Texas Ram Truck Owners rejoice! Ram is bringing back the Lone Star Edition to the 2019 Ram Heavy Duty truck lineup! The truck just debuted in Dallas at the DFW Auto Show today! Here is everything you NEED to know!
What Is Ram’s Lone Star Edition?
The Lone Star Edition Ram trucks are an exclusive edition for the state of Texas. It was initially offered in 2002 and Ram boasts it is a truck designed by Texans for Texans. It is only distributed in Texas and it was the first model made specifically for the state of Texas.
What is Included in the 2019 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 Lone Star Edition?
Distinguished by its Lone Star tailgate and interior badges, the 2019 Ram Heavy Duty Lone Star is a powerful truck designed to meet the needs of Texas truck owners. 2019 Lone Star Heavy Duty Ram trucks come standard with Class V receiver hitches, electronic trailer brake controllers, and power trailer tow-mirrors. The trucks also include chrome door handles, bumpers, and grilles on the exterior of the truck. Lone Star trucks feature halogen reflective headlamps or upgraded LED headlamps. There are two available wheel options, either 18″ Steel wheels, or 20″ Chrome or painted aluminum wheels.
The 2019 Ram Heavy Duty Lone Star edition also offers Texans a variety of interior color schemes and two separate interior packages. The colors available for the interior are black/diesel Grey, Black/Light Brown, Light Frost/Black, and all Black premium cloth seats accented with unique finishes. An available equipment group package gives the Lone Star edition a closed upper dash compartment accented with a Lone Star emblem, power driver seats, and their 8.4″ Uconnect display.
Available Configurations: 2019 Ram HD Lone Star edition
2019 Lone Star edition trucks will be available in all cab configurations. This means trucks will be available in regular cabs, crew cabs, and even Mega Cabs for 2019! Bed lengths of 6’4″ for crew cab and mega cab models, and 8′ for regular cab and crew models. Trucks can also feature either two-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive. Engines available include the 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel or the standard 6.4L Hemi gas engine.
The 2019 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 Lone Star editions will also be available with a monochromatic sport appearance package or a black appearance package to give truck owners a more personalized exterior. A tow-tech group and a safety group are two additional upgrades for truck owners wanting some more modern technology. 2019 Ram Lone Star trucks are also available with a number of function-centric upgrade groups like the bed-utility group, 4×4 Offroad group, a protection group, max towing package, and the premium lighting group.
How much does the 2019 Ram Lone Star Edition Cost?
2019 Ram 2500 Lone Star pricing begins at $37,465 plus a $1,695 destination charge. 2019 Ram 3500 Lone Star trucks begin at $39,095, plus destination. Remember, this is a base model though! The addition of one of the available Cummins engine will bump the price from $9,100 to $11,795 depending on the variation you select. Mega cab models also result in an up-charge of $1500 if it’s the same as the standard 2019 Ram truck pricing.
Upgrade Options 2019 Lone Star Edition
Monochromatic Sport Appearance Package $1,195
Black Appearance Package $2,595
Tow-Tech Group $2,425
Safety Group $2,195
So You Don’t Live in Texas
No worries! Ram released their new trucks with a myriad of new features and options to meet the needs of truck owners all across the country! You can read our complete article about the 2019 Ram Heavy Duty trucks here. Make sure you stay tuned! We will be covering everything about the New 2019 Ram Diesel trucks at Diesel Resource!
Manufacturers equip many trucks with Nerf Bars, Running boards or step systems from the factory. These “stock” running boards or nerf bars aren’t always the highest quality or appealing to the eyes. They have a very important function though. Nerf Bars, Running Boards, and other truck step systems make getting in and out of your truck easier. They also add much needed protection to the sides of your truck. The stock running boards on my 2017 megacab saved me big time. Last year I was driving through a parking lot and an old Camry backed into me! It only bent my running board in a little bit. It easily bent right back, and it saved my truck from some serious body work. Up until that incident, I was never a believer in running boards or nerf bars. Now, I wouldn’t drive my truck without them.
What’s The Difference Between Nerf Bars, Steps, and Running Boards?
