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Your rig: · this is your owner hub.
TL;DR
- Every Ram 2500 and 3500 4x4 has a solid front axle (AAM 9.25-inch) and a part-time, two-speed transfer case with a 2.64:1 low range; Ram's 2026 sheet lists no 4WD Auto case for the heavy-duty trucks.
- The two differ at the rear: the 2500 uses five-link coil springs (air bags optional), which Ram credits for its ride quality, while the 3500 uses two-stage leaf springs.
- For 2025 Ram made the 430-hp, 1,075-lb-ft Cummins High Output the only diesel and fitted a TorqueFlite HD eight-speed to both engines.
- The Power Wagon is a 2500-only package with Tru-Lok front and rear lockers, a disconnecting front sway bar, a 12,000-lb Warn winch and 14.2 in of ground clearance.
- Three separate steering-linkage recalls (11V350, 13V529, 19V021) cover 2008–2018 heavy-duty trucks; a VIN check shows whether each was completed.
At a Glance
| If you need… | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A factory off-road build | 2500 Power Wagon, Rebel or Warlock | Coil-spring rear; lockers or anti-spin, off-road shocks |
| Up to 20,000 lb of towing | 2500 with the Cummins | Ram's 2026 maximum for the 2500 |
| Heavy payload or fifth-wheel towing beyond 20,000 lb | 3500, single or dual rear wheels | Leaf-spring rear; up to 7,590 lb payload and 36,610 lb towing |
Model Years and What Changed
Ram's 2025 update brought the biggest recent drivetrain change: the 6.7L Cummins High Output (430 hp, 1,075 lb-ft) became the only diesel, and a TorqueFlite HD eight-speed automatic replaced the previous transmissions behind both engines. Ram quotes 0–60 mph for a 2025 Ram 2500 at 6.9 seconds against 8.0 for 2024. The gas engine is the 6.4L HEMI V8 (405 hp, 429 lb-ft). For 2026 Ram added Black Express and Warlock versions of the 2500; the Warlock brings an anti-spin rear differential, Bilstein shocks, skid plates and 34-inch all-terrain tires. Ram has announced a Power Wagon with the Cummins High Output for 2027, the first diesel Power Wagon since the nameplate's 2005 reintroduction.
All 2026 heavy-duty pickups are built at Saltillo Truck Assembly in Coahuila, Mexico, in Regular Cab, Crew Cab and Mega Cab bodies with 6 ft 4 in or 8 ft boxes.
4WD, Axles and Suspension (2026)
| Component | 2500 | 3500 |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer case | BorgWarner 44-46/44-47 (HEMI) or 44-48 (Cummins): part-time, electric shift, 2WD, 4WD High, Neutral, 4WD Low; 2.64:1 low range | |
| Front axle (4x4) | AAM 9.25-inch beam axle with center disconnect; three-link front with track bar and coil springs | |
| Rear axle | AAM 11.5-inch | AAM 11.5-inch; 12.0-inch on 3500 Max Tow |
| Rear springs | Five-link with track bar and coil springs; optional air bags | Two-stage longitudinal leaf; optional supplemental air bags |
| Axle ratios | 3.73 or 4.10 with the HEMI; 3.42 with the Cummins | |
Rear-axle traction aids vary by trim. The Power Wagon has electronic locking differentials at both ends; the Rebel has an electronic rear locker only; most other trims use an anti-spin (limited-slip) rear, which Ram fits as standard on every 3500. Ram notes that the electronic locker and anti-spin are mutually exclusive.
Power Wagon: What the Package Adds
The Power Wagon Equipment Group is offered only on the 2500 4x4. Ram's 2026 feature list includes Tru-Lok front and rear axles, a 4.10 ratio, a front disconnecting stabilizer bar, Power Wagon-tuned Bilstein shocks, Articulink suspension, hill-descent control, fuel-tank and transfer-case skid plates, a front electric 12,000-lb Warn winch, 17x8-inch wheels and LT285/70R17 Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires. On the 149.3-inch crew-cab wheelbase it has 14.2 in of ground clearance and a 29.4° approach angle, against 13.1 in and 22.9° for a standard 2500 crew cab 4x4.
Towing and Payload (2026)
| Truck and engine | Max towing | Max payload |
|---|---|---|
| 2500, 6.4L HEMI | 17,740 lb | 3,930 lb |
| 2500, 6.7L Cummins HO | 20,000 lb | 3,600 lb |
| 3500, 6.4L HEMI | 18,150 lb | 7,590 lb |
| 3500, 6.7L Cummins HO | 36,610 lb | 6,050 lb |
These are the best-case figures for each combination; the rating for a given truck depends on cab, box, axle ratio and options, and is printed on its door-jamb and trailering labels. Ram says some 2026 models gained up to 850 lb of GVWR through revised certification.
