Did Ram 2500 towing change for 2004?

Nothing on file says the published maximum changed for 2004. That is not the same as proof that it stayed the same.

Which configuration hits the maximum?

The 12,000 lb conventional maximum is printed for the 5.9L 24V TD @ (A4), Quad Cab, Short Bed bed, 4WD, 4.10 axle, ST.

What tongue weight should I plan for a 2004 Ram 2500?

At the cited 12,000 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 1,200 lb of tongue weight. This is not a recommended percentage or a measurement; follow your trailer and vehicle instructions and measure the actual load. That load counts against payload and the rear axle rating.

Index · Dodge · Ram 2500

2004 Dodge Ram 2500

The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 is 12,000 lb, the top of 74 rows transcribed from Dodge’s 2004 Dodge Ram Model Lineup (Body Builder Guide). That row is printed for the 5.9L 24V TD @ (A4), Quad Cab, Short Bed bed, 4WD, 4.10 axle, ST. Most configurations are rated lower: 72 of the 140 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2004 are below 12,000 lb, and 66 are above it. Across 140 manufacturer chart rows for 2004, ratings run conventional 8,600 lb to 13,650 lb; the engine, cab, axle ratio and package on your truck decide its number.

conventional5.9L 24V TD @ (A4), Quad Cab, Short Bed bed, 4WD, 4.10 axle, ST.12,000 lb

The build table for 2004 is not transcribed. This page will not multiply trims, cabs, and engines into trucks the order guide did not list.

Hitch	Cited maximum	Configuration	Source grade
Conventional	12,000 lb	5.9L 24V TD @ (A4), Quad Cab, Short Bed bed, 4WD, 4.10 axle, ST.	OEM chart

Highest rows among 74 transcribed chart configurations. Most trucks of this model year are rated lower; find your exact configuration in the table below.

Source: Dodge, 2004 Dodge Ram Model Lineup (Body Builder Guide), 2004 Dodge Ram Model Lineup (Body Builder Guide) tables (all pages). Ram/Dodge Body Builder guide weight & trailer-tow chart (rambodybuilder.com). Chart notes define Max Trailer = GCWR - curb weight - 150 lb driver allowance, rounded to nearest 50 lb.

Spec sheet

6 of 25 fields cited; 1 estimate. Field index

Cited fields may cover selected trims or only part of a measurement. Read the configuration and source beside each value; a cited field does not mean every version is researched.

Towing

Conventional maximum: 12,000 lb. 5.9L 24V TD @ (A4), Quad Cab, Short Bed bed, 4WD, 4.10 axle, ST.Dodge source
Gooseneck maximum: Not transcribed for this model year.
Fifth-wheel maximum: Not transcribed for this model year.
Tongue or pin load: 1,200 lb tongue at the 12,000 lb conventional maximum. Illustration at 10 percent conventional and 15 percent in-bed, not a measured load or recommendation. Follow the trailer and vehicle instructions; actual load may be higher.Estimate
Weight distribution: Not transcribed for this model year.
Trailer frontal area: Not transcribed for this model year.

Weights

Payload: Not transcribed for this model year.
GCWR: 15,000–20,000 lb across 140 chart rows that print a GCWR (each row's GCWR is in the chart table and explorer)Dodge source
GVWR: Not transcribed for this model year.
Front GAWR: Not transcribed for this model year.
Rear GAWR: Not transcribed for this model year.
Curb weight: Not transcribed for this model year.

Body

Wheelbase: Not transcribed for this model year.
Bed length: Long Bed, Short BedDodge source
Bed width and depth: Not transcribed for this model year.
Cab-to-axle: Not transcribed for this model year.
Overall length, width, height: Not transcribed for this model year.
Ground clearance and angles: Not transcribed for this model year.
Fifth-wheel clearance: Not transcribed for this model year.

Power

Engine, horsepower, torque: Not transcribed for this model year.
Transmission: Not transcribed for this model year.
Fuel type and tank: Not transcribed for this model year.
Drivetrain: 2WD, 4WDDodge source
Axle ratio: 4.10, 3.73Dodge source
Tow package: ST; SLTDodge source

Bed, tongue weight, and wheelbase

The trailer rating is one limit. The bed has to fit the load, the tongue or pin has to fit in payload, and the wheelbase is the column the chart uses.

