The new model debut from the Ram Truck brand announced this morning during the opening media day of the 2019 Chicago Auto Show is the all-new Ram Chassis Cab. While this truck doesn’t catch much attention from the average driver, commercial truck fleet managers are sure to fall in love with this lineup, offering the most technology, the most power and the most capabilities in the segment.

2019 Ram Chassis Cab

The 2019 Ram Chassis Cab trucks benefit from many of the same advantages of the new Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups that debuted last month in Detroit. Of course, the chassis cab trucks don’t come with a cargo box, instead leaving a blank slate for whatever accessories needed for the job, but many of the key features of the consumer grade trucks are offered in these rugged work trucks.

Power and Capabilities

While the 2019 Ram Chassis Cab lineup- comprised of a 3500, 4500 and 5500 truck - is more than just engines and capabilities, but there is no denying that these are the most important metrics of a work truck. The 2019 Ram CC comes standard with the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with varying transmissions and power levels in different models. In the 3500, the Hemi delivers 410 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque with a class-exclusive TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission while the 4500 and 5500 feature 370 horsepower and the same torque with an Aisin AS66RC 6-speed automatic transmission.


The premium engine in the 2019 Ram Chassis Cab is the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel, but sadly, the high output mill from the 2019 Ram Heavy Duty lineup with 1,000 lb-ft of torque is no currently available. The only diesel mill is a Cummins that delivers 360 horsepower and 800 lb-ft of torque, making it the strongest engine in the chassis cab segment in terms of torque levels. The Aisin AS69RC 6-speed automatic transmission is standard with the Cummins engine, while all drivetrain and chassis configurations can be had with or without four wheel drive.

2019 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab

When coupled with the new frame, the new brakes, the new suspension and the rest of the upgraded components added for 2019, the Ram Chassis Cab can tow up to 35,220 pounds, making it the strongest truck in the segment. The new Ram CC also has a gross combined weight rating of 43,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 12,510 pounds, but it should be noted that the payload figure includes whatever type of bed accessories are installed.

2019 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab SLT

At the end of the day, what matters the most is the capabilities of the new Ram Chassis and right now, it is second-to-none.

2019 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab SLT

"Ram Chassis Cab operators work their trucks at maximum capability in the harshest drive cycles every day. By offering 35,220 pounds of towing capacity, 12,510 pounds of payload and a Gross Combined Weight Rating of 43,000 pounds, our 2019 Ram Chassis Cabs take segment leadership in areas most important to customers and upfitters alike," said Reid Bigland, Head of Ram Brand, FCA. "With the Chassis Cab Limited, we’ve also created something the segment has never seen, surrounding owners in premium materials and technology with the highest quality interiors, active safety systems, and of course, our award-winning Uconnect technology."

Premium Technology

In the past, chassis cab trucks were the most stripped-down of new pickups sold in America, but that all changes with the 2019 Ram Chassis Cab. Premium interior features such as the stunning 12-inch infotainment system is available, as is the 7-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster screen.


Those are both unique features in the segment, but the Ram work trucks have a long list of other high tech features that were previously unheard-of, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and AEB with trailer brakes, ParkSense Park Assist with a class-exclusive 270-degree camera system with trailer reverse-guidance view, a cargo-view camera system that helps in hooking up to a 5 th wheel or gooseneck trailer and a Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems that accommodates up to 6 truck tires and 12 trailer tires.


Finally, the Vehicle System Interface Module (VSIM) allows easy access and control to many of the accessories that buyers will have installed on the truck, so in many cases, gadgets that you add after the purchase can be operated in conjunction with the truck’s controls.


The 2019 Ram Chassis Cab trucks will begin reaching dealerships during the second quarter of 2019, with all of these work trucks currently being built in the company’s Satillo, Mexico facility.