500 4x2 3500
11000 4x4 3500

GCWR
Changes based on drive, engine, transmission, axle ratio, and cab size, class
7600 4x2 3.9l auto 3.55,3.92 reg 1500
7800 4x2 3.9l man all regular 1500
9500 4x2 5.2l man 3.55,3.92 quad 1500
10000 all 5.2l man 3.92 regular 1500
12500 all 5.2l, 5.9l auto all1500
14000 all 5.9l all all all 2500
15000 all 5.9l all all all 3500
19000 all 8.0l all all all 2500, 3500

Max Tongue weight
1500 700 lbs
2500 900 lbs
3500 1200lbs



2019 Ram 1500
Configurations
4x2 Quad Cab 6'4 bed
4x2 Crew Cab 5'7 bed
4x2 Crew Cab 6'4 bed

Engines
3.6l V6 eTorque
5.7l V8
5.7l v8 eTorque

Transmissions
Automatic
850RE V6
8HP75 V8

Axle Ratio
Open differential, anti spin, eLocker
3.21 V6 V8
3.55 V6
3.92 V6 V8

GVWR
6010 HFE
6800 4x2,4x4 V6 quad
6900 4x2 V8 quad
4x2 V6, V8 Crew
4x4 V6 Crew
7100 4x4 V8 all

GCWR
11900 V6 3.21
12900 V6 3.55
13900 V8 3.21
17000 V8 3.92
19000 4x2 V8 eTorque 3.92 quad max tow axle

 

[devildodge]

Let's break this down to similar builds.

Well the 3.9l V6 was only available in 4x2 Regular Cab Short and long bed.

So we have to jump to a V8 to get the comparison.

Note that the 1999 V6 GVWR and GCWR are only 1200 pounds apart...and the GCWR is only 700 pounds more than the 2019s GVWR.

And to make a clear statement from the begining...the reason for this is brakes...you will find the payloads are similar, but the new axles and larger brakes are what make the trailer weights higher.
(And the 2019 V6 is a very great replacement for the small V8)

Ok so we go to a 4x2 Quad Cab Shortbed with the 5.2l V8 and 3.92 gears and we will compare that to 4x2 Quad Cab V6 and 3.92 gears.

The 1999 has a GVWR of 6400 and a GCWR of 12500.

The 2019 has a GVWR of 6800 and a GCWR of 12900.

So a modern day V6 has nearly doubled the fuel mileage and is 400 lbs more capable than the base V8 of the time. The 1999 V6 didn't even get a chance to defend itself cause it wasn't even able to be put in the quad cab truck.

That is pretty impressive improvement to me.

I would say that the 2019 V6 Ram may just be able to do enough for a very large segment of 1500 truck buyers.

 

[devildodge]

Next up is the Big V8s. 1999 4x2 5.9l 3.92 quad cab shortbed vs 2019 4x2 5.7l eTorque 3.92 quad cab.

The 1999 has a GVWR of 6400 and a GCWR of 12500

The 2019 has a GVWR of 6900 and a GCWR of 18200. That is with max tow package, but even the regular has a GCWR of 17000.

Now that is a pretty great increase.
Can not go wrong with this package if you plan to tow a large trailer.

So as the V6 had to be compared to the small V8, the 2019 max tow package can be compared to an 8.0l V10 in a 3500 with Dual Rear wheels to get the GCWR close the 1999 3500 has a 19000 GCWR. But of course their is a large difference in GVWR.

A better comparison is the 1998 2500 with 5.9l...in 98 you could get what was known as a light 3/4 ton with a GVWR of 7500. I would say that would be the best apple to apple comparison of the two generations.

So the 2019 Ram 1500 is for sure a very capable tow rig, if you can make the payload work with your setup.

 

[Davidmurphy02]

Do you have any data on payload capacity for the 99's? I spent many years with my 98 quad cab, 5.9, 3.55, 6'4 bed, towing a 5,500 pound fifth wheel all over the country. Didn't know anything about payload ratings back then, went strictly by tow ratings. And while it went everywhere I needed it to go, there were times when we'd crest out a mountain pass going 15 in first gear and wondering if we'd make it to the top. I don't know what the payload capacity of my 98 was, but the pin weight of my trailer was close to 1,000 pounds, plus a heavy fifth wheel hitch, a toolbox full of stuff, firewood in the bed, stuff stacked in the back seat, and two of us up front....I'm sure I was exceeding payload capacity although within total GCVW.

