2020 Ram 2500 Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

The 2020 Ram 2500 is a beast on the roads in terms of capability. Its performance features will attract many drivers who have big plans for their next vehicles, and the Ram won't let anyone down. At the same time, the interior of the truck is nicely appointed, with the higher trims offering many luxury amenities.

The Ram 2500 can either be powered by a HEMI V8 or a Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 engine. The displacement of the HEMI, which is the standard engine, is 6.4 liters. This engine has best-in-class horsepower, at 410, and it has 429 pound-feet of torque. It's matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission for smooth shifting, and it gives the truck the ability to tow up to 17,540 pounds. Payload capacity is a touch over 4,000 pounds.

An alternative to the gas-powered V8 is the diesel engine, which has a displacement of 6.7 liters. Mated with a six-speed automatic transmission, this engine has been designed with towing in mind. It gives the Ram the ability to haul up to 19,680 pounds, which is an incredible amount. Maximum payload is 3,160 pounds, horsepower is 370, and torque is an impressive 850 pound-feet.

There are six trims available on the Ram 2500, with the lower trims being in the $35,000 - $40,000 price range. The sticker price jumps significantly when moving to the mid-level and higher trims, but this increase is justified given the many upgrades that these trucks have. This guide will go over the differences between each trim to give readers a better idea of which model might be best suited for them.

Compare the 2020 Ram 2500 Tradesman vs Lone Star Trim Levels. What is the difference?

From a design standpoint, the Tradesman and Lone Star are slightly different. While both come in multiple exterior colors, the Tradesman only has two color options for the interior, black and diesel gray. The Lonestar expands upon those options, giving people more a dozen color schemes to choose from.

On the exterior, people may notice that the Lone Star has bigger wheels than the Tradesman. 17-inch wheels are found on the Tradesman; in comparison, the Lone Star has 18-inch wheels. Bright front bumpers are found on the Lone Star, which contrasts with the black bumpers on the Tradesman.

Neither trim comes standard with heated front seats, but this feature can be added on to the Lone Star as part of a package. The package also includes a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Components that are standard in these two models are manually adjustable seats and storage bins behind the seats. The Tradesman has vinyl seats as the default material, but customers can upgrade to cloth if they prefer. On the Lone Star, cloth is the standard material, and premium cloth is available for an extra cost.

A convenience that many people are looking for these days is keyless entry with push-button start. These two trims both have the easy-to-use push-button start feature, but only the Lone Star has remote keyless entry. The ability to remotely start the engine is an option on the Lone Star.

When examining the mechanics of the truck, it's clear that both trims are strong and capable. The Lone Star comes standard with Trailer Brake Control to enhance safety when pulling cargo. Tow hooks are optional on both models.

The trucks at this level are more practical than luxurious, so one shouldn't expect too much in the infotainment department. The Tradesman has four speakers while the Lone Star has six, and both have a five-inch touchscreen, an audio jack input, Bluetooth, and Uconnect 3 technology to run the system. On the Lone Star, some notable available features are Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a larger touchscreen.

Compare the 2020 Ram 2500 Lone Star vs Big Horn Trims. What is the difference?

From a financial perspective, these two trims are very comparable. Since they have the same price point, it makes sense that they offer the same features. For instance, they both have halogen quad headlamps and the opportunity to upgrade to automatic high beams. A RamBox Cargo Management System is available on the two trims, and this would help with keeping things organized in the back.

Basically, the Lone Star is the trim that showcases some Texas pride. It has the Lone Star badge in a few places, enhancing the feel of the truck, at least from the perspective of those who love the Lone Star state.

Compare the 2020 Ram 2500 Big Horn vs Laramie Trim Levels. What is the difference?

At the Laramie trim, one of the biggest changes is that the truck is now limited to having the crew cab or mega cab configuration. The regular cab, which is matched with an eight-foot box, is only available on the first three trims. With the mega cab configuration, the back seat is spacious, and the overall cab length has been increased by about 11 inches.

The Laramie improves things quite a bit inside the cabin. First, it has power-adjustable driver's and passenger's seats that can move in eight ways. Heated front seats are standard, and the seating material gets upgraded to leather. In the back, the rear seat gets a 60/40 split-bench configuration. This allows more versatility compared with a single bench that either has to be completely folded down or left up.

More conveniences in the Laramie include two glove boxes, one of which can be locked for security purposes. The truck also has a heated steering wheel, an overhead console, a power-operated rear sliding window, and a 115-volt auxiliary power outlet.

The infotainment system on the Laramie is significantly enhanced over that of the Big Horn. It consist of an 8.4-inch touchscreen, nine-speaker Alpine audio system, and smartphone integration to make it simple to connect an Apple or Android device to the vehicle's system. The Laramie has two remote USB ports so more people can charge their devices, and navigation is an option.

Also, the truck now comes with SiriusXM Satellite Radio, a component that's available on the Big Horn but not standard. SiriusXM greatly expands entertainment options, and this could be important to some buyers, especially those who frequently travel through places where traditional radio signals are hard to come by.

