When trucks are given names like “Heavy Duty” and “Super Duty,” you know they must be some serious trucks. After all, today’s technology allows even light-duty trucks to handle some pretty big jobs, from towing massive loads and handling an impressive amount of payload to keeping drivers safe and sound on the road. So why would someone look for a Ram 3500 for sale over all of the other trucks on the market today?

The Ram 3500 HD has a lot of things the Ram 1500 and Ram 2500 HD don’t—namely, a seriously strong, sturdy body and carefully engineered high-power engine to move those massive loads. But lots of trucks have that; the Ford F-350 is in the same class, after all, so they’re basically the same, right?

It turns out that not all big trucks can do the same feats. While the end result may be the same, most drivers are looking for a truck that makes the most sense all around—for their work, their lifestyle, and their driving habits. So, let's take a look at a comparison of the 2024 Ram 3500 and the Ford F-350 to see why you might want to start searching for a Ram 3500 for sale in the near future.

Power and Capability

When it comes to shopping for a heavy-duty truck, performance and capability specifications are essential to drivers. While the genial associates at our dealership will be happy to work with you and your budget, that doesn’t keep a big truck from being a big investment; it doesn’t help to buy a truck that you can’t use for its intended purposes, so for many drivers, its performance and capability are the first points of research.

Unfortunately, figuring out what a truck is capable of requires a few important details. The first is configuration. The Ram 3500 is offered as both a rear- or all-wheel drive vehicle. Regular Cab models include an eight-foot, two-inch bed. Crew Cab models offer a choice between a six-foot, four-inch bed and an eight-foot, two-inch bed. Mega Cab trucks are offered in all-wheel drive only with a six-foot, four-inch bed.

The Ford F-350 is similarly shaped, with the Regular Cab attached to an eight-foot, two-inch bed. Super Cab and Crew Cab models can be selected with the eight-foot, two-inch long box or a short box that measures six feet and eight inches. Those looking for a dually (a truck with dual rear wheels) can only select options with the long bed.

The next thing that goes into creating a powerful truck is the engine, and Ram 3500 drivers have three intense options. The first is a 6.4L HEMI V8 that offers a very impressive 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. The second is a 6.7L Cummins Turbo-Diesel with 370 hp and a blistering 850 lb-ft of torque. The celebrated relationship between Ram trucks and Cummins diesel engines has led to some pretty awesome figures, but none quite like the 420 hp and 1,075 lb-ft produced by the 6.7L Cummins High-Output Turbo-Diesel engine that tops the list of options.

The Ford F-350 comes with a comparable lineup of engines, including a 6.8L V8 (which is good for 405 hp and 445 lb-ft of torque) and a 430-hp 7.3L V8. Ford also has both standard- and high-output Power Stroke diesel options, both of which offer over 1,000 lb-ft of torque.

But at the end of the day, the max towing capacity of the Ram 3500 is 37,090 lbs, and the Ford F-350 tops out at only 32,900 lbs. You can configure the F-350 to handle more payload—8,000 lbs max compared to the Ram’s 7,680-lb max—but even with a high-output 500-hp engine, the F-350 is no match for the Ram/Cummins combo. You’ll need to step up to an F-450 to match the Ram 3500’s towing figures.

Making Hard Work Easy

Both the Ram 3500 and Ford F-350 are designed to be driven without a commercial operating license. For daily drivers, this means less headache—not only because these big trucks are typically classified for personal use, but because they’re designed for everyday people to use.

The 2024 Ram 3500, for example, comes with an abundance of really smart trailering technology. This includes everything from integrated towing hardware that adds a factory-installed rear-axle crossmember that makes adding Fifth-Wheel or Gooseneck towing prep to your Ram truck’s functionality simple. Available Trailer Reverse Steering Control offers a trailer steering knob to help keep the trailer pointing in the right direction during fine steering maneuvers.

Then there are the truly thoughtful trailering features, like Auto Level Rear Air Suspension with a bed-lowering mode (which drops the truck for easier hitching), telescopic trailer tow mirrors with an optional Mirror-Mounted Camera System, and a Digital Rearview Mirror that offers real-time video behind the truck with a split-screen reverse navigation system. This system can also be configured to provide camera views around and behind the trailer as well.

The Ford F-350 also offers a few trailering tools, such as Onboard Scales with Smart Hitch, which helps you keep track of how much weight you’re putting on your truck. Available Pro Trailer Hitch Assist can potentially guide the hitch to the trailer with the spin of a dial, while optional Pro Trailer Backup Assist can help you avoid a jackknife situation while maneuvering in reverse. Ford also offers a turn signal camera and optional 360-degree birds-eye view, but so does the Ram 3500.

Thoughtful Features

Both the 2024 Ram 3500 and the 2024 Ford F-350 are offered in a variety of trims in addition to their many configurations. The Ram 3500 is offered in five trims, ranging from the base Tradesman to the luxurious Limited, and including options like the Big Horn, with its Western expression, and the Laramie, which brings exceptional comfort.

While each trim has its own personality, drivers can select from many available features that will make any Ram 3500 even more functional. The exclusive RamBox Cargo Management System allows drivers to add lockable, drainable, LED-lit storage bins to their outfit. The bed can also be helpful 24 hours a day thanks to optional bed lightning and 115-volt, 400-watt bed outlet. Inside, drivers of Crew Cab models can add in-floor Ram Bins—covered storage beds with removable liners and the ability to handle a four-inch drop hitch.

The Ford F-350 is also offered in a variety of trims that echo the light-duty F-150. Unfortunately, there is no Raptor variant or even a Tremor trim in that lineup yet; instead, drivers can enjoy things like a power-operated remote release tailgate, along with standard lockable under-seat storage (offered in Crew Cab models only), under-seat fold-flat storage, and options like Aluminum Crossbed Toolboxes by Weather Guard.

Selecting a Really Big Truck

Big performance numbers don’t mean anything if the equipment is impractical to use. You could have the biggest truck in the world, but it won’t help you if you can’t operate it. Ultimately, the truck you bring home will be the one that makes the most sense for you—and although the 2024 Ford F-350 has a lot to offer, the Ram 3500 offers more, especially when it comes to the features that make hard work easier.

For those looking for a truck that goes beyond regular truck capability, the heavy-duty Ram 3500 has proven itself an outstanding option year after year, giving drivers everything they need and everything they want in one very powerful vehicle. Contact us to set up a test drive today.