Even though nerf bars, running boards, and other truck step systems serve the same purpose, they aren’t the same thing. Here’s the breakdown:
Nerf Bars
Nerf bars vary in size, and can be oval or round shaped. Depending on the Nerf bars, there can either be steps that extend from the bar or they can be one long stepping “platform” like running boards. The grip section is found in two or three areas, beneath the doors and possibly one by the bed. These help prevent you from slipping and give you better grip when stepping in and out of the truck. Some Nerf bars have steps that “drop” significantly lower than running boards or other nerf bars. They are very beneficial for owners of lifted trucks.
Sometimes placed under the Nerf Bar category, steps are another option for diesel truck owners. Instead of extending alongside the cab, they mount only in certain areas. They’re not as flashy, however, they offer truck owners a less invasive, low-profile stepping platform. Truck steps are placed beneath the doors for easy access into the cab.
Running Boards are “boards” that run along the cab of your truck. They are typically rectangularly shaped or slightly rounded. When they feature a rounded shape, the stepping area is flat which allows you to comfortably step up from any position on the running boards. Many feature grip sections along the entire board, however some have grip sections underneath the doors and by the bed. Running boards can be electric! When you open a door to the truck, they detract. When you close the door, they retract and sit flush alongside the truck.
Now that you understand the difference between the three, it’s up to you to decide which option makes the most sense for your truck. There are a lot of available options out there!
If you’re looking for a set of running boards check out our N-Fab Growler Step System review! These are the running boards we are running on our Diesel Resource truck! We love them!
Diesel trucks aren’t cheap. Have you seen the price tag on a new 2019 truck? Every truck, even the basic ones, can put you out 50 grand. What about the Laramie Longhorn trucks for Ram, The Limited models for Ford, or Chevrolet’s High Country Edition? Now you’re out over 60, maybe even 70 grand. Is this what you have to pay to step into a newer diesel truck? What if I told you that you can save yourself thousands of dollars on a new or used diesel truck? Well, you can, and I’ve created 10 tips for getting the best deal on a new diesel truck.
I worked at a car dealership in college, so I’ve had the chance to see the inner-workings of a dealership. I’ve also spent massive amounts of time in your shoes, navigating dealerships and trying to get the best deal possible on a truck. So, what can you do to get the best deal on a diesel truck? I’m going to give you my 10 tips for getting the best deal on a diesel truck below.
1. Do Your Research
Research is an important first step to getting the best deal on a new diesel truck. Before you even go look a truck, you need to find out how trucks are priced in your area and surrounding areas. What I typically do is use car-finding apps like Cargurus, AutoTrader, or Carfax and make a list of potential trucks i’m interested in. For new trucks, I think Cargurus is probably your best bet. If you’re looking at pre-owned trucks, use Carfax as any truck listed there will give you a FREE Carfax Report. These sites or app will allow you to enter your zip code and find all of the trucks available within a certain radius. You can probably narrow down your options significantly, as you can see prices, mileage, features, and more about all of these trucks! Once you’ve done this, you can map out where you want to go and what trucks you want to see! I may look at 10 to 20 trucks in person before I find the right truck, and more importantly, the right purchase point.
2. Don’t Fall In Love With The Truck You’re Buying
We’ve all experienced that feeling, being googly-eyed over a truck. You think about all of the potential upgrades you could do to make it the perfect truck. It’s written all over your face, you LOVE the truck. How could that be a bad thing? Well, the last thing you want a dealer to see is how much you are into a truck. Then, they feel like they’ve got you hooked, and you may be unable to get the deal you want. Play it cool. You can be impressed with a truck, but keep it on the inside. Make the dealer feel like they need to work to give you a deal. Make them work for you. I’m not saying don’t be nice, but try and contain your excitement!
Extra Tip: If you want to take it a step further when you’re buying a used truck, you can. When I visually inspect a vehicle, I point out any and all flaws to my salesman or sales consultant. Do a thorough inspection inside, underneath, and around the truck. Many times you can find an issue the dealership may not be aware of, and you can save yourself some money!
3. Be Willing To Walk Away
Don’t ever think that this truck is “The One”. There are literally hundreds or thousands of trucks within 100 miles of you. The best deal may be away from your local dealership! I RARELY use the dealerships in my hometown. By traveling 50 miles, I can have a much better purchasing experience and get a much better deal. You don’t want to get stuck on one truck and then be forced into an uncomfortable purchasing decision.
Even if you are close to getting the deal you want, walk away. Don’t settle! Dealerships get kickbacks from manufacturers for volume and sales people get commission even on a “losing” deal. You’ll probably get a call or text a day or two later to come buy the truck at the price you want. If you don’t, just move on!
