2026 Ram 1500 Black Express Towing Review: How the Standard-Output Hurricane Handles a 5,200-Pound Camper

[testerdahl]

Just how well does the 2026 Ram 1500 Black Express towing performance meet expectations? I put this value-focused full-size pickup to the test where it matters most and hooked it up to my 30-foot dual-axle camper. This is a similar camper, same route, same hills I have used to evaluate Hemi V8s, diesels, and high-output turbo engines in the past. The goal was simple: determine whether this more affordable Ram 1500 still delivers a confident, modern towing experience. Truck Setup and Towing Hardware This test truck is a 2026 Ram 1500 Black Express Crew Cab with the standard-output Hurricane engine, […] (read full article...)

 

[Fightnfire]

Tim, a couple of follow up question about this article, specifically this paragraph.

"Fuel economy was initially disappointing, showing around 7.3 mpg at the midpoint of the test. However, over the full 50.5-mile loop, the average improved to 8.6 mpg. A follow-up fill-up confirmed the trip computer was off by just 0.7 mpg—well within acceptable margins."

Does the .7 off mean the actual round trip MPG was 7.9 or 9.3? Or, is 8.6 the hand calculated number? Also, what is the size of the fuel tank on this truck? What is the payload and towing capacity of this truck?

Looking at the MPG, If 7.9, I would still call that pretty disappointing with a 5200lb camper. On my annual 400 mile round trip camping I average about 10-10.5 on the way there and 9.8-10.2 on the way back... different wind. That's towing a 29' trailer that dry is 6,800 and when loaded for the trip about 7,500. My father in laws 2023 RAM with the hemi is about the same as mine. He makes the same trip with us. I have the 6.2 he has the HEMI. Similar elevation gains as in the article.

 

[TheDo114]

Tim, a couple of follow up question about this article, specifically this paragraph.

"Fuel economy was initially disappointing, showing around 7.3 mpg at the midpoint of the test. However, over the full 50.5-mile loop, the average improved to 8.6 mpg. A follow-up fill-up confirmed the trip computer was off by just 0.7 mpg—well within acceptable margins."

Does the .7 off mean the actual round trip MPG was 7.9 or 9.3? Or, is 8.6 the hand calculated number? Also, what is the size of the fuel tank on this truck? What is the payload and towing capacity of this truck?

Looking at the MPG, If 7.9, I would still call that pretty disappointing with a 5200lb camper. On my annual 400 mile round trip camping I average about 10-10.5 on the way there and 9.8-10.2 on the way back... different wind. That's towing a 29' trailer that dry is 6,800 and when loaded for the trip about 7,500. My father in laws 2023 RAM with the hemi is about the same as mine. He makes the same trip with us. I have the 6.2 he has the HEMI. Similar elevation gains as in the article.

I'd agree that 7-8 mpg would be pretty disappointing for a 5200lbs camper. I was expecting something much closer to 10mpg>

Fuel tank is either a 26 gallon tank or a 33 gallon tank. That means around 210-270 miles of range if you run the tank dry.

I'm curious what the other half ton would get on this loop. @testerdahl, are there any plans to put other trucks on your loop? I feel it's a much better test than the IKE Gauntlet since it's closer to real life than straight up a mountain for 8 minutes.

 

[testerdahl]

Tim, a couple of follow up question about this article, specifically this paragraph.

"Fuel economy was initially disappointing, showing around 7.3 mpg at the midpoint of the test. However, over the full 50.5-mile loop, the average improved to 8.6 mpg. A follow-up fill-up confirmed the trip computer was off by just 0.7 mpg—well within acceptable margins."

Does the .7 off mean the actual round trip MPG was 7.9 or 9.3? Or, is 8.6 the hand calculated number? Also, what is the size of the fuel tank on this truck? What is the payload and towing capacity of this truck?

