2021 Ram 1500 towing capacity.

Published towing ratings for the 2021 Ram 1500 run from 4,350 - 12,750 lbs depending on engine, cab, axle ratio, box length, drivetrain, and equipment.

Find your exact towing capacity Run the 2021 lookup tool → Compare engine families View 2021 powertrain matrix → View full comparison chart Full model index →

Retrieved from official Ram 2021 towing guide publications. Citations available below.

2021 Ram 1500
2021 TOWING RANGE
4,350 - 12,750 LBS
PEAK PAYLOAD
2,300 LBS
MAX GCWR
18,350 LBS
POWERTRAIN

Towing Capacity by Engine

Your engine determines your base towing limit. Start here to see the 2021 ratings for your specific Ram 1500 setup.

The 2021 Ram 1500 was sold as both the 1500 Classic and the redesigned 1500. They use different platforms and towing ratings, so each is shown separately below.

Ram 1500 Classic

4,350 - 10,610 lbs
Highest Capacity
5.7L V8 MDS VVT ENGINE
Range: 8,000 - 10,610 lbs
Max rating 10,610 LBS
3.6L V6 VVT ENGINE
Range: 4,350 - 7,660 lbs
Max rating 7,660 LBS
Guide policy

Ram 1500 Classic guide policy

Applies only to the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic rows in this section.

GUIDE POLICY COVERAGE
PARTIAL
Passenger / options / tongue fields stay blank when the guide omits them.
PUBLISHED LOAD INPUTS PASSENGER / OPTIONS / TONGUE
300 / N/A / 10%
N/A means the reviewed guide notes omit that field.
PAYLOAD METHOD SAE J2807
Payload = GVWR - Base Weight
Payload = GVWR - Base Weight · Estimated values · Rounded to nearest 10 lbs · pounds
SOURCE GUIDE REFERENCE
p.4
ram-1500-ds-towing-guide.pdf
VIEW PARTIAL GUIDE NOTES
PARTIAL GUIDE POLICY

Ground rules behind every 2021 Ram 1500 Classic towing number.

These are the source-backed guide notes Ram actually prints for the Ram 1500 Classic family in 2021.

FIG. 2021 LOAD Published Assumptions

Load assumptions the guide explicitly prints

  • Passenger weight: 300 lbs counted for driver and passengers.
  • Conventional tongue weight: 10% of gross trailer weight.
FIG. 2021 CALC Payload Formula

How Ram derives payload from curb weight

  • Formula: Payload = GVWR - Base Weight
  • Values: Published as estimated (not guaranteed).
  • Units: pounds
  • Rounding: nearest 10 lbs.
FIG. 2021 STD Rating Standard

SAE J2807 guidance

  • Trailer Weight Rating and Tow Vehicle Trailering Weight are calculated as specified in SAE J2807.
FIG. 2021 WARN Warnings

Manufacturer safety warnings

  • Payload and Trailer Weight Rating are mutually exclusive.
  • GAWRs, GVWRs and GCWRs should never be exceeded.
  • Payload and GAWR should never be exceeded and must account for all of the above weights, including the appropriate trailering equipment and tongue weight.
FIG. 2021 NOTES Policy Notes

All published notes from the 2021 towing guide

  • Payload and Max Trailer Weights are ESTIMATED values. p.4
  • All values are shown in pounds unless otherwise stated. p.4
  • Payload and Max Trailer Weight values are rounded to the nearest 10lb. p.4
  • Payload = GVWR - Base Weight p.4
  • Payload and Trailer Weight Rating are mutually exclusive. p.4
  • GAWRs, GVWRs and GCWRs should never be exceeded. p.4
  • Trailer Weight Rating and Tow Vehicle Trailering Weight are calculated as specified in SAE J2807. p.4
  • Passenger Weight = 300 lb p.4
  • Trailering Equipment Weight: 65 lb for Conventional Hitch. p.4
  • Tongue weight: 10 percent of the gross trailer weight for Conventional Hitch. p.4
  • Payload and GAWR should never be exceeded and must account for all of the above weights, including the appropriate trailering equipment and tongue weight. p.4
  • SAEJ2807 Compliant p.4
NOTES: This strip shows only the guide-wide assumptions, warnings, standards, and availability limits Ram explicitly prints for this family. Missing fields stay blank instead of being inferred.

