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Here’s something that trips up a lot of truck shoppers: you’ll still hear people talking about “Dodge RAM trucks,” but if you walk into a dealership today, you’ll only see “RAM” on the grilles. So what gives?

This isn’t some weird marketing confusion – there’s actually a pretty straightforward story behind it. And once you understand what happened, it all makes perfect sense.

The Great Brand Split of 2009

Back in 2009, Chrysler decided to shake things up. They took their truck division – which had been called “Dodge RAM” – and turned it into its own separate brand called simply “RAM.”

Think of it like when a really successful restaurant decides to spin off their popular pizza into its own pizza joint. Same ownership, same quality, but now the pizza place can focus entirely on making the best pizza instead of trying to be good at everything.

That’s essentially what happened here. Dodge could focus on making awesome performance cars like the Challenger and Charger, while RAM could put all their energy into building the best trucks possible.

What This Actually Means If You Own a Truck

Here’s the stuff that actually matters to you:

Your old “Dodge RAM” isn’t suddenly worthless. We still service every truck that’s ever rolled out of that factory, whether it says “Dodge” or “RAM” on the front. Same parts, same expertise, same everything.

Nothing changed about getting it fixed. Your 2007 Dodge RAM 1500 and a brand-new 2025 RAM 1500 get worked on by the same technicians using the same tools and parts network. The guys in our service bay don’t care what the badge says – they know these trucks inside and out.

Trade-ins work exactly the same. Want to trade your old Dodge RAM for a new RAM? No problem. Happens every day. The paperwork might look slightly different, but the process is identical.

Why RAM Got Better After the Split

When you’re not trying to make trucks AND sports cars AND minivans all under the same roof, you can really focus. And that’s exactly what RAM did.

They went all-in on truck technology. Ever seen the inside of a new RAM? That 12-inch touchscreen isn’t an accident – it’s what happens when you can spend all your tech budget on truck features instead of spreading it around.

They started winning awards left and right. Best-in-class towing. Best-in-class fuel economy (with the EcoDiesel). Best interior. When you’re competing directly against Ford and Chevy every single day, you get really good really fast.

They expanded the lineup like crazy. Now you’ve got everything from basic work trucks to luxury models that rival high-end SUVs. Plus electric versions, more commercial options – basically, if you need a truck to do something, they probably make one for it.

What’s Available Now (The Trucks Formerly Known as Dodge RAM)

RAM 1500 – This is your everyday truck. Great for daily driving, weekend projects, light towing. Available with a bunch of different engines depending on what you need it to do.

RAM 2500/3500 Heavy Duty – These are the serious trucks. If you’re towing a big trailer or hauling heavy stuff for work, this is where you want to be. Industry-leading towing numbers that’ll handle whatever you throw at them.

RAM Commercial – Purpose-built for businesses. These come with all sorts of specialized configurations depending on what kind of work you do.

What Happened to Dodge?

Dodge is still around, but they’re doing their own thing now:

• Muscle cars (Challenger, Charger)
• Performance SUVs (Durango)
• Compact vehicles (Hornet)

Basically, if you want something fast and fun, that’s Dodge territory. If you want something that can haul your boat, that’s RAM.

Questions People Actually Ask Us

“Can I still get parts for my 2005 Dodge RAM?” Yep. Same parts network, same availability. The split didn’t change any of the behind-the-scenes stuff.

“Is my old truck going to be worth less because it says ‘Dodge’ instead of ‘RAM’?” Not really. If anything, RAM’s reputation has gotten stronger over the past 15 years, which helps all these trucks hold their value.

“When I need service, do I go to a Dodge dealer or a RAM dealer?” Same place. We’re technically a “Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM” dealer, so we handle everything under one roof.

Why This Change Was Actually Smart

Look, nobody likes change just for the sake of change. But this move made sense because it let RAM compete directly with Ford and Chevy on trucks without getting distracted by other stuff.

The result? RAM trucks are now genuinely considered some of the best on the market. They’re winning comparison tests, owner satisfaction surveys, and capability competitions. When you can focus entirely on making great trucks, apparently you make really great trucks.

If You’re Shopping for a Truck

Whether you’re replacing an older “Dodge RAM” or this is your first truck purchase, the bottom line is simple: you’re looking at RAM now, and they’re making some pretty impressive trucks.

We’ve got the full lineup here at Paul Sherry, and we can service anything with a RAM or Dodge RAM badge. Been doing it for decades, and we’ll keep doing it for decades more.

The name on the grille might be different than it was 20 years ago, but the trucks are better than ever. And honestly, that’s what really matters.

Want to see what all the fuss is about? Stop by our showroom in Piqua, or give us a call at 937-778-0830. We’ll show you around the current lineup and answer any questions you’ve got.