Dodge Ram 2500 Towing Capacity

Outfitted with a 6.7 L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 engine, the Dodge Ram can haul up to 19,680 pounds.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Outfitted with a 6.7 L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 engine, the Dodge Ram 2500 can haul up to 19,680 pounds. The Ram 2500’s towing capacity dips slightly with its 6.4 L Hemi V8 engine, but it can still haul an impressive 17,540 pounds.
If you need to haul big loads for work or like to tow your sailboat to lakes near and far, you’ll need to be familiar with your truck’s hauling capacity to complete all your towing jobs safely. Pickup trucks are built to tow heavy loads, but your vehicle’s size, engine, transmission, and other factors will impact how much you can actually tow.
That’s why the
car insurance
broker and comparison shopping app
Jerry
has put together this handy guide so you have all the information you need about your Dodge Ram 2500’s towing capacity—from its maximum load to how to calculate your loads to ensure the job gets done safely. As a bonus, we'll show you how to save on your
Dodge Ram 2500 insurance costs
!
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How much can a Dodge Ram 2500 tow?

Base towing capacity: 17,540 pounds
Maximum towing capacity: 19,680 pounds
Engines: 6.4 L Hemi V8 (410 hp), 6.7 L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 (370hp)
The Dodge Ram 2500 offers tremendous towing capabilities on both available engines, as well as unparalleled comfort and luxury—at least compared to its other heavy-duty rivals. 
Whichever engine you choose for your Ram 2500, you’re going to be able to haul an impressive amount. The 6.4 L Hemi offers plenty of towing capacity while still being able to scoot around town rather nimbly. The 6.7 L Turbo Diesel offers even more towing prowess, but you lose any quickness that is found on the lighter Hemi.

Trailer hitches for the Dodge Ram 2500

There are plenty of options available if you’re looking to add a trailer hitch to your Ram 2500. A popular and reliable hitch is the Curt Class 3 Hitch, which can tow a total of 6,000 pounds gross trailer weight.

How to calculate the towing capacity you need 

You’ll want to know exactly how much you can tow before hitching your load to the Dodge Ram 2500. While the 2500’s towing capacity is indeed impressive, always remember to keep the gross weight of your payload lower than your truck’s maximum towing capacity
While the exact weight will differ depending on your load, here’s what you can safely expect to tow with your Dodge Ram 2500:
With 6.4 L Hemi V8 engine (17,540 lb capacity)
  • 37-foot camper van (7,757 lbs)
  • Sailboats (up to 8,880 lbs)
With 6.7 L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 engine (19,680 lb capacity)
  • Fifth-wheel trailer (12,000 to 15,000 lbs)
Whether your needs are recreational or work-related, the Dodge Ram 2500 will likely have more than enough towing capacity to fit your needs. Going with the 2500’s Hemi or Turbo Diesel engine will give you plenty of towing capacity.
Something to keep in mind, though—each payload is different, so always double-check your truck’s towing capacity, as well as the total weight of your truck and hitch when fully loaded. You’ll also need to account for passenger and cargo weight.

How to increase towing capacity

You can increase your Dodge Ram 2500’s towing capacity in a few ways:
  • Attach a weight-distribution hitch that controls sway and takes pressure off your truck’s suspension
  • Replace your truck’s brake pads and rotors to ensure you can handle bigger loads
  • Consider a strong axle, such as an RV axle
Keep in mind that when you’re adding upgrades to your truck, they do have the potential to decrease your towing capacity. If, for instance, you swap out the 2500’s standard wheels with larger, aftermarket wheels, they might put more pressure on your engine and lower the truck’s towing power.
If the Ram 2500’s towing capacity doesn’t do it for you, there are other trucks that can tow more that might interest you. Ford’s
F-250
pulls an even 20,000 pounds, while the 1-ton
Chevrolet Silverado
/
GMC Sierra
pulls a whopping 36,000 pounds.
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How to find affordable car insurance

Whatever you’re towing with your Ram 2500, be sure to protect that beast with a robust
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FAQs

The Dodge Ram 2500 is a towing workhorse. The 6.4 L Hemi V8 can pull more than 17,000 pounds, while the 6.7 Cummins Turbo Diesel tows even more—a whopping 19,680 pounds. Both options should be able to meet most towing needs unless you need to haul exceptionally big items, such as large RVs or campers.
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