4. Don’t Fall For Dealer Mind Games
If you’re shopping at traditional dealerships, the odds are that you’ll encounter a lot-lizard or two when trying to find the best deal on a new diesel truck. They’re probably going to try to play games to get you to buy today. They’ll also probably lie to you and say, “This price isn’t going any lower.” Dealerships make money on trade-ins, the actual diesel truck you buy, kickbacks from manufacturers, and financing. There is always room for negotiation, unless the dealership uses a no-haggle pricing strategy. If that’s the case, the price is usually priced lower anyways. The truck probably isn’t going anywhere either. As stated in one of my previous tips for getting the best deal on a new diesel truck, just walk away!
5. Take Advantage Of Rebates
Have you seen a truck commercial that mentions incentives or rebates? Rebates can save you thousands of dollars off of a new truck. There are numerous available rebates at any given time, but not all of them are easily found. For example, if you’re a business owner, you can most likely qualify for commercial rebates! Were you a member of the military? Most manufacturers offer a military discount. Disabled or handicapped consumers can also get their own specific rebates. Here in Florida, if you’re a member of the Florida Association of Realtors, you can even get a rebate for that. The last truck I purchased, I got for $10,000 below MSRP. You heard that right, $10,000 below MSRP. Rebates are probably the most important factor on getting a good deal on a new diesel truck.
Extra Tip: From my personal experience, Ram and Chevrolet usually have the best rebates at any given time. Check online and google rebates for your manufacturer of choice. Make sure you ask your sales consultant or sales manager you’re dealing with about rebates too!
6. Trade-In Smart Or Don’t Trade In At All
Trading in another vehicle can be a life-saver! When you a trade a vehicle in, you can save significantly on taxes! This is because you only get taxed on the difference between your trade-in and the vehicle you’re buying. For example, if you trade in a vehicle at $25,000, for a truck priced at $30,000, you only get taxed on the difference of $5000. If you’re thinking about trading in a truck in good condition, especially if it has low miles, the dealer may want to re-sell it! It is much cheaper for dealerships to acquire inventory by trade-in than by auction! This is because of administrative fees, wages, and transportation costs the dealership incurs! Therefore, the dealerships can pay you more than auction value for your vehicle.
Take a look at the Kelly Blue Book Car Value tool. You can get a basic range of what your vehicle is worth. Keep in mind, you’re never going to get full retail value. You might be able to get more money selling your truck to private party if you have an old gem like a 7.3L Powerstroke or 5.9L Cummins. Heavily modified diesel trucks should be returned to stock or should be sold by private party. Dealerships won’t give you more money for those American Forces or those fox shocks. You definitely won’t get what you put into the truck. With stock trucks however, it’s often not worth selling your vehicle private party because while you might get a thousand or two thousand more, you miss out on your tax savings!
7. Buy New, It Might Be A Better Deal
At least where I live in Central Florida, used diesel truck pricing can be very close, or even above new truck pricing! I literally saw a 2014 GMC Sierra 2500HD with 10,000 miles priced at $58,000 a couple of months ago. That’s about the price of a new Denali or SLT after incentives and rebates. If pricing is close, I tend to just buy new. I just bought a 2018 Ram 2500 Megacab for $52,000. Like I mentioned above, the MSRP was around $62000. The weeks before, I had visited numerous dealerships looking for a used Megacab but no dealerships would go below 47 or $48,000. That’s with 10-20,000 miles too! For a couple thousand more than the used trucks I looked at, I got a brand new truck, no headaches, and a full warranty.
8. Save Money Financing
Dealerships make money financing automotive loans. Don’t be a fool and think you need to use their inflated interest rates! If you’re above a 700 credit score, you can normally get below 5% APR. For my last truck, I got 3% APR for 72 months. Most dealerships accept external financing, so take advantage of it! Shop around for the best interest rate! Small, local credit unions usually have the best rates. Every percentage point counts! If your credit needs work, you might have to settle for a worse interest rate. Make your payments on time and in-full. In a year’s time, you can refinance and get a better interest rate! Financing plays a big role in making sure you get the best deal on a diesel truck! Don’t overlook this vital detail!