An illustrative 10 percent of the 12,000 lb conventional maximum is 1,200 lb of tongue weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.

Bed capacity · Tongue and pin weight · Wheelbase · GCWR, GVWR, and GAWR. Wheelbase is not transcribed for this year. See the spec sheet for the sourced GCWR and its configuration.

Estimate payload margin and bed volume · How these limits work together

Generation

Third generation

2004 is year 2 of this generation (2003–2009). Redesigned Dodge Ram heavy-duty, with the Cummins diesel growing from 5.9L to 6.7L. From 2010 it is filed under Ram 2500.

2004 towing by engine

Lowest to highest printed rating for each engine across 140 transcribed chart rows. A missing hitch means the chart did not print one for that engine, not that it is zero.

Engine	Conventional	Chart rows
5.9L 24V TD @ (M5)	10,850–13,650 lb	22
5.9L 24V TDHO (A4)	12,750–13,600 lb	22
5.9L 24V TDHO (M6)	12,550–13,450 lb	22
5.9L 24V TD @ (A4)	9,850–13,150 lb	22
5.9L 24V TD (M5)	10,900–12,900 lb	2
5.9L 24V TD (A4)	9,900–11,900 lb	2
5.7L V8 gas (A5)	8,650–11,450 lb	24
5.7L V8 gas (M5)	8,600–11,400 lb	24

Highest-rated configurations

Trailer	Engine	Cab / bed	Drive	Axle / package	GCWR	Evidence
13,650 lb Conventional (hitch not printed)	5.9L 24V TD @ (M5)	Regular Cab, Long Bed	2WD	4.10 · ST^{note 1}	20,000 lb	PDF page 5, "Model Lineup", section "Ram 4x2 Reg. Cab 2500 DR2L62 Long Box ST", row 5.9L 24V TD @ (M5) axle 4.10
13,600 lb Conventional (hitch not printed)	5.9L 24V TDHO (A4)	Regular Cab, Long Bed	2WD	3.73 · ST^{note 2}	20,000 lb	PDF page 5, "Model Lineup", section "Ram 4x2 Reg. Cab 2500 DR2L62 Long Box ST", row 5.9L 24V TDHO (A4) axle 3.73
13,600 lb Conventional (hitch not printed)	5.9L 24V TDHO (A4)	Regular Cab, Long Bed	2WD	4.10 · ST^{note 2}	20,000 lb	PDF page 5, "Model Lineup", section "Ram 4x2 Reg. Cab 2500 DR2L62 Long Box ST", row 5.9L 24V TDHO (A4) axle 4.10
13,600 lb Conventional (hitch not printed)	5.9L 24V TD @ (M5)	Regular Cab, Long Bed	2WD	4.10 · SLT^{note 3}	20,000 lb	PDF page 5, "Model Lineup", section "Ram4x2 Reg. Cab 2500 DR2H62 Long Box SLT", row 5.9L 24V TD @ (M5) axle 4.10
13,600 lb Conventional (hitch not printed)	5.9L 24V TDHO (A4)	Regular Cab, Long Bed	2WD	3.73 · SLT^{note 4}	20,000 lb	PDF page 5, "Model Lineup", section "Ram4x2 Reg. Cab 2500 DR2H62 Long Box SLT", row 5.9L 24V TDHO (A4) axle 3.73
13,600 lb Conventional (hitch not printed)	5.9L 24V TDHO (A4)	Regular Cab, Long Bed	2WD	4.10 · SLT^{note 4}	20,000 lb	PDF page 5, "Model Lineup", section "Ram4x2 Reg. Cab 2500 DR2H62 Long Box SLT", row 5.9L 24V TDHO (A4) axle 4.10
13,450 lb Conventional (hitch not printed)	5.9L 24V TDHO (M6)	Regular Cab, Long Bed	2WD	3.73 · ST^{note 2}	20,000 lb	PDF page 5, "Model Lineup", section "Ram 4x2 Reg. Cab 2500 DR2L62 Long Box ST", row 5.9L 24V TDHO (M6) axle 3.73
13,450 lb Conventional (hitch not printed)	5.9L 24V TDHO (M6)	Regular Cab, Long Bed	2WD	4.10 · ST^{note 2}	20,000 lb	PDF page 5, "Model Lineup", section "Ram 4x2 Reg. Cab 2500 DR2L62 Long Box ST", row 5.9L 24V TDHO (M6) axle 4.10
13,450 lb Conventional (hitch not printed)	5.9L 24V TDHO (M6)	Regular Cab, Long Bed	2WD	3.73 · SLT^{note 4}	20,000 lb	PDF page 5, "Model Lineup", section "Ram4x2 Reg. Cab 2500 DR2H62 Long Box SLT", row 5.9L 24V TDHO (M6) axle 3.73
13,450 lb Conventional (hitch not printed)	5.9L 24V TDHO (M6)	Regular Cab, Long Bed	2WD	4.10 · SLT^{note 4}	20,000 lb	PDF page 5, "Model Lineup", section "Ram4x2 Reg. Cab 2500 DR2H62 Long Box SLT", row 5.9L 24V TDHO (M6) axle 4.10
13,450 lb Conventional (hitch not printed)	5.9L 24V TD @ (M5)	Quad Cab, Short Bed	2WD	4.10 · ST^{note 5}	20,000 lb	PDF page 5, "Model Lineup", section "Ram 4x2 Quad Cab 2500 DR2L41 Short Box ST", row 5.9L 24V TD @ (M5) axle 4.10
13,450 lb Conventional (hitch not printed)	5.9L 24V TDHO (A4)	Quad Cab, Short Bed	2WD	3.73 · ST^{note 6}	20,000 lb	PDF page 5, "Model Lineup", section "Ram 4x2 Quad Cab 2500 DR2L41 Short Box ST", row 5.9L 24V TDHO (A4) axle 3.73

