2021 Ram 1500 4×4 Pickup Snow Plow Prep Package Detailed

The current Ram 1500 presents itself as a luxuriously smooth, powerful, and refined pickup truck. Combine this demeanor with its handsome, traditional, and not at all controversial styling (in contrast with the new Chevy Silverado or—yep!—the Tesla Cybertruck), and one might be tempted to let it fly under the radar. As with most modern full-size trucks, the Ram has a chameleon-like ability to play family car, powerful tow rig, commanding commuter, off-road 4×4, and—now—a hard-working snow plow. Winter’s not over yet!

Ram is introducing a new factory Snow Plow Prep Package for the 2021 1500 pickup that better equips the half-ton truck for the added stress of running a snow plow on the nose. The setup was announced at the National Truck Equipment Association’s (NTEA) Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Indiana. So, what does the Ram 1500 Snow Plow Prep package include?

It comes with a 220-amp alternator to keep up with the electrical demands of snow-plow hydraulics, a special wiring harness, and a defroster-equipped rear power sliding window (hey, gotta keep the glass clear on those icy plow runs). The Ram’s active front air dam is ditched because, well, it has to be in order to accommodate plow mounts, which aren’t included. Ditto the actual snow plow itself and its controller, which are sold separately.

The optional package price is a reasonable $195 and will be available later this year on 2021 Ram 1500 Tradesman, Big Horn, and Laramie trim models. As you might have surmised, these three trims are the least-expensive three Ram offers—although the Laramie isn’t exactly a stripper “base” model—and the Plow Prep package can only be combined with four-wheel drive. Engine options include the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 (and its mild-hybrid eTorque variant) and the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6; the entry-level 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 can’t be prepped to plow.