Used Ram 1500 vs Used Ford F-150: Which Is Better for MN Buyers? | Jay Malone CDJR

If you’re cross-shopping used trucks in central Minnesota, you’re almost certainly looking at the Ram 1500 and the Ford F-150. They’re the two top-selling half-ton trucks in America and they sit on the same lot at Jay Malone Motors. We’re one dealership with two new-vehicle franchises — Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram on one side, Ford on the other — which means we sell both and we can give you the honest answer.

Most dealerships will tell you whichever truck they sell is the better one. We can’t do that. So here’s the real comparison from the Ram side of our showroom — including the categories where the F-150 wins, because there are a few.

What Our Actual Sales Data Tells Us

We sold 8 used Ram 1500s and 15 used F-150s in the first four months of 2026. The F-150 outsells the Ram 1500 on our lot — that’s the truth and we’re not going to pretend otherwise. But the gap is narrower than the national split would predict, and the buyers who choose Ram are doing it deliberately.

Ram 1500 buyers tend to be people who’ve driven both, sat in both, and concluded that the Ram fits their priorities better. They’re not picking it as a fallback — they’re picking it because something specific draws them to it. Usually it’s the interior, the HEMI V8, the ride quality, or the price advantage. Let’s walk through where Ram earns those picks and where the F-150 has a fair claim.

Interior, Ride & Comfort — Where Ram Pulls Ahead

This is where the DT-generation Ram 1500 (2019+) genuinely separates from the F-150. Most reviewers, most owners, and a lot of cross-shoppers conclude the same thing: Ram has the nicer interior in the segment.

Ram interior advantages:

• 12-inch vertical Uconnect touchscreen (Laramie+ on DT trucks) — arguably the best-looking infotainment display in the half-ton segment
• Material quality on Laramie, Limited, and Limited Longhorn trims is closer to luxury-SUV grade than truck grade
• Real-wood interior accents on Limited Longhorn — you don’t see this in the F-150 at any trim level
• Multi-link coil rear suspension delivers a measurably smoother ride than the F-150’s leaf-spring rear — both unloaded daily driving and when carrying weight
• Active-Level Four-Corner Air Suspension (available Laramie+ on DT) is the only true air suspension in the half-ton segment
• Multi-function split-fold tailgate is genuinely more usable for everyday tasks than the F-150’s offerings

If you spend serious time in your truck — long commutes, road trips, working out of it — the Ram interior advantage compounds. Coil-spring ride quality on rural MN roads (frost heaves, gravel, hard township winters) is a real day-to-day quality-of-life improvement, not just a spec-sheet talking point.

Where F-150 wins on interior:

• BlueCruise hands-free highway driving (2022+) is a genuinely impressive system that Ram doesn’t match in this year range
• Work-surface tailgate is more useful than Ram’s tailgate for actual jobsite use
• Pro Power Onboard 7.2 kW generator (PowerBoost Hybrid) is unmatched in the segment

Edge: Ram — on interior quality, ride, and daily comfort. Edge: Ford on specific tech features that do work (BlueCruise, Pro Power Onboard).

Engine Options Head-to-Head

This is where the F-150 has the clearest advantage on paper. Ford offered up to five engine choices across 2015-2024; Ram offered three or four. But more options isn’t always better — sometimes a focused lineup is the right call.

Category	Ram 1500	Ford F-150
Base V6	3.6L Pentastar V6 (305 hp)	3.3L V6 (290 hp)
Turbo V6	None (2015-2024)	2.7L & 3.5L EcoBoost V6
V8	5.7L HEMI V8 (395 hp)	5.0L Coyote V8 (385-400 hp)
Diesel	3.0L EcoDiesel (2014-2023)	3.0L Power Stroke (2018-2021)
Hybrid	eTorque mild hybrid (V6 & V8)	3.5L PowerBoost full hybrid (2021+)
Top performance	TRX (702 hp supercharged V8)	Raptor (450 hp 3.5L EcoBoost)

