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TL;DR
- Ram's 2026 towing charts put the Ram 1500's maximum at 11,610 lb: a 4x2 Quad Cab Tradesman, 6'4" box, standard-output straight-six, 3.92 axle.
- The axle ratio moves the rating most. On that same truck, the 3.21 axle drops it to 8,510 lb.
- 4x4 Crew Cabs rate lower. The HEMI V8 falls to 9,590 lb because Ram gives it a lower GCWR in that configuration.
- The 540-hp RHO is rated at just 8,360 lb.
- Payload (1,390–2,360 lb across the chart) often runs out before the trailer rating, because tongue weight counts against it.
The number that applies to your truck depends on five things: engine, axle ratio, cab, box length and whether it's 4x2 or 4x4. Every figure below comes from Ram's published 2026 specifications and trailer towing charts on Stellantis Media, not from towing of our own. Older trucks, including those sold as the Dodge Ram 1500, have their own charts for their model year. For Ram 1500 problems, mods or leveling kits, see the Ram 1500 owner hub.
The Four Ratings That Decide It
| Rating | What it limits | Example from Ram's 2026 chart |
|---|---|---|
| Max trailer weight rating | How heavy the trailer can be | 11,610 lb (4x2 Quad Cab, I6, 3.92) |
| GCWR (gross combined weight rating) | Truck, load and trailer together | 17,000 lb for the same truck |
| GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) | The truck with everything in it, including the trailer's tongue weight | 6,900 lb for the same truck |
| GAWR (gross axle weight rating) | The load on each axle | 3,700 lb front / 4,100 lb rear |
The chart's arithmetic ties them together. That Quad Cab has a 4,971-lb base weight and a 17,000-lb GCWR, and 17,000 − 4,971 leaves about 12,000 lb, of which Ram rates 11,610 lb for the trailer. SAE J2807 is the industry standard that sets how manufacturers test and publish trailer weight ratings and GCWR.
The Headline Numbers by Engine
Ram’s 2026 Ram 1500 announcement lists a maximum towing figure for each of its four gas engines. Each one is the best-case configuration for that engine:
- 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo straight-six (standard output, 420 hp / 469 lb-ft): up to 11,610 lb.
- 5.7-liter HEMI V8 eTorque (395 hp / 410 lb-ft): up to 11,320 lb.
- 3.0-liter Hurricane high output (540 hp / 521 lb-ft): up to 10,000 lb.
- 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 eTorque (305 hp): up to 8,130 lb.
The engine ranking by power does not match the ranking by towing. The strongest engine, the high-output straight-six, is rated lower than the standard-output version. That is because Ram only offers the high-output engine on heavier, better-equipped trims (Limited, Longhorn, Tungsten and RHO), and every pound of truck is a pound the combined weight rating can’t spend on the trailer.
Why the Axle Ratio Changes the Number So Much
Ram’s spec sheet lists 3.21, 3.55 and 3.92 axle ratios for the eight-speed 8HP75 transmission, and 3.21 or 3.55 for the Pentastar’s 850RE transmission. A numerically higher ratio (3.92) multiplies torque at the wheels, and Ram raises the gross combined weight rating (GCWR) to match.
The effect is easy to see in Ram’s own chart. Take a 4x2 Quad Cab Tradesman with the 6’4” box and the standard-output straight-six. With the 3.21 axle it carries a 13,900-lb GCWR and an 8,510-lb trailer rating. With the 3.92 axle, the GCWR rises to 17,000 lb and the trailer rating to 11,610 lb. The engine, cab and box are identical. The only change is the gearing. For the HEMI in a 4x2 Crew Cab with the 5’7” box, the chart shows 8,220 lb on a 3.21 axle and 11,320 lb on a 3.92.
If you are shopping used or new, confirm the axle ratio on the window sticker or build sheet. A trim name alone won’t tell you it.
4x4 and Crew Cab Pull the Number Down
If your truck is a 4x4 Crew Cab, expect a lower number than the headline figures, because those configurations weigh more. From Ram’s 2026 chart, with the 3.92 axle in every case:
- 4x4 Crew Cab, 5’7” box, standard-output straight-six: 11,200 lb.
- 4x4 Crew Cab, 6’4” box, standard-output straight-six: 11,220 lb.
- 4x4 Crew Cab, 5’7” box, HEMI V8: 9,590 lb (7,640 lb on the 3.55 axle).
- 4x4 Crew Cab Limited/Longhorn, 6’4” box, high-output straight-six: 10,000 lb.
- 4x4 Crew Cab Limited/Longhorn, 5’7” box, high-output straight-six: 9,240 lb.
- 4x4 Crew Cab, 5’7” box, Pentastar V6 (3.55 axle): 7,340 lb.
