When shopping for any vehicle, proceeding with as much information as possible is crucial. If you are like most folks, your next new or used vehicle will represent the largest expenditure you make this year. The adage “knowledge is power” applies when buying a vehicle. This is especially true if you want a used Ram for sale. There are more variables with pickup trucks than sedans or SUVs, so it is crucial to use the information you can get when buying a used pickup truck.
Ram has offered this capable truck since 1981, when it was first called the Dodge Ram 150. Over five generations and counting, the Ram has given drivers an unrivaled combination of style, performance, ruggedness, and capability. This has helped set it apart from other full-size pickup models and made it a great choice for drivers looking for amazing value in a used truck.
What’s in a Name?
Something to keep in mind when buying a used Ram is that you have to pay attention to the names. Until 2009, when Ram was spun off from Dodge, the truck was known as the Dodge Ram. While you probably won’t see too many of those models that stopped being produced in 2008 with the end of the third-generation Dodge Ram 1500, it is still something you should keep in mind. Also, if someone claims a Ram 1500 is from the fourth generation model but it still has a Dodge Ram badge, then you might consider that the person you are dealing with is not the most honest person you have ever met. In other words, start running in the opposite direction and find someone else selling a used Ram 1500.
With the start of the current fifth generation of the Ram 1500, the brand did something interesting. Where most other automakers stop building vehicles from the prior model generation, Ram continued to produce the fourth-generation Ram 1500 pickup truck. However, they changed the name. If you find a fourth-generation Ram 1500 built after 2018, the last year for that model, it will have the name Ram 1500 Classic. This was how Ram continued offering the prior generation model for drivers who preferred that design. It was a novel approach since the truck still offered features like different powertrains from the fourth generation, but it improved on safety features and the Uconnect infotainment system. If you find a used Ram 1500 Classic for sale, you should remember that you are buying a truck with the design and performance of the fourth-generation model.
Cabs That Help You Get to Work
Something else to consider when buying a used Ram 1500 is the cab style. The current fifth-generation model offers you a choice of a Crew Cab and a Quad Cab. While both offer you two rows of seats, allowing you to seat up to five passengers in your truck’s cab, they have several differences. The Crew Cab is larger, offering you more legroom in the back. This is why this is a great choice if you plan to use your used Ram 1500 as a personal vehicle, like if you have a family you want to chauffeur around in your truck. The Quad Cab has a narrower rear seat. It also has half-sized doors that some people may find hard to use to enter and exit your truck.
For drivers planning to use their Ram 1500 for work, a Quad Cab may make more sense. This cab style is lighter, giving you greater towing and hauling capability. For example, the 2023 Ram 1500 with a Crew Cab will provide up to 7,590 lbs of trailering capability with the base 3.6L Pentastar eTorque V6 MHEV engine. This will increase to 7,660 lbs of towing capacity in the same configuration with the Quad Cab.
There is another option for drivers looking to maximize towing and hauling capabilities on a used Ram 1500. Up until 2018, the Ram 1500 was offered with a regular cab. This has one row of seats, allowing you to seat up to three passengers, with two doors. This makes the cab the lightest of the three, boosting your trailering capabilities. It is also the least expensive used Ram 1500 you will find. Also, if you want a newer Ram 1500 with a regular cab, you can choose a used Ram 1500 Classic, as this model offered a regular cab option up until the 2023 model year. This is one more option for you to consider.
Powertrains to Motivate Your Used Truck
Ram has always given drivers an excellent choice of powertrains on its flagship pickup truck. This has continued throughout the fifth generation model. Since its launch in 2019, the Ram 1500 has featured a 3.6L Pentastar eTorque V6 MHEV engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. That transmission choice has been a standard throughout the fifth generation. This mild hybrid eTorque system helps the base engine improve fuel economy, so you can get a very impressive 23 MPG combined with the 2022 Ram 1500 with a 4X2 drivetrain. It also delivers 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. This will be the most common engine on a used Ram 1500.
In addition to the 3.6L V6, the 2025 model features two engines introduced just for this model year. The 3.0L Hurricane turbocharged I-6 produces 420 hp and 469 lb-ft of torque, while the high-output version of this engine featured on the Ram 1500 RHO produces an insane 540 hp and 521 lb-ft of torque. These are nothing compared to the engine offered on the Ram 1500 TRX up through the 2024 model year. This 6.2L HEMI Hellcat supercharged V8 is the same one that used to be offered on the discontinued Dodge Challenger. This provides a powerful 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, making a used Ram 1500 TRX one of the fastest trucks on the road.
You can find two other engines on a used Ram 1500 that are no longer offered on the new model. The 5.7L HEMI Eagle eTorque V8 MHEV was offered until 2024. This engine delivers a powerful 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. It also benefits from the eTorque mild hybrid system, giving you up to 20 MPG in combined fuel economy on 2023 Ram 1500 models with a 4X2 drivetrain.
The other engine is a 3.0L Ecodiesel turbo-diesel V6. This powerful engine produces 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Interestingly, it was only offered on Ram 1500 trucks with a 4X4 drivetrain. The last model year of this engine was 2023. If you find a used Ram 1500 with this engine, you will get an impressive 24 MPG in combined fuel economy, while being able to tow up to 9,600 lbs and haul 2,090 lbs in the truck’s payload bed. This is an ideal powertrain if you are looking for a Ram 1500 for work.
Two Trims for Adventure
Each year, Ram offers its full-size truck with several different trim levels. This allows you to choose one with the desired features at a price that fits your budget. If you are looking for a used pickup truck for off-road adventures, two trims of the Ram 1500 stand out. The Rebel has been a standout for years, giving you a truck with the factory lift, specialized off-road suspension, recovery hooks, and skid plates to take on the trail.
For those who are looking for the ultimate off-road warrior, the used Ram 1500 TRX is the one to choose. This apex predator is pronounced “T. Rex” and gives you a ferocious assortment of off-road features, including a powerful 6.2L HEMI Hellcat V8 gas engine. Offered from 2021 to 2024, this is the one to choose if you are serious about off-road adventures.
There Are Only Good Choices With a Used Ram 1500
When buying a used Ram 1500, you should always remember what you plan to do with your truck. If you want to use it for work, you will probably be better served by lower-level trims, quad and regular cab styles, a 4X2 drivetrain, and V6 engines. Those who plan to buy a used Ram 1500 for personal use should opt for features like a Crew Cab and a higher trim level. The good news is that with the myriad choices, including the Ram 1500 Classic, your truck’s options will yield only positive outcomes.
