Do you know how much a Dodge Ram 3500 can tow? this is one of the questions our readers ask a lot. Well, we´ve got you covered.
The Dodge Ram trucks are known as being the right tool for the job of towing various types of trailers.
Whether you need to pull a small family-size camper trailer or a multi-horse trailer with big living quarters and decent gear and feed capacity, there is a Ram for it.
If you are on the market for a new pickup, one of the choices you might consider is the Dodge Ram 3500 lineup of models.
So, how much can a Dodge Ram 3500 tow? On average, the Dodge Ram can tow between 15,990 and 37,100 pounds. However, the exact towing capacity of the Dodge Ram 3500 will depend on the configuration, engine selection, various additional towing aids, and devices.
Let’s first get over the question of what it depends on.
Table of Contents
What Affects A Dodge Ram 3500 Towing Capacity?
The very first thing which affects the towing capacity of a Dodge Ram 3500 is the choice of engine and transmission.
For the 2021 model year, there are three available options, 6.4 liters V8 HEMI gasoline engine paired with an 8-speed automatic 8HP75 transmission.
The second option is 6.7 liters inline-6 Cummins turbo diesel engine tuned to 370hp and 850lb-ft torque output, featuring the 6-speed automatic 68RFE transmission.
And lastly, the same as the above Cummins diesel engine, but in the High Output configuration tuned to 420hp and 1075lb-ft of torque and paired with the Aisin AS69RC 6-speed automatic transmission.
The engine choice will allow you to choose from the three available GVWR packages.
The HEMI engine option will give you a GVWR packages choice of 10,700 and 14,000 pounds, while the Cummins engines will allow you the choice between 11,500 and 14,000 pounds packages.
These GVWR packages are consisting of different rims, tires, and rear axles, and the highest one comes with dual rear wheels.
Higher GVWR allows for higher load capacity, which has a direct impact on the hitch rating and thus on the towing capacity.
Two more options can increase the towing capacity of your Dodge Ram 3500, the 20,000 and 30,000 pounds rated 5th-wheel hitches.
The first option is available with all three GVWR packages, while the 30,000 pounds hitch is available only with the 14,000 pounds GVWR package.
When it comes to factors that decrease the towing capacity, it is all the options that decrease the load capacity.
The cab style, various equipment that comes with higher trim levels, 4-wheel drive which is heavier than the 2-wheel system, and so on.
Read also: What Truck Can Tow 30,000 lbs (5 Examples of Heavy Duty Pickup Trucks)
What Is A Dodge Ram 3500 Towing Capacity?
The exact towing capacity of the Dodge Ram 3500 depends on the exact configuration.
Adding towing-related equipment and going with a higher-output engine option does increase it, while going up with trim levels and cab sizes do decrease it, in short.
Based on the engine choice, towing capacities can be split into three groups:
- HEMI V8: between 15,990 and 18,210 pounds
- Cummins I6: between 19,410 and 22,670 pounds
- Cummins I6 HO: between 23,000 and 37,100 pounds
With the HEMI engine, the lowest towing capacity comes with the Limited trim level, Mega cab option, 6 feet 4 inches bed, 10,700 GVWR package, and 4×4 drive.
The same cab, bed, and trim levels combination will give you the lowest towing capacity when opting for one of the two Cummins engines.
The highest comes with Tradesman or Bighorn trim levels with Regular cab, 8 feet bed, 14,000 GVWR, two-wheel drive, and 20,000 pounds 5th-wheel hitch.
Because of the engine limitations, the higher-rated hitch has no impact on the towing capacity.
This combination of trim level, bed, and cab is needed for the maximum towing capacity on Cummins engines too, with the addition of the 30,000 pounds rated 5th-wheel hitch.
Read also: What Truck Can Tow 40,000 lbs. (With 3 Examples of Heavy Duty Pickup Trucks)
What Towing Aides Are Available On A Dodge Ram 3500?
When it comes to towing aides available for the Dodge Ram 3500 lineup, there are many options available.
You have an optional tire pressure monitoring system if the trailer supports the monitoring, the cargo bay, and the trailer backing monitoring system, with a camera that requires a bit of getting used to.
The optional air suspension system can make hitching up either the 5th-wheel or gooseneck trailer much easier by lowering the truck bed.
But the most useful aid is the TRSC, Trailer Reverse Steering Control.
Available with reversing camera, it is an added knob on your central console with which you practically steer the trailer instead of the truck.
The system then automatically, based on the angle of the trailer, adjusts the position of the steering wheel, making the backing up with a trailer very intuitive.
What You Can Tow With A Dodge Ram 3500?
Depending on the exact configuration of your Dodge Ram 3500, you can tow practically any type of trailer.
When it comes to camper trailers even the lowest towing capacity will allow you to tow the largest one currently available on the market, the Jayco’s Eagle 334DROK.
But, what you can tow can be limited by the CDL requirements, if you do not have one.
Because the CDL requirements state that it is needed for all combinations of vehicles that exceed 26,000 pounds GCWR or trailers over 20,000 GVWR, the limiting factor of trailer size is the GVWR package when the trailer has GVWR under 20,000 pounds.
The 10,700 pounds GVWR package limits you to towing trailers with the GVWR under 15,300 pounds without a CDL license.
When it comes to camper trailers, this means that you can tow literally any currently available on the market.
Currently, the highest GVWR of any camper trailer has the above-mentioned Jayco trailer, which is rated at 12,350 pounds.
The next higher GVWR package is 11,500 pounds, which decreases the GVWR limit of a trailer above which you need a CDL by 800 pounds, to 14,500.
The highest GVWR package of 14,000 pounds will limit you to towing only trailers with their GVWR under 12,000 pounds.
In the terms of campers, that means any currently existing, except the Eagle 334DROK which is the sole camper with GVWR above this limit.
Read also: Do I Need A CDL For Trucks Under 26,000 Lbs? (DOT Regulations)
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References
https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing/towing-guide.html
https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing/technology.html
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