The 2012 Ram 3500 gets a new turbodiesel engine as standard equipment for all trims, along with a higher-end towing package, which pushes its maximum towing capacity to 22,650 pounds. Minor changes, such as a smaller steering wheel, and exterior accents have also been added.

Available trim levels for the 2012 Ram 3500 are the ST, SLT, Lone Star, Big Horn, Outdoorsman, Laramie and Laramie Longhorn. Trims available as Regular cabs (with an 8-foot box) are the ST and SLT. All trims can be configured as Crew cabs (with a 6.4- or 8-foot box), and all but the ST can be built as Mega cabs (with a 6.4-foot box). The base sticker price for all trims includes a 6.7-liter high-output turbocharged 6-cylinder Cummins diesel engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission that achieves 350 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. An optional 6-speed automatic is also available, upping torque to 800 lb-ft.

The ST trim level of the 2012 Ram 3500 comes equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, tilt steering column, power steering, power windows with driver one-touch, vinyl 40/20/40 split bench front seat, heated exterior mirrors with supplemental turn signals and courtesy lamps, black trailer tow power mirrors, trailer tow package with 4- or 7-pin wiring harness, Class IV receiver hitch, locking tailgate, 6-speaker media center with AM/FM radio, single-CD player and WMA/MP3 jack, 12-volt auxiliary power outlet, automatic headlights, 34-gallon fuel tank and 17-inch styled steel wheels.

Upgrading to the SLT trim level adds cloth seats, power-sliding rear window, chrome-accent shift knob, remote keyless entry, Sirius XM satellite radio with a 3-month trial subscription, trailer brake control and 17-inch chrome-clad steel wheels. For buyers looking at the Big Horn or Lone Star trims, additional standard equipment includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, HomeLink control (for garage door, home lighting and more), quad halogen headlamps, fog lamps and 17-inch polished forged aluminum alloy wheels. The Long Horn trims also get unique Texas badging.

Buyers selecting the Outdoorsman trim level receive premium cloth seats, driver's seat with 10-way power adjust, 60/40 split folding backseat, security alarm, accent fender flares and 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels as standard equipment. Choosing the Laramie trim level adds dual-zone automatic temperature control, heated steering wheel, leather-trimmed seats, heated driver seat with10-way power adjust and memory control, heated passenger memory seats with 6-way power adjust, chrome exterior mirrors, 9-speaker media center with a 6.5-in. touchscreen, 30GB hard drive, AM/FM radio, CD/DVD/ WMA/MP3 player and subwoofer, Uconnect voice command with Bluetooth HandsFree connectivity and ParkSense rear park assist system standard. Opting for the Laramie Longhorn trim level adds as standard equipment a 6-speed automatic transmission, power memory adjustable pedals, leather-trimmed premium seats, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, Garmin navigation system, Sirius XM Travel Link, Parkview rear-view camera, remote start and spray-in bedliner.

Optional equipment available for the 2012 includes an engine block heater and a 9-speaker 506-watt Alpine premium sound system. Trims with 8-foot boxes can also be equipped with dual rear wheels.

Several safety and security features are standard for the 2012 Ram 3500. Six airbags, including 2 advanced multistage front airbags, 2 supplemental side-curtain airbags and 2 supplemental side-curtain front and rear airbags come standard, as well as 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, diesel exhaust brake, antispin rear differential, stability control with trailer-sway control and hill-start assist, enhanced accident response system and Sentry Key theft-deterrent system.

The epitome of what a work truck should be, owners of the 2012 Ram 3500 rave about the heavy duty pickup’s maximum towing capacity of 22,750 pounds when properly equipped. The roominess of the Mega cab, which Ram claims is the biggest available for any pickup, also has current owners commenting happily. With between 650 and 800 lb-ft of torque available—depending on the transmission—current owners rave about the power generated by the Ram 3500. Responsive steering and a smooth-for-a-truck ride also have been commonly noted by current owners.