MY 26 Ram 1500 Tow Test
Full-size American pickups are no longer a novelty in Australia. Buyers are discovering that if you're towing large caravans regularly, there's a compelling argument for stepping beyond the traditional dual-cab ute. More space, more comfort and effortless performance have made the 1500 class an increasingly popular choice for serious tourers. Sitting at the entry point to Ram's range, the MY26 1500 Express Black Edition promises all of those attributes at a sharper price. We hitched it to a 3.4-tonne caravan and spent several days on highways, country roads and muddy bush tracks to find out whether it delivers.
MEASURING UP THE RAM 1500
Pros
- ● Price
- ● Performance
- ● Size
Cons
- ● Tub & Draw Bar Weight Limits
- ● Small Screen
- ● Rear Camera Only
The appeal of a 1500
There's a reason American 1500-series pickups have gained a foothold in Australia. If your life revolves around towing, they're simply built for the job. Long wheelbases, powerful petrol engines, comfortable coil-sprung cabins and relaxed highway manners make them exceptional long-distance tourers. Unlike a traditional dual-cab ute, they're designed to spend most of their lives as family transport, only occasionally being asked to tow or carry a heavy load. The result is a vehicle that feels more like a large SUV on the open road, while still offering class-leading 4500kg towing capability. It's a formula that's attracting buyers away from everything from dual-cab utes to large wagons like the LandCruiser 300 Series.
Meet the Express Black
Sitting at the most affordable end of Ram Australia's lineup, the Express Black strips away some of the luxury equipment found higher up the range without changing the fundamentals. Under the bonnet is the same 313kW twin-turbo Hurricane straight six, backed by the excellent ZF eight-speed automatic and a proper dual-range transfer case. At around $120,000 drive-away ($109,950+ORC), it lands squarely against the Ford F-150 XLT, while also tempting buyers considering vehicles like the Ranger Super Duty or even a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series. On paper, it promises full-size American comfort, 4,500kg towing capability and enough practicality to make the jump from a traditional dual-cab ute worthwhile.
Beyond the Headline Numbers
Words by Tim Van Duyl, pictures provided
The Ram's 4500kg maximum braked towing capacity immediately catches the eye, but that's only part of the story. With a 3505kg GVM, 7711kg GCM and 1014kg payload, the Express Black has the credentials to tow some of Australia's largest caravans. For this test, however, we deliberately stayed well inside those limits, towing the Trekka at around 2.85 tonnes—leaving roughly 1.65 tonnes in reserve before reaching the Ram's maximum tow rating. As with any tow vehicle, it's how the numbers work together that matters. Payload, GCM, towball download and, in the Ram's case, the 520kg combined tub and towball limit, all determine how much you can realistically carry while towing—not just the headline 4500kg figure.
Towing a caravan at the full 4500kg rating brings another consideration. Assuming a typical 10 per cent towball download, the Ram would have 450kg of ball weight sitting on the hitch before a single item is loaded into the tub. With the Express Black's 520kg combined tub and towball limit, that leaves just 70kg available in the tray for everything else. In reality, anyone towing at the Ram's maximum capacity will need to think very carefully about where touring gear is carried and how the vehicle is loaded to remain within its legal limits.
Hooking up the Trekka
For this test, Ram's newest 1500 was paired with Stockman's all-new Trekka Ultra XT, an expedition-focused hybrid camper designed around long-range off-grid travel and carrying adventure gear rather than maximising internal living space. Priced at around $133,500 as tested, the Trekka measures 8.6m overall, 2.49m wide and around 3.2m tall, with a 2604kg tare, 3400kg ATM and a 177kg tare ball weight. By the time we'd loaded it with water and touring essentials, we were towing roughly 2.85 tonnes.
Hooking up is refreshingly straightforward. The Express Black's reversing camera offers both a conventional wide-angle view and a second zoomed hitch camera, making solo coupling simple, while the integrated trailer brake controller and well-positioned electrical connections make for a clean setup. Where the Ram does feel like the entry point into the range is technology. The 8.4-inch screen is sharp but relatively small by modern standards, and while the cameras do the job, there's no 360-degree system or front camera to make manoeuvring a full-size pickup around campsites quite as effortless as some rivals.
Life on the highway
This is where the Express Black starts to justify its place in the market. With around 2.85 tonnes behind it, the twin-turbo Hurricane straight six barely notices the load. Producing 313kW and 635Nm, there's effortless performance in reserve for overtaking, steep climbs and merging into fast-moving traffic, yet it never feels peaky or turbocharged. Power builds progressively, the ZF eight-speed automatic always seems to be in the right gear, and together they make towing feel remarkably relaxed.
It's also exceptionally refined. Wind noise is almost non-existent, tyre roar is well suppressed and the Hurricane is little more than a distant hum at highway speeds. Combined with supportive cloth seats, compliant suspension and accurate steering, the Express Black feels more like a large family SUV than a one-tonne pickup towing a substantial caravan.
Fuel consumption settled around 17L/100km on the open highway before climbing towards 20L/100km through peri-urban traffic and rolling country roads. Those figures won't impress diesel owners, but they're entirely reasonable given the combination's size, performance and the fact the Ram never once felt like it was working hard.
Perhaps the biggest surprise wasn't its power, but just how easy it was to cover long distances. Hours behind the wheel simply disappeared, and that's exactly what a dedicated tow vehicle should do.
