2019 Ram HD Eclipses Silverado HD With 1,000 LB-FT Of Torque
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This was inevitable—a predetermined outcome several years in the making. Heavy-duty pickup trucks from Detroit’s Big Three have been duking it out for torque supremacy. Over the last few years, torque numbers have inched into the high triple digits, getting ever closer to four figures. Ram finally hit the four-figure mark at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show with the introduction of the 2019 Ram HD thanks to having 1,000 pound-feet of torque on tap.
All that torque is reserved for the Ram Heavy Duty equipped with the Cummins 6.7-liter turbodiesel. The engine produces 400 horsepower and the 1,000 lb-ft of torque mentioned above, which gives the pickup a towing capacity of 35,100 pounds and a payload capacity of 7,680 pounds. The 2019 Ram HD features a new generation of Cummins’ inline-six diesel that’s 60 pounds lighter. Also new are cast-iron cylinder heads, stronger pistons, and a new exhaust system. Power hits the wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox. A detuned version of the 6.7-liter engines still produces 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque. The debuted version uses a different six-speed gearbox.
That’s not to say that the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD is a slouch by comparison. The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD is said to produce 910 lb-ft of torque from its Duramax 6.6-liter turbodiesel V8. Chevrolet unveiled the Silverado HD pickup last month, however other performance numbers have been kept under wraps. The automaker said during the Silverado’s reveal that the 6.6L Duramax diesel engine will get a new 10-speed Allison-branded gearbox that will increase going and payload capabilities.
Even though the 2020 Silverado HD is slightly down on power, it’s likely a safe bet to predict the 2019 Ram HD won’t be the only heavy-duty pickup truck with 1,000 or more pound-feet of torque on the market for long. Pickup trucks are a numbers game, and Chevy knows that just as much as Ram and Ford.
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It looks cool! Criticise FCA for anything else, but their exterior designers really know how to make something look good.
And it’s not just in the eye of the beholder, it’s okay to call a spade a spade; and this trumps the Silvy HD in the appearance department, just as the Charger does the Impala, the Durango does the Traverse….
Tbh the appearance is definitely in the eye of the beholder. While 1000 lb-ft is impressive, and the interior is leagues above the Silverado, that “U” shape chrome piece under the headlight looks absolutely ridiculous. It seems as if they wanted to save costs by reusing the 1500 headlights, yet make it look more macho, so they just tacked on a turn signal and filled in the dead space with random chrome. The 2019 high Country front end is leagues above this from an aesthetic standpoint.
My question would be how much boost are each running? The Ram with an inline 6 has to be throwing a crap ton of boost at it vs the Chevy V8. Seems to me you will have more things break on the Ram motor.
Whaaaaat? If they know how to make something good, how did they fail so hard with every attempt they’ve made at trying to replace the crosshair style grille Ram trucks used to have. This truck and the 2019 Ram 1500 look terrible on the outside. The biggest monstrosity so far is the Ram Rebel/Ram Power Wagon grille, which most journalists didn’t even take seriously at first and were quickly asking Ram’s CEO if they were going to change it since everyone thought it looked terrible. Yet here we are looking at 2019’s and 2020’s and they’re still trying to hold onto that vomit-inducing Rebel grille.
I knew we would be sitting here soon with this number its crazy Chevy had the opportunity to set this record with the l5p an they chicken out why doesn’t any one in the truck department understand its IMPORTANT to be number one why does it seem like they think it’s a bad thing to be best in class right now the the 2019 Silverado is best in class bed SIZE best in class bed size are you serious come on gm
It is all just marketing. They both have more torque than 98% of the owners will ever use and the 2% that do will generally break something doing a hey watch this.
As for styling they are all overdone. As in styling less other is more they all should think about it.
Not to mention the transmissions rarely actually let you use all that power the way you think it would. Just look at how bad the dyno numbers have been with the 6.7 Powerstroke/Powershift combo. Pickuptrucks.com dynoed one last year and the power numbers came up way below where they should have been. Computer wouldn’t allow the engine to put its max torque through the transmission. The Aisin Ram uses certainly won’t let you use all 1000 lb-ft. It will still be the slowest truck in comparisons too lol.
If Ram really wants to impress me, they can start by doing something about that awful front suspension/ball joints/u-joints.
Numbers don’t always add up.. if you ever watch real world comparisons. The Silverado/Sierra have out perfomed the others for quite some time. If you seen pickuptrucks.com comparisons they always went in the Rockies in high altitude and tested them uphill and downhill. The Silverado was always coming out on top with driver confidence and the time it took to get there.
We will see if GM will up the numbers, they have done before when Ford and GM were having number wars. I use to want more hours and torque figures on the HD’s, but I’ve seen the GM trucks out perform with less. It’s not finalized yet so we will see.
Travis your absolutely right gm has outperformed the others with less but they are still losing the sales wars an that counts just as much most of them guys dont care that gm outperformed there truck right now they have a truck that looks better with a way better interior an now a 1000 ftpounds of torque I would say that’s a way better selling point
Yeah, GM could win when it was 910 ft lbs to 935 ft lbs, but there’s a snowball’s chance in hell that the 910 is still going to pull better than 1,000.
There’s a lot more to whether something will “pull better” than a peak torque number. Nobody is complaining about lack-of-torque in any of these trucks. Nobody was complaining when they were making hundreds less. It’s just marketing nonsense for guys who crush beer cans on their foreheads
LOL. I would give you two thumbs up for that if I could, Ozal.
