Dodge Ram 5500 Towing Capacity [2000 – 2021]

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You’ll be amazed by the amount of weight the Dodge Ram 5500 can tow. It’s a significant step-up from the ordinary trucks we all know in terms of output. 

If you’re looking to tow large weights or RVs, you need to forget about the mid-range trucks and SUVs. The Dodge Ram 5500 is the perfect choice for that. Power and productivity are what the Dodge Ram 5500 trucks are known for.

Are you seeking to know the approximate towing capacities of specific Dodge Ram models over the years? This article has that information and much more.

Dodge Ram 5500 Overview

The Dodge Ram 5500 is an incredible workhorse that comes in four trim packages and a 4×4 drive-train. The trim levels include;

  • Tradesman
  • Laramie
  • SLT
  • Limited

All the trim levels come in a crew cab configuration with four doors. However, the Tradesman and SLT come with a standard two-door cab option.

The Dodge Ram 5500 can either come with an upfit or not, so you’ll need to be cautious if you’ll be using its payload capability. Payload ranges from 10,700-11450 pounds.

One of the most outstanding features of the Ram 5500 surrounds its towing capacity. The overall maximum towing capacity of the Dodge Ram 5500 is around 34,290 to 34,800. However, that depends on the options you choose. 

The Ram 5500 mainly comes in a 6.7L Cummins l6 engine across all years. However, there were instances where we had a 6.4L V8 engine that would record comparatively higher towing figures than the former. Here’s a year-to-year breakdown of the Dodge Ram 5500 towing capacities.

2018 – 2021 Dodge Ram 5500 Towing Capacity

There were two engines on the Dodge Ram 5500 truck models produced between 2018 and 2021. They were the 6.4L Hemi V8 and the 6.7L Cummins engines.

The average 2018-2021 Dodge Ram 5500 towing capacity is 10,050-37,500 pounds. The highest values were on the 2020 model, on the 6.4L V8 engine. Of course, there were minor changes between different models brought about by axle ratios, but not in large numbers. 

2017 Dodge Ram 5500 Towing Capacity

There was only one engine across all Dodge Ram 5500 models; the 6.7L Cummins Diesel engine. The maximum trailer weight for the 2017 Dodge Ram 5500 models ranged between 17,120 and 30,600 pounds. The highest values came from the Regular Cab CA 60” 4×2 Automatic Transmission model.

2016-2014 Dodge Ram 5500 Towing Capacity

There was a single-engine across all Dodge Ram 5500 models between 2016 and 2016; the 6.7L l6 Diesel (ETK) engine. Moreover, the models were categorized into cab configurations, and whether they rocked Manual or Automatic Transmission.

The overall maximum 2014-2016 Dodge Ram towing capacity is 15,900-29,600 pounds. Automatic Transmission models edged the Manuals within these years, with the highest value coming from the 2014 Ram 5500, Automatic. 

2013-2008 Dodge Ram 5500 Towing Capacity

The 6.5L Diesel (ETJ) is the only engine variant among all Dodge Ram models between 2008 and 2013. We also had a couple of axle ratios that brought about slight differences in towing capacities. The overall maximum towing capacity ranged from 13,500-29,250 pounds.

The Automatic transmission models edged the manuals within all these production years, and the maximum values came from the 2013 Regular Cab CA 60” 4WD Automatic. 

It is recommended that you use a weight-distributing system for trailers exceeding 5,000 pounds.

2007-2000 Dodge Ram 5500 Towing Capacity

Not much information is available on the internet on the towing capacity of Dodge Ram 5500 trucks from 2000 to 2007. However, we had the Ram 3500 and 4500, which had pretty decent towing capabilities.

Which Specs Affect Towing Capacity?

Several factors affect the towing capacity of the Dodge Ram 5500 models. These are;

  • Transmission
  • Cab to axle length
  • Engine type

Transmission

Like any other car/truck, the Dodge Ram 5500 comes in two transmissions, Manual and Automatic Transmission. In most instances, the Automatics are better-placed towards towing than manual counterparts. Why is that? That is because manual transmission vehicles tend to heat up on the clutch when loaded with too much weight. On the other hand, an automatic has everything figured out on the gearbox, leaving only your trailer/RV to worry about. 

Therefore, you’ll notice that Automatics did a better job in towing on the Dodge Ram 5500’s than Manuals across all years.

Cab-to-Axle Length

The Cab-to-Axle ratio is indicated as ‘CA’ on the towing charts. There are four Cable-to-axle lengths;

  • 60”
  • 84”
  • 108”
  • 120”

The Cab-to-Axle length represents the total distance from the centerline of the rear axle to the cab’s back. That length helps determine the size of the body to be mounted on the chassis. The size is also proportional to the weight of the item to be mounted. Therefore, you should be careful with the cable-to-axle length of your Ram 5500.

Engine

There are two types of engines; the 6.4 V8 and 6.7L Cummins l6. Just as you’d expect, the V8 had more output than the l6 engine, resulting in higher towing capacities. Therefore, if you need a Dodge Ram 5500 with a high towing capacity, you can consider a V8 model.

Conclusion

Those were the respective towing capacities for Dodge Ram 5500 trucks from 2000-2021. Again, few factors affect their towing capabilities and should be put into consideration before making a purchase.

Overall, the Dodge Ram 5500 is one of the most reliable trucks for towing. However, it would be best to go for newer models as they have higher figures, of course from improved technology in production. Again, to achieve the maximum towing capacity on any truck, make sure to install the necessary tow packages and be careful not to reach or exceed the recommended limit. 

Read more: Dodge Ram 2500 Towing Capacity [2000-2021]

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