Rambox - are they worth having?

[Shutterbug57]

Pros & cons. Only on 5’7” bed, takes away bed width & uses 160# of payload when empty. BUT, if you like to use them for storage and power and don’t want the longer bed, then you might like them.

 

[mboymopar]

My 2012 had a Ram Box, loved it.
Never had a leaking problem with it.

 

[oe542bob]

I’ve had 2015, 2016, 2018 1500s with the 6.4’ Ramboxes. Also had a 2018 2500 with the 6.4’ Rambox option. Currently have a 2022 1500 with the 5.7’ Rambox. Finally got tired of waiting for the Rambox to be offered in the 6.4’ length in the 1/2 ton truck. I could not fit everything in the 5.7’ that I had in the other 6.4’ beds. This is my only gripe though.
Never had anything get wet.

 

[Docwagon1776]

I can understand the bit about the firewood if you have an HD. But I know with our 2020 Limited having a payload of just over 1000 lbs, I exceed that payload if I fill the bed with firewood even with the rambox bed.

I get some tail wag over rough spots in the pavement, but there's an aftermarket rear track bar that's supposed to address that. Every time I haul I think "I ought to do that" and then promptly forget about it until the next time...

 

[mikeru]

I get some tail wag over rough spots in the pavement, but there's an aftermarket rear track bar that's supposed to address that. Every time I haul I think "I ought to do that" and then promptly forget about it until the next time...

My concern with payload is more of a legal one then whether I can keep it on the road. If you get in an accident and law enforcement determines you were overloaded it would open you up to legal problems.

 

[Docwagon1776]

My concern with payload is more of a legal one then whether I can keep it on the road. If you get in an accident and law enforcement determines you were overloaded it would open you up to legal problems.

I'm clear. The tail wag is simply a characteristic of the 2500 and the PW in particular. It occurs well before payload is exceeded. You can actually get it while completely unloaded if you're going fast enough and hit a bump just right. Weight in the bed just makes it a lot more noticeable as it wags harder and takes longer to settle.

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[Fatbob Frank]

I always wondered if they kept the contents dry in a rain storm? I can remember the older trucks with them and tools getting soaked. Just wondering if they have gotten any better.

Mine have never leaked...Just make sure to close them tightly.
I also love that they lock and unlock with the doors...

 

[jejb]

Most people who complain about the potential space they will loose with the rambox bed are mostly from people who have never had one.

Agreed. Ramboxes are a big reason I went with Ram. Both of my 2500's had/have them. Stuff stays dry no matter the weather.

 

[LONEWOLF64465]

I have a 2013 Laramie with Rambox and a trifold hardtop on it Best investment to have . I use it all the time and everything stay dry. I do not like the soft tops for the bed seen to many issues with them and you cannot lock and secure with soft tops. The hardtop you can lock and secure and nobody can just cut the top to access bed.

 

[JD Martin]

No Ram boxes here. They would be useful but they prohibit you from using a rear cap, which I keep on my truck because I'm quite often carrying table saws, chainsaws, miter saws & stands, air compressors, etc to job sites and I need something big enough to hold all that plus materials and can be locked and keep power tools and such dry. If you have Ram boxes the best you can do is a tonneau cover.

If you only use the bed of your truck for hauling big or dirty opens or dimensional lumber, and don't need to lock anything up or keep it dry (that a tonneau wouldn't work), then I would get them as they hold a pretty good amount of stuff. My house inspector had them on his truck and I was always amazed how much stuff he could fit in there (well, he had to take half of it out every time to get stuff but still).

 

[mikeru]

No Ram boxes here. They would be useful but they prohibit you from using a rear cap, which I keep on my truck because I'm quite often carrying table saws, chainsaws, miter saws & stands, air compressors, etc to job sites and I need something big enough to hold all that plus materials and can be locked and keep power tools and such dry. If you have Ram boxes the best you can do is a tonneau cover.

If you only use the bed of your truck for hauling big or dirty opens or dimensional lumber, and don't need to lock anything up or keep it dry (that a tonneau wouldn't work), then I would get them as they hold a pretty good amount of stuff. My house inspector had them on his truck and I was always amazed how much stuff he could fit in there (well, he had to take half of it out every time to get stuff but still).

I have a website for you... https://ramboxtopper.com/

 

[jejb]

I have a website for you... https://ramboxtopper.com/

Yeah, there are some solutions out there. But this is not one that would interest me. I'm in my Ramboxes a lot. Having to jack the topper up every time would be a PITA.

