Next Level Performance
November 3, 2026 • 9 min read
Our Verdict
For most 2019-2024 RAM 1500 5.7L HEMI owners, the Flowmaster Outlaw Extreme is the smarter buy: it delivers the deepest, loudest tone in this test and a ground-clearance-friendly turndown exit for roughly a third of MagnaFlow's price.
MagnaFlow’s Street Series earns its premium with polished 5-inch tips and a more refined, dyno-tuned street note that stays civil at cruise. Choose Flowmaster for maximum attitude and value; choose MagnaFlow (or Borla T-304) if show-quality tips and a quieter highway drone matter more than the sticker.
Shop Our Top Pick →Choosing a cat-back exhaust for a 2019-2024 RAM 1500 5.7L HEMI usually comes down to two heavyweights: Flowmaster and MagnaFlow. Both bolt onto the fifth-generation (DT) RAM’s 395-horsepower, 410 lb-ft V8, both step the factory 2.5-inch tubing up to 3.0-inch mandrel-bent stainless, and both wake up a truck that leaves the factory far too quiet for its own good. The difference is in the details — muffler design, exit style, tip finish, steel grade and, of course, price. At NLP Performance in Tampa, FL, we sell both systems every week, so this head-to-head breaks down exactly which one belongs under your RAM.
Why Upgrade the Cat-Back on a 2019-2024 RAM 1500 5.7L?
A cat-back exhaust replaces everything from the catalytic converter back — mid-pipe, muffler and tailpipe — without touching a single emissions component, which is why cat-backs are street-legal in all 50 states. On the 5.7L HEMI, the factory system chokes the engine with narrow 2.5-inch piping and a heavy, restrictive muffler. Swapping to a 3.0-inch mandrel-bent system reduces back-pressure, and real dyno testing backs it up: aFe recorded gains of up to +22 horsepower and +26 lb-ft of torque with its MACH Force-Xp system on this exact platform. Expect most quality cat-backs to free somewhere in the 10–25 horsepower range along with a meaningful torque bump down low — the part of the curve that matters when you’re towing or merging.
The bigger, more noticeable payoff is sound. A good cat-back transforms the HEMI from a muted commuter into the deep, authoritative V8 it should have been from the factory, and most systems also shave weight off the back of the truck. The question isn’t whether to upgrade — it’s which system matches your tolerance for volume, your budget, and how your RAM gets used.
Flowmaster’s Outlaw Extreme uses 3.0-inch mandrel-bent 409 stainless tubing and a turndown dump exit.
Flowmaster vs MagnaFlow: The Quick Answer
The Flowmaster Outlaw Extreme ($478.95) is the loudest, most aggressive and most affordable full cat-back here, and its turndown dump exit improves departure angle for off-road use. The MagnaFlow Street Series ($1,266) costs nearly three times as much but answers with dyno-tuned sound engineering, polished 5-inch double-wall tips and a dual-split-rear exit that looks and sounds like a premium OEM-plus upgrade. Below, we line both up against the key premium and budget alternatives for the fifth-gen RAM.
| Kit | Material & Tubing | Exit & Tips | Sound Level | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| aFe Apollo GT Muffler Pipe | 409 SS, 3.0 in. | Keeps factory tip(s) | Deep / moderate | $446.00 |
| Flowmaster Outlaw ExtremeTop Pick | 409 SS, 3.0 in. | Turndown dump (no tip) | Loud / aggressive | $478.95 |
| MagnaFlow Street Series | 409 SS, 3.0 in. | Dual split rear, 5 in. polished | Aggressive ext. / moderate int. | $1,266.00 |
| aFe MACH Force-Xp | 409 SS, 3.0 in. | Dual rear, 5 in. polished | Deep / aggressive | $1,268.00 |
| Borla S-Type | T-304 SS | Dual rear, polished | Aggressive “Sound of Power” | $1,423.99 |
Prices shown were accurate at publication and update live on the product pages. All five fit the 2019-2024 (and 2026) RAM 1500 5.7L HEMI on the new fifth-generation (DT) body — not the 2019-2023 “Classic,” which uses the previous 2009-2018 chassis.
