Is the Dodge Ram 1500 Good in Snow?

The Ram 1500 is one of the best and most popular 4WD trucks in the world. It has managed to garner a reputation for being able to tackle just about any situation that you throw at it, but what about snow? Is the Ram 1500 good in snow?

The Dodge Ram 1500 is great in snow! In fact, it has been built with cold weather driving in mind. While you may need to equip the Ram 1500 with snow tires for deeper snow, the truck has several built-in features designed to make snow driving much easier e.g. 4-wheel-drive, anti-lock breaks, heated engine, remote start, and more. 

Throughout the rest of this page, let’s talk more about what the Dodge Ram 1500 brings to the table when it comes to snow driving. You are also going to learn how you can make the truck even easier to drive when it is snowing.

What Makes The Dodge Ram 1500 Good in Snow?

Like most 4-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles, the Dodge Ram 1500 is fantastic in the snow. It has only become much better over the years too, with Ram vehicles boasting several new features designed to make the vehicle much more comfortable to drive in the cold.

For starters, this is a 4WD vehicle. Because 4WD vehicles deliver power to all four wheels at once, the vehicle has much better traction while driving on non-paved surfaces. This is why you can take something like your Ram 1500 off-road without any issues. A 4WD vehicle isn’t going to prevent all slipping beneath the wheels, but it should keep the vast majority of it at bay.

The Ram 1500 is a very heavy vehicle too. The weight of the Ram 1500 will differ depending on the model year and the trim, but it normally hovers around the 1700 lbs mark. When a vehicle is heavier, it pushes toward the ground more. This gives more traction and, ultimately, less slippage.

The Dodge Ram 1500 also benefits from a raised chassis. This is thanks to the rather large wheels it has. The raised chassis means that the vehicle has a far easier time clearing deeper snow banks, etc. Again, this is a benefit when you are driving off-road, but it is also when driving on the snow. We are sure you picked up on the trend already. Because the Ram 1500 is good for off-roading, it is also good for snow driving.

On top of all of this, despite the size, the Ram 1500 is an incredibly easy vehicle to drive. The steering is responsive, and you should have absolutely no issues keeping the vehicle under control. This is important when you are driving on snow, after all, no matter how great the vehicle is, you just need to hit the ice ‘wrong’ and it will start sliding about.

Dodge Ram’s Electronic Locking Rear Differential Improves Traction

The electronic locking rear differential on a Dodge Ram 1500 helps improve the traction in the snow and other slippery surfaces. It reduces the chances of losing control by keeping the rear wheels from spinning.

When one side hits a slippery side and the driver notices the spinning wheel, there is a button on the dashboard to lock the differential. When it is locked, the power gets distributed evenly between the 2 wheels to provide traction instead of spinning the wheel that is slipping.

Other Pro-Snow Benefits Inside The Ram 1500

The things listed previously will make the vehicle much easier to drive during the winter months, but there are a few additional features that will make it much more comfortable too. Although, do bear in mind that these features may not be present in all Ram 1500 model years and trims.

The Ram 1500 has a heated engine block which should drastically lower the risk of the vehicle stalling when you are driving during the winter months. This is less of a concern when you have been driving about for a while as the engine will naturally heat up, but you will find that your vehicle is easier to start and drive during the first few miles.

The Ram 1500 is also kitted out with a remote start. We are sure that plenty of you have had to go to your vehicle and try incredibly hard to start it when it is cold out. The remote start means that you can get your vehicle ready long before you leave your home or place of business.

Finally, the Ram 1500 has heated seats and a heated steering wheel. While neither of these will necessarily make it easier to drive the vehicle in the snow, it will keep you nice and warm. So, that is always going to be a major benefit here!

Does The Ram 1500 Need Snow Tires For Snow?

This will depend on how deep the snow is. Although, ideally, if you are driving during the winter months, then you should kit your Ram 1500 out with some proper snow tires. They aren’t that expensive, and you have plenty of different options to choose from.

Snow tires are designed to provide more traction with the ground. This means that if you drive over snow or ice, then you are much less likely to slide about. This may come in especially important if you are taking your Ram 1500 off-road.

There is less of a need to put snow tires on your Ram 1500 if you live in an area that only gets a light dusting of snow every so often. Most all-season tires should be able to tackle light snow with ease. Although, it is still always worth putting snow tires on there ‘just in case’.

Remember, if you are going to pick up some snow tires for your Ram 1500, make sure you buy from a reputable brand e.g. Michelin. They will perform a whole lot better.

Should You Use Sand Bags In The Bed When Driving The Dodge Ram in Snow?

If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, then you will probably notice that during the winter months, people load their truck beds up with sandbags, etc. just to add a bit more weight to the rear of the vehicle. If you can remember back to your high school science classes, then you will know that this weight is designed to add traction.

You can do the same with the Ram 1500. While the Ram 1500 is a weighty vehicle, there isn’t as much weight being placed on the rear wheels. This means that the rear wheels have a much higher chance of slipping. This is countered a little by going lighter on the throttle while turning, but still, if you are driving a vehicle, you want to make it as easy as possible.

So, it is recommended that you load up the truck bed with sandbags during the heavier winters. This is assuming that you aren’t bringing anything else along in your truck bed. While the Ram 1500 is already great at snow driving, loading up the rear with sandbags will make it even better. It also has the benefit of giving you access to some sand just in case your vehicle gets stuck.

How to Improve The Dodge Ram 1500 Handling In The Snow?

The Dodge Ram 1500 is already great for driving in the snow, if you have the 4WD on the truck of course. But there are a few things you can do to improve it even more and make it more enjoyable and safe.

1. Winter Tires will help driving in the snow. They come with specially designed tread patterns and softer rubber that improves handling and breaking in showy and icy conditions.
2. Tire Pressure can decrease inside the tires in cold temperatures, so checking and maintaining it at the proper pressure is important to keep the traction at its optimum performance.
3. Weight Distribution is also important for better handling in the snow. Trucks are normally lighter in the back than the front because the front has the engine and the cab, but the back only has the bed. This is why you want to add some weight to the rear to distribute the weight evenly for best traction. Most commonly this is done by adding sand bags to the bed.
4. Driving slower and smoother helps with handling and to avoid getting stuck. Smooth acceleration and slowing down to a stop while keeping bigger distance will keep you on the road.
5. Regular Maintenance ensures that all the important components you need to depend on in snowy conditions are performing at their best. Do a mechanical “checkup” before winter starts.

Conclusion

The Ram 1500 is a fantastic vehicle to drive in the snow. It is loaded with features that make driving an absolute breeze. Add on some snow tires, and there is little that the Ram 1500 won’t be able to handle.

Of course, while the Ram 1500 is a great vehicle to drive in the snow, it is still prone to slipping. All vehicles are. So, make sure that you know how to drive safely in the snow before you bring the Ram 1500 on the road.