The HEMI result is the notable one. In a 4x4 Crew Cab, Ram rates the V8 with a 15,850-lb GCWR rather than the 17,000 lb it gets in the 4x2 truck, so the four-wheel-drive HEMI loses more than the extra curb weight alone would explain. If towing is the main job and you want a 4x4 Crew Cab, the 2026 chart favors the standard-output straight-six over the V8.
The RHO Is a Special Case
The RHO appears in Ram’s 2026 chart as a single row: 4x4 Crew Cab, 5’7” box, high-output straight-six, 3.92 axle, 7,800-lb GVWR and an 8,360-lb trailer rating. It has the most power in the lineup and one of the lowest tow ratings. It’s built for high-speed desert running on a widened track with active Bilstein dampers, not for maximum trailer weight. See our RHO vs Raptor comparison for what the truck is actually engineered to do.
Towing Equipment Ram Offers
Ram’s 2026 feature-availability sheet lists a Trailer-tow Group across the lineup. It bundles an integrated trailer brake controller, trailer tire-pressure monitoring, trailer reverse steering control, a trailer light check and, except on Limited, Longhorn, Tungsten and RHO, trailer tow mirrors. A separate Trailer Technology Package adds hitch line-up assist, a trailer health monitor, a surround trailer camera and tow-specific navigation. The spec sheet also lists a full-time transfer case with a dedicated tow split on the high-output engine. Those features make towing easier, but the chart row for your configuration still sets the rating. If you tow with an older truck that lacks factory tow mirrors, our guide to towing mirrors for the Ram 1500 covers the aftermarket fitment side.
Payload Can Run Out Before Towing Does
A trailer’s tongue weight counts against the truck’s payload, along with the people and cargo in the cab and bed. In Ram’s 2026 chart, payloads run from about 1,390 lb to 2,360 lb depending on configuration. A heavy travel trailer can use up that payload before it gets near the trailer rating. A worked example: Equal-i-zer estimates tongue weight at 10–15% of the loaded trailer's weight, so an 8,000-lb trailer puts about 800–1,200 lb on the hitch. A 4x4 Crew Cab 5'7" with the standard straight-six and 3.92 axle has 1,840 lb of payload in Ram's chart. That leaves about 640–1,040 lb for everyone in the cab, the hitch hardware and anything in the bed, even though the truck's 11,200-lb trailer rating has plenty of room. Our Ram 1500 payload capacity page works through that math, and the towing and payload capacity checker helps you run your own numbers.
When the Answer Is a Heavy Duty Truck
If your trailer is close to 10,000 lb or more, the 1500 is working near the edge of its rating in most configurations. Ram’s 2027 heavy-duty figures put the Ram 2500 at up to 20,000 lb with the Cummins diesel. Our Ram 1500 vs 2500 comparison covers where that crossover sits.
How We Cover This
This page is built from Ram’s published 2026 Ram 1500 specifications, feature-availability sheet and trailer towing charts on Stellantis Media. It reflects no towing of our own. Ratings change by model year, so always check the chart for the year of your truck. See how we rank for our method and the Ram fitment hub for the rest of our Ram coverage.
Ram, Dodge, HEMI, Hurricane, RHO and Cummins are trademarks of their respective owners. 4x4 & Overlanding is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by any vehicle manufacturer.
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We research products from manufacturer specs and owner feedback; we don't test them ourselves. How we choose.
Sources
- Stellantis Media — What's New for 2026: Ram 1500 — 2026 Ram 1500 maximum towing by engine (8,130 / 11,320 / 11,610 / 10,000 lb) and engine outputs.
- Stellantis Media — 2026 Ram 1500 Trailer Towing Charts (2026_Ram_1500_Towing.pdf) — Per-configuration trailer ratings, GCWRs, GVWRs and payloads by engine, axle ratio, cab, box and drive, including the RHO's 8,360-lb rating.
- Stellantis Media — 2026 Ram 1500 Specifications (2026_Ram_1500_SP.pdf) — Engine availability by trim, axle ratio options per transmission, and the full-time transfer case on the high-output engine.
- Stellantis Media — 2026 Ram 1500 Feature Availability — Trailer-tow Group and Trailer Technology Package contents, and trims where tow mirrors are not included.
- Stellantis Media — What's New for 2027: Ram Heavy Duty — Ram 2500 maximum towing of up to 20,000 lb with the Cummins diesel.
- Stellantis Media — 2005 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty: The Power Wagon Returns! — Earlier Ram trucks were sold under Dodge Ram badging.
- Equal-i-zer — What Weight Distribution Hitch Size Do I Actually Need? — Tongue weight estimated at 10–15% of loaded trailer weight.
- SAE International — J2807 Performance Requirements for Determining Tow-Vehicle GCWR and Trailer Weight Rating — The standard that defines how manufacturers determine trailer weight rating and GCWR.