That signature Cummins diesel engine growl means power, and RAM truck owners are a breed that’s always hungry for more. Right now, you can’t walk into a RAM dealer and drive off with a compound turbo Cummins.

But the aftermarket is booming with these setups, and Cummins themselves are tinkering with two-stage turbocharging. This makes you wonder: could a factory compound turbo RAM be in the cards?

Defining Medium-Duty Trucks

But before we get ahead of ourselves, what kind of RAM trucks are we even talking about? Let’s get some definitions straight. Medium-duty trucks are all about Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) – usually, we’re talking 14,001 to 33,000 pounds.

It’s a key distinction. Your typical RAM 2500, and 3500 – the ones most folks buy for everyday use – sit below that weight range. We’re focusing on those trucks, the non-commercial, everyday RAMs when we talk about the possibility of compound turbos.

And the relationship between those everyday RAMs and Cummins has a long and powerful history.

From the groundbreaking introduction of the 5.9-liter 12-valve engine in 1989 to the latest high-output 6.7-liter variants producing over 1,000 lb-ft of torque, the Cummins-RAM partnership has consistently pushed the boundaries of performance and capability in the heavy-duty truck segment. So, what’s the next step in that evolution? One possibility is compound turbocharging.

Understanding Compound Turbocharging

Think of compound turbocharging as a turbo tag team. You’ve got two turbos working together. A smaller one spins up fast, giving you that instant punch off the line and killing turbo lag. Then, the exhaust from that turbo spins up a bigger one, delivering a massive surge of power at higher speeds.

This one-two punch gives you a wider powerband, more grunt down low, better fuel economy (potentially), and can keep exhaust temperatures in check. The downside? It’s more complex, which means it can cost more and might need more wrenching down the line.

While that sounds impressive, it is not currently available. Now, if you buy a RAM HD pickup with the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine today, you’re getting a single, variable geometry turbocharger (VGT).

It’s a clever piece of kit that can tweak itself to work best at different engine speeds. Meanwhile, the light-duty RAM 1500s have gone a different route, using twin-turbocharged gasoline engines. It’s a different way to boost power.

Current Turbocharging in RAM Trucks

RAM does not offer compound turbocharging yet, so let’s dig in with what RAM has to offer. RAM pickups equipped with the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine utilize a single, variable geometry turbocharger (VGT).

This technology allows the turbo to adjust its characteristics for optimal performance across different engine speeds. The light-duty RAM 1500 models, on the other hand, have moved towards twin-turbocharged gasoline engines, showcasing a different approach to forced induction.

Aftermarket Compound Turbos and Push Intakes

But the lack of a factory option hasn’t stopped power-hungry owners. Just because RAM doesn’t offer a compound turbo doesn’t mean Cummins owners are sitting idly by. There’s a huge aftermarket cranking out compound turbo kits.

Push Intakes is a big name in this space, building high-mount compound systems that seriously crank up the power of RAM Cummins trucks. The sheer number of these kits being sold shows there’s a real demand for this kind of upgrade among RAM owners.

Factory Compound Turbo Cummins Possibility

With all this aftermarket activity, what are the chances of seeing a compound turbo straight from the factory? RAM is currently putting its energy into getting the most out of its single VGT setup on the 6.7-liter Cummins.

But you’ve got to consider two things: the aftermarket is proving compound turbos work on these trucks, and Cummins is actively developing two-stage turbocharging for their bigger, heavier-duty engines.

It’s not a stretch to imagine RAM eventually offering a compound turbo option, maybe on a top-of-the-line model or a special performance edition.

Potential Applications and Timelines

If a factory compound turbo Cummins does happen, it’ll almost certainly show up in a high-end RAM 2500 or 3500 or possibly a dedicated performance truck. Don’t expect it tomorrow, though.

New truck generations and engine designs take time. We’re probably looking at a 5-7 year window, maybe coinciding with a brand-new RAM truck platform. A lot depends on what customers want, what the emissions rules look like, and where RAM decides to focus its efforts.