What to Pay Attention to When Shopping for a Towing Vehicle
The friendly experts at your local Ram Trucks dealership will be able to help you make sense of the various specs available in each of the Ram models (1500, 2500, and 3500), but if you plan to do some towing with your truck, it's a good idea to have a basic understanding of towing terms before you get started. Take a look at the helpful chart below to get acquainted with the towing basics for the Ram Truck line.
Other Key Aspects Of The Towing Vehicle Include:
Drive system: Many trucks feature front-wheel drive systems, but for best results while towing, four-wheel drive is the way to go. That's not to say that a two-wheel drive truck is incapable of towing; in fact, a number of highlyacclaimed Ram models that can be used for towing are front-wheel drive. In order to safely haul the biggest loads, however, you'll want to upgrade to a four-wheel drive model.
Chassis: SUVs and trucks are both used as tow vehicles, but only the larger SUVs on the market share the chassis framework of the top trucks, so keep that in mind when shopping for a vehicle. Ram trucks have heavy-duty steel chassis that are ideal for towing, while competitors have been known to use aluminum frames.
Tow package: The tow package on your Ram truck is designed to help the vehicle tow more safely and efficiently. Tow packages feature things like engine cooling systems, weight-distribution hitches, and more.
Transmission: Some truck enthusiasts prefer manual transmission but, for towing purposes, your best bet will be to select a truck with an automatic transmission. Many trucks have special automatic transmissions for towing to allow for the best possible performance.
Wheelbase: The wheelbase is the measurement from a truck's front axle to its rear axle. A general rule of thumb is the longer the wheelbase, the more stable the truck will be for hauling and towing. A wider wheelbase allows both axles to maintain contact with the ground, whereas a trailer can sometimes weigh down the rear axle of a truck with a shorter wheelbase to the point the front axle rises.
Key Towing Terms to Know and Understand for your Ram Truck
If you’re new to towing, there’s some terminology you need to know and understand. Once you master these terms, you’ll possess a much greater understanding of how to tow with your vehicle.
Conventional Towing: Conventional towing refers to towing on the ball, the most common type of towing configuration.
Fifth Wheel Towing: The fifth wheel replaces the trailer hitch, and is itself the mechanism attaching the tow vehicle and trailer. Use of the fifth wheel increases the turning radius substantially.
Curb Weight: The vehicle’s weight with standard equipment and its full capacity of fuel, oil and other coolants. Curb weight doesn’t include passengers or the optional vehicle equipment.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): Refers to the amount specified by the manufacturer as the vehicle’s maximum loaded weight. For the vehicle, the GVWR includes the vehicle’s weight, passenger weight, any cargo, fuel and the trailer’s tongue weight. For the trailer, the GVWR includes the trailer’s weight and the total weight of all items carried. You’ll find a vehicle’s GVWR located on a sticker on a door jamb, as well as in the owner’s manual.
Gross Combination Vehicle Weight Rating (GCWR): This is the amount specified by the tow vehicle manufacturer that is the total the combination of truck and trailer can safely weigh. Note that the manufacturer’s ratings are based primarily on boat hauling. If you plan to haul horses or other livestock – emphasis on “live” weight – consider that this cargo moves around. That means you’ll want a tow vehicle rated to carry more than your basic GCWR.
Payload: Gross payload refers to the weight of everything carried in – or on – the vehicle. This options as well as passengers and cargo as well as options. The net payload refers to the amount of weight the vehicle can carry after subtracting the gross payload. The payload rating is the maximum permitted payload for the vehicle.
Tongue Weight: The weight of the trailer that puts pressure on the trailer hitch in a bumper pull, or presses down on the rear axle in a gooseneck. Excess tongue weight can damage the drivetrain and suspension, but can also hold the tow vehicle down in the rear, resulting in the front wheels rising. Too little tongue weight may cause the back of the vehicle to move upward, causing jackknifing or worse. For bumper pulls, tongue weight should comprise 10 to 15 percent of the trailer’s overall weight. For goosenecks, 25 percent of the trailer’s weight is necessary.
Towing Capacity: All of these terms are important, but towing capacity is the number you need most when choosing a vehicle. You don’t ever want to exceed the maximum towing capacity of your vehicle, or even come close. Note that towing capacity depends on whether or not your truck is “properly equipped,” meaning that you'll need to opt in to certain additional features on the vehicle to hit that max capacity number.
