The two questions that we get asked the most are when we can expect to see the 5th generation Ram Regular Cab or the RamBox available on the 6’4 box. Today we are going to answer those questions to the best of our ability with what we know so far.
So far there has been no official word or confirmation from Ram Truck about a Regular Cab or 6’4 RamBox option coming to the new Ram 1500. Last year we wrote this article regarding the Regular Cabs stating we expected to see them to show up for the 2020 model year. That article was based on some information we had at the time and some speculation on our part, we are now sure that a 5th generation Regular Cab will not happen for 2020.
On January 11th, 2018, the late Sergio Marchionne (formerly CEO of FCA) had stated that Ram Heavy Duty production would move from Saltillo, Mexico to the Warren Truck Plant in Warren, Michigan. Warren Truck has been producing Dodge and Ram pickups since 1938 (and currently builds the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic.) At that time the plan was to discontinue the Ram 1500 Classic around the summer of 2019 and the all-new Ram Heavy Duty was to move to that plant after a thorough re-tooling for the 2020 model year. Since that time, a multitude of things have changed.
The DS Ram 1500 (known as the Ram 1500 Classic now) has gotten a stay of execution. Originally thought to go out of production this summer we are hearing they might actually run that truck all the way up until the 2022 model year. The Ram 1500 Classic is available as a Regular Cab, Quad Cab, and Crew Cab. The new Ram Heavy Duties also debuted back in January and while they are heavily revised trucks they carry on using the 4th generation cab and box.
Regular Cab Models:
With Regular Cabs accounting for only 5-percent of total sales across 1500 line and HDs we believe that Ram has decided it was not worth the investment to do a 5th Gen Regular Cab at this time. Another reason that we haven’t seen a Regular Cab is that they currently have nowhere to build them. With Warren Truck running Ram 1500 Classics, Saltillo, Mexico running Ram HDs and Ram 1500 Classic Regular Cabs and Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP) at capacity building 2019 Ram 1500 Quad and Crew Cabs there is nowhere to build a 2019 Ram 1500 Regular Cab.
We do know that based on Ram’s 5-year product plan shown last year that an all-new Ram Heavy Duty is set to debut for 2022, This is when we will see the Heavy Duty move over to the 5th generation Ram cab and box and it is unlikely that Ram would leave the Regular Cab market if their competitors are still in it. Regular Cabs are the trucks that put up the maximum towing and payload numbers and competition for the largest numbers is stiff. If we end up getting a 5th Generation Ram 1500 Regular Cab we firmly believe this is when it will happen. Until then count on the Ram 1500 Classic as being the only Regular Cab choice for Ram half-ton buyers.
6’4 RamBox Configuration:
Turning our attention to the 6’4 bed with the RamBox option we believe that we won’t see it until 2022 for many of the same reasons. The majority of half ton trucks sold are crew cabs with the shorter (5’7 ) box. While we have gotten a lot of questions about when the 6’4 RamBox would become available the vast majority of trucks previously sold with the RamBox option checked were Crew Cab 5’7 box models.
Again with the older trucks, you had better economies of scale as the 1500 and Heavy Duties shared a common bed. It is not likely that Ram will drop the 6’4 RamBox option on the Heavy Dutys meaning that when the new HDs debut for 2022 we should see the RamBox option return to the 6’4 bed. At that point, there would be no reason for it not to become available on the 1500s as well.
Admittedly this is pure (educated) speculation on our part. When we reached out to Ram for comment about the Regular Cabs and 6’4 RamBox we were told that they have nothing to announce on that matter at this time.
Stay tuned to 5thGenRams for all the latest news and information as it becomes available and to see how our Long Term 2019 Ram 1500 holds up.
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