The 2001 Dodge 1500 was fitted with one of three possible engines, including a 3.9-, 5.2- and 5.9-liter engine. The 3.9-liter engine is the only six-cylinder engine of the three mentioned. The other two engines feature eight-cylinders. The six-cylinder engine was fitted only into rear-wheel drive models of this pickup. The 3.9-liter engines offer 175 horsepower and 225 foot-pounds torque, compared to 230 and 300, respectively, for the 5.2-liter engine and 245 and 345, respectively, for the 5.9-liter engine.
The 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 pickups were designed with either a 118.7-, 134.7-, 138.7- or 154.7-inch wheelbase depending on the model. They were designed to a length of 204.1, 224.1 or 244.1 inches. The width on these Rams is either 79.4 or 79.3 inches, while height is 74.7, 74.6 or 74.5 inches, depending on the model. Front and rear track on these Rams are the same regardless of model (68.5 and 66.9 inches, respectively). The ground clearance offered by these trucks is 7.7 inches.
While five-speed manual transmissions were standard on these vehicles, consumers could purchase 2001 Dodge 1500 pickups with a four-speed automatic transmission. These Rams had either a 26- or 35-gallon fuel tank. The rear-wheel drive 2001 Dodge 1500 Rams are more fuel efficient than the four-wheel drive Rams. Fuel efficiency in the 2001 four-wheel drive Rams was 12 to 13 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 16 to 17 mpg on the highway, compared to 12 to 15 mpg and 18 to 21 mpg, respectively, for the rear-wheel drive Rams. Manual transmissions contributed more to the 2001 vehicle's fuel efficiency than did automatic transmissions.