Differences Between Ram Truck Classes
RAM 1500
The Ram 1500 is the perfect truck for light-duty towing, from boats to ATVs to trailers. It has a standard 3.6-Liter V6 24-Valve VVT Engine with a 7,600-pound max towing capacity. For larger loads, buyers can upgrade to the 5 .7-Liter V8 HEMI MDS VVT Engine, which increases max towing capacity to an impressive 10,340 pounds. The Ram 1500 also boasts a TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment, with an optional active-level four-corner air suspension to make the ride even smoother. The maximum payload of the Ram 1500 is 1,880 pounds, and the truck boasts 395 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque.
RAM 2500
The Ram 2500 is perfect for towing horse trailers, RVs, and just about anything you can think to haul. When equipped with the 6.4-Liter V8 Heavy Duty HEMI engine with MDS, the Ram 2500 has a best-in-class gas towing capacity of 16,320 pounds. Or, leave gas behind and take things a step further with a 6.7-Liter I6 Cummins Turbo Diesel, which bumps the max tow capacity to an incredible 17,170 pounds. The Ram 2500 has a max gas torque of 429 lb-ft and a max diesel torque of 800 lb-ft.
RAM 3500
The Ram 3500 is a pure towing machine. Simply put, it's the gold standard for towing in the truck industry, which is why it's no surprise that the Ram 3500 won the 2017 Gold Hitch Award for Heavy Duty Diesel Towing. This prestigious award is bestowed by TFLTruck.com and is widely considered to be the world's toughest towing test, in which the trucks vying for the award are subjected to an 8-mile tow run up and down steep terrain and high elevations. The Ram 3500 offers drivers a choice between a Heavy-Duty 6.4L HEMI V8 Engine that brings an impressive 410 horsepower, or a 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 Engine that allows for 900 lb-ft of torque. The max diesel towing capacity is a mind-blowing 31,210 pounds.
Comparing the Ram 1500, 2500, & 3500
All three of the Ram models share the same core DNA, but depending on which model you're considering, there will be some noticeable differences.
Chassis Specifications
Ram trucks have extremely durable high-strength steel frames rated to at least 50,000 PSI. The dimensions and wheelbases of each model varies based on the size of the cab and length of the cargo bed. The Ram 1500 wheelbase starts at 120" and spans to a maximum of 149.5" based on the specific model you choose. The Ram 2500 wheelbase ranges from 140.5" to 169", while the largest available wheelbase is found on the Ram 3500, which boasts a minimum wheelbase of 148.9" and a maximum wheelbase of 168.9".
Interior Space
The standard Ram Truck cab seats up to 3 passengers in its 62.5 cubic-foot interior and comes with bed lengths of 6'4" or 8'. For more interior space, consider upgrading to a Ram with a Quad Cab, which has an interior volume of 116.6 cubic feet and can seat 6 passengers. The bed length of the Quad Cab measures in a t 6'4". The roomiest option available from the Ram line is the Crew Cab, with an interior of 125.3 cubic feet for up to 6 passengers.
Curb Weight
The curb weight of the various Ram models differs as well. For the Ram 1500, expect a curb weight between 4,520 and 5,670 lbs. The Ram 2500 ups the ante with a curb weight between 5,940 and 7,231 lbs. Heftier still is the Ram 3500, with a curb weight that ranges from 6,022 lbs. to 7,217 lbs.
A Ram Will Meet Your Towing Needs
The Ram Truck family has something for everyone. The base model, the Ram 1500, is the most affordable but still packs a punch when it comes to light towing. For the average family, the Ram 1500 has more than enough power and features to get the job done. If you're looking to haul something a bit bigger and heavier, like an RV, you'll want to consider bumping up to the Ram 2500. Finally, for the toughest of jobs, the Ram 3500 is up to the task, and then some. The Ram 3500 is popular among individuals for personal use and contractors for business use because of its unparalleled towing ability. Regardless of which truck you choose to best meet your needs, the fact that you're going with a Ram means you'll have many years of great towing adventures ahead of you. While this is by no means an exhaustive shopping guide, we hope we have covered the most common concerns of shoppers looking for Ram truck backup cameras.
