Shopping For A Used 4th Gen Ram 1500

The Ram 1500 has quickly become a favorite in the half-ton truck industry. Yes, it has been around for some time now, but recently Ram has started to bring on the accolades. In fact, it has surpassed the Chevy Silverado in terms of annual sales, which demonstrates just how well the pickup is performing. Ram recently updated the truck with its fifth-generation, which makes it the perfect time to shop for a fourth-generation model. Because it is now a generation removed, you can find used models at discounted prices. So while you might be searching “used car dealership near me” in the search engine, make sure to include a used Ram 1500 in the search as well. The strong sales of the truck, as well as heightened performance, mean it’s a hot commodity in the used car world.

Start of the Fourth-Generation

The 2009 model year marked the start of the all-new fourth-generation. At this time, it was still known as the Dodge Ram 1500 (Dodge hadn’t spun Ram off into its own division at this point). The introduction of the Ram lineup came in 2010 (with the 2011 model year pickup).

With the fourth-generation pickup, the Ram still came with an available manual transmission. It was the only truck manufacturer that continued to sell manual transmission pickups. So when searching for fourth-gen Rams, especially in the early years of the generation, make sure you look at the drivetrain. You don’t want to end up with a manual if you haven’t driven one before (Ram eventually went to drop the manual transmission with the 2014 model).

The 2009 model came with a new feature that had not yet been introduced on any pickup before. This was a storage compartment known as RamBox. The RamBox essentially hollows out the area above the truck’s wheel wells (which generally doesn’t have anything more than metal paneling anyway) and inserts a storage unit that, when closed, looks like a seamless continuation of the truck. Truck storage has always been tricky. For most trucks, you either had to go with a topper, which completely changes the appearance of the pickup, or install a tool chest, which takes up a large amount of bed space. The RamBox makes it easier to store additional gear without changing the look of the truck or taking up bed space.

With the start of the fourth-generation, the truck did away with the “Mega Cab.” This was a super-sized cab option, although it is available on heavy-duty models (Ram 2500 and up). Instead, with the release of the fourth-gen Dodge went with the crew cab, quad cab, and regular cab configurations (crew and quad are both four-door, but the crew cab has a larger back seat and slightly smaller truck bed, while the quad cab has a slightly smaller rear seat and a slightly larger truck bed).

For the 2012 pickup, Ram did add a new 6-speed automatic transmission for use with the V8. This helped improve the fuel economy. So, you will see some improvements with the fuel economy going from the 2011 to the 2012 models.

Mid-Generation Face Lift

Trucks tend to hold onto generational looks for longer than other vehicle types. Some sedans will see a new generation release every four or five years, and even within that small window, there are constant facelifts. Trucks may last for a decade or more with a single generation, and during the generation, there might be one facelift along the way. With the fourth-generation Ram 1500 that facelift occurred with the 2013 model year.

In 2013, Ram introduced new lighting features on the pickup, including LED turn signals and projector-beam halogen headlamps. Ram also offered a new trim for the 2013 model year, known as the High Fuel Efficiency, or HFE, trim. The HFE at the time of the 2013 model release saw its fuel economy bump up to 18 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon on the highway.

The 2016 Models And Beyond

Starting with the 2016 models, Ram introduced a new pickup it wanted to compete with the Ford Raptor. While the Ram 1500 Rebel doesn’t have the high price-point as the Raptor, the 2016 model did come with several off-road features. This included an upgraded off-road suspension, a one-inch factory lift, and special interior features that were not available on other trims. The Ram Rebel also used an all-new front grille. It replaced the traditional crossbar look and instead stamped “RAM” in large font right in the middle of the grille. Now the fifth-generation models have copied this look

The 2017 models introduced a brand new 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 engine. Diesel engines have become more and more popular in the United States (although it is nowhere near the popularity seen in Europe). The following year, Ram started to change all of its upper-tier trim vehicles to look more like the Ram Rebel, using the large “RAM” logo in the middle of the nose instead of the crossbar look.

Technically, the fourth-generation is still alive and being sold as new. While Ram does sell the brand new fifth-generation, you can find the fourth-generation for the 2019 and 202 model years being sold as the Ram 1500 Classic. This maintains many of the features of the previous years of the Ram (including the classic crossbar grille). The Classic version will likely not remain on dealerships for long, although Ram hasn’t officially said when it will fully move from the fourth-generation and no longer produce it. This means you can land a used fourth-generation that was produced at the same time as the current fifth-generation.

Engines Of the Fourth-Generation Pickups

Several engines have been used under the hood of the fourth-generation Ram 1500. Exact torque and horsepower numbers will vary depending on the model year, as small tweaks are common. However, the mainstay engine was (and has been) the 5.7L V8 Hemi. This engine, when it came out, produced 390 horsepower and 407 lb-ft of torque (these are the max performance numbers, so some trims even with the Hemi may not reach these specs. You’ll want to check the trim and model specifics for further details). With the 2013 model year, it saw a slight upgrade to 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque.

The original 3.7L V6 lasted from 2009 until 2012, with 215 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque, although Ram swapped in its current 3.6L Pentastar V6, which upped performance to 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. There was also briefly a 4.7L V8 (not a Hemi), with 310 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque, although Ram discontinued this with the 2013 model year. And, lastly, there is the 3.0L EcoDiesel, which came out with the 2014 model year and offered 240 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque.

Find Your Used Ram 1500

The fourth-generation Ram 1500 is an excellent pickup. And as sales increased every year, you will find several great options right here at Findlay CDJR. Whether you’re looking for a newer model that is only a year or two old, or you want something rugged, sturdy, and you’re not afraid of a few more miles, the fourth-generation has everything you might want and more in a truck. And the best thing is you’ll find a wide selection right here in Findlay, OH, so visit us today.