Ram 2500HD-3500HD Exhaust System Tips

The Dodge Ram HD (also known as the Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500) has enjoyed a special place in the hearts of heavy duty truck fans thanks largely to the availability of a Cummins diesel engine across most of the lineup. This turbocharged beast of a drivetrain provides tons of torque and exceptional reliability. It also offers great tuning potential, and as such it has caught the eye of aftermarket exhaust companies looking to improve on the stock pipe and muffler designs that came with these trucks.

Gasoline engines are also available in the HD lineup, including a HEMI option and in the early days a mighty V10. This means that performance exhaust systems designed for the Dodge Ram 1500 in many cases also fit certain Dodge Ram HD trucks.

There are several different drivetrains that can be found in the Dodge Ram HD:

• A 5.9L, 245 horsepower V8
• A V10 displacing 8.0 liters and throwing down 300 horses.
• A 5.7L HEMI V8.
• A 5.9L Cummins turbodiesel eight-cylinder engine offering up as much as 555 lb-ft of torque.
• A 6.7L Cummins V8, also making use of a turbo, that bumps torque output up to 650 lb-ft.

There’s no question that serious towing jobs demands a diesel mill under the hood, and there are certainly a good number of aftermarket diesel exhaust specialists offering up full systems for both the 5.9L and 6.7L Cummins power plants. Not only is it possible to find a stock-looking replacement system that will fit where the factory mufflers were originally installed, but there are also a number of big-rig influenced piping kits out there that will run single and dual stacks up through the truck bed and into the sky just behind the cab.

The brands offering aftermarket exhaust options for the Dodge Ram HD includes the following:

• Borla
• Banks
• Bassani
• Bully Dog
• Doug Thorley
• Magnaflow
• Flowmaster
• Gibson
• JBA
• MBRP

You will notice that in addition to the usual truck exhaust suspects, there are a few diesel-focused brands to be found on that list, such as Banks, Bully Dog and RBP. These companies offer a fairly wide variety of different options for drivers interested in swapping out their meek and mild stock pipes for something a little more attention-grabbing – and better-flowing.

Dodge Ram HD Exhaust Recommendations

1. Form over function? Vertical stacks look great, but they can take up space in your bed and also introduce heat issues for your paint – depending on how they are installed. If you want to run a bed cover on your Dodge Ram HD, vertical stacks might not be the best way to go.

2. Tuning. If you decide to fully tune your turbodiesel, which many Ram owners do, you will want to make sure that you match your exhaust system to your power delivery expectations. Consult with an expert before selecting exhaust components and you’ll save yourself time and money in the long run. You might also consider a Banks Power Pack, which include exhaust and engine tuning upgrades.

3. Loudness. It’s no secret the diesel engines can be loud, so before you go whole hog on a rip-snorting system decide whether you can live with rattling glass and the kind of idle that wakes up the neighbors. You might want to err on the side of caution when it comes to choosing how many decibels you are capable of tolerating during your daily driving.