2026 Ram 3500 Big Horn / Lone Star: Manahawkin Buyers Guide

Same capability, better cabin

Nothing about the frame, hitch hardware, or engine lineup changes between Tradesman and Big Horn - this is still a full heavy-duty truck underneath. What buyers are paying for at this trim is the cabin and exterior: chrome grille and mirror accents instead of Tradesman's plainer trim, alloy wheels in place of steel, front and rear parking sensors that make maneuvering a dually around a job site or a crowded parking lot noticeably easier, and cloth seating that's a real step up from base. It's the trim a lot of private buyers land on when they want the 3500's towing numbers without spending flagship money.

Lone Star isn't a separate decision

Ram has long badged its Texas-market Big Horn as "Lone Star" - same equipment, same price, same everything except the name and the small badge on the tailgate. Shoppers occasionally come in asking whether Lone Star is a different, better-equipped trim; it isn't. If a Lone Star-badged truck shows up in inventory or gets special-ordered, it's functionally identical to a Big Horn, and buyers shouldn't expect - or pay for - a difference that doesn't exist.

HEMI or Cummins at this trim

The engine decision plays out the same way it does across the lineup: the 410-hp HEMI V8 covers moderate-duty towing and payload work at the lower price point, while the 430-hp, 1,075-lb-ft Cummins High-Output diesel adds real pulling power for buyers towing heavier trailers or covering more highway miles loaded. Big Horn buyers skew slightly more toward the diesel than Tradesman buyers do, since by this trim level people are often specifying the truck around a specific boat, camper, or equipment trailer rather than buying generically.

What local Big Horn and Ram truck buyers say

Joseph Garofalo test-drove a half-ton before setting his sights higher: "Great crew they got working there. They all try to help you get the best possible deal I test drove a 2022 Ram 1500 beautiful truck but I'd rather hold out for a Ram 2500... they spent hours trying to get me the best interest rate because I'm a first time car buyer." That patience - working the finance side hard for a buyer who's shopping up in capability rather than settling for what's on the lot - is the same approach that applies whether someone's cross-shopping a Big Horn 3500 against a 2500 or comparing Big Horn to Lone Star. Rico, mentioned repeatedly in recent reviews for exactly this kind of no-pressure process, is part of the sales team at Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram today.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lone Star a better trim than Big Horn?

No - Lone Star is Ram's Texas-market name for the exact same trim as Big Horn, at the same price, with the same equipment. The only difference is badging.

How much does a 2026 Ram 3500 Big Horn cost?

Big Horn starts at $51,905 MSRP in Regular Cab form, with Crew Cab starting at $55,525. Both figures exclude the $2,595 destination charge and New Jersey's 6.625% sales tax.

What does Big Horn add over Tradesman?

Chrome exterior accents and alloy wheels, upgraded cloth seating, front and rear parking sensors, and an expanded available infotainment touchscreen. The frame, hitch hardware, and engine choices carry over unchanged from Tradesman.

Can I get the Cummins diesel on a Big Horn?

Yes - the 430-hp, 1,075-lb-ft 6.7L Cummins High-Output diesel is available on Big Horn/Lone Star for $12,595 over the standard 6.4L HEMI V8.

Where can I see a 2026 Ram 3500 Big Horn in Manahawkin?

At Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 188 Route 72. Current specials are posted online, and the sales team can confirm whether a specific unit is badged Big Horn or Lone Star.