SLT 4x2 Mega Cab 6.3 ft. box 160.5 in. WB
2013 RAM 3500

Tow It All There are no shiftier sands than those that underlie the heavy duty truck market. Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have been locked in the same interminable sniping match for years, each delighting in picking their competitors off with new, more powerful drivelines and ever loftier tow ratings. Right now, Ram sits at the top of the heap with its 2013 3500 HD. With the optional Max Tow package, the truck is rated to pull an astonishing 30,000 pounds. That's ludicrous weight – the kind of heft typically left to the semi world. In fact, most states require you to have a commercial driver's license just to pull that much ballast around behind you, and for good reason: All that tonnage comes to bear on every aspect of a vehicle's driving dynamics. Every maneuver takes longer, requires more forethought and exacts a larger toll on the vehicle's hardware. Of course, as is often the case, there can be a gulf between what it says on a machine's label and what the rig can actually muster in terms of performance. We hitched a full 30,000 lbs behind the 2013 Ram 3500 HD to find out exactly how well the truck lives up to its reputation. Outside, the 2013 3500 HD boasts a few new tricks. As with the 1500, designers were cognizant of the fact that buyers were plenty happy with the current model's look. Rather than reinvent the wheel, Ram went with a few new grille insert options, including the "Hex-Perf" treatment on our tester. Across the board, the trucks now feature updated headlamps, and the Laramie trim now rocks halogen projectors with LED turning indicators. Look closely and you'll spot details like the Ram shield molded into the lamp housing. Engineers worked a few aerodynamic tricks from the light duty class into the heavy duty trucks. Otherwise, the truck remains unchanged. Engineers worked a few aerodynamic tricks from the light duty class into the heavy duty trucks, including full-length step bars. Additionally, the trucks now feature the same portrait-style badging on the doors to make it easier for owners to apply their own company graphics. Case IH fans will be happy to hear Ram has added new special color options, including IH Red. New Holland Construction Yellow and Agricultural Blue are also available for those of you with less taste. Around back, new LED tail lamps and reverse lamps take the place of the old hardware. Buyers can also go for an optional camera situated in the cab-mounted third brake lamp. The kit makes it easy to keep an eye on cargo or line up a goose neck trailer, and the camera can be actuated from inside the cab with the feed displaying on the 8.4-inch Uconnect screen. Buyers who go for the optional camera still get the standard back-up camera, but that feed moves to the rear-view mirror to reduce confusion. Overlook the texmex motif and the interior is nicer than what we've seen from the …
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