Where Ram wins on engines:

• The 5.7L HEMI V8 is one of the most-loved truck V8s ever built. Naturally aspirated, simple architecture, instantly recognizable sound. Available across nearly every Ram trim. If you want a V8 in your truck for V8 reasons — the sound, the feel, the simplicity — the HEMI is a stronger emotional case than Ford’s 5.0L Coyote
• The TRX is in its own category at 702 hp — the Raptor doesn’t play in that league. Ford only matches it with the V8 Raptor R, which is dramatically more expensive
• The base 3.6L Pentastar V6 has more horsepower than the F-150 base V6 (305 hp vs 290 hp) and is one of the most-produced and most-proven engines in Stellantis history
• The 3.0L EcoDiesel was offered for more model years than the Ford 3.0L Power Stroke and is the more-developed of the two half-ton diesels

Where F-150 wins on engines: Pure variety. The EcoBoost lineup is genuinely good — the 2.7L is a surprisingly capable everyday engine, the 3.5L is a serious tow rig. The PowerBoost Hybrid is the only true full hybrid in the segment with the unique Pro Power Onboard generator for jobsite or backup power. If you want a turbocharged V6 or a real hybrid, you have to shop Ford.

Edge: Ford on engine variety. Edge: Ram if you specifically want a HEMI V8, the TRX, or the more-developed EcoDiesel.

Towing & Payload Capability

F-150 has held the half-ton tow crown for most of the 2015-2024 era. Ram closed the gap significantly with the DT generation (2019+) but didn’t fully catch up on max numbers.

Era	Ram 1500 Max Tow	F-150 Max Tow
2015-2018	10,640 lbs (HEMI V8)	12,200 lbs (3.5L EcoBoost)
2019-2020	12,750 lbs (HEMI eTorque)	13,200 lbs (3.5L EcoBoost)
2021-2024	12,750 lbs (HEMI eTorque)	14,000 lbs (3.5L EcoBoost)

F-150 wins max tow numbers across the board with the 3.5L EcoBoost and Max Trailer Tow Package. 14,000 lbs is genuinely class-leading.

Where Ram wins towing:

• Real-world ride quality when towing favors Ram because of the multi-link coil rear suspension (DT gen) and available air suspension. Both ride better unloaded *and* sag less under load than a leaf-spring rear, which is what most F-150s still use
• Payload on V6 eTorque DT models often exceeds comparable F-150 V6 base configurations
• Towing technology like the available 360-degree surround-view camera and trailer reverse steering control on upper Ram trims is genuinely useful for backing trailers into tight spots

For typical central MN towing — pontoons, bass boats, livestock trailers, small to mid campers, equipment trailers — both trucks handle the job well above the actual loads our customers tow. The towing-spec sheet favors Ford. The towing *experience* often favors Ram. Pick your priority.

Edge: Ford on max numbers. Edge: Ram on towing ride quality and trailer-tech features.

Reliability & Long-Term Ownership

Both trucks have well-documented issues. Neither is bulletproof. Here’s the honest summary:

Ram 1500 known items:

• HEMI lifter tick on higher-mileage trucks (mild on most, severe on a few)
• HEMI MDS cylinder deactivation occasional smooth-operation issues
• Air suspension bag leaks with age on equipped trucks
• 2014-2016 EcoDiesel emissions update from Stellantis settlement (verify on any specific truck)
• Early 2019 Uconnect 4 software bugs (resolved via updates)

F-150 known items:

• 2018+ 5.0L V8 cam phaser noise (Ford issued a service campaign)
• Early 10-speed transmission calibration (2017+) — mostly addressed via TSB updates
• Aluminum body repair requires specialized training (not every shop has it)
• Pre-2017 3.5L EcoBoost intercooler condensation in cold weather (resolved on 2017+)
• Early PowerBoost Hybrid battery cooling campaign (2021)

Neither truck has a fatal flaw. Both can easily reach 200,000+ miles with proper maintenance. Both have factory-trained service available at our dealership.

