2021 Ram 3500 Towing Capacity

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Dive into the details to learn:

The new Dodge Ram 3500 has claimed the title for towing power. Thanks in large part to its best-in-class 1,075 lb-ft of torque, this monster of a truck can tow up to 37,100 pounds. This surpasses even the incredible 2021 Chevy Silverado 3500HD, which can tow up to 36,000 pounds. Any way you look at the Ram 3500 towing capacity, it’s impressive. It seems even more so in some ways because this updated towing capacity offers an increase of roughly 2,000 pounds over the previous Ram 3500.

Want to have the biggest, baddest truck on the block? If so, now’s the time to learn about the current leader in the constant race to max out towing capacity. The sudden uptick in power comes from a Cummins turbo diesel 6.7-liter inline-six engine. That’s the beast of a motor that pumps out 1,075 lb-ft of torque, and that’s not all it can do. The Cummins turbo diesel in a new Ram 3500 also produces 400 horsepower. 

Ram also raised boost limits with a variable-geometry turbocharger while also increasing the flow rate through the fuel delivery system. Serious gearheads will recognize this as a spectacular feat of engineering. For the less technical truck enthusiasts, suffice to say that the new Ram 3500 is taking advantage of all of the latest innovations within the automotive industry. The 2021 Ram 3500 also offers 6,840 pounds of max payload capacity to go along with this towing capacity.

It’s easy to get caught up in these stats and accolades, but the truth of the matter is that most of the top trucks are close when it comes to maximum towing capacity. 1,000 pounds sounds like a lot, and it is, but it becomes a lot smaller when the scale is bigger. 37,000 pounds compared to 36,000 pounds isn’t a noticeable difference except for in certain fringe situations.

2021 Ram 3500 Towing Capacity by the Numbers

Numbers can’t truly express just how much this truck can handle. Still, they can help you start wrapping your head around it. Here’s a quick rundown of just a few of the stats that are generating all of the buzz around this truck:

  • Best-in-class standard gas horsepower of 410 horsepower
  • Payload capacity of 7,680 pounds when equipped with the 6.4L HEMI V8 engine 
  • Best-in-Class available diesel towing capacity of 37,100 pounds and 1,075 lb-ft of torque when equipped with the available 6.7L High-Output Cummins Turbo Diesel engine

While it’s easy to find certain niches where the Ram 3500 is the best in its class, it’s a lot harder to find ways to compare to the Silverado HD. Just consider what’s possible when you choose Chevy:

  • Maximum available trailering capacity of 36,000 pounds
  • Maximum available payload of 7,442 pounds
  • Maximum available cargo volume of 83.5 cubic feet
  • Maximum available torque of 910 lb-ft

2021 Ram 3500 Engine Options

Historically, the Ram 3500 has had a hard time keeping up with competitors like the Chevy Silverado when it comes to engine options. That continues to be true, but the Dodge brand has certainly made a better effort this year. Drivers who settle for the Ram 3500 can choose from one of three engine options.

6.7-Liter High-Output Cummins Turbo Diesel I6

You’re probably picking up on the fact that most of what makes this vehicle so awesome is located under the hood. The best-in-class diesel torque and best-in-class diesel towing results from the available 6.7-liter High-Output Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 engine. Pair this with the Aisin six-speed transmission. The transmission is fully electronically controlled, and it’s been upgraded to maximize durability while reducing noise, vibration, and harshness. It even has a new software control to enable seamless shifting.

  • 1,075 pound-feet of torque (best in class)
  • 6,570 pounds of maximum payload
  • 37,100 pounds of maximum towing capability (best in class)
  • 420 horsepower

6.7-Liter Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 Engine

This is like the younger sibling of the monster described above, and it’s still very impressive on its own. The available 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 is still responsive enough to push you back into your seat. It’s also rated for high torque and excellent towing capability without compromising efficiency, which many engines can’t achieve. The excellent performance comes with very little noise and vibration (partially thanks to the inline-six design). Pair it with a sophisticated six-speed automatic transmission, which has had its gear ratios optimized specifically for this engine.

  • 850 pound-feet of torque
  • 6,840 pounds of maximum payload
  • 37,100 pounds of maximum towing capacity
  • 370 horsepower

6.4-Liter HEMI V8 Engine

The legendary HEMI V8 really shouldn’t need an introduction by this point. It’s ludicrous to think we’ve reached a point in the history of automotive innovation that this engine could be the standard option in a truck. It uses variable-cam timing to deliver 410 horsepower, which is the best standard gas horsepower in the class. You’ll get a capable performance from this engine, especially when you pair it with the eight-speed automatic transmission. On-the-fly shift mapping and fully electronic operation deliver a smooth, sophisticated experience you normally wouldn’t find among heavy-duty trucks, and especially not at the base level.

