Ram Trucks says its newly introduced 2019 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs will usher in a “new generation of work trucks” with “never-before-offered comfort and technology.”
The cab-and-chassis trucks, designed for “unforgiving” duty cycles, efficiency and upfitter friendliness, boast a segment-leading towing capacity up to 35,220 pounds, the highest Gross Combined Weight Rating of 43,000 lbs and payload up to 12,510 lbs.
The new line of halo-capability trucks also offers an optional comfort level with the new Limited model, exclusive in-cab features, and all the latest driver-assistance technology, including adaptive cruise control, Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), and AEB with trailer brakes on all trim levels.
“Ram Chassis Cab operators work their trucks at maximum capability in the harshest drive cycles every day,” said Reid Bigland, head of Ram Brand for FCA. “By offering 35,220 pounds of towing capacity, 12,510 pounds of payload and a Gross Combined Weight Rating of 43,000 pounds, our 2019 Ram Chassis Cabs take segment leadership in areas most important to customers and upfitters alike.
“With the Chassis Cab Limited, we’ve also created something the segment has never seen, surrounding owners in premium materials and technology with the highest quality interiors, active safety systems, and of course, our award-winning Uconnect technology.”
The standard Ram Chassis Cab engine is a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 with up to 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. The 3500 employs exclusive Fuel Saver Technology (FST) cylinder deactivation for increasing fuel economy. When paired with the optional Aisin AS66RC six-speed automatic transmission with Power Take-Off (PTO), FST functions under light load while in stationary PTO mode to reduce fuel consumption.
In the Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cab, the 6.4-liter HEMI V8, paired with the AS66RC electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission with optional PTO capability delivers 370 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque.
A revised Cummins 6.7-liter inline-six turbo diesel is optional on all three models. Paired with the Aisin AS69RC electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission with optional PTO capability, the Cummins engine delivers 360 horsepower and the highest available torque in Class 4 and 5 at 800 lb-ft.
Changes to the Cummins engine include a cylinder block made from compacted graphite iron that is stronger and better able to dampen vibrations. A new cast-iron cylinder head builds on the new block with changes that include new exhaust valves and springs, and new rocker arms driven by a hollow camshaft, contributing to the weight savings.
The Chassis Cab trucks come in four industry-standard frame lengths measured in inches from the cab to the rear axle (CA): CA 60, CA 84, CA 108 and CA 120. Frame rail width also follows industry guidelines at 34-inch spacing. All 2019 frames are built with up to 97% high-strength steel and eight separate cross members.
With upfits in mind, Ram Chassis Cab rear frame sections feature a C-channel design with flat mounting surface—zero component interference above the rails, making upfit and accessory design/installation easy, cost-effective and reliable. Additionally, pre-drilled holes are designed throughout the structure to route upfit lines or mount hardware related to the upfit.
Light-weighting efforts include an aluminum hood, which contributes to an overall weight reduction of 120 pounds. The cab back panel area is clear for ease of upfit. Ram Engineering provides instructions to create a pass-through cab for emergency vehicles. The 2019 Ram Chassis Cab lineup uses tuned powertrain mounts and C-pillar body hydromounts to reduce NVH and improve ride quality. Within the mounts, the viscosity of the fluid and the rubber itself have been tuned to Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and payload capabilities, enhancing isolation regardless of load or tow capacity.
A best-in-class Vehicle System Interface Module (VSIM) is capable of communicating between aftermarket modules and various factory control modules. The VSIM upfitter interface module features more than 70 inputs and outputs, including lighting controls, door position, and throttle and transmission position.
Ram expects its 2019 Chassis Cabs, built at the Saltillo truck assembly plant in Coahuila, Mexico, to be available in the second quarter of 2019.