Ram 1500 review for Colorado buyers

The 1500 for Colorado buyers

Hemi or Hurricane: what changes at altitude

This is the decision that matters most for a Colorado Ram buyer. The 5.7L Hemi and the 3.6L V6 are naturally aspirated. The 3.0L Hurricane inline-six that arrived for 2025 is twin-turbocharged, rated at 420 hp and 469 lb-ft in standard form and 540 hp and 521 lb-ft in High Output form.

Turbo maker Garrett cites a rule of thumb that a naturally aspirated engine loses about 3 percent of its power per 1,000 feet of elevation, and explains that a turbo compensates by packing more air into the cylinders. So a Hemi climbing toward the Eisenhower Tunnel is working with noticeably less than its sea-level rating, while a Hurricane should hold more of its output. That's published physics, not a test we ran.

The Hemi still has fans for its sound and simplicity, and Ram brought it back for 2026 at 395 hp and 410 lb-ft. If you're shopping a 2025, though, there is no Hemi option. Tell us what you want through our specific vehicle request and we'll look for the right year and engine.

Towing campers and trailers

Ram rates the 2025 Ram 1500 at up to 11,580 pounds of towing and 2,300 pounds of payload when properly configured. The outgoing Hemi truck could be rated up to 12,750 pounds, and the 2023 EcoDiesel up to 12,560 pounds. Those are best-case numbers for one build each.

For a real trailer decision, read the payload on the driver's door-jamb sticker, confirm the axle ratio (Ram offers 3.21, 3.55 and 3.92 ratios on Hurricane trucks) and add up tongue weight, people and gear. The tow rating printed for that exact configuration is what counts.

Long grades are where Colorado separates good tow setups from marginal ones. Our guide to towing a camper in the mountains covers grade descents, brake heat and how to size a trailer to the truck.

Ride, air suspension and winter roads

Ram has used coil springs at the rear since well before this generation, and the 2019 redesign kept them, with adjustable air springs available. On 2025 trucks the air system has five modes, including entry/exit, aero, normal and two off-road heights. On a washboard road to a trailhead or a frost-heaved county road, that's a big part of why people choose a Ram.

In snow, a 4x4 Ram behaves like any full-size truck with a light rear end. Some 4x4 Rams have an automatic 4WD position on the selector and some don't, so look at the dial on the truck you're considering. Tires matter more than anything else: CDOT's Traction Law on I-70 between Morrison and Dotsero runs from September 1 to May 31 and focuses on tread depth and tire rating, or chains.

Our guide to buying a used car for Colorado winters has a winter checklist that works for trucks too.

Recalls and used-truck checks

Run every Ram 1500 VIN through NHTSA. The largest recent campaign covered about 1.23 million 2019 and 2021-2024 trucks with an ABS module software fault that could disable electronic stability control. Stellantis said the brakes still work, and the fix is a free software update. A December 2022 recall covered tailgates that could open on their own while driving.

EcoDiesel trucks have a loyal following for towing range, and the 2023 version was rated at 260 hp and 480 lb-ft. They've been out of production since the 2023 model year, so ask for service records and look for a truck that's been maintained by the book.

Hail is common on the Front Range, and a big truck has a lot of roof and hood to dent. Our article on hail damage and used cars explains what to look for. If you're trading in a truck, start on our sell page.