Looking at the MPG, If 7.9, I would still call that pretty disappointing with a 5200lb camper. On my annual 400 mile round trip camping I average about 10-10.5 on the way there and 9.8-10.2 on the way back... different wind. That's towing a 29' trailer that dry is 6,800 and when loaded for the trip about 7,500. My father in laws 2023 RAM with the hemi is about the same as mine. He makes the same trip with us. I have the 6.2 he has the HEMI. Similar elevation gains as in the article.

Payload is 1,694. Maximum towing is 8,390. It had a 26 gallon tank.

Hand calculated was lower. This statement was from a 100-mile loop video I did the day before. I did that trip, filmed it and then inserted the snippet about how accurate the computer was into this towing video.

 

[testerdahl]

I'd agree that 7-8 mpg would be pretty disappointing for a 5200lbs camper. I was expecting something much closer to 10mpg>

Fuel tank is either a 26 gallon tank or a 33 gallon tank. That means around 210-270 miles of range if you run the tank dry.

I'm curious what the other half ton would get on this loop. @testerdahl, are there any plans to put other trucks on your loop? I feel it's a much better test than the IKE Gauntlet since it's closer to real life than straight up a mountain for 8 minutes.

I did this same test loop back in 2023 with four different trucks and a similar camper. I had a V8, hybrid, duramax diesel and a turbocharged engine.

Part of my goal in buying the camper last year was to do this very test with a variety of trucks and SUVs. I also want to get better at doing videos on these towing tests. And, with the website traffic seeing a big uptick lately, I want to publish more of these tests here as well.

I also agree it is more real-world than the Ike. I just need a catchy name for it.

The "Husker Towing Test!" LOL

The best truck engine for towing? Diesel, V-8, V-6, hybrid tested & compared

What is the best truck engine for towing? Tim Esterdahl tests them all - diesel, V8, V6, and hybrid and compares them side by side.

pickuptrucktalk.com

 

[Fightnfire]

Payload is 1,694. Maximum towing is 8,390. It had a 26 gallon tank.

Hand calculated was lower. This statement was from a 100-mile loop video I did the day before. I did that trip, filmed it and then inserted the snippet about how accurate the computer was into this towing video.

Thanks for the clarifying the numbers. .7 off (7.9 actual) at only 8.6mpg is 8.9% . So, if a truck was showing 20mpg on the computer it would actually be getting 18.22 hand calculated. That seems pretty far off to me. 7.9 also seems pretty bad.

Realistic range of low to mid 180 miles.

Just seems weird to me that the base engine is that bad with only 5,200lbs behind it.

 

[testerdahl]

Thanks for the clarifying the numbers. .7 off (7.9 actual) at only 8.6mpg is 8.9% . So, if a truck was showing 20mpg on the computer it would actually be getting 18.22 hand calculated. That seems pretty far off to me. 7.9 also seems pretty bad.

Realistic range of low to mid 180 miles.

Just seems weird to me that the base engine is that bad with only 5,200lbs behind it.

That's a really good point on taking the math and putting into perspective with a higher number.

 

[TheDo114]

I did this same test loop back in 2023 with four different trucks and a similar camper. I had a V8, hybrid, duramax diesel and a turbocharged engine.

Part of my goal in buying the camper last year was to do this very test with a variety of trucks and SUVs. I also want to get better at doing videos on these towing tests. And, with the website traffic seeing a big uptick lately, I want to publish more of these tests here as well.

I also agree it is more real-world than the Ike. I just need a catchy name for it.

The "Husker Towing Test!" LOL

The best truck engine for towing? Diesel, V-8, V-6, hybrid tested & compared

What is the best truck engine for towing? Tim Esterdahl tests them all - diesel, V8, V6, and hybrid and compares them side by side.

pickuptrucktalk.com

I loved that video and it played a role in my decision to purchase my tundra. I would love for you to run the trucks again and with all of the different engines.

 

[testerdahl]

I loved that video and it played a role in my decision to purchase my tundra. I would love for you to run the trucks again and with all of the different engines.

I don't. That was a hell of a lot of work. LOL. It was just a stroke of luck with the timing of everything. I don't believe I've ever gotten that lucky to get 4 full-size trucks in a row with my press schedule rotation.