More differences between the two trims are found on the outside of the Ram 2500. The Laramie trim uses LED technology in its front fog lamps, reflector headlamps, and taillamps. These LEDS are modern and sleek, and they add to the high-end feel of the truck.

Safety is a category in which there are minor distinctions between the Big Horn and Laramie. While the Big Horn has the same traction control system, back-up camera, and electronic stability control systems that the Laramie has, only the Laramie has a standard ParkSense park-assist system that will notify drivers when they get too close to other objects. Remote start and a security alarm become standard components at the Laramie level as well.

Compare the 2020 Ram 2500 Laramie vs Laramie Longhorn Trim. What is the difference?

While bucket seats are an option on the Laramie and select other trims, they are standard on the Laramie Longhorn. This simple change makes the cabin feel more elegant and can improve the comfort level of the seats. What's impressive in the Laramie Longhorn is that not only are the front seats heated but the second-row seats are heated also. Those front seats also get ventilation to cool things down faster in the summer months. The traditional leather in the Laramie gets swapped out for a premium filigree leather in the Laramie Longhorn.

Elsewhere in the cabin are other differences. Luxury front and rear floor mats are included with the Laramie Longhorn instead of the standard floor mats seen in the Laramie. The Laramie Longhorn has some unique interior accents to help it stand out. Both models have a universal garage-door opener and available wireless charging for convenience.

With these trims, the more advanced 8.4-inch touchscreen is still standard. An upgrade that many will appreciate in the Laramie Longhorn is the addition of GPS Navigation. This gives people turn-by-turn directions to a variety of destinations, and with SiriusXM Traffic Plus and Travel Link, drivers can receive up-to-the-minute information about traffic and road conditions. That being said, both the Laramie and Laramie Longhorn have the option to upgrade to a navigation system with Uconnect 4C technology and a 12-inch display. HD radio and a CD player are other enhancements that start to become standard at the Laramie Longhorn trim.

The Laramie Longhorn has several exterior features that aren't found on the Laramie. For instance, standard on the higher trim are automatic high beams, Bi-LED projector headlamps, and LED bed lighting. The exterior mirrors are built with a memory function so they can quickly move into place, and the windshield wipers can sense rain and automatically turn on when needed. Further, a spray-in bedliner that adds durability is standard on the Laramie Longhorn. Chrome belt moldings add some shine to the Laramie Longhorn, as do its polished aluminum silver pocket wheels.

Compare the 2020 Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn vs Limited Trims. What is the difference?

At these two levels, many premium components are integrated into the trucks. Either of these options would make excellent choices if people have refined tastes and are looking for trucks that can handle themselves well and look good at the same time. There are a few ways in which the Limited is even more enhanced than the Laramie Longhorn, though.

With seating, the Limited takes things one step further, coming with limited leather bucket seats that feel softer and more luxurious than the premium leather in the Laramie Longhorn. The Limited has a high-end door trim panel, and it's the only trim to come standard with a Ramcharger wireless charging pad. If people are frequently in and out of their vehicles, this can be very convenient to have.

Like the Laramie Longhorn, the Limited has overhead LED lamps to provide just enough illumination, accent lighting over the rear door, a wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel, and illuminated entry to add a welcoming touch. 20-inch wheels are an option on the Laramie Longhorn, and they're standard on the Limited, which sits on special satin carbon wheels. Power-deployable running boards are a cool feature that can make the truck almost seem futuristic, and these are only built into the Limited. In addition, the Limited has a trim-exclusive grille as well as chrome body side molding.

In terms of safety, the Limited is more appealing. It's the only trim to have blind spot monitoring and cross-path detection as standard features. Both trims do have the option to get a surround-view camera that would definitely come in handy when parking and/or hooking up a trailer.

The infotainment system that is so enviable in the Laramie Longhorn becomes even more attractive in the Limited. Rather than having an 8.4-inch display as a standard component, the Limited has the 12-inch display built into it.

Which Trim to Choose?

Because they run on such powerful engines, any trim of the 2020 Ram 2500 would be able to get the job done. It's nice that there are many options to choose from, including the regular cab, crew cab, and mega cab, and the available add-ons make it easy to customize the truck.

When figuring out which trim would be most ideal for a particular customer, budget will no doubt play a deciding role. While they have very elegant interiors and some great exterior details, the fact remains that the Laramie Longhorn and Limited are very expensive, perhaps too expensive given many people's budgets.

That leaves the base and mid-level options. The Tradesman would certainly be a practical investment if someone is solely interested in getting a truck for work purposes. Most people, however, will likely want a few more bonuses inside their cabins to enhance comfort and convenience.

After taking everything into consideration, the Laramie pulls ahead of the others as a winner. It has the luxuries that can make a difference, like heated and power-operated seats, more LED lighting, and a power-operated rear sliding window. Plus, it has a better safety and technology package, and having that larger touchscreen and more driver-assist systems give it a distinct edge over the lower trims.