  • 429 pound-feet of torque
  • 7,680 pounds of maximum payload
  • 18,210 pounds of maximum towing capacity
  • 410 horsepower (best standard gas horsepower in the class)

What About the Rest of the Truck?

Once you develop something as impressive as the engines listed above, you don’t stop there. Even the rear portion of Ram’s heavy-duty frame has been upgraded. This truck has a redesigned fifth-wheel hitch in-house, which is likely to help in those rare situations that actually demand every single ounce of this vehicle’s superior power. Speaking of those tough situations, the 3500 Ram offers plenty of smart towing technology to go along with its best-in-class torque and towing capability.

Tow Technology

The 2021 Dodge Ram 3500 is the complete package. It has plenty of brains to go with all of that brawn. The engineers behind this truck found a way to harness technology from the cutting edge and make it seem as if it was made for this exact vehicle. All of the following will help you work more efficiently:

Complete Visibility  

Available power-folding mirrors come with a 360° Surround View Camera. Combine that with Trailer Reverse Guidance View, which takes input from five separate cameras to give you visual information about your truck’s surroundings in every direction, including two auxiliary cameras you can place yourself.

Trailer Information  

Trailer Light Check and Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring technology will help you be completely confident about your trailer’s current status. Whether you’re on or off the road, there’s no need to go out of your way to get a closer look at whatever you’re towing. The Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring System can provide live tire pressure readings for up to four trailers with up to 12 tires per trailer.

Leave Missed Connections in Your Rearview  

The available Auto-Level Rear Air Suspension is exclusive to the Ram 3500 within this class. It includes the Bed Lowering Mode for those times when you need to put the rear suspension in its lowest position. Drivers who regularly need to connect to low trailers will find it’s much easier to maneuver the truck into position. Along with the available 360° Surround View Camera and Trailer Reverse Guidance View, this feature makes it faster than ever before to hook up with your property and get on the road without missing a thing.

Purpose-Built Hardware  

Torque and tech are only luxury features until they’re practical. The integrated towing equipment in this heavy-duty truck is what brings everything else together when it’s time for the rubber to meet the road. Your factory rear axle structural cross member is equipped to connect with the available Fifth Wheel/ Gooseneck Prep Package.

When it’s all said and done, the new Ram might be as good as anything else on the market not named the Chevy Silverado. The Silverado still puts Ram’s towing tech to shame because of ridiculously specific features like the 15 camera views that outclass any other truck on the market. No one is beating the Silverado when it comes to towing dominance, but at least this Ram is in the right stadium.

Ram 3500 Interior

Gone are the days when you had to sacrifice comfort to be in a useful vehicle. The truck’s cabin isn’t necessarily intended to pamper you, but it certainly won’t leave you wanting for more. Some of the details are there to reward you after a long day, but most of the best interior features are there because they make your tool even sharper.

Take the available Digital Rearview Mirror, for example. This new feature contains an LCD monitor, showing you much more than an old mirror could ever capture over the bed of your vehicle. This screen will get you a real-time video stream from a camera in the rear of your vehicle. There are fewer surprises once you can see what’s behind you. 

2021 Ram 3500 Safety Features

The ease with which this vehicle connects to, moves, and disconnects from trailers already makes it a lot more of a safe bet. Other features like Adaptive Forward Lighting help get you the rest of the way to a safe experience on the road. Additional active safety features keep you protected from all sorts of danger on the road. You already worked hard before you packed up your truck at the end of the day, so you shouldn’t be burdened by a bad driving experience on the way home. This almost stands up to the Chevy safety suite, which offers innovative additions like Chevrolet Teen Driver Technology.

Dodge Ram 3500 Trim Levels

The Ram is available at five different trim levels. The highly customizable nature of this vehicle makes it an excellent fit for a variety of different lifestyles and budgets. Choose from any of the following:

  • 2021 Dodge Ram 3500 Tradesman
  • 2021 Dodge Ram 3500 Big Horn
  • 2021 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie
  • 2021 Dodge Ram 3500 Limited Longhorn
  • 2021 Dodge Ram 3500 Limited

Before you choose any of the above, though, you should test drive a new Silverado. You can do that by visiting your nearest Valley Chevy dealer.