9. Buy Commercial
If you’ve never had the pleasure of purchasing a vehicle from the commercial side of a dealership, you are seriously missing out. Commercial salesmen typically offer you a much better buying experience. They are laid back, no-pressure, and willing to do everything they can for you. Commercial departments work in terms of volume. Commercial departments get paid by their automotive manufacturer if they meet a certain quota of sales every month or quarter. Because of this, they usually offer customers much better pricing. For our commercial vehicles and trucks, we use Crystal Automotive in Crystal River. If you live around Central Florida, you seriously need to give Don over there a shout. He always gets me the best deal on a new truck. Anyways, by using the commercial department, you can help get yourself the best deal on a diesel truck!
10. Never Pay Sticker Price or MSRP
I can’t stress this enough, never pay MSRP or Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, on a new vehicle. Take advantage of rebates. Negotiate! There is always room for negotiation to take place. You can ask dealerships to throw in things like tinted windows, running boards, floor mats, or other accessories to get yourself a better deal too! Sometimes, you can even get free maintenance or service for a year or two! Be creative! Getting the best deal on a diesel truck is all about structuring a deal that is best for you!
Buying A New Truck in 2019?
Check out our articles on the new 2019 Ford Superduty, 2019 Ram Heavy Duty trucks, or the new Chevrolet or GMC Duramax! We’ve had to chance to drive some of these trucks, and even if we haven’t driven them personally, we have a ton of insider knowledge! Want to watch a video showing you the trucks instead? Here’s one of our video reviews of the 2019 Ram 3500 HD.
Running boardsserve an important purpose. They make getting in and out of the cab easier, while simultaneously adding some extra protection to the side of your truck. Most trucks come from the factory with running boards, but they’re often of a lesser quality, unaesthetic, and offer less than satisfactory performance and durability. Many truck owners turn to aftermarket steps. There are literally hundreds of options out there for every make and model truck. About a month ago, we received a free set of N-Fab’s Growler Step System from RealTruck.com to try out on our 2018 Ram 2500 Megacab. After installing the running boards and using them on my truck for a couple weeks, I wanted to give you guys my honest opinion about these new steps. Here’s what I thought!
Factory Running Boards
Growler Step System Installed on a 2018 Ram 2500 Megacab Bighorn
Back-To-Front View
Hardware & Components
Side-by-side View of Factory Running Boards Vs. N-Fab Growler Step System
Side-by-Side View From Above of N-Fab Growler Step System
Ram has manufactured the 4th generation Cummins trucks for 10 years now. That’s ten years without a significant body style change! We know the new 5th generation Ram Heavy Duty is coming this Fall, but we didn’t know about some impressive new features until two weeks ago. We had the chance to drive the new 5th generation Cummins in the El Dorado Canyon in Nevada. Here are ten new features of the 5th generation Ram Heavy Duty you need to know about.
12″ Uconnect Display
Ram’s new 5th Generation Heavy Duty trucks boast the most impressive head unit we have ever seen in a pickup truck. The new touchscreen 12″ Uconnect system gives users the ability to configure the display in many different ways. The entire screen can show one app or divide into two different screens! This is a major upgrade over the old 8.4″ Uconnect display found in the 4th generation Ram trucks. Now, you can view your navigation on one half of the screen, while simultaneously viewing your apple carplay or Media screens on the other half.
New Camera Views
Heavy Duty Ram trucks finally received a 360 Degree available camera. This is a feature we have been waiting for as these trucks are massive! The 360 degree camera makes navigating tight spaces easy and less stressful! They didn’t just stop there either. The new 5th Generation Ram trucks also feature a split-screen camera view giving you a line of sight down the entire length of the truck and trailer. The screen adjusts left or right on either the passenger or driver’s side to give you an even better view.
Ram introduced an optional auxiliary camera to help keep an eye on precious cargo too. You can position the auxiliary camera in the interior or exterior of your trailer. This feature gives 2019 Ram truck owner’s a configurable camera view for whatever they tow. This is a very valuable asset to truck owners who frequently tow expensive horses. Now you finally have the capability of keeping an eye on your horses while you drive!
2019 Ram Heavy Duty 360 camera display on Uconnect 4C 12-inch touchscreen
2019 Ram Heavy Duty UConnect 4C split screen trailer hookup
Power Running Boards
If you’re a diesel enthusiast like me, you’ve probably considered installing a set of Amp Research Power steps on your truck. They give you the functionality of a running board, without having to look at an ugly set of running boards every time you approach your truck. Higher trim 5th generation Ram HD trucks will now feature power running boards. When a door to the cabin is opened, the running boards extend, giving you easy access into the cab. After the door is shut, the steps retract, hiding from sight! Ram definitely accomplished form and function with the addition of this new feature.
