People buy powerful trucks for different reasons, but one of the most common reasons is for towing and hauling. Trucks have generally improved when it comes to ride quality, aesthetics, and premium features. Still, their biggest selling point is their hauling power.
If you have a Dodge Ram 1500, or you’re thinking of purchasing one, you might be asking, “how much can a Ram 1500 tow?” If you planning to buy a Ram 1500, this guide can help you make an informed decision, especially if you want to use it for towing.
So, let’s get into the details…
What Is the Ram 1500 Towing Capacity?
The Ram 1500 has different towing capacities depending on the engine. Generally, with the 5.7L HEMI® V8 engine on the 2021 Ram, the truck can tow 12,750 pounds. The 2021 Ram 1500 comes with four engine options and two body styles to give you variety. One of them comes in two-bed sizes as well.
The quad cab model has a 6.4-foot bed while the crew cab has two-bed sizes: 6.4 and 5.7-foot beds. It is also possible to choose a 4WD or 2WD layout in the vehicles. The truck has a less complicated trim as well. Here are the different towing capacities according to engine size:
Quad Cab With 6.4 Foot Bed
The truck is powered by a 3.6 liter V6 Pentastar engine and it can tow 7,750 pounds when it is used in a 2WD configuration. When the truck is set in 4WD, it can tow 7,530 pounds.
If you choose the 3.0 liter V6 EcoDiesel engine, you can increase the towing prowess to around 10,080 pounds while driving in a 2WD configuration. When you switch to 4WD, you can tow up to 9,900 pounds.
Also, the 2WD model of this truck has a Max Towing Package that may increase the towing strength to 12,560 pounds. With a larger engine like a 5.7 liter V8 HEMI, you can tow a whopping 11,650 pounds in 2WD while 4WD can push 11,440 pounds. This same engine may have low ratings with the eTorque system. It drops to 11,560 and 11,350 for 2WD and 4WD, respectively.
The 2WD has a Max Towing Package that bumps the capacity up to 12,750 pounds, and it is the highest so far in the 2021 Ram 1500 model.
Crew Cab With 5.7 Foot Bed
This vehicle has lower ratings than the Quad Cab model. For instance, the 3.6 liter V6 Pentastar engine tows up to 7,530 when it is set to 2WD while it drops to 7,460 when the engine is powering all four wheels.
The EcoDiesel 3.0 liter engine tows 9,930 pounds in two-wheel drive and 9,540 in four-wheel drive. The V8 HEMI 5.7 liter engine allows you to tow 11,450 pounds when it is set to 2WD and 11,320 in 4WD configuration.
With the eTorque system, the V8 HEMI engine takes a hit and the towing capacity drops to 11,370 and 11,200 pounds when using the 2WD and 4WD configurations, respectively.
Ram does not offer a Max Towing Package for this body style. The 2021 RAM 1500 TRX comes in the Crew Cab model and a 5.7-foot bed. It has a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine. It is a performance truck with a great towing capacity of 8,220 pounds and only comes in a 4WD option.
Crew Cab With 6.4 Foot Bed
This model is available on the Ram 1500, and it comes with a 6.4-foot bed. The body styles available for this model have four engine options. The V6 Pentastar 3.6 liter engine has a towing capacity of 7,600 pounds when driven in 2 wheel drive mode. The capacity drops by 300 pounds when it is used in 4WD.
The 3rd gen EcoDiesel engine offers up to 9,950 pounds on 2 wheel drive while it tows 9,620 pounds in 4 wheel drive. The V8 HEMI engine offers the highest rating in the model. It has an amazing towing capacity of 11,500 when used in a 2WD setting and pushes 11,320 pounds in a 4WD layout.
On the other hand, the V8 that uses an eTorque system can tow 11,410 pounds on 2WD and 11,060 on 4WD. In this body style, there is no Max Towing Package.
Ram 1500 Hitch Types
The hitch type on the Ram 1500 depends largely on the particular model you got. Each hitch has a different weight rating but in the standard models, it will likely be a Class 3 and have an 8,000-pound capacity.
The hitch receivers are modifiable and can be replaced with another higher-capacity hitch to suit your needs. They are also easy to remove with handheld tools and do not require special expertise.
Features for Easier Towing on a Ram 1500
In the different models of Ram 1500, superior towing capabilities require a joint effort. The vehicle doesn’t only rely on the engine power. Here are some of the features that make towing easier on this vehicle.
Blind Spot Monitoring
This feature has trailer detection and rear cross path settings as well. It works by monitoring blind spots and accounting for trailer length automatically. This makes it easier for the vehicle to change lanes with ease.
TorqueFlite® Transmission
The transmission works with the eTorque hybrid system to help the truck to reach 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.
Large brakes
This vehicle also has 14.9-inch brakes that make it easier to halt while towing heavy objects.
Is Diesel Better For Towing?
Both diesel and gas trucks can tow efficiently as long as they are built with the capability. However, diesel fuel is a better option when it comes to fuel economy. Diesel engines have heavy-duty torque. This makes it possible for the trucks to pull more weight than other gas-powered trucks.
Since Diesel engine tows with less effort, it results in fuel economy. When it comes to light towing, they may not really stand out, but with heavy loads, these engines shine the most. You can expect better gas mileage with a diesel truck when compared to gasoline.
So far, the model with the best fuel economy is the Ram 1500 V6 EcoDiesel engine. It has a gas mileage of around 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. The figure may also depend on the driver. It could be more or less.
With a more powerful Ram 1500 model such as the V8 HEMI with the 5.7-liter engine, you can get around 17 mpg/city and about 23 mpg/highway. When the mpg is lower, the towing capacity will be higher. And this is why the HEMI engine has a high towing capacity of around 12,750 pounds.
What Is the Ram 1500 Tow Package?
As one of the best hybrid trucks around, Ram 1500 comes with towing packages to make the towing process easier. It also helps increase the efficiency of a truck. There are two packages, namely, the trailer tow package and the max tow package. Both have different features.
Trailer-Tow Package
This package on the Ram 1500 has several features that make towing easier. For instance, the package offers extended side mirrors for helping the driver see the surroundings with ease. Some models also sport auto-folding mirrors that can adjust in many ways.
Also, it comes with the essential electrical components that make an attachment with a trailer easier. If you use a Class IV trailer, it can hold around 20,000 pounds. Also, this package comes with all the needed electrical components for the brake lights and brakes of a hitch trailer.
The trailer tow package also has heavy-duty engine cooling to help ensure that your engine remains cool and doesn’t overheat even though it is hauling thousands of pounds over long distances.
Max Tow Package
This max tow package offers more than the trailer tow package when it comes to heavy-duty towing. It offers bigger wheels on the Ram 1500 at 18” x8” and also comes with a spare tire. This package also has a rear axle ratio of 3.92:1 for added torque. The ratio makes it possible for the Roseau to reach the back wheels of a truck. While pulling a heavy trailer, increased torque on the rear wheels makes the tow easier.
Can a Ram 1500 Tow Camper Trailers?
Some models have a towing capacity of 12,750 pounds and this means that they can tow camper trailers with ease. On average, camper trailers weigh around 5,200 pounds. The lowest 1500 model offers over 6,000 pounds towing capacity and so most can haul a camper.
While it has been established that a Ram 1500 can tow a camper, it is important to note that the estimated weight does not include food or gear placed in the camper. Similarly, a Toyota Tacoma can comfortably tow a trailer, but there’s also a limit. See how much a Toyota Tacoma can tow.
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