2026 Ram 3500: Manahawkin Buyers Guide

Why the 3500 is a different conversation than a 1500 or 2500

Ask about a Ram 3500 at Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and the questions are rarely about cupholders. They're about gooseneck rating, whether a single rear wheel or dual rear wheel (dually) setup makes sense for a specific trailer, and whether the gas HEMI covers it or the Cummins diesel is worth the premium. That's the audience this truck is built for around Southern Ocean County - landscapers and contractors running Route 72 daily, RV owners staging out of Barnegat and Waretown, and livestock and equipment haulers who need a truck rated well past what a half-ton offers. The current new Ram 3500 inventory is searchable online, and the sales team is used to walking through cab, bed, and axle combinations that a general new-car buyer never has to think about.

What actually changed for 2026

The headline change lives under the hood of the diesel. The 6.7L Cummins High-Output turbo-diesel now makes 430 hp, up from 420 hp the year before, while torque holds steady at a still-enormous 1,075 lb-ft. Everything else about the 3500's structure carries over from the prior model year - the trim lineup, cab and bed choices, and the basic HEMI-or-Cummins engine decision are unchanged going into 2026. That's typical for a heavy-duty truck; Ram tends to save the bigger revisions for less frequent architecture updates rather than resetting the lineup every year, which means a 3500 shopper isn't chasing a moving target the way some passenger-vehicle buyers are.

Pick your 2026 Ram 3500

All five trims pair with an 8-speed automatic regardless of engine choice. Cab and bed configuration is where the real customization happens: Regular Cab or Crew Cab on every trim, the extended Mega Cab on Laramie, Limited, and Limited Longhorn, and a choice of 6'4" or 8' box. Single rear wheel or dual rear wheel (dually) axles are both available depending on the towing job at hand - a dually generally isn't necessary until you're pushing into fifth-wheel or gooseneck territory that a single rear wheel truck isn't rated for.

What local buyers keep saying

The store carries a 4.7-star average across more than 2,100 Google reviews, and the Ram side of the lineup shows up in them constantly - not just the 1500 half-tons but repeat truck buyers who keep coming back for the next one. Michael Sardella, on his fourth Ram from the store, wrote: "Rich and Woody are the absolute best!!! This is my 4th Ram from them and I wouldn't go anywhere else. They took care of me, especially being I had to wait on delivery. They provided constant updates as to when my truck was slated to arrive. And when it did, I got pictures of it on the transport truck!!!" That kind of factory-order patience matters more on a 3500 than almost any other vehicle on the lot, since the trim, cab, bed, and axle combination a serious buyer wants often has to be built or located rather than pulled straight off the row. Joseph Garofalo, shopping for towing capacity specifically, put it this way: "Great crew they got working there. They all try to help you get the best possible deal... I'd rather hold out for a Ram 2500 but they spent hours trying to get me the best interest rate." Rich, Woody, and the rest of the sales team mentioned in reviews are the same crew working the floor at Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram today.

Living with a 3500 on the Jersey Shore

A dually HD truck is not a subtle daily driver, but around here it earns its keep - boat trailers headed to the LBI causeway ramps, equipment hauls for contractors working Route 72 and inland toward Toms River, and the kind of gooseneck livestock or RV trailers that a half-ton simply isn't rated for. The service & repair guide below covers what diesel and gas maintenance actually looks like on this platform, and the pricing & leasing guide breaks down what a 3500 costs to drive off the lot with New Jersey's sales tax included.

Frequently asked questions

What's new on the 2026 Ram 3500?

The main change is under the hood of the diesel option: the 6.7L Cummins High-Output turbo-diesel now makes 430 hp, up from 420 hp the year before, with torque unchanged at 1,075 lb-ft. The trim lineup and cab/bed structure carry over from the prior model year.

How much does a 2026 Ram 3500 cost?

MSRPs run from $48,155 for the Tradesman up to $75,620 for both Limited and Limited Longhorn, all before the $2,595 destination charge and before New Jersey's 6.625% sales tax. The Cummins High-Output diesel adds $12,595 over the standard 6.4L HEMI V8 on trims where it's offered.

Do I need a CDL to drive a Ram 3500?

For personal, non-commercial use, no - a Ram 3500 is a Class 3 pickup, not a commercial motor vehicle, and doesn't require a commercial driver's license to drive or to tow with in ordinary personal use. If the truck and trailer combination will be used commercially or crosses certain weight thresholds, confirm licensing requirements with the New Jersey MVC before you're on the road.

How much can a 2026 Ram 3500 tow?

The maximum published figure is 37,090 lb on a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch, but that number only applies to a specific dually, High-Output Cummins, 14,000-lb-GVWR configuration - not a base Tradesman or a single-rear-wheel truck. Every towing number depends on exactly how the truck in front of you is equipped, which is why it's worth confirming the door-placard rating on the specific unit you're looking at.

Where can I see a 2026 Ram 3500 near LBI?

At Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 188 Route 72 in Manahawkin, a short drive from Stafford Township and the Long Beach Island causeway. Current specials are posted online before you make the trip down.

Five trims, one heavy-duty mission

The trim guides that follow break each one down in detail, but the shortcut is this: Tradesman and Big Horn/Lone Star are where working trucks live, Laramie is the trim most private buyers land on, and Limited versus Limited Longhorn comes down to design taste, not budget - they're priced identically. All five sit on the same Route 72 lot alongside the store's used and certified pre-owned inventory.