Ram 1500

6,290 - 12,750 lbs
Highest Capacity
5.7L V8 HEMI BSG
Range: 7,940 - 12,750 lbs
Max rating 12,750 LBS
3.0L V6 ECODIESEL
Range: 7,780 - 12,560 lbs
Max rating 12,560 LBS
5.7L V8 HEMI
Range: 8,200 - 11,650 lbs
Max rating 11,650 LBS
3.0L V6 ECODIESEL HFE
Range: Up to 8,290 lbs
Max rating 8,290 LBS
6.2L SUPERCHARGED HEMI V8 SRT
Range: Up to 8,100 lbs
Max rating 8,100 LBS
3.6L V6
Range: 6,290 - 7,740 lbs
Max rating 7,740 LBS
3.6L V6 HFE
Range: Up to 6,760 lbs
Max rating 6,760 LBS
Guide policy

Ram 1500 guide policy

Applies only to the 2021 Ram 1500 rows in this section.

GUIDE POLICY COVERAGE
PARTIAL
This family publishes formula, standards, warnings, and availability notes without numeric load assumptions.
PUBLISHED LOAD INPUTS PASSENGER / OPTIONS / TONGUE
N/A / N/A / N/A
N/A means the reviewed guide notes omit that field.
PAYLOAD METHOD SAE J2807
Payload is rounded to the nearest 10 lbs. Payload = GVWR - Base Wt.
Payload is rounded to the nearest 10 lbs. Payload = GVWR - Base Wt. · Rounded to nearest 10 lbs · pounds
SOURCE GUIDE REFERENCE
p.3
ram-1500-dt-towing-guide.pdf
VIEW PARTIAL GUIDE NOTES
PARTIAL GUIDE POLICY

Ground rules behind every 2021 Ram 1500 towing number.

These are the source-backed guide notes Ram actually prints for the Ram 1500 family in 2021.

FIG. 2021 LOAD Published Assumptions

Load assumptions the guide explicitly prints

  • No numeric passenger, options, or tongue assumptions are published in the reviewed guide notes for this family.
FIG. 2021 CALC Payload Formula

How Ram derives payload from curb weight

  • Formula: Payload is rounded to the nearest 10 lbs. Payload = GVWR - Base Wt.
  • Units: pounds
  • Rounding: nearest 10 lbs.
FIG. 2021 STD Standards + Limits

SAE J2807 guidance

  • Per SAE regulation (SAE J2807) GCW = Base Weight + EPA Options + Trailer Pkg Weight + Max Trailer + 300 lbs (Passenger + Driver)
  • 6,010 GVWR only available with 3.6L Quad HFE p.3
  • 6,990 GVWR only available with 3.0L Diesel HFE p.3
FIG. 2021 WARN Warnings

Manufacturer safety warnings

  • Payload and maximum trailer weight are mutually exclusive.
FIG. 2021 NOTES Policy Notes

All published notes from the 2021 towing guide

  • All weights are shown in pounds unless otherwise stated p.3
  • Payload is rounded to the nearest 10 lbs. Payload = GVWR - Base Wt. p.3
  • Optional equipment weight for HD (> 8500 lbs of GVWR). p.3
  • If not already included in the EPA options. This is the weight of the entire trailer tow package, not just the hitch. p.3
  • Payload and maximum trailer weight are mutually exclusive. p.3
  • GCWR is a defined value from Vehicle Development in lbs p.3
  • Per SAE regulation (SAE J2807) GCW = Base Weight + EPA Options + Trailer Pkg Weight + Max Trailer + 300 lbs (Passenger + Driver) p.3
  • 6,010 GVWR only available with 3.6L Quad HFE p.3
  • 6,990 GVWR only available with 3.0L Diesel HFE p.3
NOTES: This strip shows only the guide-wide assumptions, warnings, standards, and availability limits Ram explicitly prints for this family. Missing fields stay blank instead of being inferred.
Technical Audit

Data sources

These citations show the Ram guide pages used to build the 2021 overview.

Show source pages for the 2021 guide
DOC_ID: ram-1500 DOCUMENT BASIS

2021 Ram 1500 Classic Towing Guide

Audit Scope PAGES: 1-3
PDF Creation Date 2020-10-28
DOC_ID: ram-1500 DOCUMENT BASIS

2021 Ram 1500 Towing Guide

Audit Scope PAGES: 1-2
PDF Creation Date 2020-12-02