Comparison
Ram 1500 Classic vs the New-Body Ram 1500, 2019-2024: What Differs
Ram 1500 Classic against the regular Ram 1500 for 2019-2024: engines, tow chart maximums, payload, capacities, oil grades and service schedules from Stellantis data.
By the West CDJR editorsUpdated November 8, 20268 min read
For model years 2019 through 2024, Ram sold two half-ton pickups side by side: the Ram 1500 Classic and the regular Ram 1500. Our research data answers the "was the Classic the old truck" question indirectly. The Classic's fluid capacities, fuel tank sizes and bed lengths match the 2018 Ram 1500 row for row, while the regular 2019-2024 Ram 1500 differs from both on the V6 oil capacity, the fuel tank sizes and (in the 2023 data) the 98.3‑inch bed. The data has no field that names a body generation, so treat that as our reading of matching numbers and not a quoted statement.
The Classic also came with far less published data. It has no engineering spec sheet in the database for any year, and no tow-chart rows for 2023 or 2024. This article compares what exists for both trucks, and says so wherever one side is blank.
Years and sources side by side
| Year | Classic page | Regular 1500 page | Classic tow chart | Classic detailed specs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2019 | 2019 | none (charts start 2020) | none |
| 2020 | 2020 | 2020 | yes | none |
| 2021 | 2021 | 2021 | yes | none |
| 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | yes | none |
| 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | none | yes (12 configurations) |
| 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | none | yes (9 configurations) |
All Classic years are collected on the Classic hub.
Engines and transmissions
The tow charts for 2020 through 2022 list two Classic engines: the 3.6L Pentastar V6 and the 5.7L HEMI V8. The 2023 and 2024 configuration data lists the same two, and the transmission field reads "8‑speed automatic" on every Classic configuration. The regular Ram 1500 had more choices in the same window: a 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 on the 2020 through 2023 tow charts, a 6.2L supercharged V8 on the 2022 through 2024 charts, and eTorque listed on its V6 and V8 sheets.
Transmission names are inconsistent inside the Classic tow charts. The V6 is shown with an 845RE in 2020 and an 850RE in 2021 and 2022. The 5.7L is shown with an 8HP70 in 2020 and 2022 but an 850RE in 2021. We list the labels as printed and do not try to reconcile them.
One oddity worth flagging: the 2019 Classic data carries a "3.0 V6 Turbo Diesel Engine" maintenance schedule, a Diesel Supplement and a Diesel Warranty in its publications, and a six-speed ATF row in its fluids. None of our Classic tow or spec rows list a diesel or a six-speed. If you are looking at a 2019 Classic, use the VIN decoder to see what that truck was built with.
Tow chart comparison, 2020-2022
These are tow-chart rows, so the ranges cover every configuration on the chart (cab, bed, drive, axle ratio and so on). The first number is the lowest configuration and the second is the highest.
| Year and engine | Classic max trailer (lb) | Regular 1500 max trailer (lb) | Classic payload (lb) | Regular 1500 payload (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020, 3.6L V6 | 4,350 to 7,580 | 6,390 to 7,710 | 1,500 to 1,920 | 1,200 to 2,300 |
| 2020, 5.7L V8 | 8,020 to 10,680 | 7,990 to 12,750 | 1,400 to 1,800 | 1,680 to 1,910 |
| 2021, 3.6L V6 | 4,350 to 7,660 | 6,390 to 7,710 | 1,510 to 1,930 | 1,200 to 2,300 |
| 2021, 5.7L V8 | 8,000 to 10,610 | 7,990 to 12,750 | 1,400 to 1,810 | 1,680 to 1,910 |
| 2022, 3.6L V6 | 4,350 to 7,660 | 6,120 to 7,690 | 1,510 to 1,930 | 1,240 to 2,300 |
| 2022, 5.7L V8 | 8,000 to 10,610 | 7,800 to 12,750 | 1,400 to 1,810 | 1,710 to 1,940 |
Three things show up. First, the regular truck's top tow figure is higher with the 5.7L every year (12,750 against 10,610 to 10,680). Second, the Classic's V6 starts much lower: 4,350 against 6,390 or 6,120 for the regular truck's V6. Third, the Classic's best configuration in each of the three years is the same one: a 4x2 Tradesman Regular Cab with the 8-ft box, the 5.7L and a 3.92 axle ratio, rated 10,680 in 2020 and 10,610 in 2021 and 2022.
The regular Ram 1500 had options the Classic chart does not: the EcoDiesel at up to 12,560 lb in 2020 through 2022, and a single 6.2L supercharged configuration at 8,100 lb in 2022. The 2020 gross combined weight ratings also differ by engine. The Classic V6 ranges from 9,850 to 12,900 lb and the V8 from 13,800 to 15,975 lb. The regular V6 ranges from 11,900 to 12,900 lb and the V8 from 13,900 to 18,350 lb.
