Many people wonder what small trucks are manufactured and sold by Dodge. Unfortunately, Dodge no longer manufactures what most people would consider a small truck for the North American market.
Even though Dodge no longer produces their smaller line up of trucks, they are still known as one of the top pick-up truck manufacturers.
Small Dodge Trucks
For decades, Dodge Rams and other trucks were manufactured and sold under the Dodge brand. In 2009 it was announced that the Ram brand would be separated into its own division.
With this division of brands, Dodge now focuses on selling cars such as the Charger and Challenger in addition to their SUV the Durango; while Ram focuses on the production of the Ram pick up trucks and vans.
In this article, we will explore the small trucks that Dodge produced in the past in addition to their current lineup.
While Dodge no longer produces small to mid-size pickup trucks, there are plenty of used examples that are in the marketplace which can be acquired if you are loyal to the Dodge brand but are not in the market for their larger Ram truck.
Former Small Trucks Manufactured By Dodge
Dodge Dakota
The Dodge Dakota was a small to medium size pickup truck manufactured by Dodge from 1987 through 2008. From 2009 through 2011, the Dakota was manufactured by Ram.
The Dakota was offered in various trim levels throughout the years such as ST, Sport, SXT, SLT and R/T, Lonestar, Laramie, SLT Laramie, Big Horn.
The first-generation Dakota was produced from 1987 through 1996 and was offered with the following engine types:
| Model Name | Trim | 3.6L V-6 | 5.7L V-8 Hemi | 5.7L V-8 Hemi eTorque | 3.0L V-6 Turbo Diesel | 6.2L Supercharged Hemi | Towing Capacity (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ram 1500 | Limited | Not Optional | Standard | Optional | Optional | Not Optional | 8180 |
| Ram 1500 | Limited LongHorn | Standard | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional | 6340 |
| Ram 1500 | Rebel | Standard | Optional | Optional | Optional | Not Optional | 7440 |
| Ram 1500 | Laramie | Standard | Optional | Optional | Optional | Not Optional | 6640 |
| Ram 1500 | BigHorn | Standard | Optional | Optional | Optional | Not Optional | 6740 |
| Ram 1500 | Tradesman | Standard | Optional | Optional | Optional | Not Optional | 7740 |
| Ram 1500 | Tradesman HFE Quad Cab | Standard | Not Optional | Not Optional | Not Optional | Not Optional | 6760 |
| Ram 1500 | TRX | Not Optional | Not Optional | Not Optional | Not Optional | Standard | 8100 |
Below are the engine options for the various trim levels of the Ram 1500 Classic:
| Model Name | Trim | 3.6L V-6 | 5.7L V-8 Hemi | Towing Capacity (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ram 1500 Classic | Warlock | Standard | Optional | 4560 |
| Ram 1500 Classic | Express | Standard | Optional | 4940 |
| Ram 1500 Classic | Tradesman | Standard | Optional | 4940 |
Below are the various engine options for the trim levels of the Ram 2500:
| Model Name | Trim | 6.4L V-8 Heavy Duty Hemi | 6.7L I6 Cummins Turbo Diesel | Towing Capacity (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ram 2500 | Limited | Standard | Optional | 14120 |
| Ram 2500 | Limited LongHorn | Standard | Optional | 14370 |
| Ram 2500 | Laramie | Standard | Optional | 14550 |
| Ram 2500 | Power Wagon | Standard | Not Optional | 10520 |
| Ram 2500 | BigHorn | Standard | Optional | 14970 |
| Ram 2500 | Tradesman | Standard | Optional | 15040 |
Below are the engine options for the different trim levels of the Ram 3500:
| Model Name | Trim | 6.4L V-8 Heavy Duty Hemi | 6.7L I6 Cummins Turbo Diesel | 6.7L I6 Cummins HO Turbo Diesel | Towing Capacity (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ram 3500 | Limited | Standard | Optional | Optional | 14170 |
| Ram 3500 | Limited LongHorn | Standard | Optional | Optional | 14400 |
| Ram 3500 | Laramie | Standard | Optional | Optional | 14480 |
| Ram 3500 | BigHorn | Standard | Optional | Optional | 14970 |
| Ram 3500 | Tradesman | Standard | Optional | Optional | 14970 |
Below are the various engine options for the trim levels of the Ram Chassis:
| Model Name | Trim | 6.4L V-8 Heavy Duty Hemi | 6.7L I6 Cummins Turbo Diesel | Towing Capacity (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ram Chassis Regular Cab | Tradesman | Standard | Optional | 16080 |
| Ram Chassis Regular Cab | SLT | Standard | Optional | 16080 |
| Ram Chassis Crew Cab | Laramie | Standard | Optional | 18510 |
| Ram Chassis Crew Cab | Limited | Standard | Optional | 18510 |
Dodge Ram 700
As stated above, Dodge no longer produces small/midsize pickup trucks for the North American market. However, Dodge does manufacture a small truck called the Ram 700 that is only sold in Mexico and Latin America.
The 700 is built on the Fiat Strada platform and can be purchased in the SLT, Laramie and Big Horn trims.
The SLT and Laramie are powered by a 1.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 84 horsepower, while the Big Horn is powered by a 1.3-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine that produces 98 horsepower.
All trims of the Ram 700 are front-wheel drive and have manual transmissions.
While many potential buyers in North America would love for Dodge to produce a small to mid-size truck again, based on the power numbers and drive set up of the Ram 700, it doesn’t seem like we are missing out on much by not having access to this truck.
Speculation Regarding The Ram Dakota
In 2018 Dodge announced that they had a small to midsize pick-up truck called the Dodge Ram Dakota in the works. The Ram Dakota was rumored to be powered by the same 3.6-liter V-6 that is found in the Jeep Gladiator.
As of September 2021, Dodge has announced that the Dakota Ram project has been canceled.
Final Thoughts
When looking back over the years, it becomes apparent that while Dodge has offered small trucks during certain periods, small truck production was never Dodge’s main focus. This trend continues to ring true in the North American market since the smaller Ram 700 is only being sold in Mexico and Latin America.
The most recent example of a small to medium-sized truck manufactured by Dodge for the North American market is the Dakota which ended production in 2011.
While the Dakota and other small trucks are no longer being produced there are several examples of these small trucks for sale in the used vehicle market.