Banks seemed to think that GM designed with L5P with a lot of “room to grow” power-wise.
Yep nothing new here either. I am guessing that the GM will use the 10 speed to keep the L5P in the torque band longer and in a more important spot during acceleration. (the 1500 with a 6.2 10 speed is GREAT as far as shifting)
I have a 2017 L5P and the 10 speed will be welcome. And GM does WIN in a REAL user experience. I have driven both of the others as I have relation that have them both, and I will tell you “in my opinion” I AGREE, my 2017 Denali HD pulls like a TANK. Drives and handles a trailer with ease in relation to the others.
I DO NOT agree with you scott3 on less in more. You know by now I am one of MANY who are SICK of spending all that $$$$ for a BLAH interior. It is a JOKE. I read, I think on the XT6 post that GM thinks if they put a larger screen in vehicles it will take the drivers eyes off the road more . I have found just the opposite, the larger screen is that much easier to see quicker to see what you are looking for. Weather it be directions, weather radar, of just a contact to call, it is easier and quicker.
I am also worried now about that NEW not Allison 10 speed, myself along with so many others in the recent past have had so many GM transmission troubles and GM has done NOTHING.” NO WARRANTY” Even you scott3 have admitted having GM transmission troubles, sure your dealer fixed it and treated you great, but you still had GM transmission troubles on a newer product.
“I am also worried now about that NEW not Allison 10 speed, myself along with so many others in the recent past have had so many GM transmission troubles and GM has done NOTHING.”
Not Allison? You do realize that the Allison GM has been putting in these trucks have been built at a GM transmission plant, right? Allison wouldn’t put their name on this transmission if they didn’t think it would hold up. There’s no way they were put their reputation on the line if the transmission didn’t meet their specs.
Every truck manufacturer has had transmission troubles lately. That’s what happens any time you make changes or design a new transmission. Even Toyota has had a LOT of troubles with the Tacoma’s 6-speed. Ford’s 10-speed has had plenty of problems. Same with the 6-speed starting in 2015. Ram? They made changes to their ZF 8-speed for the 2019 Ram 1500 and owners have had lot of problems with it. Why are Toyota, Ford, and Ram getting a pass on this. They haven’t done anything meaningful to truly fix these problems. They just flash TCM’s or say it’s “normal”.
Hey I got to say gm DROPPED the ball on these trucks I know this is a crazy idea but I wish we could ban together with gm authority help an get some real ideas an changes made to these trucks because of now I agree with all the bad reviews these trucks have gotten
It’s embarrassing to say that Ram has 12k more of max towing compared to Silverado HD.
If Chevy hits a 30k with their max towing, that would be embarrassing as well!
No, what’s embarrassing is that the 2018 Silverado HD pulled a trailer that maxed it’s tow rating out up the mountain faster than the Ford or Ram did. Why is it that a Chevy pulling 99% of its max tow outperformed two trucks only pulling about 75% of their max tow. The Silverado HD even had better trans braking and handled that 99% load better. In a different comparison the Chevy was nice and stable while the Ford F-350 was on verge of death wobbling every time it hit an expansion joint (a brand new truck already trying to death wobble?). THAT is embarrassing.
It’s pretty obvious that Ford and Ram are busy fluffing up their numbers without doing the work to make sure they can handle it.
The Ram guys will appreciate it when the Silverado HD ends up towing them to the next town.You know,Dodge,dead or dying gone eventually. I wouldn’t spend a penny on a FIAT,fix it again Tony.The Silverado is a better truck,and I like the new look,it actually looks like a truck,not a city slicker ride driven mostly by preppies.Ford and Dodge keep.going for that city slicker look and it is disgusting to see.The truck’s first job is to work otherwise buy an SUV or a car.
Ya know, I have always wanted a Silverado 2500HD, but after seeing the new one; the current gen is the last gen I would buy. The Silverado has always looked great. The previous gen F250 gave it a run for its money but the Silverado was still the best looking. Plus, theres denying that the Duramax is the best diesel within the big 3.
Unless by some miracle GM decides to make the current and next gen side by side, It honestly looks like I might be going with a RAM in 2021. Especially if I can order one in that dark green!
What’s wrong with GMC?
One problem with the new engine. To maintain stress at 1000ftlbs, they reduced the compression ratio to 16:1. On the detuned version it still maintains 19:1. You can opt for high power or high efficiency, but not necessarily both. At least the new Duramax, albeit not as torquy, has 400+ hp and will maintain top efficiency
If the new GM HDs aren’t 36k or more max tow I’ll be upset. The 10 speed should be great for the L5P but a power bump should be in order for the Duramax. It’s time for GM to be bold and in the lead in every way.
Even with a rating of “only” 23k, the current Silverado HD out pulls, brakes better, and handles better than Ford or Ram. Not only does the 2017+ Ford not come with a bed meant for work, the front suspension setup is even more prone to death wobble than the last truck. It’s crazy how many 2017/18 Super Duty’s are death wobbling at low mileage.
The problem with the current heavy duties is not the motor, it’s the frame, which is largely unchanged from 2010. The new frame on the half ton is an engineering marvel with continuously varried thickness, cutting matrial while being stiffer and stronger. The new frame should be world class. Also, towing is not determined by engine torque, though it helps, but determined by torque at the wheel. The new 10speed allison, with more gears and less friction, would put more real torque on the ground, more with less. Saves gas that was as well.
Is the 1,000 lb-ft of torque applied in first gear?