The Advantages of Buying a Pre-Owned Ram 1500

Buying a new truck is great, but you’re here because you know that purchasing a used one is more beneficial. Pre-owned trucks make up a large chunk of the automotive market because of their steady flow of popularity, which sees pickup trucks constantly topping sales charts, and it’s been that way for generations. So, if you’re looking for used trucks for sale near Cincinnati, let’s take a moment and discuss what the advantages are to purchasing a pre-owned Ram 1500. We have plenty of information you should know, so keep reading to find out. When you’re ready for a test drive, we invite you to visit our team here at Zimmer Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and explore our wide selection of pre-owned Ram 1500 trucks.

Performance Looks Phenomenal 

The 2019 model began the Ram 1500’s fifth generation. Considering that the 2025 Ram 1500 is marketed as the mid-cycle refresh, it’s safe to assume the fifth-generation Ram truck may be on the market for as long, or longer, than the preceding generation. Are the upgrades truly noticeable enough to warrant buying a fifth-generation Ram 1500 over a fourth-gen? Let’s compare the last fourth-gen Ram 1500 and the first fifth-gen model, with the 2018 and 2019 models.

The 2018 Ram 1500 comes standard with a 3.6L V6 engine outputting 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. A diesel-powered 3.0L V6 engine is also available, with the 2018 Ram 1500 outputting 240 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque if your powertrain drinks the popular alternative fuel. And it’s not a Ram truck without an available HEMI—remember this for later. The 5.7L V8 engine is also impressive, with 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. 

What the 2018 Ram 1500 shows us is that performance gains are par for the course over the older models, but it’s not always black and white. Yes, horsepower and torque ratings are identical between the HEMI V8 engines in the 2018 and 2019 Ram 1500 trucks. However, the 2018 model’s V8 engine achieves a maximum towing capacity of 10,640 lbs, while the 2019 variant achieves 12,750 lbs—a 20% increase. 

A problem is that the HEMI V8 engine was removed following the 2024 Ram 1500. This lowered the maximum towing capacity from 12,750 lbs to 11,550 lbs on succeeding models. Even if you’re buying the unreleased 2026 Ram 1500 one day, and prioritizing towing, the 2019 through 2024 Ram trucks will still do the best. 

Towing capacities aside, the 2021 through 2024 Ram 1500 trucks also offered the best horsepower and torque outputs that the truck has ever seen, with the introduction, and prompt discontinuation of the 6.2L HEMI V8 engine dubbed ‘Hellcat.’ With the Hellcat engine, the Ram 1500 outputs 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, which has since been replaced by a turbocharged 3.0L I-6 engine and its high-output sibling that achieves better towing results, but lessens the horsepower and torque running through the engine. 

The performance upgrades from the fourth to fifth-generation Ram trucks aren’t astronomical, but they exist. Does it warrant the extra money? Given the fifth-generation Ram 1500 is already beyond its mid-cycle refresh, the money you save between a fourth and fifth-generation model can be as simple as opting for either a 2018 or 2019 Ram 1500—a once higher price difference, but has a lesser impact nowadays. This doesn’t mean buying a fourth-generation Ram truck isn’t a decent idea if you can find one at a great price. However, staying more up-to-date with a current-generation pre-owned truck will net you better results, including the likelihood of longer-lasting software updates from the manufacturer. 

What About Cargo Space?

The Ram trucks have continuously excelled in cargo space, making them ideal choices for Cincinnati drivers who need a large bed to hold their belongings. Practical uses like storing luggage for a trip or bringing groceries home from the store are well-met with a Ram truck, while you can haul heavy furniture, help clients for your freelance business, and many more possibilities open up once you’re behind the wheel of an incredible pre-owned Ram pickup truck. Since the 2019 Ram 1500, there are only two available bed sizes. This is down from three on prior models, but the two options strike a perfect balance for personal or professional use. The shorter bed option is 5.6 ft long with 53.9 cu.ft. of space, while the longest is the 6.4 ft long bed. The 6.4 ft bed in the 2019 Ram 1500 has 61.5 cu.ft. of space—a steady 14% increase over the smaller one. 

Behind Closed Doors

When you walk up to a Ram truck, the hulking size of its exterior makes you think its interior must be large and spacious, and you’d be correct. Using a 2019 Ram 1500 as our example, Quad and Crew cabs are available—both support up to six passengers. Your choice of cab size doesn’t affect first-row measurements in the 2019 Ram 1500, with both Quad and Crew cab configurations featuring an even 40.9 inches of head and legroom across the board, along with 66 inches of shoulder room and 63.4 inches of hip room, the latter of which goes for rear-row passengers too. Anyone sitting in the back row also has 65.7 inches of shoulder room in either cab size. However, rear-row passengers have differing measurements for their heads and legs, with Quad Cab models having 39.2 and 35.6 inches of head and legroom—2019 Ram 1500 trucks with the Crew Cab have 39.8 and 45.2 inches of head and rear legroom.

If we bring a more recent Ram 1500 model in for comparison—the 2023 variant—it reveals a couple of things worth noting. Quad and Crew cabs remain the two choices, meaning newer Ram 1500 trucks aren’t available in single-row configurations—three seats up front and three in the back is what you get. Front and rear-row measurements are identical between the vehicles, regardless of the handful of years separating their releases. This means you can shop for practically any pre-owned Ram 1500 model while assured you’re getting a spacious interior, regardless of which one you buy. Of course, Crew Cab models have better legroom than Quad Cab Ram trucks, but your decision on this front should be based on your wants and needs. Either way, driving around Cincinnati will be a less cumbersome experience.

An Important Update

The 2018 Ram 1500 brought an upgrade to the table that you may not want to miss if you’re in the market for a used truck. With the 2018 model, a new and improved 8.4-inch infotainment center is standard, and it also brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to the table. However, it’s worth noting that the 8.4-inch infotainment center was optional from 2018 through 2024, with the 2025 Ram 1500 being the first model to make it the standard infotainment center.

Used Ram trucks are in an interesting spot for those who care about tech features. For example, if you buy a higher trim variant of the 2018 Ram 1500, you’ll save money against a base 2024 model, but you’ll have the modernized infotainment center with features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Buy the base 2024 model, and you’re left with the 5-inch infotainment center with barebone connectivity features. 

The 2019 Ram 1500 introduced an even better 12-inch infotainment center, meaning you can opt for a 2019 Ram 1500 with a 12-inch screen and get the same experience as the 2024 model. The 2025 Ram 1500 removed the 5-inch screen, making the 8.4-inch screen standard, along with a still-optional 12-inch infotainment center and a new 14.5-inch screen. Given how new those models are, it’s a discussion for another day.

Which Model Year Should You Pick?

After learning about Ram trucks and how newer models differ or relate to their predecessors, you may wonder what to do next if you haven’t decided yet. What you should do is give a few Ram 1500 models a test drive. What you shouldn’t do, however, is jump into one without first speaking to one of our experts. We’re a dedicated team that Cincinnati drivers can trust, so let’s help get you into a pre-owned Ram 1500 you can proudly call yours.