See what your next truck can do by comparing the Ram 1500 vs. Ram 2500 vs. Ram 3500 towing capacity ratings. The Spartanburg CDJR team is here to help explore Ram trucks towing capabilities and choose the best model for you. This model towing and payload chart offers more details about each powerful truck so you can make an informed decision.
Read on to compare Ram 1500 vs. Ram 2500 vs. Ram 3500 towing capacity ratings and specs, then visit our Ram dealership to test-drive the ideal model for your needs.
We’ve placed the Ram 1500 vs. Ram 2500 vs. Ram 3500 towing capacity and payload capacity ratings against each other in a convenient chart, along with the maximum power outputs for each truck. We’ve also included the Ram Chassis Cab, Ram 1500 Classic, and Ram 1500 TRX to make our Ram trucks towing capacity chart more exhaustive – these are great options for drivers who are looking for a heavy-duty work truck, unbelievable value, and thrilling exploration, respectively.
| 2024 Ram 1500 | 2023 Ram 1500 TRX | 2023 Ram 1500 Classic | 2024 Ram 2500 | 2024 Ram 3500 | 2024 Ram Chassis Cab | |
| Maximum Towing Capacity: | 12,750 lbs1 | 8,100 lbs1 | 10,620 lbs1 | 19,990 lbs1 | 37,090 lbs1 | 35,150 lbs1 |
| Maximum Payload Capacity: | 2,300 lbs2 | 1,360 lbs2 | 1,810 lbs2 | 4,000 lbs2 | 7,680 lbs2 | 12,550 lbs2 |
| Maximum Horsepower Output: | 395 | 702 | 395 | 410 | 420 | 410 |
| Maximum Torque Output: | 410 lb-ft | 650 lb-ft | 410 lb-ft | 850 lb-ft3 | 1,075 lb-ft | 800 lb-ft3 |
The 2024 Ram 1500 can tow up to 12,750 pounds.1 To go into more detail, the available 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with eTorque is necessary for achieving this towing capacity – it’s also responsible for those maximum power figures. However, the highest Ram 1500 payload rating can only be achieved when you select the standard 3.6-liter V-6 engine with eTorque. This efficient motor delivers 305 horsepower, 273 pound-feet of torque, and a 7,730-pound1 maximum towing capacity.
The Ram 1500 Classic and Ram 1500 TRX are also a part of this model family. The Ram 1500 TRX may have the lowest towing and payload ratings in the Ram 1500 vs. Ram 2500 vs. Ram 3500 towing capacity comparison, but it has the highest performance of them all: a 702-horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V-8 and a 4.5-second 0-60 mph time.
The Ram 1500 Classic is the best way to get an affordable truck with full capabilities. It’s a continuation of the previous generation’s Ram 1500 and has the same engines, with a few variations. The 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 has the same power output but lacks eTorque. Its 3.6-liter V-6 engine, which also lacks eTorque, offers 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque.
Find the 2023 Ram 1500 Classic for a low starting price of $30,695 MSRP.4 Pricing for the updated 2024 Ram 1500 has not yet been released at our time of writing, but its 2023 model has the same maximum towing capacity and a starting price of $37,905 MSRP.4
If you’re ready to drive the Ram 1500 TRX, you can put your adrenaline into overdrive for a starting price of $85,050 MSRP.4 See our Ram 1500 TRX vs. Ford F-150 Raptor comparison guide.
As you might have noticed when looking at our Ram 1500 vs. Ram 2500 vs. Ram 3500 towing capacity comparison chart, a larger number in the model name means the truck will have more strength. The Ram 1500 is better for relatively light loads, while the Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 are both heavy-duty trucks that offer the luxury and style of a Ram 1500 in a much larger, more capable package.
First up is the Ram 2500, which has a starting price of $46,050 MSRP.4 As seen in the Ram trucks tow capacity chart, the Ram 2500 can tow 19,990 pounds1 or carry up to 4,000 pounds2 of payload in its bed. As with the Ram 1500, the higher towing capacity corresponds with the more powerful available engine, while the higher payload capacity belongs to the standard engine.
