Dodge Ram 1994-2001: Exhaust Reviews
If you've been thinking about upgrading the exhaust on your Dodge Ram, check out our run down of the most popular brands on the market today.
This article applies to the Dodge Ram (1994-2001).
There's a reason why bolting on an aftermarket exhaust system is so popular with truck owners. Well, maybe several reasons. Stock exhaust systems are meant to keep the noise down, which means a restrictive flow as well. By bolting on an aftermarket exhaust, you can give your truck a nice aggressive tone and free up some extra horsepower. You might even improve your gas mileage as a result, unless your right foot just can't get enough of the sweet sounds your truck is making. But with literally dozens of options, which one is right for you? To help you choose, we're comparing three of the most popular brands of exhaust systems on the market today.
Exhaust Systems
Magnaflow |
Flowmaster |
Gibson | |
|---|---|---|---|
Price |
$850 | $725 | $530 |
Piping Diameter |
2.5" | 2.5" | 2.25" |
Performance/Power gains |
Excellent | Average | Good |
Single or dual exit tailpipe? |
Dual | Dual | Dual |
Cat-back or axle-back? |
Cat-back | Cat-back | Cat-back |
Best Value: Gibson
Magnaflow
Price – $850
Piping diameter – 2.5"
Performance/Power gains – Excellent
Single or dual exit tail pipe? Dual
Cat-back or axle-back? Cat-back
Magnaflow exhaust systems are a little quieter than Flowmasters because they don't use baffles to create sound. This also means more power and less artificial noise. Magnaflow is a great choice if you care more about power than producing the most noise, though they sound great as well. They are not as well known as Flowmaster per se (and are more expensive), but Magnaflow produces a great quality product that comes with a lifetime warranty. You will pay a little more, but Magnaflow is by far the most popular choice among Dodge forum members.
Flowmaster
Price – $725
Piping diameter – 2.5"
Performance/Power gains – Average
Single or dual exit tail pipe? Dual
Cat-back or axle-back? Cat-back
Flowmaster exhaust systems use a series of baffles to create a nice (to some) drone and easily heard exhaust note. If you are looking to create some noise and don't necessarily care about generating the absolute most power gain from your exhaust setup, they are a solid choice. If you don't particularly mind the droning sound and just want a loud exhaust that is also well built, Flowmaster is the way to go, and they are cheaper than a comparable Magnaflow setup.
Gibson
Price – $530
Piping diameter – 2.25"
Performance/Power gains – Good
Single or dual exit tail pipe? Dual
Cat-back or axle-back? Cat-back
Gibson makes an economical alternative to the pricey Flowmaster and Magnaflow exhaust systems, but as you can imagine they come with a few negatives as well. Owners report that Gibson exhaust systems are loud and sacrifice low end power for the top end. This makes them a poor choice if you do a lot of towing or hauling. If those issues don't concern you and you just want a loud exhaust on the cheap, Gibson is a solid choice.
Related Discussions
- Best Aftermarket Exhaust - DodgeForum.com
- Best Sounding Exhaust System for the Money - DodgeForum.com
- Magnaflow vs. Flowmaster - DodgeForum.com