 

[JoshsRam]

Wow, I guess I'm in the minority here. I had them on my 2003 Avalanche and they basically became storage bins for junk that I rarely (if ever) needed. Pretty much everything I need I can keep under the back seats and the rest goes in the bed under my tonneau cover when its too big for the back seats. When I got my 2021 Ram, I definitely didn't want to waste money on a place to throw junk that I never really needed in the first place. I get the reasoning for them, just for me, I don't really have the need.

 

[Forsakentalon]

I have had two rams both with them. First with 6.4 bed and second one with the 5.7 bed.

They are nice to have. Once you get them, you won't want to go back. People who've never had them can go either way.

If you camp or fish you will love them.

 

[mikeru]

Wow, I guess I'm in the minority here. I had them on my 2003 Avalanche and they basically became storage bins for junk that I rarely (if ever) needed. Pretty much everything I need I can keep under the back seats and the rest goes in the bed under my tonneau cover when its too big for the back seats. When I got my 2021 Ram, I definitely didn't want to waste money on a place to throw junk that I never really needed in the first place. I get the reasoning for them, just for me, I don't really have the need.

Fair enough. I'll agree that there is a good amount of storage inside the cab, especially if you get the under seat storage. But bed side storage isn't the only aspect of the package. I'm not familiar with the Avalanche. And if bed storage was all you got with the rambox option I might agree with you. I'm speaking for myself here, but I think the best part of the rambox option is the bed divider system. I haven't heard anyone mention anything about something similar on the Avalanche. So if your only exposure was the Avalanche you're potentially missing out on half the system. It's too bad that they separated the bed divider out from the rambox option on 5th gens. So you have to also get the Bed Utility Group if you want the bed divider.

I like to keep the inside of the cab clean. So I store things that tend to get dirty or smelly in the passenger side rambox. The driver side box is kept mostly empty. Mama likes to put the groceries in there and I like to use it for a beer cooler for get-togethers with family and/or friends.

 

[JoshsRam]

Fair enough. I'll agree that there is a good amount of storage inside the cab, especially if you get the under seat storage. But bed side storage isn't the only aspect of the package. I'm not familiar with the Avalanche. And if bed storage was all you got with the rambox option I might agree with you. I'm speaking for myself here, but I think the best part of the rambox option is the bed divider system. I haven't heard anyone mention anything about something similar on the Avalanche. So if your only exposure was the Avalanche you're potentially missing out on half the system. It's too bad that they separated the bed divider out from the rambox option on 5th gens. So you have to also get the Bed Utility Group if you want the bed divider.

I like to keep the inside of the cab clean. So I store things that tend to get dirty or smelly in the passenger side rambox. The driver side box is kept mostly empty. Mama likes to put the groceries in there and I like to use it for a beer cooler for get-togethers with family and/or friends.

No, on the Avalanche there was no bed divider. I'll be honest, I don't use my truck as a truck often so maybe I'm not the demographic they're going after.

 

[mikeru]

No, on the Avalanche there was no bed divider. I'll be honest, I don't use my truck as a truck often so maybe I'm not the demographic they're going after.

It doesn't matter how you use your truck. Our Ram gets used as a passenger car 95% of the time if not more. We keep the bed divider installed about 2 feet from the tailgate most of the time. So we basically use that space like a car trunk. Combining it with the tonneau cover and MFT completes the usefulness. And if we end up needing more space to haul something we can either move the bed divider to another location or remove it completely.

 

[JD Martin]

They do have the bed divider for non-Rambox trucks if you have the sliding rails. I have the sliding rails and I've thought about buying it a few times. What I really wanted was the sliding toolbox that they discontinued rather than the divider, because I'd have the tool box back near the tailgate unless I was hauling bigger stuff, so it would almost act as a de facto bed divider.

 

[mikeru]

Yes, there is a Mopar bed divider for non-rambox beds. But it comes with the sliding rails you need to use it. I'm not sure if they replace the rails you get with the BUG or if they mount in another location. It's not cheap though at around $370 including shipping. If all you want is a bed divider then it's quite a bit less expensive than the rambox/BUG options. But it may limit options for tonneau covers that use the utility rails for mounting.

https://www.bamwholesaleparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-82215481-cargo-bed-divider-with-hardware-ram-1500-dt-5th-gen-2019-2024-82215481?c=Zz1jYXJyaWVycy1hbmQtY2FyZ28taGF1bGluZy1hY2Nlc3NvcmllcyZzPXRvb2xib3hlcy1hbmQtc3RvcmFnZSZsPTImbj1DYXRlZ29yeSBQYWdlJmE9cmFtJm89MTUwMCZ5PTIwMjAmdD1saW1pdGVkJmU9NS03bC12OC1nYXM%3D

 

[JoshsRam]

I actually have the sliding rails but I can't say I've ever really used them. I created my own divider anyhow so for me it's a moot point but I can see how some people would see the benefit of it.