The "Gap" Fix: Why Every New Body RAM 1500 Needs 5-Inch Exhaust Tips
Share
You walk up directly behind your 2019–2026 RAM 1500.
It looks like an absolute beast. It has a wide stance, premium LED taillights, and big all-terrain tires.
Then you look down at the dual exhaust tips.
There is a massive, empty space surrounding them. You could easily fit your whole hand in the gap between the factory chrome tip and the bumper plastic.
It looks... unfinished.
This is known in the truck community as the "New Body Gap."
RAM designed the DT generation's rear bumper with massive cutouts to accommodate extreme engine movement during heavy towing, but they lazily reused the small 4-inch tips from the older generation to save money.
The fix is incredibly simple: 5-Inch Exhaust Tips.
Premium exhaust brands like MBRP, Magnaflow, and Borla immediately recognized this design flaw and built massive, 5-inch diameter tips that bolt directly onto the factory ball-and-socket clamp.
They fill the bumper cutout wall-to-wall, giving the truck the aggressive, muscular, and completed look it absolutely should have had rolling off the factory assembly line.
In this guide, we show you the visual difference between 4-inch and 5-inch tips side-by-side, and explain exactly why RAM Classic owners need to be highly careful with their sizing.
Compare Exhaust Tip Sizes
Stock Replacements or Aggressive Upgrades?
|
Tip Diameter |
Fitment Quality |
Visual Impact |
Best For |
|
4.0-Inch (Stock) |
Loose. |
Weak. Leaves a 1-inch gap all the way around the bumper cutout. |
Direct Replacement. Ideal if you just want a black tip instead of chrome. |
|
4.5-Inch |
Flush (DS). |
Clean. Fills the Classic bumper perfectly without rubbing. |
Classic (DS) Trucks. The safest maximum fitment without melting the plastic. |
|
5.0-Inch |
Flush (DT). |
Aggressive. Fills the New Body bumper completely. |
New Body (DT). The undisputed #1 aesthetic choice for Rebel and Limited owners. |
|
Double Wall |
Thick Edge. |
Premium. Looks like a heavy-duty diesel exhaust tip. |
Show Trucks. High-quality, rolled-edge finish from brands like MBRP. |
Frequently Asked Questions (Exhaust Tips)
Do these bolt-on tips change the sound of my truck?
No, they do not.
Changing just the tips (the last 12 inches of the exhaust pipe) has absolutely zero effect on the volume or the tone of your 5.7L Hemi. This is purely a visual, aesthetic modification. If you want more V8 sound, you need to purchase a Direct-Fit Muffler Replacement or a full Cat-Back System.
Will massive 5-inch tips melt my factory bumper?
On the New Body (DT): No. On the Classic (DS): Possibly.
- New Body (DT): The cutouts are specifically designed to be oversized. A 5-inch tip leaves about 1/4-inch of clearance all the way around, which is absolutely perfect and safe.
- Classic (DS): The cutouts are much tighter. If the metal tip physically touches the plastic valence, the radiant heat from the exhaust gas will melt and warp the bumper. We highly recommend sticking to 4.5-inch tips for all Classic models.
How do I install them? Do I need to know how to weld?
No welding is required.
RAM 1500 exhaust tips use a simple, brilliantly designed bolt-on ball clamp.
- Loosen the 13mm bolt on the factory tip clamp.
- Wiggle the old tip off the ball joint (this can take some muscle if the truck has seen salty winters).
- Slide the new premium tip onto the ball joint, align it perfectly within the cutout, and tighten the bolt.
(Pro Tip: Spray penetrating oil, like WD-40, on the old clamp the night before you do the install to make removal significantly easier).
Mind the gap.
Fill out your bumper perfectly and ditch the cheap factory chrome. Shop our verified collection of premium 2019–2026 RAM 1500 Exhaust Tips.