Power Running Boards
Harman Kardon Sound System
I previously owned a 2017 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn truck for about a year and I loved the Alpine sound system that came with the truck. Sound quality was fantastic and I could easily adjust my audio settings to match whatever type of music I was listening to. Ram’s 5th Generation HD trucks in higher trims feature a redesigned, 17-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. Harman Kardon sound systems are commonly used in luxury cars like Mercedes, BMW, or Maserati. On the new Ram Heavy Duty trucks, this system even complete with a 750-Watt Amplifier and an 8″ Subwoofer. Ram clearly spared no expense when it came to interior design this year, but this sound system is definitely a highlight!
2019 Ram Heavy Duty 17 speaker Harman Kardon 750 watt sound system
Bed Lowering System
Loading gooseneck or fifth-wheel trailers can often be a pain in the butt. You have to line up your truck properly with the trailer. Then you may have to raise or lower your trailer to properly connect it to your truck. 5th Generation Ram trucks now have a really neat feature to make loading your trailers easier. By pressing a button, you can activate Ram’s new Bed Lowering Mode. This new feature lowers the bed about 2 inches, allowing you to possibly avoid adjusting trailer height. It’s a convenient feature that makes accessing your bed slightly easier. I’m a fan of anything that saves me time or effort, so I’m all for the new bed lowering system.
Bed Lowering Mode
New Led Headlights from the factory /w Adaptive Front Lighting System
Factory headlights are disappointing across the board when it comes to diesel trucks. Even though projector headlights have been utilized on the 4th generation Ram trucks, the light output from the factory halogen bulb is still very poor. One of the first upgrades I complete on any truck I purchase is LED or HID lighting. The light output is much greater, allowing you to see better at night. Ram’s new 2019 Heavy duty trucks now have three available headlight variations. Lower trims, will receive new halogen reflective headlights. Middle trims will gain LED lighting in a reflective housing. High end models like the Laramie Longhorn or Limited models will receive LED projector headlights.
Models using LED projector headlamps also gain Ram’s Adaptive Front Lighting System or AFS. The AFS system gives headlamps up to 15 degrees of movement in each direction of travel. This will help drivers gain better vision when making turns at night!
Reflective LED HeadLamps
Projector LED HeadLamps
Reflective Halogen Headlamps are found on lower trims, like this Tradesman model.
Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring System
TPMS or Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems are standard in practically every diesel truck available. What about your trailer’s tires though? Trailer tire pressure is very important when towing heavy loads. It can be really time consuming to check trailer tires when they have more than one axle too. One of the most practical features added in the new 5th generation Ram heavy duty trucks is a new trailer tire pressure monitoring system. Now you can monitor trailer tire pressure from the instrument cluster. The new TPM systems can be used with up to four different trailers, giving you tire pressure of up to 12 trailer tires at a time.
Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring System
New Safety Features
Several safety features were added to the 5th generation Ram trucks. Adaptive cruise control was added to give drivers a “smarter” cruise control. This feature helps slow the vehicle down when approaching someone ahead of you. Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking also help drivers brake more quickly and provide a boost to the safety aspect of driving a Ram Heavy Duty truck.
Adaptive Cruise Control
2019 Ram Heavy Duty 360 camera and proximity sensors
2019 Ram Heavy Duty Blind spot monitoring
Modern Tailgate
While the tailgates found on 5th generation Ram heavy duty trucks are still no match for the new GMC tailgates, they did receive a couple of modern touches. Tailgates drop by pressing a button on nicer trims. Ram also added dampening control to remove the dreaded slamming of your tailgate. Ram also incorporated a new bed step that provides an aesthetic and functional solution to getting into your bed.
New 2019 Ram HD Tailgate
SiriusXM with 360L
With the 5th generation Ram Heavy Duty, Ram partnered with SiriusXM to give truck owners the ultimate radio experience. SiriusXM 360L includes more than 200 channels, thousands of recorded, on-demand programs, and increased play-by-play sports offerings. SiriusXM 360L recommends different channels and shows to you based on your preferences and listening habits. Perhaps the coolest feature however, is the ability to customize the settings and presets of multiple drivers.
