Ram Truck (Chassis Cab) 5500 Chassis Cab
Heavy-duty pickup, chassis cab • Production 2008–present
About the Ram Truck (Chassis Cab) 5500 Chassis Cab
The Ram 5500 Chassis Cab is Ram's Class 5 medium-duty truck. Built on the Ram 3500/4500/5500 platform with Class 5 GVWR for severe-duty pickup work. The Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel inline-6 + Aisin heavy-duty automatic is the only powertrain (no V8 option in chassis cab form). Like the 3500 and 4500, the Ram 5500 is heavily used in hotshot trucking — particularly for haulers carrying heavier loads that exceed 3500/4500 capacity. Direct competitor to Ford F-550 and Chevy Silverado 5500HD.
Overview
The Ram 5500 Chassis Cab is Ram's Class 5 medium-duty truck. Built on the Ram 3500/4500/5500 platform with Class 5 GVWR for severe-duty pickup work. The Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel inline-6 + Aisin heavy-duty automatic is the only powertrain (no V8 option in chassis cab form). Like the 3500 and 4500, the Ram 5500 is heavily used in hotshot trucking — particularly for haulers carrying heavier loads that exceed 3500/4500 capacity. Direct competitor to Ford F-550 and Chevy Silverado 5500HD.
Specifications
- Manufacturer
- Ram Truck (Chassis Cab)
- Class
- Class 5
- Vehicle type
- Heavy-duty pickup, chassis cab
- Cab type
- Regular cab, crew cab
- Production years
- 2008–present
- Applications
- Hotshot, severe-duty pickup, dump, service body, utility, RV hauling
- Typical engines
- Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel inline-6
- Typical transmissions
- Aisin AS69RC 6-speed automatic
- GVWR range
- 19,500 lb (Class 5 max)
Design and engineering
Heavy-duty Ram cab shared with 3500/4500. Chassis cab configurations for body installation. Cummins 6.7L produces 360-420 hp depending on configuration. Aisin AS69RC is rated for higher input torque than competing transmissions.
Generations and major changes
Market position and popularity
Ram 5500 is the de facto Class 5 hotshot trucking choice — Cummins inline-6 reliability is preferred over Ford 6.7L V8 by hotshot owner-operators. Strong sales in severe-duty contractor markets, RV hauling, and large-trailer operations.
Who buys this truck
Hotshot truckers, RV haulers, severe-duty contractors, owner-operators needing Class 5 capability with pickup-style ergonomics.
Common problems and reliability notes
Cummins 6.7L DEF/SCR issues at 150K+ miles. Front-end ball joints and tie rods wear at 100K-150K miles on heavily-loaded applications. Some 2019-2021 Ram 5500s had DEF heater recalls.
Pros and cons
✓ Pros
- • Cummins 6.7L inline-6 — proven engine
- • Aisin heavy-duty automatic
- • Best in class for hotshot/RV hauling
- • Strong torque under load
⚠ Cons
- • DEF system issues at higher mileage
- • Front-end wear on heavy applications
- • Cab less spacious than Ford