2026 Ram 2500: Manahawkin Buyers Guide
Quick Answer: The 2026 Ram 2500
The 2026 Ram 2500 runs nine trims from the work-focused Tradesman ($46,670 MSRP) up to the western-themed Limited Longhorn ($74,430 MSRP), all excluding the $2,595 destination charge. Every trim gets the 6.4L HEMI V8 standard - it's the only engine on Power Wagon - with the 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel available as the upgrade everywhere else, good for up to 20,000 lbs of towing and 3,600 lbs of payload when properly equipped. As a heavy-duty truck over 8,500 lbs GVWR, the 2500 carries no EPA fuel-economy rating - if a listing quotes you an MPG number, it isn't coming from Ram. Two brand-new trims for 2026, Black Express and Warlock, and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty now standard across the board. See it at Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram on Route 72.
Nine trims, two engines, one non-negotiable HEMI
Unlike the light-duty 1500, where the HEMI is a paid option, every 2026 Ram 2500 leaves the factory with the 6.4L HEMI V8 as standard equipment - 405 hp, 429 lb-ft, and it's the sole engine choice on the Power Wagon (the winch it carries takes up the space a diesel intercooler would need). Step up to the 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel, High-Output, on any other trim and output climbs to 430 hp and a genuinely different 1,075 lb-ft of torque, which is where the 2500's real towing numbers come from. Both engines pair with an 8-speed automatic - the HEMI runs the TorqueFlite HD, the Cummins pairs with the ZF PowerLine 8-speed that carried over unchanged from the 2025 refresh. If you're cross-shopping a Sierra 2500HD or a Super Duty, ask what's standard versus optional on each - the 2500's HEMI-standard approach is actually the outlier among domestic HD trucks.
What "20,000 lbs" actually requires
The number that shows up in every ad - 20,000 lbs towing, 3,600 lbs payload - is real, but it's a Cummins-diesel, properly-equipped maximum: Crew Cab, short bed, 4x2, and the available 3.73 axle. A base gas Tradesman in a different configuration won't touch that figure, and neither will the Power Wagon, which trades towing capacity for off-road hardware - its factory-installed 12,000-lb WARN winch, front and rear locking differentials, and Bilstein shocks bring the max down to roughly 14,000 lbs tow and 3,000 lbs payload. Ask our sales team for the build sheet on the specific truck you're looking at rather than assuming the headline number applies - it's the single most common mix-up we see buyers make on a heavy-duty truck.
The 2026 lineup, trim by trim
Nine rows on paper, but really seven distinct trucks once you fold in the badge duplicates. Tradesman is the base work truck, cloth seats and steel wheels, built for fleets and job sites. Big Horn (badged Lone Star in Texas-market inventory, same truck) is the volume seller with chrome trim and the 8.4-inch Uconnect. Black Express is brand new for 2026, a blacked-out value trim built on the Tradesman's bones. Warlock is also new, a lifted, appearance-focused off-roader with Bilstein shocks and all-terrain tires. Laramie steps into leather, heated and ventilated seats, and a 12-inch touchscreen. Rebel and Power Wagon are the two dedicated off-road trims, with Power Wagon the more serious of the two. And Limited / Limited Longhorn top the range with real wood trim, navigation, and the western-stitched Longhorn variant priced just $270 above standard Limited.
New for 2026, and what it means at the Shore
Beyond the two new trims, every 2026 truck gets standard LED headlights, fog lights, and taillights, a larger front grille with active shutters for aerodynamics, and an available 14.5-inch Uconnect touchscreen. Select HD models also picked up a GVWR bump of up to 850 lbs from revised testing - worth asking about specifically if you're speccing a truck for a job that runs close to its payload ceiling. For buyers hauling boats down Route 72 toward the causeway onto Long Beach Island in the summer, or running a trailer of construction gear through Stafford Township and Barnegat year-round, the bigger story is still the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, now standard on every trim instead of the "select trims only" language Ram used in 2025.
What buyers are telling us
Joseph G. test-drove a Ram 1500 here as a first-time buyer, but the 2500 was already on his mind: "I test drove a 2022 ram 1500 beautiful truck but I'd rather hold out for a ram 2500 but they spent hours trying to get me the best Interest rate because I'm a first time car buyer." Our reply told him we'd be watching for the right 2500 to come in for him - that's the same approach every 2500 shopper gets here, whether it's your first truck or your fifth. It's part of a 4.7-star average across more than 2,000 Google reviews for the store.
Frequently asked questions
What's new on the 2026 Ram 2500?
Two new trims (Black Express and Warlock), standard LED exterior lighting across the lineup, a larger active-shutter grille, an available 14.5-inch Uconnect touchscreen, and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty now standard on every trim instead of select ones.
Is there a bigger 7.2L Cummins coming?
Not on the 2026 Ram 2500 as currently offered - the diesel option remains the 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel, High-Output, rated at 430 hp and 1,075 lb-ft. Any 7.2L figure you've seen elsewhere isn't part of this model's published 2026 specs; confirm directly with us before assuming it applies to a specific truck.
What's the maximum towing capacity on a 2026 Ram 2500?
Up to 20,000 lbs when properly equipped with the Cummins diesel in a Crew Cab, short-bed, 4x2 configuration with the available axle ratio. Power Wagon tops out lower, around 14,000 lbs, because of its winch and off-road hardware.
Does the 2026 Ram 2500 have an MPG rating?
No. Heavy-duty trucks over 8,500 lbs GVWR are exempt from EPA fuel-economy testing and labeling, and the 2500 carries no official rating for either engine - be skeptical of any MPG figure quoted for this model.
Where can I see the 2026 Ram 2500 lineup near LBI?
At Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 188 Route 72, a short drive from Long Beach Island over the causeway. Current new vehicle specials are posted online.
MSRP figures exclude destination plus taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed equipment; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Towing and payload figures are manufacturer estimates for properly equipped configurations and vary by trim, cab, bed, axle, and options - confirm the build sheet for the specific truck you're considering. This model carries no EPA fuel-economy rating. Confirm current equipment and pricing with Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.