Ike Gauntlet Extreme Towing Test: 2016 RAM 1500 5.7L HEMI [Video]

2016 RAM 1500 Ike Gauntlet

The latest contender in this year’s round of Ike Gauntlet towing tests is the 2016 Ram 1500 with the 5.7L HEMI. The truck arrived at our offices in Laramie Longhorn guise with leather seats that Nathan and Kent (aka Mr. Truck) apparently liked very much. Bad news for RAM – having one of the nicest interiors in the market didn’t help the truck tow the 9,000-pound horse trailer up the Ike’s 7% grade. Good news for RAM – the 5.7L HEMI V8 did. The engine puts out 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, has cylinder deactivation, and is paired to an 8-speed transmission.

Most of the trucks we test on the Ike are 4×4, but this particular vehicle was 2-wheel-drive only, so we had to penalize it with three sandbags – each weighing 60 pounds – to help make up for it being lighter than its 4×4 equivalent. Luckily, road conditions were good the day of the test.

2016 RAM 1500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4×2

  • Engine: 5.7L HEMI V8
  • Power: 395 @ 5,600 rpm
  • Torque: 410 @ 3,950 rpm
  • Transmission: Torqueflite 8-speed automatic
  • Rear Axle Ratio: 3.92
  • Max Towing: 10,300
  • Max Payload: 1,690
  • EPA-estimated Fuel Economy: 15/22/17 mpg (city/hwy/combined)
  • As-tested Price: $50,805

So, how did the 5.7L RAM 1500 perform during TFL’s signature Ike Gauntlet test? You’ll have to watch the video to get the full results but we’ll give you a hint: It crushed it in the uphill time category but uphill mpg is where it lost the most points… that’s not to say it didn’t fare well against the other trucks this year. We just have very high standards. Stay tuned for more Ike Gauntlet videos… including the much anticipated GMC Canyon Duramax. If you haven’t yet cast your guess on the Canyon’s uphill mpg, head over to the Forum here for your chance to receive a free TFLtruck hat.

Brian Waring
Brian is an engineer by trade but his true passion is anything automotive. He wakes up every morning to search the web for the latest industry news. He enjoys taking his Tacoma 4×4 off-road in the mountains of Colorado where he spends his free time hiking, biking, and snowboarding with his wife and dogs near their Rocky Mountain home.