Ram pickups, sold as the Dodge Ram until Ram became its own brand for 2010, have had five generations. Both started the 2nd generation in 1994 and the 5th in 2019, but the 3rd and 4th generations reached the heavy-duty 2500 and 3500 a year after the 1500: the 1500 changed in 2002 and 2009, the heavy-duty trucks in 2003 and 2010.
Ram generations and years
| Generation | Ram 1500 | Ram 2500 / 3500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1st gen | 1981-1993 | 1981-1993 |
| 2nd gen | 1994-2001 | 1994-2002 |
| 3rd gen | 2002-2008 | 2003-2009 |
| 4th gen | 2009-2018 | 2010-2018 |
| 5th gen | 2019 on | 2019 on |
After the 5th gen 1500 arrived, Ram kept selling the previous truck alongside it as the Ram 1500 Classic. Parts for heavy-duty trucks follow the heavy-duty years, not the 1500 years.
Key engines by generation
- Cummins diesel: offered in heavy-duty Rams from 1989, from the 12-valve 5.9 to the 6.7; see Cummins generations.
- 5.7 Hemi V8: introduced for 2003 in the 3rd generation; see 5.7 Hemi specs and 5.7 Hemi tick.
- Transmissions changed across generations, from four-speed automatics such as the 46RE, 47RE and 48RE to the five-speed 545RFE, six-speed 68RFE and Aisin AS69RC; compare them on our Dodge and Ram transmissions page, and see 68RFE vs Aisin and 47RE vs 48RE.
What changed in each generation
- 2nd gen: the big-rig styling that defined Ram trucks for years, and the Cummins-powered heavy duty that made the truck popular with towers.
- 3rd gen: a new body and frame, the 5.7 Hemi, and the common-rail Cummins in heavy-duty trucks.
- 4th gen: Ram became its own brand, the 1500 gained coil-spring rear suspension, and the heavy duty moved to the 6.7 Cummins for its whole run.
- 5th gen: a lighter, stiffer 1500 and a new heavy duty with a revised 6.7 Cummins.
Which generation do you have?
The model year usually settles it, but for the 3rd and 4th generations the 1500 changed a year before the heavy-duty trucks (2002 vs 2003 and 2009 vs 2010), and 1500 Classic trucks built from 2019 are 4th generation. Your VIN or the door-jamb label identifies the exact model, and we can confirm parts fitment from it.
Ram parts we carry
- Engines: 5.7 Hemi engines on our 5.7 Hemi engines page, and D&J Cummins blocks and engines on our Cummins engines page.
- Transmissions: RoadReady, StreetMonster and SportMonster units by code, each supplied with a torque converter.
- Steering: the Red-Head RH2881 steering gear box for 2009-2020 Ram 2500 and 3500; see bad steering box symptoms and death wobble.
More guides: Dodge 4.7 engine.
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