Is Dodge Ram body-on-frame?

Yes. Ram pickup trucks are built on a body-on-frame chassis, a traditional full-frame design that supports heavy towing and rugged use. The Ram brand—formerly marketed as Dodge Ram—continues this approach in its pickups today, while other Ram-branded vehicles like the ProMaster van use different architectures.

To understand what this means, this article examines how body-on-frame versus unibody architectures work, the historical branding shift from Dodge to Ram, and how current Ram models are constructed. It also clarifies which Ram models fall into each category.

Background: body-on-frame vs unibody

Body-on-frame means the vehicle's body is mounted on a separate steel frame. This layout has long been favored for full-size pickups and heavy-duty work thanks to its strength, durability, and repairability after damage. Unibody combines body and frame into a single structure, often yielding a lighter weight and smoother ride—common in most passenger cars and many crossovers. In the Ram lineup, the pickups are generally body-on-frame, while other Ram models can use unibody or other architectures.

Brand history: Dodge to Ram

For decades, Dodge built trucks under the Dodge name. In 2009–2010 Chrysler reorganized its truck lineup, and the pickup division was rebranded as Ram Trucks, with the badge shifted to Ram on the trucks. This change preserved the traditional body-on-frame construction in the core trucks while updating styling and technology.

Current Ram lineup and construction

The Ram pickup family maintains a body-on-frame platform for its main models, designed to endure the demands of towing, payload, and off-road use. Below is a quick breakdown of the main pickups and an exception in the Ram family.

• Ram 1500: Full-size, half-ton pickup built on a robust body-on-frame chassis; modern generations use a boxed frame with a coil-sprung rear suspension and a sophisticated multi-link front suspension for a balance of ride comfort and capability.


• Ram 2500 and Ram 3500: Heavy-duty variants built on an even more rugged body-on-frame platform, typically with reinforced rails and leaf-spring rear suspension to maximize load-carrying capacity and towing performance.


• Ram ProMaster and ProMaster City: Commercial vans that use a front-wheel-drive, unibody-based design derived from the Fiat Ducato, not a body-on-frame truck chassis.

In this context, the core Ram pickups remain true to body-on-frame construction, a hallmark of traditional American trucks, with the ProMaster family representing a non-truck branch of the Ram lineup that uses a different architecture.

What this means for buyers and owners

Understanding the frame type helps buyers gauge durability, repairability, and towing expectations. Body-on-frame pickups typically offer easier repairs after heavy use and are well suited to high-strength towing, while unibody vehicles may offer better efficiency and ride comfort in non-towing scenarios.

Summary

Yes—Dodge Ram pickups are built on a body-on-frame chassis, aligning with the long-established approach for full-size trucks. The core Ram trucks (1500, 2500, 3500) use body-on-frame construction, while non-pickup Ram models such as the ProMaster van employ unibody or other architectures. The Dodge-to-Ram branding shift in 2010 did not change the fundamental frame design for the pickup line.

Are Ram trucks unibody?

It is said to be a traditional body-on-frame design
It will be an old-fashioned body-on-frame design, not the previously-reported unibody model. We've known the rough timeline since January, when the United Auto Workers confirmed that Ram had told workers at an Illinois plant they'd be building a midsize truck in 2027.

Are trucks unibody or body-on-frame?

Unibody trucks have the body and frame integrated into one piece, offering better on-road handling, a smoother ride, and better fuel economy. Body-on-frame trucks have a separate body mounted on a strong chassis, which provides greater off-road durability, higher towing and payload capacities, and is often cheaper to repair. The best choice depends on whether the priority is on-road comfort and efficiency (unibody) or heavy-duty capability and ruggedness (body-on-frame).
 
This video explains the differences between unibody and body-on-frame construction: 1mTA Automotive technologyYouTube · Feb 8, 2025
Unibody Trucks

• Construction: The body and frame are one single structure. 
• Pros:
  • Lighter weight, leading to better fuel economy. 
  • Improved handling and a smoother, more car-like ride on paved roads. 
  • Better rigidity. 
  • Can be safer in a crash as the structure is designed to absorb impact. 
• Cons:
  • Lower towing and payload capacities compared to most body-on-frame trucks. 
  • Less durable for severe off-road use. 
  • More difficult and expensive to repair after major body damage. 
• Examples: Honda Ridgeline, Hyundai Santa Cruz. 

You can watch this video to see an example of unibody construction: 1mIts StuderYouTube · Feb 21, 2024
Body-on-Frame Trucks

• Construction: A separate, heavy-duty frame supports the body. 
• Pros:
  • Higher towing and payload capacities. 
  • More robust and durable for off-roading because the frame can absorb more abuse without affecting the body. 
  • Easier and cheaper to repair after collisions, as the body can often be replaced without affecting the frame. 
• Cons:
  • Heavier, which can lead to lower fuel economy. 
  • Bumpy and less refined ride on paved roads, with a more isolated feel. 
• Examples: Toyota Tacoma, Jeep Gladiator, Toyota Tundra. 

This video shows an example of a body-on-frame truck: 54sToyota Canada YouTube · Jul 22, 2016

Is Ram body-on-frame?

Now, sources familiar with the matter have confirmed to Mopar Insiders that the midsize Ram pickup will use a traditional body-on-frame architecture. Previously, there was speculation that it would be a unibody truck, perhaps an Americanized version of the Ram Rampage that's marketed in South America.

What are Ram truck bodies made of?

The frame of the 2019 Ram 1500 comprises 98% high-strength steel to improve durability, reduce weight, and increase rigidity for better handling. Meanwhile, 54% of the truck bed and cab is made up of AHSS.