Dimensions That Matter for Fitment
A 2500 has a 68.7-inch front and 68.1-inch rear track; a single-rear-wheel 3500 is 67.7/67.1 in, and a dual-rear-wheel 3500 is 69.6/75.9 in and Ram lists its width as 96.5 in against 83.5 in for other models. Wheelbases run from 140.2 in (Regular Cab, 8 ft box) through 149 in (Crew Cab, 6 ft 4 in) and 160.4 in (Mega Cab) to 169 in (Crew Cab, 8 ft). The 6 ft 4 in box is 76.3 in long at the floor and the 8 ft box 98.3 in, both with 51 in between the wheelhouses. Because the 2500 and 3500 use different rear springs, leveling kits and rear suspension parts are listed by model, not just by "HD."
Recall History (NHTSA)
As of September 2026, NHTSA returns 41 vehicle campaigns that include a 2019–2026 Ram 2500 or 3500 and 35 for 2010–2018. Campaigns before 2010 were filed under Dodge. The ones owners ask about most:
| Campaign | Filed | Vehicles | Problem | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19V021 | Jan 2019 | 2013–2018 3500, 2014–2018 2500 | Steering-linkage jam nut can loosen and let the drag link separate | 795,575 |
| 13V529 | Nov 2013 | 2008–2012 2500/3500 4x4 | Left tie-rod assembly can break; under a 2015 consent order owners were also offered a buyback | 271,733 |
| 11V350 | Jul 2011 | 2008–2011 2500/3500 4x4 | Left tie-rod ball stud can fracture, usually in tight low-speed turns | 242,780 |
| 21V398 | May 2021 | 2012–2021 3500 and cab chassis | Manual lug-nut torque figure was wrong; over-tightening can break studs | 447,985 |
| 23V060 / 21V798 | 2023 / 2021 | 2021–2023 Cummins trucks | Grid-heater relay can short and start a fire, ignition on or off; park outside | 302,067 / 131,177 |
| 22V835 | Nov 2022 | 2020–2023 2500, 2020–2022 3500 | Transmission pressure can push fluid out of the dipstick tube (fire risk) | 250,079 |
| 21V880 | Nov 2021 | 2019–2020 Cummins trucks | High-pressure fuel pump can fail and stall the engine | 222,410 |
Ram 2500 & 3500 Owner Pages
- Problems & Maintenance
- Mod Priorities
- Best Leveling Kits
- Best Tonneau Covers
- Best Lift Kits
- Best Front Bumpers
- Ram accessory fitment hub
Check for Open Recalls
Look up open NHTSA recall campaigns for this model by year. This calls NHTSA's free, public recall API directly from your browser — nothing is sent to us.
Choose a year and select “Check Recalls”.
Data from NHTSA's public recall API — this lookup is not the official record and 4x4 & Overlanding is not affiliated with NHTSA. Always confirm current recall status at nhtsa.gov/recalls using your vehicle's VIN before assuming a vehicle has no open recalls.
Toyota, Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Jeep and Ram are trademarks of their respective owners. 4x4 & Overlanding is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by any vehicle manufacturer.
Sources
- Stellantis — 2026 Ram 2500 & 3500 Heavy Duty Specifications — Saltillo assembly, engines and outputs, transmissions, part-time transfer cases and low range, AAM axles, 2500 coil and 3500 leaf rear suspension, dimensions, track widths, wheelbases, ground clearance and angles including Power Wagon.
- Stellantis — 2026 Ram 2500 & 3500 Heavy Duty Feature Availability — Power Wagon Equipment Group contents (Tru-Lok axles, disconnecting stabilizer bar, 12,000-lb Warn winch, tires), locker and anti-spin availability by trim.
- Stellantis — What's New for 2026: Ram Heavy Duty — 2026 maximum towing and payload by model and engine, Warlock equipment, GVWR changes.
- Stellantis — 2025 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty unveiled — Cummins High Output, TorqueFlite HD eight-speed, 0–60 comparison, 36,610-lb towing.
- Stellantis — Ram Power Wagon with Cummins HO — 2027 Power Wagon diesel option; nameplate reintroduced in 2005 and previously gas-only.
- NHTSA — Recall 19V021 — 2013–2018 drag-link jam nut, 795,575 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 13V529 — 2008–2012 left tie-rod assembly, consent-order remedy options, 271,733 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 11V350 — 2008–2011 left tie-rod ball stud, 242,780 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 21V398 — Lug-nut torque specification error, 447,985 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 23V060 — Cummins grid-heater relay fire risk, park outside, 302,067 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 21V798 — Cummins relay fire risk, park outside, 131,177 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 22V835 — Transmission fluid from dipstick tube, 250,079 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 21V880 — Cummins high-pressure fuel pump, 222,410 units.
- NHTSA — Datasets and APIs (Recalls API) — Campaign counts by model and model year and potentially affected unit totals, pulled September 28, 2026.
- NHTSA — Recalls lookup by VIN — Where owners check a specific vehicle's open recalls.