There are many different ways you can camp, from tents and bunkhouses to cabins and campers. It’s a broad hobby that covers a lot of different categories. If you’re the luxury camping type, then you need to stick around. While SUVs and small trucks can tow and haul smaller camper options, most camping trailers and slide-in campers require more strength. When you want to feel like you’re bringing your house along for the trip, you’ll need something large and capable, like the 2022 Ram 3500. While your Ram dealer can tell you everything you need to know about the 3500 lineup, we’ve compiled a list of general facts that make this truck ideal for high-end camping. Get ready to dive into nature without sacrificing your comfort.
#7. Engine Variety!
Wait—what does a diverse engine lineup have to do with camping? The answer is payload and towing specs, of course! Each engine offers a different experience. If you’re solely pursuing truck bed camping and you don’t plan on towing ridiculously heavy loads (you know, like 37,090 pounds worth of a tow-behind camper, for example), then the 6.4L HEMI V8 engine is your best bet. It offers the highest payload capacity of up to 7,680 pounds and can still tow up to 18,210 pounds, which is still far more than your average pickup truck. This is a good choice to keep in mind if you’re into luxury-level truck bed camping. Those high ends aren’t light.
Can’t quite decide which camper route you want to go? You need a truck that can handle either a pull-behind or a truck bed camper. The 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel I-6 engine is more your style with a 6,840-pound max payload capacity and 22,670-pound max towing rating. You can comfortably pursue both luxury travel options with this engine. It’s all in the 6.7L Cummins High-Output Turbo Diesel I-6 if you’re looking for the engine that can handle the biggest tow-behind camper out there. Or if your truck bed camper weighs less than 6,570 pounds when fully loaded, and you feel like you absolutely need that 37,090-pound max tow rating, then the 6.7L Cummins High-Output Turbo Diesel I-6 is your engine.
#6. Towing Camera Technologies
You already know the downsides to truck bed camping. One of them is the fact that your back window pane—along with your rearview mirror—are basically rendered useless. It’s not exactly safe to have your passenger ride in the camper with a walkie-talkie, giving you a play-by-play update of what’s going on behind you like they’re a NASCAR announcer. (Seriously, don’t try that). This is where the Digital Rearview Mirror and 360° Surround View Camera come in to save the day. The Digital Rearview Mirror bypasses the Ram 3500’s back window via an exterior camera. This camera view is visible directly on your rearview mirror.
Towing a gooseneck camper or a traditional pull-behind model? Then the 360° Surround View Camera is at your aid, offering a plethora of camera angles, such as Trailer Surround View, Trailer Reverse Guidance, Forward Facing, and more. It even includes two auxiliary ports so you can place your own cameras in additional locations.
#5. Impressive Exterior Lighting Features
Whether you’re traveling the long, dark, rural road at midnight because someone forgot to bring drinking water, or you’re sitting outside by the campfire and could use some extra illumination, the 2022 Ram 3500 has your back. First off, it has 15° turning headlamps that cover a wide range of terrain, so you can see what’s on the road and what’s next to it. The Ram 3500 also has a LED Trailer Hitch Light, making it easy to load and unload those water bottles and other items when you get to the campsite late at night. LED Bed Lights are built-in as well, making it easy to access all your cargo after dark. This truck is also compatible with official add-on accessories, like Mopar’s RamBar.
#4. Tailgate Accessibility Features
Whether you choose a truck bed camper or a pull-behind, the odds are you’re going to be using your truck bed for cargo and hauling at some point. Truck bed campers typically include jacks that allow you to unload and set up the camper once you arrive at your designated camping spot. Of course, pull-behind campers are set up separately from the truck, no matter what. Either way, post-setup is the ideal time to load up the cooler with ice and get some firewood. Thanks to features like the Ram 3500’s Kick-Out Bed Step and Dampened Tailgate/Power Release technologies, loading and unloading these supplies is a breeze. The Kick-Out Bed Step deploys as needed, and the tailgate can be opened via your key fob.
#3. Bed Outlets!
Let’s get real for a second—living off the grid isn’t for everyone. You can love nature and still rely on some technology. Maybe you want to get in touch with the countryside but still want to use your outdoor cooking station. Conversely, you may want to get away but still keep up with your favorite football team’s scores. No matter what kind of luxury-level camper you are, the Ram 3500’s 115-Volt/400-Watt Bed Outlet can help make sure you enjoy your time away from home. Simply plug your device into the tailgate outlet on the rear driver’s side, and you’ve got enough power to cook a meal or watch the game.
#2. Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring
It’s safe to say that your tow-behind camper trailer tires are pretty important. Even if you check them all before you head out, anything can happen—road debris, age, wear and tear—nothing is for certain. The 2022 Ram 3500 comes with a Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring feature that is essential to have, whether you’re pulling a tow-behind camper or you’re hauling a truck bed camper and towing a boat. You can configure up to four different trailers to this technology and get instant tire pressure readings sent directly to your Driver Information Digital Cluster Display. Put simply, even if you check your tire pressure before you hit the road, the Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring system can notify you if the air starts to drop—whether it be from hitting a nail or inefficient pothole dodging.
#1. Trailer-Supportive Safety Features
Whether you’re loaded down with a truck bed camper and fishing boat, or you’re pulling a travel trailer, driving with a camper isn’t as simple as the everyday commute. We love that the 2022 Ram 3500 comes with trailer-compatible safety features such as Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop. Since all that heavy weight is present, it’s even more important to start stopping early—sometimes that’s easier said than done, though, which is where these safety features kick in. Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking will help slow the Ram 3500 and its trailer when you don’t hit the brakes quickly enough. Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop also helps keep you from getting too close to the vehicle ahead as you venture from your home to the campground and back. While you don’t want to become too dependent on these features, it can be nice to have them as a backup, just in case.
