Full-Size Pickup Showdown: 2024 Ford F-150 vs 2024 Ram 1500

August 9th, 2024 by

Head-on view of a black 2024 Ford F-150 Platinum towing an Airstream trailer.

America loves trucks, and two of the leading models are the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. Each truck has built a legacy and reputation for capability and dependability. That continues to this day, although the Ford F-150 has a longer lineage than the Ram 1500. Ford introduced its F-Series trucks in 1948, and the 2024 Ford F-150 is the fourteenth generation in the lineup’s history. In contrast, the Ram 1500 is relatively newer, emerging in 1980. Today, the Ram 1500 is in its fifth generation, which began in 2019. In comparing the 2024 Ford F-150 vs 2024 Ram 1500, you will see that the Ford gives you more versatility, options, and capability than the Ram. This is why the Ford F-150 is not only the best-selling truck in America. It is also the best-selling passenger vehicle.

If you are looking for a 2024 Ford F-150, Loganville Ford is the dealership for you. We are an authorized, full-service Ford dealership, which means that we can get you the F-150 you want with all of the features you need, whether you plan on using your truck for work, play, or a little of both.

Options and Customizability

When you are choosing a new pickup truck, you are going to want to have the ability to configure the truck to fit your needs. As most drivers know, you can’t find a one-size-fits-all truck. This is why automakers offer different cab styles, payload bed sizes, powertrains, drivetrains, and trim levels. This is why both Ford and Ram offer many different options and choices on their respective full-size trucks.

In comparing the 2024 Ford F-150 and the 2024 Ram 1500, you will see that Ford gives you more of these options than Ram. For example, you can choose between nine different trim levels on the Ford F-150, whereas there are only eight trims on the Ram 1500. Both have luxury models like the F-150 Platinum and King Ranch, as well as the Ram 1500 Limited. Each lineup offers off-road versions, like the F-150 Tremor, Raptor, and Raptor R, and the Ram 1500 Rebel and TRX. But that extra trim level could make all the difference when choosing your next truck.

Similarly, Ford offers more engine options, cab styles, and payload bed sizes on the F-150 than you will find on the Ram 1500. There are six different engines offered on the 2024 Ford F-150, including a hybrid. Meanwhile, the Ram 1500 offers three engines, two with a mild hybrid engine. The extra engine options allow you to better choose an F-150 that has the capability, performance, and fuel economy you are looking for in your next truck. The same thing applies to cab styles. Both trucks offer crew cabs with substantial legroom in the back, as well as extended cab options with a rear row of seats. Ford calls this a Super Cab, while Ram refers to it as a Quad Cab, but they are essentially the same thing. However, only Ford offers a two-door regular cab with one row of seats, which is ideal for commercial uses and solo drivers.

Finally, you get an extra choice of payload beds on the 2024 Ford F-150. Both have a short and regular sized bed. But the only truck with an available long bed is the F-150. This is a critical difference for drivers who want to use their trucks for hauling cargo.

A man accessing the back seat storage in a 2024 Ford F-150.

Capability

One of the biggest reasons why so many drivers love trucks is because of their unrivaled towing and hauling capabilities. If you need to tow a heavy trailer or carry a large load of cargo, nothing can match the capability of a pickup truck. Both of these trucks have solid capabilities, but when comparing engines, you can see that Ford outperforms Ram.

There are a number of things that can affect trailering capacity. Your choice of drivetrain, payload bed size, and cab style can each have an impact on the maximum towing weight for your truck. Probably the most important factor is engine choice. Depending on the horsepower and torque produced by your truck’s powertrain, you will be able to maximize the towing and hauling capabilities.

Ford offers six different engines on the 2024 F-150. When it comes to towing and hauling, the most capable engine is the 3.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged V6. This gas engine makes the F-150 capable of towing up to 13,500 lbs. It also makes your truck capable of hauling up to 2,445 lbs. This is significantly greater than the top performers for the 2024 Ram 1500. If you opt for a 5.7-liter HEMI “Eagle” V8 with eTorque, you can tow up to 12,750 lbs. However, the Ram 1500 with this engine can only carry up to 1,940 lbs of cargo in its payload bed. At the same time, if you opt for a Ram 1500 with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6gas engine with eTorque, you can carry up to 2,300 lbs in the truck’s payload bed, but you can only tow up to 8,110 lbs.

Part of this difference in performance can also be attributed to transmission choice. Each Ford F-150 features a 10-speed automatic transmission. In contrast, the Ram 1500 has an 8-speed automatic transmission. The extra gear speeds help improve the overall efficient performance of the Ford.

A silver 2024 Ford F-150 STX FX4 driving on a dusty trail.

Technology

One area that shows the advancement of the pickup truck is technology. Today, most pickup trucks feature an advanced infotainment system, as well as many active driver assistance safety systems. In comparing the 2024 Ford F-150 with the 2024 Ram 1500, you will see that Ford includes more standard advanced technology on its trucks than Ram.

The base model of the 2024 F-150 is the XL, while the entry-level Ram 1500 is the Tradesman. The F-150 XL features a SYNC 4 infotainment system on a 12-inch capacitive touchscreen with built-in navigation. The Ram 1500 Tradesman only has a 5-inch touchscreen on the Uconnect system, and you will have to pay extra for an 8.4-inch screen. If you want a 12-inch touchscreen with navigation, you will have to choose either one of the more expensive trims, like the Limited, or include it as an option for an extra charge. The larger standard screen on the Ford makes it easier to use the various features, like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, to stream your favorite apps while making hands-free calls and texts. It also increases the viewing size of the rearview camera, making it easier for you to see objects behind your truck when you are driving in reverse.

Technology also plays a role in passenger safety. Every model of the 2024 Ford F-150 comes with standard Ford Co-Pilot360 technology. This includes key driver assist features such as Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking to help you avoid a front-end collision and a Lane-Keeping System to help you avoid drifting into an adjacent lane. The 2024 Ram 1500 does not come with these standard safety features on the Tradesman trim. Instead, you have to add them as an available option. When you factor in the difference in price between the two trucks, you can see that the Ford F-150 XL is not only safer than the Ram 1500 Tradesman, but it is also more affordable. The F-150 XL has a base MSRP of $36,965, compared to the $39,420 base MSRP on the Ram 1500 Tradesman.[a]

Get More Truck For Your Money With the Ford F-150

The 2024 Ford F-150 has a lower MSRP than the 2024 Ram 1500. In addition, you will get more options for trim levels, cab styles, engines, and payload beds with the Ford than if you choose a Ram. This makes it easier for you to configure your truck to best suit your purposes. In addition, the Ford is more capable than the Ram when it comes to towing and hauling, with more standard advanced safety and infotainment technology than you will get if you opt for a Ram 1500. With all this in mind, it makes perfect sense to find your next 2024 Ford F-150 at Loganville Ford.


[a] MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.