Where F-150 has a fair claim: The aluminum body delivers measurably better long-term corrosion resistance in Minnesota road-salt conditions. That’s a real long-term ownership advantage you don’t see in spec sheets — and the only reliable answer to it on the Ram side is to take winter undercoating seriously and inspect for body rot during used purchase.

Edge: Ford slightly, primarily because of the aluminum body in MN salt conditions. Otherwise these are comparably reliable trucks.

Used Market Value & Pricing

Ram 1500 and F-150 hold their value differently. On the used market in central MN:

• Ram 1500 is often the better value at purchase. A comparable Big Horn vs XLT at similar trim and mileage typically costs $1,500-$3,000 less. That gap narrows on luxury trims (Laramie vs Lariat both hold value).
• F-150 holds value better long-term. At 3-5 years old, a comparable F-150 typically commands $1,500-$3,500 more than a comparable Ram 1500. Good for resale, less good for purchase.
• Diesel, TRX, and Raptor are their own market. All command significant premiums and hold value strongly.

Which one matters depends on your time horizon. If you’re buying now and selling in 5-7 years: F-150 wins on net cost of ownership because better resale recovers the higher purchase price. If you’re keeping the truck 10+ years until it’s worth scrap value either way: Ram wins because you saved money at purchase and the resale difference doesn’t matter.

Edge: Ram on initial purchase price. Edge: Ford on resale value.

Which Is Better for Minnesota Winters?

Both trucks are fully capable winter trucks. We sell both into the same Minnesota winters every year and the field performance is comparable. A few specifics worth knowing:

Ram 1500 winter advantages:

• Active-Level Air Suspension (when equipped, Laramie+ DT trucks) can lower the truck for easier entry/exit when snow piles up around doors, and raise it for clearance on unplowed rural roads
• Coil-spring rear suspension delivers a notably softer ride on frost-heaved roads — the kind of secondary improvement you don’t appreciate until you’ve lived with both
• HEMI V8 cold-start performance is excellent — the engine is well-suited to MN winters and the V8 architecture warms up faster than a turbo V6 under load
• Remote Start standard on most trims from Big Horn up — standard on Laramie and above on DT trucks

F-150 winter advantages:

• Aluminum body resists road-salt corrosion better than steel — a 10-year-old F-150 typically shows less body rot than a 10-year-old steel-body truck
• 4x4 system across all trims is reliable and easy to use
• Remote Start widely available across the F-150 lineup

Edge: Ram for ride comfort and air-suspension utility on rough MN roads. Edge: Ford for long-term body durability in MN salt.

Bottom Line: How to Choose

If you’ve read this far you’ve already noticed: this comparison isn’t a one-truck blowout. Both are excellent. Here’s how we’d frame the decision for a central Minnesota buyer:

Our honest take from the Ram side of the showroom: If you’ve sat in a DT-generation Ram 1500 Laramie or Limited and a comparable F-150, the Ram interior usually wins on first impression and second impression. The HEMI V8 wins on character. The coil-spring ride wins on rough roads. The purchase price wins on the buyer’s wallet.

For buyers who prioritize daily comfort, the V8 experience, or initial value, the Ram 1500 is the right truck. The F-150 outsells it nationally and on our lot, but the Ram earns its picks deliberately — not as a consolation. We’d be the last people to tell you the F-150 is the wrong truck (we sell those too), but we’d also be the first to tell you when the Ram is the right one.

One dealership, two new-vehicle franchises — we sell both Ram and Ford, so we can give you the honest comparison.

Want the Full Picture on Either Truck?

This article gives you the head-to-head. For deep dives on either truck — engines, trims, common issues by year, towing tables, and exactly what to inspect — we’ve published complete buyer’s guides for both: