Report: 5th Gen to start in Saltillo in early 2019

[KCJackson1]

This article in Automotive News today (Feb 12 2018) has the following quote:
"An FCA representative told suppliers in a three-minute conference call on Jan. 26 that they should continue planning to support the launch of the next-generation heavy-duty Ram in Saltillo in January 2019, with their current parts plants, according to one supplier on the call."
That would indicate the new Ram HD would be introduced at the Detroit show in Jan 2019 (or possibly this year's Texas State Fair in September), with production beginning in Saltillo during the 1st quarter of 2019 as early 2020 models. Warren would then come on line in the first quarter of 2020 and would take over full Ram HD production for MY2021 trucks at some point later in 2020.

If you like the redesign of the Ram 1500... and I admit it's starting to grow on me... the cab and trims should be the same for the next HD. A different hood/grille/front bumper, and likely lower bedsides should be the differences.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20180212/OEM01/180219987/fca-production-heavy-duty-trucks-detroit

 

[spoon059]

That seems expensive... changing over the Saltillo plant for minimal production? I guess I don't know the financials involved, but I sure don't understand the point of absorbing all that cost for one year of trucks. It seems far more cost effective to keep the 4th gen truck production for one more year and fold the new 5th gen production into the opening of the new plant in the US.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Well if true you Mexican truck lovers better get one ordered. You will get the CUMMINS with ZERO engine emissions.

 

[KCJackson1]

Saltillo would still have to convert anyway, as they would probably still build Rams for Mexico, with 5th gen Rams for US and Canada coming from Warren and Sterling Heights.

 

[spoon059]

Saltillo would still have to convert anyway, as they would probably still build Rams for Mexico, with 5th gen Rams for US and Canada coming from Warren and Sterling Heights.

Good call, that makes sense. I didn't consider that.

 

[RACE427]

When would you speculate one could actually begin to order a 2019 RAM 3500 ?

 

[mpaulson]

When would you speculate one could actually begin to order a 2019 RAM 3500 ?

Yea, this I’d like to know as well. I’m due for a new truck at the end of the year and I really don’t want to buy the last year of a body style, but I also don’t want to own this truck without a warranty which ends in December this year for me.

 

[KCJackson1]

Pickuptrucks.com posted spy shots of the next Ram HD in fairly heavy camouflage. The cab is clearly that of the new 1500 as evidenced by the windshield, A-pillar, and front door lines. You can also clearly see the new LED taillights from the new 1500.

If FCA and Cummins really want to go to the 1000 lb-ft milestone, they absolutely MUST use driveline components that will handle it. The Aisin AS69RC is a good transmission, but if the engine has to significantly defuel to keep from killing it, that defeats the purpose of the engine output. I'd like to see FCA go for the ZF PowerLine 8-speed medium-duty automatic, which is rated to 1400 Nm (1032 lb-ft) and has been in production for several years. Similarly, a medium-duty transfer case and axles have to finish the job... or 1000 lb-ft becomes a meaningless spec.

 

[NIsaacs]

And install it all in a 4500 pickup

Nick

 

[KCJackson1]

According to the latest 5-year plan from Sergio this week, the 5th-gen Ram HD will be revealed at the Detroit auto show in January 2019, and be available in the fall of 19 as 2020 models. Expect the same cab and features like the 12-inch Uconnect screen in higher trims as the new 1500. With the larger crew cab, no word on whether the MegaCab will continue (Mega is 11 inches longer than the current crew, but only 7 inches longer than the new crew).

 

[Cummins12V98]

IMHO there is ZERO reason to make the crew cab any longer!!!

 

[KCJackson1]

IMHO there is ZERO reason to make the crew cab any longer!!!

It's only a 4-inch increase, but it allows for two things: a full lower cushion (without the cutout in the center seat that prevents use by some reverse car seats and many full-size adults), and it allows the rear seat to recline in the higher trim levels. Ram was also able to copy Ford with the flat floor in the rear cabin (no sense in having that huge driveline tunnel when the driveshaft is nowhere near the cab). I think the new crew is well designed and executed dimensionally.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I don't ride in the back. I am tall and no one has needed my seat moved forward. So making the truck 4" longer is not a good thing.

 

[Lynx0849]

I don't ride in the back. I am tall and no one has needed my seat moved forward. So making the truck 4" longer is not a good thing.

I agree. I just graduated from a quad cab to a crew cab and I wasn’t happy with the wheelbase increase. I can barely back it up my drive without touching the stone walls. A mega cab won’t make it.


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