2021 Ram 2500 towing capacity.

The 2021 Ram 2500 tows 10,440 - 20,000 lbs depending on engine, cab, bed, drivetrain, axle ratio, GVWR, and GCWR.

Find your towing capacity Look up your exact 2021 Ram 2500 configuration → Compare engine families View 2021 powertrain matrix → View full comparison chart Open 2021 full chart →

Built from official Ram 2021 towing guides. Source pages cited below.

2021 Ram 2500
2021 TOWING RANGE
10,440 - 20,000 LBS
PEAK PAYLOAD
4,010 LBS
MAX GCWR
27,980 LBS
POWERTRAIN

Towing Capacity by Engine

Your engine determines your base towing limit. Start here to see the 2021 ratings for your specific Ram 2500 setup.

Ram 2500 Diesel

13,560 - 20,000 lbs
Highest Capacity
6.7L I6 Cummins Turbo Diesel
Range: 13,560 - 20,000 lbs
Max rating 20,000 LBS

Ram 2500 Gas

10,440 - 17,540 lbs
Highest Capacity
6.4L V8 HEMI MDS
Range: 10,440 - 17,540 lbs
Max rating 17,540 LBS
TONGUE LOAD CONV / 5TH-WHEEL
10% / 15%
Conventional vs. 5th-wheel/gooseneck
TRAILERING HARDWARE EQUIPMENT WEIGHT
75 / 70 / 250 LBS
Conventional / gooseneck / 5th wheel
HITCH THRESHOLDS TRAILER LIMITS
23k / 30k LBS
5th-wheel / gooseneck required above this weight
RATING METHOD STANDARD
SAE J2807
Industry tow-rating standard
VIEW ALL FINE PRINT
GUIDE FINE PRINT

Ground rules behind every 2021 Ram 2500 towing number.

These ground rules define the payload, trailering hardware, and limits behind every 2021 Ram 2500 towing number on this page.

FIG. 2021 LOAD Baseline Weights

Weights Ram already counted in every number

  • Passenger weight: 300 lbs counted for driver + passengers.
  • Options weight: 100 lbs counted for factory-installed options.
  • Conventional tongue: 10% of gross trailer weight.
  • 5th-wheel / gooseneck tongue: 15% of gross trailer weight.
FIG. 2021 HITCH Hitch Loading

Hardware weight deducted from payload

  • Conventional hitch: 75 lbs of equipment weight.
  • Gooseneck: 70 lbs of equipment weight.
  • 5th wheel: 250 lbs of equipment weight.
FIG. 2021 CALC Payload Formula

How Ram derives payload from base weight

  • Formula: Payload = GVWR - Base Weight
  • Values: Published as estimated values.
  • Rounding: nearest 10 lbs.
FIG. 2021 LIMIT Commercial / Hitch Limits

Chassis-cab and heavy-trailer thresholds

  • Box-off completion: 80 lbs per foot from end of cab to end of frame.
  • 5th-wheel required over: 23,000 lbs trailer weight.
  • Gooseneck required over: 30,000 lbs trailer weight.
FIG. 2021 STD Rating Standard

SAE J2807 compliance

  • 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 guides

  • Payload and Max Trailer Weights are ESTIMATED values. p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • All values are shown in pounds unless otherwise stated. p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • Payload and Max Trailer Weight values are rounded to the nearest 10lb. p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • Payload = GVWR - Base Weight p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • Payload and Trailer Weight Rating are mutually exclusive. p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • GAWRs, GVWRs and GCWRs should never be exceeded. p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • Trailer Weight Rating and Tow Vehicle Trailering Weight are calculated as specified in SAE J2807. p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • Passenger Weight = 300 lb p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • Options Weight = 100 lb p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • Trailering Equipment Weight: 75 lb for Conventional Hitch, 70 lb for Gooseneck and 250 lb for 5th Wheel. p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • Tongue weight: 10 percent of the gross trailer weight for Conventional Hitch, 15 percent of the gross trailer weight for a 5th Wheel or Gooseneck hitch. p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • 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.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • Box Off Body Completion Weight = 80 lb per foot from end of cab to end of fram p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • A fifth-wheel hitch is required for trailers over 23,000 lbs. p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • A Gooseneck hitch is required for trailers over 30,000 lbs. p.3 · Diesel, Gas
  • Maximum Capability p.3 · Diesel
NOTES: These ground rules apply to every published towing and payload value. Your specific truck configuration may have additional constraints.
Technical Audit

Data sources

These citations show the Ram guide pages used to build the 2021 Ram 2500 overview.

Show source pages for the 2021 guide and supplement gaps
About these numbers

2021 supplement PDFs aren't on this chart

Ram's separate 2021 supplement PDFs aren't included here — if your build depends on them, check your owner's manual or dealer before loading to the max.

DOC_ID: ram-2500 DOCUMENT BASIS

2021 Ram 2500 Diesel Towing Guide

Audit Scope PAGES: 1-3
DOC_ID: ram-2500 DOCUMENT BASIS

2021 Ram 2500 Gas Towing Guide

Audit Scope PAGES: 1-3