After separating from Dodge and becoming a truck-specific brand, RAM has steadily pushed the bar throughout the years to compete with its competitors. They have built a reputation, especially in having one of the best interior designs in the market. In this article, we compare two trim levels of their half-ton truck segment -the Laramie and the Big Horn -to find out which is right for you.
Choosing which trim level for you will ultimately depend on what you want and what you expect from your half-ton. The Big Horn and the Laramie come after another in terms of trim hierarchy as they are on the lower ranks. Laramie features more luxuries at a slightly higher price point, but both of these trucks are capable vehicles.
Are you interested to learn more about the difference between the Big Horn and the Laramie? Continue reading as we discuss other related questions such as what other trims does RAM offer for their half-ton trucks, are Ram trucks reliable, how well do they hold their value, and more. We will also be suggesting other related articles at the end. So please, continue reading!
What is the difference between the Laramie 1500 and the BigHorn 1500?
Looking at it plainly, the Laramie would win the competition as it is the higher-spec truck. But we are not talking about what vehicle has better amenities; we are talking about what vehicle is right for you.
A truck can have all the bells and whistles, but it will all be pointless if you do not use those features. Why pay for a more expensive vehicle when you can get one affordably that provides all attributes that you need every day. This is why comparing, and researching is very important.
That's why in this section, we will be discussing some features between the two and see what separates them. this will hopefully help you decide which trim level you should pursue.
Big Horn
The 2022 Big Horn is the trim level right after the base, the Tradesman. Here you will start to see the elegance of the interior design that RAM has always prided itself on. This serves as a prelude to what you will be expecting on their higher-end variants.
The Big Horn starts at an MSRP of $40,155. Some key features for this trim are:
- New Air Filtration System
- New Trailer Hitch Light
- 18-Inch Aluminum Wheels
- Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel with Audio Controls
- Chrome Grille Surround and Front and Rear Bumpers
- Fog Lamps
- In-Floor Storage (Available on Crew Cab Models)
- Available Dual-Pane Panoramic Sunroof
- Class-Exclusive Available RamBox Cargo Management System (Crew Cab Models with 5'7" Bed Only)
- Available Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking Pedestrian Emergency Braking
- LaneSense Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist
Another great feature is that RAM allows you to choose from the available engines that the Big Horn trim is offering. This will be further discussed in a separate section down below.
Laramie
Moving up on trim level is the Laramie. This trim falls in the middle of the pack and is equipped with better features and luxury amenities compared to the Big Horn.
The Laramie starts at an MSRP of $48,550 for the 2022 model year.
- New Air Filtration System
- New Trailer Hitch Light
- LED Headlamps, Taillamps, and Fog Lamps
- 7-Inch Premium Driver Information Digital Cluster Display
- Heated and Ventilated Leather-Trimmed 10-Way Power Driver and Front Passenger Seats and Heated Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
- Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking
- Memory Feature for Driver Seat, Exterior Mirrors, Adjustable Pedals, and Radio Station Presets
- Alpine® Nine-Speaker Premium Audio System
- Class-Exclusive Available RamBox® Cargo Management System (Crew Cab Models with 5'7" Bed Only)
- Available Multifunction Tailgate with 60/40 Split Swing-Away Doors
What other trims does RAM offer for their half-ton trucks?
As of this writing, RAM is offering eight main trims and one off-road trim for the 1500 segment. These are the Tradesman, Big Horn, Laramie, Rebel, Limited LongHorn, and Limited. While an off-road specific variant for the RAM 1500 is available, called the TRX.
What engine options does RAM offer for their half-ton trucks?
For the 2022 model year, RAM offers four main engines and a single off-road engine (only available in the TRX). Some motors are available in specific trims, while some are not.
Here is the list of these available engine options:
3.6L PENTASTAR® V6 Engine with ETorque
This is the entry-level engine on the 2022 Ram 1500 a 3.6L Pentastar V6 with eTorque. This engine has advanced wide-range variable valve timing (VVT) that puts out 305 horsepower and 269lb-ft of torque, which allows for towing up to 7,510 lbs. And an average of 19 MPG in the city, and 24 on the highway.
5.7L HEMI® V8 Engine
The famous and iconic 5.7L V8 is also equipped with VVT and a Multi-Displacement System (MDS) with Fuel Saver Technology. This engine can produce up to 395 horsepower, 410 lb-ft of torque, and can tow up to 11,310 lbs. It averages roughly 15 MPG in the city, and 21 MPG on the highway.
5.7L HEMI® V8 Engine with ETorque
A variant of the 5.7L Hemi V8, this time with eTorque. This engine can draw up 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. The eTorque option gives this engine more pulling capacity at 11,3200 lbs. And an average of 18 MPG in the city, and 22 MPG on the highway.
3.0L EcoDiesel V6 Engine
The 3.0L Ecodiesel V6 engine is the Diesel offering of the RAM half-ton trucks. This engine puts out less horsepower compared to its brothers at 260 but is still best-in-class diesel torque of 480 lb-ft, allowing you to tow 9,660 lbs. And a 21 MPG in the city, and 29 MPG on the highway.
Supercharged 6.2L HEMI® V8 Engine
The supercharged engine is still the most powerful factory-installed engine ever on a half-ton truck. The 6.2L Supercharged Hemi V8 engine puts out the same numbers as it did last year, 702 max horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, and a top speed of 118 MPH. But is only rated to tow 8,100 lbs and 1,310 lbs of payload.
This engine can achieve 0-60 MPH in just 3.7 seconds. Nearly a second faster compared to last year's engine.
Here is the list of engines available per trim level:
2022 RAM 1500 Tradesman
- 6L PENTASTAR®V6 Engine with ETorque
- 7L HEMI®V8 Engine
- 7L HEMI®V8 Engine with ETorque
- 0L EcoDiesel V6 Engine
2022 RAM 1500 Big Horn
- 6L PENTASTAR®V6 Engine with ETorque
- 7L HEMI®V8 Engine
- 7L HEMI®V8 Engine with ETorque
- 0L EcoDiesel V6 Engine
2022 RAM 1500 Laramie
- 6L PENTASTAR®V6 Engine with ETorque
- 7L HEMI®V8 Engine
- 7L HEMI®V8 Engine with ETorque
- 0L EcoDiesel V6 Engine
2022 RAM 1500 Rebel
- 6L PENTASTAR®V6 Engine with ETorque
- 7L HEMI®V8 Engine
- 7L HEMI®V8 Engine with ETorque
- 0L EcoDiesel V6 Engine
2022 RAM 1500 Limited Longhorn
- 6L PENTASTAR®V6 Engine with ETorque
- 7L HEMI®V8 Engine
- 7L HEMI®V8 Engine with ETorque
- 0L EcoDiesel V6 Engine
2022 Ram 1500 Limited
- 7L HEMI®V8 Engine
- 7L HEMI®V8 Engine with ETorque
- 0L EcoDiesel V6 Engine
2022 RAM 1500 TRX
- Supercharged 6.2L HEMI®V8 Engine
Are RAM trucks reliable?
A RAM truck can easily last 13 to 17 years and 200,000 to 300,000 miles based on average ownership. In general, the half-ton RAMs also seem to last longer than the quarter-ton and one-ton as those bad boys get more roughed up compared to the 1500 RAM.
But no matter what statistics show, if you neglect your vehicle, do not follow the recommended maintenance schedule, and always push through your engine's rated limits, your car will not last.
Things will last if taken very good care of, especially cars. If you want your vehicle to at least reach its estimated lifespan or possibly, even more, proper care and use is the main ingredient in achieving this feat.
How well does RAM compare to other half-ton trucks?
Compared to its rivals, Ford and GM, RAM could still not keep up with them. For some, RAM is even considered a second-tier pick-up truck brand. But as new tech and innovation are being introduced, this stigma towards the Chrysler-Fiat-owned company has slowly been fading.
Take this, for instance; RAM has always had the title for the most torque when it comes to engine output and is the first brand to come out with a truck that has at least 1000lb-ft of torque. And with its Supercharged 6.2L HEMI®V8 Engine, it is the most powerful motor placed on an engine bay of a pick-up truck.
In conclusion
Choosing which trim would be fit for you will ultimately boil down to what truck will better serve your needs and wants. Going for a slightly higher trim can mean more power, more luxury, and more comfort.
If you do not need all those features, going with the lower model would be a wise decision, especially since you have the option to get the same engine but at a lower cost. But one thing is for sure, you can never go wrong with a RAM truck.
Here are some related articles we have previously written, so go ahead and give them a read.