Breaking Down the 2019 Ram 1500's Towing Capacities
The 2019 Ram 1500‘s top trim levels are the most luxurious in its class, but where does towing capacity fall for such a posh truck? Ranging from 6,250 pounds to 12,750 pounds, there’s plenty of towing range for those looking into the new Ram 1500, so check out our guide to the 2019 Ram 1500’s towing capacities below. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that Ram recommends using a weight distribution hitch for towing anything more than 5,000 pounds.
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What we list below are the highest ratings available with an empty truck. Adding options and other payload items or people can decrease the maximum towing capacity. Be sure to never exceed any of the weight ratings for the truck or trailer. Knowing how much a truck is rated to tow and following those ratings will keep drivers safe and provide a good base for those looking to purchase a new trailer.
What’s the 2019 Ram 1500’s Maximum Towing Capacity?
The Ram 1500’s maximum towing capacity of 12,750 pounds is achieved in the Tradesman Quad Cab (extended cab with four doors) configurations with the 6-foot-4-inch bed, 140.5-inch wheelbase, two-wheel drive and the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with eTorque (Ram’s mild-hybrid system). The only required item on top of that is the Max Tow Package that includes 18-by-8-inch wheels, a 3.92:1 axle ratio, a full-size spare tire, LT275/65R18 tires and the Trailer-Tow Group. The Trailer-Tow Group includes a Class IV receiver hitch, trailer tow mirrors and trailer brake controller. The price of this configuration starts around $36,000.
What’s the 2019 Ram 1500’s Minimum Towing Capacity?
The lowest tow rating for the 2019 Ram 1500 is 6,250 pounds, available in a variety of trims, including the Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Laramie Longhorn and the top-of-the-line Limited. All of the configurations with this minimum tow rating are crew-cab models (the 1500’s largest cab) with the 3.21:1 axle ratio, a 6-foot-4-inch bed, four-wheel drive and the 3.6-liter V-6. Pricing starts around $39,000 for the Tradesman and goes up to $58,000 for the starting price of the Limited.
Related: Pickup Trucks 101: Why Weight Capacities Are Important
Max Towing Capacity by Engine
Ram currently offers three engines for 2019 and will be adding a fourth for 2020 with the 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel. There are only two transmission options: the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles-built 850RE paired with the 3.6-liter V-6, and the ZF-made 8HP75 with the V-8 (both are eight-speed automatics). It’s likely that the 3.0-liter diesel will also run with the 8HP75 because of its high torque.
3.6-Liter V-6 with eTorque (305 horsepower, 269 pounds-feet of torque)
The V-6’s highest tow rating is 7,730 pounds in the 2WD Quad Cab with the 6-foot-4-inch bed. It’s available in three trims: Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star and Laramie. The Tradesman has the 3.92 axle ratio and starts around $33,000, while the Big Horn/Lone Star and Laramie have the 3.55 axle ratio and start near $36,000 and $40,000, respectively. The second highest tow rating is 7,520 pounds available in all six trims. The range goes from around $38,000 for Tradesman at the bottom and up through the Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Rebel, Laramie Longhorn topping out at the Limited with a base price near $53,000. They are all 2WD crew cabs with the 5-foot-7-inch bed. The Tradesman and Rebel have the 3.92 axle ratio, while the rest of the group uses the 3.55 rear end. The third highest is 7,500 pounds in the 2WD crew cab with a 6-foot-4-inch bed. It is offered in the same trims and axle ratios listed for the 7,520-pound rating above, except the Ram Rebel. Prices range from around $35,000 for the base Tradesman to about $54,000 for the base Limited.
5.7-Liter Hemi (395 hp, 410 pounds-feet of torque)
The maximum tow rating for the non-eTorque Hemi is 11,610 pounds in the Quad Cab with a 6-foot-4-inch bed. All three max towing configurations with the 5.7-liter Hemi are 2WD with the 3.92 axle ratio and Trailer-Tow Group. There are three trim levels with this tow rating: Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star and Laramie. Prices start around $34,000 for the Tradesman and go to more than $40,000 for the Laramie. The second highest rating is 11,540 pounds for all six trim levels of the crew cab with the 5-foot-7-inch bed. The configurations from least to most expensive are Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Rebel, Laramie Longhorn and Limited. Prices start around $37,000 for the Tradesman to around $55,000 for the Limited. The third highest rating is 11,530 pounds for the crew cab with a 6-foot-4-inch bed in five different trim levels: Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Laramie Longhorn and Limited. Prices start around $37,000 for the Tradesman and top $55,000 for the Limited.