2023 and 2024: the compare-service numbers
For 2023 and 2024 the only Classic figures come from the per-configuration spec service. Those figures describe the configurations listed, not a full tow chart, so do not compare the "towing capacity" row below to the 2020-2022 maximums above. A towing row exists only for 2023; the 2024 data has none for either truck.
| Field | Classic 2023 | Regular 2023 | Classic 2024 | Regular 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configurations listed | 12 | 34 | 9 | 33 |
| Payload (lb) | 1,430 to 1,930 | 1,220 to 2,320 | 1,430 to 1,930 | 1,220 to 2,320 |
| GVWR (lb) | 6,600 to 6,800 | 6,010 to 7,800 | 6,800 | 6,010 to 7,800 |
| GCWR (lb) | 9,850 to 13,800 | 11,900 to 14,908 | 9,850 to 13,800 | 11,900 to 15,160 |
| Fuel tank (gal) | 26 to 32 | 23 to 33 | 26 | 23 to 33 |
| Wheelbase (in) | 140 to 149 | 140.5 to 153.5 | 140 to 149 | 140.5 to 153.5 |
| Longest bed floor (in) | 98.3 | 76.3 | 76.3 | 76.3 |
| "Towing capacity" (lb) | 4,360 to 8,240 | 6,180 to 8,360 | not listed | not listed |
Two Classic details stand out. In the 2023 data the 5.7L V8 appears only on the Tradesman Crew Cab with the 6-ft 4-in box (4x2 and 4x4), and in 2024 only on the 4x4 version of that truck. Every other Classic configuration in those years is a 3.6L V6 on a 9,850 lb GCWR. And the 98.3‑inch bed length in 2023 belongs to the Regular Cab 8-ft box, which no longer appears in the 2024 list.
Prices are available for these two years only. The Classic's configurations listed from $32,345 to $49,935 in 2023 and from $38,705 to $50,035 in 2024, on the Tradesman and Warlock trims. The regular Ram 1500 listed from $38,555 in 2023 and $39,420 in 2024, up to $85,500 and $96,340 for the TRX.
Capacities and fluids
This is where the Classic's link to the earlier truck is clearest. Its numbers do not change between 2019 and 2024, and they equal the 2018 Ram 1500 page.
| Item | Classic, 2019-2024 | Regular 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6L engine oil with filter | 6 qt | 5 qt (2019–2024) |
| 5.7L engine oil with filter | 7 qt | 7 qt |
| 3.6L cooling system | 13.7 qt | 13.7 qt (2019–2022), 12.8 qt (2023–2024) |
| 5.7L cooling system | 18.3 qt | 18.3 qt (2019–2022), 17.5 qt (2023–2024) |
| Fuel tank | 26 gal; 32 gal optional | 23 or 26 gal; 33 gal optional |
| Lug nut torque | 130 ft‑lb, M14 x 1.50 | 130 ft‑lb, M14 x 1.50 |
The 2018 Ram 1500 page lists 6 qt with the 3.6L, bed floors of 67.4, 76.3 and 98.3 in. (the same three lengths the 2023 Classic shows), 7 qt with the 5.7L, 13.7 and 18.3 qt of coolant, and 26 and 32 gal tanks, all identical to the Classic. The regular truck also lists a 1.8-qt motor-generator coolant circuit on the 3.6L and, with the diesel, a diesel exhaust fluid tank of 5.14 or 5.74 gal. The Classic has neither.
Oil grades are the sneakiest difference:
| Engine | Classic oil grade | Regular 1500 oil grade |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6L V6 | SAE 5W‑20, 2019–2024 | SAE 0W‑20, 2019–2024 |
| 5.7L V8 | SAE 5W‑20 in 2019–2021; SAE 0W‑20 in 2022–2024 | SAE 5W‑20 in 2019–2021; SAE 0W‑20 in 2022–2024 |
So an oil-change quote that is right for a regular 2021 V6 is the wrong grade for a 2021 Classic V6. The transmission fluid is the same on both, listed as ZF 8 and 9 speed ATF or equivalent (the 2019 Classic also carries a separate six-speed row, ATF+4), and both list a 10-year/150,000‑mile OAT coolant. Fuel recommendations are the same too: 87 octane for the V6, with 89 recommended for the 5.7L.
Maintenance schedule differences, 2020-2024
For the gasoline schedules in 2020 through 2024, the two trucks share almost all of their rows. The differences are small but real:
- The Classic lists "adjust parking brake as necessary" at every 20,000 miles from 20,000 to 140,000, seven rows the regular truck does not have.
- The Classic lists an inspection of transfer case fluid at 30,000 and 90,000 miles. The regular truck does not.
- The regular truck lists, at 150,000 miles, replacing the accessory drive belt on trucks equipped with stop/start. The Classic has no such row.
Both schedules list spark plug replacement at 100,000 miles, and neither gasoline schedule in our data has an engine-oil row, so we cannot give an oil-change interval from this data. The 2019 schedules are structured differently (the Classic has separate gasoline and diesel plans), so we did not compare that year row by row.
Publications
| Year | Classic publications | Regular 1500 publications |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 15 | 14 |
| 2020 | 11 | 14 |
| 2021 | 12 | 14 |
| 2022 | 11 | 11 |
| 2023 | 9 | 8 |
| 2024 | 5 | 7 |
Counts are the entries listed on each year's research page: manuals, quick guides, radio guides, warranties and supplements. The Classic lists include a Camper Guide for 2019 through 2021 and a Tire Chain Chart for 2019 through 2022; neither appears on the 2023 or 2024 Classic lists.
How to check your own truck
Put the VIN through the VIN decoder first, because a Classic and a regular Ram 1500 of the same year can look alike in a listing. Then open the matching year page above, and use the spec explorer for 2023 and 2024 configurations or the towing page for the 2020-2022 charts.