The standard Ram 2500 engine is a 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 engine that delivers 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. This gasoline V-8 enables the Ram 2500 towing capacity to reach 17,730 pounds.1 The maximum payload rating listed above is achieved with this engine. Learn more about these specs in our Ram 2500 vs. Chevy Silverado comparison, and get ready for more good news: A 6.7-liter Cummins turbo-diesel inline-six engine is also available.
Primed for smooth operation and significant pulling power, the diesel Ram 2500 towing capacity is backed by 370 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque. You can reach the maximum of 19,990 pounds1 with all this torque on tap. This diesel engine also achieves a maximum payload capacity of 3,150 pounds.2
As you already know from the chart revealing each model’s maximum towing capacity, Ram 1500 vs. Ram 2500 vs. Ram 3500 towing strength is dominated by the Ram 3500. It’s the strongest model in our new Ram inventory.
It has three engines: The same 6.4-liter HEMI and 6.7-liter Cummins engines as the Ram 2500 are available and have the same power outputs, but an available high-output version of the 6.7-liter Cummins is added to the roster, giving you 420 horsepower, 1,075 pound-feet of torque, a maximum towing capacity of 37,090 pounds,1 and a maximum payload rating of 6,560 pounds.2
A Ram 3500 with a standard 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 boasts a maximum towing capacity of 18,210 pounds1 and achieves a maximum payload rating of 7,680 pounds.2 The 6.7-liter Cummins engine bestows a maximum towing capacity of 22,660 pounds1 and a maximum payload rating of 6,830 pounds.2
Take advantage of the amazing Ram 3500 towing capacity for a starting price of $48,155 MSRP.4
Ram Chassis Cab models are designed for commercial use. They’re clean slates that remove the bed in preparation for work-related upfits, forming a basis for the Ram 3500, Ram 4500, or Ram 5500. Ram Chassis Cab models also offer the 6.4-liter HEMI and 6.7-liter Cummins, which boast the same power outputs as the Ram 2500 and Ram 3500. While the Ram Chassis Cab models have a towing capacity that’s 1,940 pounds1 lower than the rating of the Ram 3500, their maximum payload is 4,870 pounds2 higher, which enables them to handle service bodies, cherry pickers, and other job-site upfits.
We hope this close look at the towing and performance differences of Ram 1500 vs. 2500 vs. 3500 trucks has helped guide you toward your ideal truck. Whether it’s the lineup’s heaviest hauler or its most affordable member, our team is here to help get you into your next Ram vehicle. Visit our Ram dealership today to take a test drive and explore more than just the Ram 1500 vs. Ram 2500 vs. Ram 3500 towing capacity, then ask about our purchase or lease deals to take your truck home for less.
For the 2024 model year, the maximum towing capacity of the Ram 1500 is an impressive 12,750 pounds.1 The Ram 2500 boosts this maximum to 19,990 pounds,1 and the most powerful Ram truck of all, the Ram 3500, can haul up to 37,090 pounds.1 For comparison’s sake, the Ram 3500 Chassis Cab offers a robust maximum towing capacity of 35,150 pounds.1
The best Ram model for towing depends on your needs. The 12,750-pound maximum towing capacity1 offered by the Ram 1500 may be more than enough for your hauls. However, if you’re looking for the highest towing capacity, the Ram 3500 is the way to go, pulling up to 37,090 pounds.1 Our team is here to walk you through your options based on your preferences.
Towing capacity is impacted by several factors, including engine, drivetrain, and equipment, but primarily the engine. For the Ram 1500, the available 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 gets the highest towing capacity. For the Ram 2500, it’s the available 6.7-liter Cummins® turbo-diesel powerhouse. The Ram 3500 offers a high-output version of the 6.7-liter Cummins® engine that helps it achieve its maximum towing capacity.
1When properly equipped. See dealer for details.
2When properly equipped. Max payload ratings shown for base configuration. Additional options, equipment, passengers, and cargo weight may affect payload weights. Contact dealer for details.
3Maximum torque output is achieved separately from the model’s maximum horsepower.
4MSRP excludes destination, taxes, title and registration fees. Starting at price refers to the base model, optional equipment not included. A more expensive model may be shown. Pricing and offers may change at any time without notification. To get full pricing details, see your dealer.