5.7-Liter Hemi with eTorque (395 hp, 410 pounds-feet of torque)
The 5.7-liter eTorque’s highest rating is 12,750 pounds in the 2WD Tradesman Quad Cab with the 6-foot-4-inch bed. It starts around $36,000. Following that up is the 2WD Big Horn/Lone Star Quad Cab with the 6-foot-4-inch bed at 11,560 pounds; it starts around $39,000. Coming in third for this engine is a rating of 11,430 pounds available in each of the six trim levels Ram offers. All of them are 2WD crew cabs with the 5-foot-7-inch bed. Starting prices range from around $38,000 for the Tradesman to about $56,000 for the Limited. The top three 5.7-liter eTorque towing capacities require the Trailer-Tow Group and the 3.92 axle ratio, or the Max Tow Package that includes the 3.92 axle ratio.
Related: Pickup Trucks 101: How Much Can My Truck Tow?
3.0-Liter V-6 diesel, returning for 2020 (260 hp, 480 pounds-feet of torque)
Ram won’t release the towing specs for this engine until September but has said that the maximum towing capacity of the 3.0-liter V-6 diesel will be 12,560 pounds.
Max Towing Capacities by Cab
Quad Cab
The Quad Cab has only one bed length option, which is 6 feet 4 inches (140.5-inch wheelbase), and offers the 12,750-pound maximum towing capacity available in the Ram 1500. It is the Tradesman trim level configured with 2WD and the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with eTorque. The only required option is the Max Tow Package that includes the 3.92 axle ratio. This configuration starts around $36,000.
Crew cab with 5-foot-7-inch bed
Crew-cab models with the 5-foot-7-inch bed and 144.6-inch wheelbase have a maximum towing capacity of 11,540 pounds. Oddly enough, this highest crew-cab tow rating comes with the non-eTorque engine. Two-wheel drive, a 3.92 axle ratio and the Trailer-Tow Group are required for this rating. It’s available in all six trim levels with prices ranging from around $37,000 for the Tradesman to around $55,000 for the Limited.
Crew cab with 6-foot-4-inch bed
At 11,530 pounds of towing capacity, the crew cab with the 6-foot-4-inch bed and 153.5-inch wheelbase is only lacking 10 pounds of capacity when compared to the 5-foot-7-inch bed. The drive type, axle and towing package requirements for this version are the same as the 5-foot-7-inch bed; it’s offered in all the same trim levels except for the Rebel, which isn’t offered in this body style. Prices range from around $37,000 for the Tradesman to about $55,000 for the Limited.
Four-Wheel-Drive Models
The maximum rating for a four-wheel-drive Ram 1500 is 11,470 pounds with a Quad Cab in the Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie and Rebel trims using the 3.92 axle ratio, the 5.7-liter Hemi without eTorque and the Trailer-Tow Group. The Tradesman in this configuration starts around $38,000 going all the way up to the Rebel, which starts near $46,000.
With a crew cab and the 5-foot-7-inch bed, the maximum towing capacity with 4WD is 11,340 pounds. The 3.92 axle ratio, Trailer-Tow Group and 5.7-liter Hemi non-eTorque are required for this capacity. This rating is available in all six trim levels, and prices start around $40,000 for the Tradesman all the way up to near $60,000 for the Limited.
With the crew cab and the 6-foot-4-inch bed in 4WD, the maximum towing capacity is 11,240 pounds in all trim levels except the Rebel. The 5.7-liter Hemi non-eTorque, the 3.92 axle ratio and the Trailer-Tow Group must be added. Prices start around $41,000 for the Tradesman all the way up to about $60,000 for the Limited.
What’s the Ram Rebel’s Towing Capacity?
The Ram Rebel reaches its max tow rating of 11,540 pounds with the non-eTorque Hemi and Trailer-Tow Group in crew-cab configuration with 2WD and the 5-foot-7-inch bed. That rating decreases to 11,340 pounds when 4WD is selected with all else remaining the same. For the Quad-Cab model with the 6-foot-4-inch bed, the most it’s rated to tow is 11,470 pounds with the non-eTorque Hemi, 4WD and Trailer-Tow Group.
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