2006 dodge ram 2500 cummins towing capacity

bigceltic

Monument, CO

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How much can a Ram 2500 Cummins tow?
Which Ram 2500 is best for towing?
What motor is in a 2006 Cummins?
How heavy of a trailer can a 2500 pull?

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I know this has been discussed a lot in these forums, and I have read them all, but still am not sure, so I will try a different tact.

Here is what the Dodge Towing Guide says
http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/home.html (for 2006 Ram 2500 Mega cab)

Oh, I have a 2006 dodge ram pickup 2500 2500 LARAMIE MEGA CAB, 4WD, 6.25 FT Bed, 4-Speed Automatic Transmission, 5.9-Liter HO Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine - and these are the published numbers for the 2500 and the identically configured 3500 SRW.

3500
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = 9900 lbs
Payload = 2582 lbs
Curb Weight = 7318 lbs
Curb Weight Front/Rear = 4339 lbs/4339 lbs
GAWR Front/Rear = 5200 lbs/6200 lbs
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) = 21000 lbs
You Can Tow 13550 lbs

2500
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = 9000 lbs
Payload = 1669 lbs
Curb Weight = 7331 lbs
Curb Weight Front/Rear = 4354 lbs/4354 lbs
GAWR Front/Rear = 5200 lbs/6010 lbs
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) = 20000 lbs
You Can Tow 12500 lbs

I keep reading (and my research shows) that the 2500 and 3500 Mega Cabs are identical except for half-leafs in the back. If that is true, why is the payload so much different? Other than that the Axle weights are diff (why?). Also, why is the 2500 heavier curb than the 3500? Mistake?

Can I feel comfortable with using the 3500 numbers when calculating which 5th wheel I can tow?

I tried talking to the dealer and such, but they would not give straight answer - I checked online parts cats and found the same axles for 2500/3500 and the body builders guide indicates the same. Thus, logically, I can assume that my 2500 has the same capability as the 3500 (same drivetrain, axles, tires, etc). Oh, tires are E's.

Help! Give it to me simple and straight. Thanks! Oh, the trailer I am looking at is the Keystone Laredo 321BH.

kzspree320

Louisiana

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I just went outside and looked at the label inside my drivers side door. I have a 2007 Dodge 2500 QC 2wd with 6.7 Cummins. I have per the label 2,523# for passengers and cargo (payload). Rather than look at published numbers, what does the label inside the drivers door say? It will show tire pressures and the payload for your truck (which it says is for passengers and cargo) is my understanding. Hope this helps.

fla-gypsy

North Florida

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Agreed, check the door sticker for actual payload because you will run out of payload before reaching max trailer weight more times than not.

This member is not responsible for opinions that are inaccurate due to faulty information provided by the original poster. Use them at your own discretion.

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45Ricochet

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The payload difference is more spring. That is why there is not much of a price difference between the 2500/3500. Do they both have the same rims and tires? The rear axles weight ratings will never exceed the tire ratings. I think the RAWR is like 9300 or so on all 25-3500s

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VintageRacer

Tatamagouche Nova Scotia

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I don't understand the confusion. The 3500 has 900 lbs more GVWR than the 2500. Why wouldn't it, it's a higher rated truck with more rear spring. The 2500 Megacab just isn't much of a truck for carrying capacity is all, and that hasn't changed since they brought it out. I mean, give me a break, a 2500 truck with seating for 6 and only 1669 lbs cargo capacity? let's see, 280 lbs of fuel, 200 lbs of hitch, four guys at 200 lbs each, That's 1280, leaving you 389 lbs for pin weight on your fiver...

I'm a dodge guy, and I confess I just don't understand the 2500 Megacab. Nice truck, lots of passenger space, power to pull anything, but it weighs so much it can't carry anything... My 2500 Quadcab has over 3,000 lbs of cargo capacity, close to twice the Megacab, and more than the one-ton Megacab.

Brian

2005 F250 Supercab, Powerstroke, 5 speed automatic, 3.73 gears.
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sodakfisherman

South Dakota

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VintageRacer wrote:

I'm a dodge guy, and I confess I just don't understand the 2500 Megacab. Nice truck, lots of passenger space, power to pull anything, but it weighs so much it can't carry anything...Brian

The 2500 Megacab is an ideal tow vehicle for those of us with travel trailers and a family...reclining rear seats, lots of room, and I have a rear-seat video entertainment system for the kids.

As you said, the Megacab with the 6.7L CTD is a great tow vehicle. If one were looking to tow a 5th wheel, its lower payload may not make it the ideal tow vehicle.

I would have been just as happy with a crew cab, but I do like the Megacab. I would not be surprised though if Ram streamlined their lineup a bit and did away with it altogether. They already stopped making it in the 1/2 ton class.

2010 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT Mega Cab 4x4 6.7L CTD
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bigceltic

Monument, CO

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Ok, so Vintage hit it right on the head. Is it just springs? That makes all the diff? So, let say, for argument, I went and replaced my 2500 springs with a spring pack from a 3500 (easy as I used to be a Jeep guy) - voila - 913lbs of payload capacity. If so, perfect. That is what I am looking for.