In spite of being overloaded, my 98 is still going strong today with 225K. It never overheated, never broke down and left us stranded in the boonies in all our travels. Two transmission rebuilds, but not complaining about that given what it had to do. The camper died from roof leaks and we are in the process of buying a new small fifth wheel that will be around 5,000 pounds loaded. Just bought a new quad cab, 5.7 Hemi, few options on purpose to get a good payload which came in at 1,804 so we should be in great shape with the new camper. When it was time to go truck shopping and my wife told me to be sure to check out other makes and not just blindly get another Ram I looked out at my old faithful 98 in the driveway, said "yes, dear", and headed to my Ram dealer to order a 2019. Won't have the new fifth wheel until next spring, but can't wait to hitch it up to the new truck.

It is kind of a bummer for the higher end trims that they cut down on the payload so much....but probably a low percentage of people tow anything substantial on a regular basis and the market is much more oriented towards all the options that both sell trucks and fatten FCA's bottom line. Just glad I was able to order exactly what I needed, and am very happy with it.

 

[devildodge]

I am working on payloads. We are about to head off into the mountains of Central Pennsylvania to go camping in the next hour. Hopefully I can get a chance at some point to post up some info. If not it will be 1st thing Monday morning.

I keep looking at your setup, and I think it was a pretty good match really. @Davidmurphy02 I hope you get the same reliability out of your new Ram as you did that one.

 

[Chris]

"10000 all 5.2l man 3.92 regular 1500
12500 all 5.2l, 5.9l all all all1500 "

These seem to contradict each other. Should the second one be "12500 all 5.9l all all all 1500"?

 

[devildodge]

"10000 all 5.2l man 3.92 regular 1500
12500 all 5.2l, 5.9l all all all1500 "

These seem to contradict each other. Should the second one be "12500 all 5.9l all all all 1500"?

Should say auto not all, thanks for catching that.

 

[devildodge]

Do you have any data on payload capacity for the 99's? I spent many years with my 98 quad cab, 5.9, 3.55, 6'4 bed, towing a 5,500 pound fifth wheel all over the country. Didn't know anything about payload ratings back then, went strictly by tow ratings. And while it went everywhere I needed it to go, there were times when we'd crest out a mountain pass going 15 in first gear and wondering if we'd make it to the top. I don't know what the payload capacity of my 98 was, but the pin weight of my trailer was close to 1,000 pounds, plus a heavy fifth wheel hitch, a toolbox full of stuff, firewood in the bed, stuff stacked in the back seat, and two of us up front....I'm sure I was exceeding payload capacity although within total GCVW.

In spite of being overloaded, my 98 is still going strong today with 225K. It never overheated, never broke down and left us stranded in the boonies in all our travels. Two transmission rebuilds, but not complaining about that given what it had to do. The camper died from roof leaks and we are in the process of buying a new small fifth wheel that will be around 5,000 pounds loaded. Just bought a new quad cab, 5.7 Hemi, few options on purpose to get a good payload which came in at 1,804 so we should be in great shape with the new camper. When it was time to go truck shopping and my wife told me to be sure to check out other makes and not just blindly get another Ram I looked out at my old faithful 98 in the driveway, said "yes, dear", and headed to my Ram dealer to order a 2019. Won't have the new fifth wheel until next spring, but can't wait to hitch it up to the new truck.

It is kind of a bummer for the higher end trims that they cut down on the payload so much....but probably a low percentage of people tow anything substantial on a regular basis and the market is much more oriented towards all the options that both sell trucks and fatten FCA's bottom line. Just glad I was able to order exactly what I needed, and am very happy with it.

Ok, so I found the curb weight for a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 4x2 guad cab has a curb weight of 4470.

So MAX payload is 1930.

Now it didn't say long or short bed and I would assume that was for the lowest trim. There wasn't much to add back then...so that is the best figure I found so far.

 

[Davidmurphy02]

That makes me feel better, maybe my 98 wasn't overloaded after all. I'd estimate between the pin weight of the 5th wheel, hitch, cargo, and passengers I probably had 1,800 pounds, and it did just fine with that other than a lack of power climbing at high altitudes. Thanks for digging up that info!