GVWR 9,000 lbs. Body code DR2L62L. Chart prints a single Max Trailer column and does not state hitch type for this rating. Chart marks this engine '@': California-emissions diesel, only available in CA, ME, MA, NY and VT.
GVWR 9,000 lbs. Body code DR2L62L. Chart prints a single Max Trailer column and does not state hitch type for this rating.
GVWR 9,000 lbs. Body code DR2H62L. Chart prints a single Max Trailer column and does not state hitch type for this rating. Chart marks this engine '@': California-emissions diesel, only available in CA, ME, MA, NY and VT.
GVWR 9,000 lbs. Body code DR2H62L. Chart prints a single Max Trailer column and does not state hitch type for this rating.
GVWR 9,000 lbs. Body code DR2L41S. Chart prints a single Max Trailer column and does not state hitch type for this rating. Chart marks this engine '@': California-emissions diesel, only available in CA, ME, MA, NY and VT.
GVWR 9,000 lbs. Body code DR2L41S. Chart prints a single Max Trailer column and does not state hitch type for this rating.

Chart source: Dodge, 2004 Dodge Ram Model Lineup (Body Builder Guide). The evidence column gives each row’s page and table.

Find your exact configuration (140 rows) →Download 2004 rows as CSV ↓

What changes the number

Engine and transmission
Cab, bed, and wheelbase
Two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive
Axle ratio and tow package
Conventional hitch versus fifth-wheel versus gooseneck
People, options, and cargo, which spend payload the chart assumed was empty

Questions

How much can a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 tow?: The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 is 12,000 lb, the top of 74 rows transcribed from Dodge’s 2004 Dodge Ram Model Lineup (Body Builder Guide). That row is printed for the 5.9L 24V TD @ (A4), Quad Cab, Short Bed bed, 4WD, 4.10 axle, ST. Most configurations are rated lower: 72 of the 140 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2004 are below 12,000 lb, and 66 are above it.
Did Ram 2500 towing change for 2004?: Nothing on file says the published maximum changed for 2004. That is not the same as proof that it stayed the same.
Which configuration hits the maximum?: The 12,000 lb conventional maximum is printed for the 5.9L 24V TD @ (A4), Quad Cab, Short Bed bed, 4WD, 4.10 axle, ST.
What tongue weight should I plan for a 2004 Ram 2500?: At the cited 12,000 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 1,200 lb of tongue weight. This is not a recommended percentage or a measurement; follow your trailer and vehicle instructions and measure the actual load. That load counts against payload and the rear axle rating.

Compare with

Compare the 2004 Ram 2500 with any truck and year →

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