I checked my door sticker (b-pillar to be exact) and it matches with the info I found on the website - and pasted above.

Wondering if they actually changed the axles on the 07 or 08 or 09's or did they just change springs 'cause the payload rates went up.

JIMNLIN

Oklahoma

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A Keystone Laredo 321BH has a 13000 GVWR with a 1980 dry pin weight. This trailer will fit in nicely with the 2500 Mega cab.

Trucks axles/tires carry payloads or 5th wheel pin/GN hitch weights. The 2500 Dodge Mega/Quad and std cab all have the same 6000 RAWR/tire caps. The Mega being the heaviest has a unladin rear axle weight of approx 2900-3000 lbs according to many posters, which leaves approx 2500-2700 lbs for a pin/GN hitch weight by the time you subtract a 5th wheel hitch and other "stuff" over the rear axle. Actual weights will vary according to how your particular truck is loaded with stuff/options.

The 3500 SRW has the same axle/wheels and LT265/70-17 E tires rated at 3195 lbs each. The front and rear springs are a different part number (in '03 anyway) so one could assume the 3500 has a bit more front and rear axle capacity/brakes per its 6200 RAWR and 9900 GVWR. The axle in these trucks is the same AAM 11.5 units since '03.

I wouldn't worry about the 3500 Mega as the 2500 has plenty of axle/tire capacity to carry/stop the load. The Cummins and drive train is the same in the 2500/3500 SRW and DRW so you won't have any issues with pulling a 11k-13k trailer.

"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers

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ib516

Canada

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My 07 3500 SRW Megacab has a 10,100# GVWR, and about 2800# payload (~7300# curb weight). I am just under GVWR with the 5er loaded for a trip as in my sig picture.

That said, I can confirm that the ONLY mechanical difference between a 2500 Megacab and a 3500 SRW Megacab in the 2006 through 2009 models is the addition of more rear springs (two extra "leafs" per side), and the associated frame perches for the springs to contact. As far as the ratings go, the rear GAWR is higher, the GCWR is 1000# more, and so is the GVWR is higher as well.

In reference to the comment about the low payload on the 2500s, the 2010 models have higher GVWRs to address that, the 2500s are now 9600# instead of the 9000# of the 2006 - 2009 trucks. The 3500 SRWs are still 10,100#, but the rear springs are different than the previous 3500 SRWs. Now, instead of just adding springs to the 2500 spring pack, the 3500 SRW trucks springs are completely different (thicker, wider, and less of them than in the rear of a 2500 actually).

Also note the tow ratings and GCWR posted by the OP are with the standard 3.73 ratio. If you opt for the 4.10, you can add 2000# to the max tow and the max GCWR of each truck.

I know many people will disagree with this, but if you add airbags to a 2500, you essentially have the same thing as a 3500 SRW.

Prev: 2010 Cougar 322QBS (junk)
02 Dodge 2500 4x4 5.9L CTD 3.55
07 Dodge 3500 4x4 SRW Mega 5.9L CTD 3.73
14 Ram 2500 4x4 Crew 6.4L Hemi 4.10
06 Chevy 1500 4x4 E-Cab 3.73 5.3L
All above are sold
Current: 07 Dodge 1500 5.7L Hemi 3.55 / 2010 Jayco 17z

VintageRacer

Tatamagouche Nova Scotia

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My feeling all along has been that the capacity and payload ratings of the 2500 Megacab was a marketing department decision, not an engineering decision. There are significant licensing regulation reasons in a lot of States and Provinces for a SRW 3500 truck to have a GVWR below 10,000 lbs. In Ontario, GVWR over 10,000 lbs (the metric equivalent, actually) means annual inspections and possible weigh station stops for some users. Hence the 3500 SRW tends to get a GVWR of 9,900 or thereabouts. If you are a marketing guy, it's pretty straightforward to give your 2500 clone of the same truck a lower weight rating, and I think that's what happened for years. Now, the rating game is upwards, and I know they could (or do) have different GVWR's in different markets for licensing reasons, and I'm happy to see the up-rating of the 2500 Megacab to where it probably should have been all along. Like I said, I'm a Dodge guy, and it really hacked me off to see them put out such a great truck with such unrealistic weight ratings. Remember the commercial for the 2500 Megacab, six big burly 250 lb guys, a nice boat in tow, and Paul Bunyan steals the truck and drives off with his axe in the back? Well, the truck was way over it's payload rating when the six guys were in it, and the boat was hitched up! Made me shout at the TV every time I saw it!

Brian

How much can a Ram 2500 Cummins tow?

The 2022 Ram 2500 boasts a maximum payload of 4,010 pounds when equipped with the 6.4L HEMI^® V8 engine, and an impressive towing capacity of 20,000 pounds 1 when equipped with the available 6.7L Cummins^® Turbo Diesel engine.

Which Ram 2500 is best for towing?

In case you wish to maximize the towing, you may go for the 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel I6 engine. The turbo-diesel variant for the Ram 2500 has an impressive maximum towing capacity of 19,680-lb. It has this capacity while equipped with the 5th-Wheel/Gooseneck Prep Package.