Living with it OR Life Beyond the Towbar
Away from the caravan, the Express Black settles effortlessly into everyday life. The cabin is spacious, visibility is better than its size suggests and the enormous centre console swallows everything from cameras to laptops, while the flat rear floor provides genuinely useful storage for touring gear. Practical touches like adjustable tie-down rails, a factory tub liner, USB-A and USB-C charging and supportive cloth seats reinforce that this is a this is a family vehicle that's equally happy doing the hard work.
Of course, it's still a full-size American pickup. Tight city car parks, drive-throughs and narrow shopping centres require a little more planning than a Ranger or HiLux. Get it out into regional Australia, however, and the Ram's size quickly becomes an advantage rather than a compromise. It's an easy vehicle to spend long days behind the wheel, whether you're towing or simply heading for the next destination.
The compromises
No tow vehicle is perfect, and the Express Black asks buyers to make a few compromises. The biggest compromise isn't actually the payload figure itself—it's how much of that payload you can realistically use. On paper, the Ram offers just over 1000kg of payload, but its 520kg combined tub and towball load limit quickly becomes the governing figure once a caravan is attached.
In simple terms, the caravan's towball download and everything you carry in the tub share the same 520kg allowance. Hook up a van with a 250kg ball weight and you're immediately left with around 270kg for a fridge, drawers, recovery gear, luggage, a canopy or anything else in the tray. It's a limit that's surprisingly easy to exceed, even though the vehicle still has payload available elsewhere.
That's unusual in this class. The Ford F-150 XLT doesn't impose the same combined tub-and-towball restriction, while the Ford Ranger Super Duty XLT Pick-up offers a substantial 1,697kg payload—almost 700kg more than the Ram—giving owners considerably more flexibility when building a touring vehicle.
Technology is another area where the Express Black shows its place in the range. The twin reversing cameras are excellent, particularly the close-up hitch view that makes solo hook-ups a breeze, but the smaller 8.4-inch touchscreen, lack of a front camera and absence of a 360-degree camera feel like omissions in a vehicle costing around $120,000. None are deal-breakers, but they are features buyers increasingly expect in this segment.
Building Around the Limits
Fortunately, there are smart ways to build an Express Black without immediately running into its 520kg tub-and-towball limit. We'd start by mounting a Custom Lithium battery system under the rear seats, paired with a REDARC BCDC Alpha charger. That's around 60-80kg of touring equipment moved out of the tub entirely. Upgrade the wheels and tyres and you'll likely add another 80-120kg, while a slimline bullbar and winch contribute a further 170-220kg—again, all outside that 520kg allowance.
The result? Your tub is largely free for the things that have to live there, like a fridge, luggage and recovery gear, while the caravan still retains its towball capacity. It doesn't eliminate the compromise, but it does reward buyers who think carefully about where every kilogram goes. We'll explore exactly how we'd build one in our upcoming HEMA touring feature.
Who should buy one?
The Express Black is for buyers who spend more time touring than commuting and want the comfort of a full-size American pickup without stretching to the top of the range. If your budget sits around the $120,000 mark and you're cross-shopping a Ranger Super Duty, LandCruiser 300 Series or Ford F-150 XLT, the Ram deserves to be on your shortlist. It's immensely comfortable, effortless to tow with and surprisingly refined, but it also rewards buyers willing to understand its limitations and build around them. For the right buyer, it's one of the most convincing arguments yet for making the jump into a 1500.
The wrap
The MY26 Ram 1500 Express Black isn't perfect. The combined tub and towball load limit demands more thought than some rivals, while the smaller infotainment screen and lack of a 360-degree camera remind you this is the most affordable Ram in the range. But once you hitch up a caravan and point it at the horizon, those compromises quickly begin to fade.
The Hurricane straight six is immensely strong, the ZF eight-speed remains the benchmark automatic in this segment, and the chassis strikes an outstanding balance between comfort, composure and steering precision. It's exceptionally quiet, genuinely refined and one of the easiest full-size pickups I've driven to spend long days behind the wheel.
Would I spend the extra money on a higher-spec Ram? I probably would. The larger screen, 360-degree camera system and a handful of additional comfort features are worthwhile upgrades for a vehicle that's likely to spend years towing Australia's highways and backroads. But I'd still leave room in the budget for the things that really matter to a touring owner—quality wheels and tyres, protection equipment, a properly designed electrical system and the accessories that turn a good tow vehicle into a great one.
Whether you choose the Express Black or step into the next model up, the fundamentals remain the same. For me, Ram has produced one of the most convincing 1500s on the Australian market. If your budget starts around $120,000, the Express Black is an excellent place to begin. If you can stretch a little further, the higher-spec models only build on what is already a remarkably capable touring platform.
The Mawby Hook
A capable tow vehicle deserves an equally dependable connection. The Australian-designed Mawby Hook makes attaching your caravan’s safety chains faster and easier, with a quick-action design, drop-forged steel construction and a rating of up to 3.5 tonnes. Tested to AS4177.4 and suitable for most towbars, it’s a simple upgrade that delivers added convenience and confidence every time you hitch up. Shop the Mawby Hook now at Caravan World.
Towing: Ram 1500 Express Black: Big Comfort, Big Capability