Dodge Ram 2500 Towing Capacity [2000-2021]

Did you know that the Ram 2500 is one of the most popular towing trucks you could ever have? 

The Ram 2500 truck comes with a heavier chassis and more robust suspension systems than the Ram 1500, paving the way for better payload and towing capabilities. Moreover, the truck comes with other quality features and reliable engines that further enhance its towing capabilities. 

Well, if you are a prospective customer or need to know the 2000-2021 Ram 2500 towing capacities, then let’s find out.

Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup Truck Overview

The Ram 2500 is the successor of the Ram 1500. However, it comes with an overall improved design that makes it a lot superior to Ram 1500.

There’s a lot to be factored in when it comes to the towing capacity of the Ram 2500 trucks. We have different engine choices, cab configurations, axle ratios, and transmission modes that work to strike differences in towing capacities. However, the engine type is always the key determinant here. The rest of the factors bring out differences in towing by a couple of hundred pounds on the high end.

As you’d expect, newer Ram 2500 models have higher towing capacities than the previous ones, maybe due to technological advancements. But, again, the highest towing capabilities can only be achieved when using a fifth-wheel hitch or special towing packages.

Let’s now look into the different towing capacity numbers of the Ram 2500 from 2000 to 2021.

2019 – 2021 Ram 2500 Towing Capacity

The Ram 2500 models from this range of years are the latest, so you’d expect high numbers when it comes to their towing capacities. 

Ram 2500s within these three years came with two engine models;

• 6.4L V8 Gas Hemi Engine
• 6.7L I6 Diesel Engine

All the cars within these three years come with an automatic transmission, making them almost similar in design and output. However, the diesel variant outperforms the gas engine when it comes to towing capacities.

2014 – 2018 Ram 2500 Towing capacity

The Ram 2500 trucks between the years 2014 and 2018 had similar characteristics regarding the engine. We had three engine types for these years;

• 5.7L Gas Hemi V8
• 6.4L Gas Hemi V8
• 6.7L Cummins Diesel Engine

The overall towing capacity for the Ram 2500 models between these years is 13,870 – 19,780 pounds. Again, the highest towing capacity values were realized with the diesel engine, while the least came from the 5.7L Hemi V8. 

Another notable characteristic was that all gas engines (5.7L and 6.4L) were automatic, while the 6.7L Diesel variant gave an option of a manual transmission. The manual transmission variants within these years offered the highest overall towing capacities. Axle ratios also affected towing capabilities. The Ram 2500 models with higher axle ratios recorded higher towing capacities than others with the same engine but lower ratios. 

The lowest towing capacities came from the Crew Cab Long Box 4X4 CNG variants, averaging around 7,120 pounds. On the other hand, the highest values come from the Regular Cab Long Box 4×2.

2008 – 2013 Ram 2500 Towing Capacity

Ram 2500s in each year between 2008 and 2013 had only two engine types. Moreover, the engines were common across all six years. They were;

• 5.7L V8 Gas Engine
• 6.7L Turbo Diesel Engine

The overall maximum towing capacity of the Ram 2500 trucks between these years was around 10,540 and 18,350 pounds. The latter value is achieved with the 2012 and 2013 Ram 2500s run by the 6.7L diesel engine. The highest towing capacity of the 5.7L Gas was in 2013, too, from the Reg Cab Long Box ST/Tradesman. It recorded a maximum tow capacity of 14,350 pounds.

Overall, the 6.7L Diesel engines had higher towing capacities than the 5.7L V8 gas engines. Moreover, the automatic variants between the two engine types had higher outputs than the manual models.

2007 Ram 2500 Towing Capacity

The year 2007 was unique in the history of the Ram 2500. We had five engine models in that year, and they included;

• 3.7L V6 Gas engine
• 4.7L V8 Gas engine
• 5.7L V8 Gas engine
• 5.9L 24V Turbo Diesel engine
• 6.7L 24V Turbo Diesel engine

The overall maximum towing capacity of the 2007 Ram 2500 trucks was around 3,800 – 13,650lbs. Yes, 3,800 pounds. The figure is small, but it’s the maximum you’ll get from the 3.7L V6 gas engine. The highest towing capacity within the group is from the 5.9L Turbo-Diesel engine. Axle ratios and transmission modes help strike out minor differences in similar engines by at most a few hundred pounds.

Bonus: Dodge Dakota Towing Capacity [2000 – 2011]

2006 Ram 2500 Towing Capacity

In 2006, we only had two engine models in the Ram 2500;

• 5.7L Gas engine
• 5.9L Diesel engine

The overall maximum towing capacity of the 2006 Ram 2500 is around 11,450 – 13,650lbs. Again, the diesel engine was the better of the two.

2004 – 2005 Ram 2500 Towing Capacity

In the years 2004 and 2005, Ram 2500 trucks came with four types of engines;

• 3.7L V6 Gas engine
• 4.7L V8 Gas engine
• 5.7L V8 Gas engine
• 5.9L 24V Turbo Diesel engine

The 3.7L V6 was the smallest engine and posed the smallest numbers in towing, peaking at 3,750 pounds. The 4.7L V8 came in at 7,700lbs, while the larger 5.7L had a height of 11,450 pounds. The Diesel recorded the highest value at 13,600 pounds.

2000 – 2003 Ram 2500 Towing Capacity

In the years 2000 to 2003, the Ram 2500 came with three engines;

• 5.9 V8 Gas engine
• 5.9L l6 Turbo Diesel Engine
• 8.0L V10 engine

The overall maximum towing capacity within the years was around 8,750lbs and 14,100lbs. The biggest numbers came from the 5.9L Turbo Diesel engines, while the smallest came from the 5.9L V8 gas engines. The 8.0L V10 performed exceptionally, as it peaked at around 13,400 pounds.

Conclusion

The Ram 2500 is a pretty solid truck, judging by the consistency in maintaining high towing capacities in the past years. Newer models of the Ram 2500 come with even more specialized features to enhance towing, making them better than previous models. But, again, if you’d need to max out the potential of the Ram 2500 trucks, you should install the fifth-wheel hitch or any other additional towing accessories.

Read more: Ford F-250 Towing Capacity [1999 – 2021]

Helpful resources:

• 2014 Dodge Ram Owner’s Manual