Ram 3500 towing with the 6.7L Cummins HO turbo diesel

Every Cummins row in Ram's chart uses the 8-speed TorqueFlite HD automatic and a 3.42 axle. Weights are in pounds; SRW means single rear wheels and DRW dual rear wheels (dually).

From 2027 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty Preliminary Trailer Towing Charts (Stellantis media), read November 3, 2026. All rows are Tradesman trucks except the Mega Cab, which Ram lists as Laramie (Mega Cab is 4x4 only). Figures are preliminary. The chart also prints an extra block labeled 4x4 Crew Cab 6'4" SRW among its 4x2 entries; because its label is unclear, it is left out here and in the HEMI table.

Ram 3500 towing with the 6.4L HEMI V8

HEMI trucks use the 8-speed 8HP75-LCV automatic, with a choice of 3.73 or 4.10 axle. The 4.10 axle adds about 2,200 to 2,400 lbs of trailer rating in every configuration. Weights are in pounds.

From 2027 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty Preliminary Trailer Towing Charts, read November 3, 2026. Where two payload figures are shown, Ram lists the truck at two GVWRs (11,040 and 11,440 lbs); for 2027, 4x4 single-rear-wheel Regular Cab 8-foot and Crew Cab 6'4" HEMI trucks offer up to 11,440 lbs GVWR, 400 lbs more than 2026 (What's New for 2027: Ram Heavy Duty). Ram's chart also lists HEMI trucks ordered without a box; they are left out here.

What GVWR, payload, GCWR and trailer rating mean

Ram's owner's manual (we used the 2026 Ram 1500 manual) defines the terms this way. GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) is the total allowable weight of the truck, including driver, passengers, cargo and the trailer's tongue weight. GCWR (gross combination weight rating) is the total allowable weight of the truck and trailer weighed together. GAWR is the maximum capacity of the front and rear axles. Tongue weight is the downward force the trailer puts on the hitch, and it counts as part of the truck's load.

Payload in Ram's chart is the GVWR minus the base weight of the truck as listed. Anything you add, including passengers, tools, a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch and the trailer's tongue or pin weight, comes out of that payload. So a truck can reach its GVWR or GCWR before the trailer reaches the maximum trailer rating. Check all of the ratings, not just the headline number.

Definitions from 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual (Common Towing Definitions), read November 3, 2026. Every truck's own door-jamb and tire labels give its exact ratings.

Choosing a configuration for your trailer

The chart shows a clear pattern. Dual rear wheels and the Cummins HO give the highest trailer ratings: 37,020 lbs for a 4x2 Regular Cab dually and 33,560 lbs for a 4x4 Crew Cab 8-foot dually. A 4x4 Crew Cab with the 8-foot box on single rear wheels is rated for 25,180 lbs with the Cummins. The Mega Cab Laramie is rated for 32,890 lbs as a dually and 24,080 lbs on single rear wheels.

With the 4.10 axle, the HEMI V8 trucks top out between about 16,800 and 18,140 lbs, depending on cab and wheels, but carry the most payload: up to 7,580 lbs in a 4x2 Regular Cab dually, because the gas engine weighs less than the diesel. If you carry heavy loads in the bed more than you tow, a HEMI dually can be the better fit; for a large fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer, the Cummins HO is the engine to look at.

• Weigh your trailer loaded and ready to travel, then add a margin.
• Add up passengers, cargo and hitch weight to make sure they fit within payload.
• Match the cab and box to how many people ride along and how much you carry.
• Look up the specific truck's ratings on its window sticker and door-jamb label.

Ratings from 2027 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty Preliminary Trailer Towing Charts, read November 3, 2026.

Ram 3500 towing technology

Ram lists this available towing equipment for its 2027 heavy-duty trucks:

From What's New for 2027: Ram Heavy Duty (Stellantis media), read November 3, 2026. The 2027 specifications list a 12.0-inch AAM beam rear axle for 3500 Max Tow trucks (2027 Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty specifications).

Ram 3500 photos

Shop a Ram 3500 at Elgin CDJR

Our Ram 3500 model page covers trims, engines and pricing, and you can browse Ram 3500 inventory online. Bring your trailer's weight and hitch type and we will help you match a truck to it, or contact us about ordering a specific configuration.

Elgin CDJR is at 1500 W. Lake St. in Streamwood. Our sales department is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and is closed Sunday. Get directions.