Flowmaster Outlaw Extreme — Best Value & Loudest
The Flowmaster Outlaw Extreme is our top pick because it delivers the most sound and attitude per dollar on the fifth-gen RAM 1500. It runs 3.0-inch mandrel-bent 409 stainless tubing into Flowmaster’s Outlaw-series muffler — the brand’s most aggressive case — for a deep, loud, unmistakable HEMI rumble. Instead of an over-axle tailpipe, it uses a turndown dump exit right after the muffler, which drops weight and actually improves ground clearance and departure angle, a real plus for lifted or trail-driven trucks.
Flowmaster Outlaw Extreme — Key Specs
What We Like
- + Loudest, most aggressive HEMI tone in this test
- + Lowest price of any full cat-back here ($478.95)
- + Turndown dump exit improves departure angle and saves weight
- + Direct bolt-on using factory hangers and mounts
- + Backed by Flowmaster’s lifetime warranty
Things to Consider
- – No visible polished tip — exit dumps before the bumper
- – Can drone more at highway cruise than milder systems
MagnaFlow Street Series — Premium Street Tone & Show Tips
MagnaFlow’s Street Series (part 19429) is the refined, show-truck answer. It pairs 3.0-inch mandrel-bent piping with a straight-through, dyno-tuned muffler and a dual-split-rear exit capped by 5-inch polished, double-wall, angle-cut, rolled-edge tips. The result is an aggressive exterior note with a moderate interior volume — it sounds mean outside but stays comfortable on a long highway pull, which is exactly what many daily-driven RAM owners want. It fits all 5.7L trims except the base Tradesman.
What We Like
- + Dyno-tuned straight-through muffler for a clean, resonant note
- + Show-quality 5-inch polished double-wall tips
- + Moderate cabin volume — civil for daily driving and towing
- + Dual-split-rear exit looks like a factory-plus upgrade
Things to Consider
- – Roughly 2.6x the price of the Flowmaster
- – Excludes the base Tradesman trim
MagnaFlow finishes its Street Series with 5-inch polished, double-wall, angle-cut tips.
Premium & Budget Alternatives
If you want the best corrosion resistance for salt-belt winters, step up to the Borla S-Type: it’s built from premium T-304 stainless (more rust-resistant than the 409 grade used by most competitors) and carries a Million-Mile Warranty. The aFe MACH Force-Xp is the dyno champ, with aFe’s own testing showing +22 hp and +26 lb-ft, plus dual 5-inch polished tips. And if you’re on a tight budget or just want more sound without a full system, the aFe Apollo GT muffler-upgrade pipe is the cheapest route at $446 — it swaps only the muffler section and keeps your factory tips.
What We Like
- + Borla T-304 steel best resists road salt and winter corrosion
- + aFe MACH Force-Xp is the dyno leader (+22 hp / +26 lb-ft)
- + aFe Apollo pipe is the cheapest way to add sound ($446)
- + All three are direct bolt-on with factory-style hangers
Things to Consider
- – Borla and aFe MACH Force-Xp are premium-priced ($1,268–$1,424)
- – Apollo pipe needs some cutting and only changes the muffler section
aFe’s MACH Force-Xp posted +22 hp and +26 lb-ft in the brand’s in-house dyno testing.
How to Choose the Right RAM 1500 Cat-Back
Steel grade: 409 vs 304 stainless
409 stainless (Flowmaster, MagnaFlow, aFe) is strong, affordable and perfectly durable, but it can surface-discolor over years of heat and salt exposure. T-304 stainless (Borla) resists rust and keeps its shine far longer, which is why it’s the choice for trucks that live in the salt belt or see heavy winter road treatment. If your RAM is a Florida or Sun Belt truck, 409 is all you need; if it winters in the Midwest or Northeast, the T-304 premium is worth considering.
Exit style and sound
A turndown dump exit (Flowmaster Outlaw Extreme) is the loudest and most off-road friendly because it ditches the over-axle tailpipe entirely — but there’s no visible chrome tip. A dual-split-rear exit with polished 5-inch tips (MagnaFlow, aFe MACH Force-Xp) gives you the show-truck look and typically a slightly more controlled tone. If drone on the highway bothers you, lean toward the straight-through, dyno-tuned MagnaFlow; if you want your HEMI to announce itself, the Outlaw muffler is unbeatable.
Fitment: DT body vs 2019 “Classic”
This is the single most common mistake RAM buyers make. In 2019 Ram sold two different trucks: the new fifth-generation DT body and the carryover “Classic,” which is the previous 2009-2018 chassis. Every system in this guide fits the new DT body (2019-2024, plus 2026). If your truck is a 2019-2023 “Classic,” you need a 2009-2018 RAM 1500 system instead. When in doubt, our Tampa team will verify your VIN before you order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a cat-back exhaust add horsepower to the 2019-2024 RAM 1500 5.7L?
Yes. A 3.0-inch cat-back frees roughly 10–25 horsepower on the 5.7L HEMI by cutting back-pressure. aFe’s in-house dyno testing of its MACH Force-Xp system on this truck recorded gains of up to +22 horsepower and +26 lb-ft of torque, with most of the torque arriving low in the rev range where it helps towing and acceleration.
Is a cat-back exhaust legal on a RAM 1500?
Yes. Cat-back systems are street-legal in all 50 states because they replace only the piping and muffler behind the catalytic converter and do not alter any emissions equipment. You keep your factory catalytic converters, so there is no CARB or emissions concern.
Which is louder, Flowmaster or MagnaFlow?
The Flowmaster Outlaw Extreme is louder. Its Outlaw-series muffler is Flowmaster’s most aggressive design and produces a deep, loud tone, while MagnaFlow’s straight-through Street Series is tuned for an aggressive exterior note with a more moderate, drone-free interior volume.
Should I choose 409 or 304 stainless steel?
Choose T-304 (Borla) if your RAM lives in the salt belt or sees heavy winter road treatment, because 304 resists rust and keeps its finish longer. Choose 409 (Flowmaster, MagnaFlow, aFe) for Sun Belt trucks and to save money — it is structurally just as durable and the most common grade on the market.
Will these fit my 2019 RAM 1500 Classic?
No. Every system here fits the new fifth-generation DT body (2019-2024 and 2026). The 2019-2023 RAM 1500 “Classic” uses the previous 2009-2018 chassis and needs a 2009-2018 cat-back instead. Always match the system to your body generation, not just the model year.
What is the cheapest way to make my RAM 1500 5.7L sound better?
The cheapest route is the aFe Apollo GT muffler-upgrade pipe at $446, which replaces only the factory muffler section with a high-flow 409 stainless muffler and keeps your factory tips. A full cat-back like the Flowmaster Outlaw Extreme ($478.95) costs only slightly more and delivers a bigger sound and flow improvement.
How long does cat-back installation take?
Most of these systems install in about 60–90 minutes as a direct bolt-on using the factory hanger locations, no welding required. The aFe Apollo muffler pipe is the exception — it needs some cutting to splice in. Plan for basic hand tools, a jack and stands, and penetrating oil for the factory clamps.
Does a cat-back hurt towing performance on the HEMI?
No. A properly sized 3.0-inch cat-back maintains or improves low-end torque, which actually helps when towing. The free-flowing muffler reduces exhaust restriction without creating a torque dip, and all five systems here retain full ground clearance — the Flowmaster turndown exit even improves departure angle.
Ready to Wake Up Your HEMI?
Shop Flowmaster, MagnaFlow, Borla and aFe cat-back systems for the 2019-2024 RAM 1500 — plus thousands more performance parts at NLP Performance.
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