Did 2500 towing change for 2026?

Compare the cited 2026 figures on this page with the 2025 record. They are stored separately.

What tongue weight should I plan for a 2026 2500?

At the cited 20,000 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 2,000 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 · Ram · 2500

2026 Ram 2500

Ram lists a maximum of 20,000 lb on a conventional hitch for the 2026 Ram 2500 in its 2026 Ram Heavy Duty Payload & Towing. That rating requires the Cummins High-Output diesel, Crew Cab 8-ft box, 4x2, 3.42 axle, 28,010 lb GCWR; 10,000 / 10,190 / 11,040 lb GVWR row. Footnote 10 requires an in-bed hitch only above 20,000 lb and limits receiver tongue weight to 2,000 lb. Most configurations are rated lower: 230 of the 244 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2026 are below 20,000 lb. Across 244 manufacturer chart rows for 2026, ratings run conventional 10,420 lb to 20,000 lb; the engine, cab, axle ratio and package on your truck decide its number.

conventionalCummins High-Output diesel, Crew Cab 8-ft box, 4x2, 3.42 axle, 28,010 lb GCWR; 10,000 / 10,190 / 11,040 lb GVWR row. Footnote 10 requires an in-bed hitch only above 20,000 lb and limits receiver tongue weight to 2,000 lb.20,000 lb

The build table for 2026 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	20,000 lb	Cummins High-Output diesel, Crew Cab 8-ft box, 4x2, 3.42 axle, 28,010 lb GCWR; 10,000 / 10,190 / 11,040 lb GVWR row. Footnote 10 requires an in-bed hitch only above 20,000 lb and limits receiver tongue weight to 2,000 lb.	OEM chart

Payload on file: 4,580 lb. 6.4L gas Crew Cab short box 4x4 with 11,040 lb GVWR. Different from maximum diesel towing.

Source: Ram, 2026 Ram Heavy Duty Payload & Towing, Page 1, trailer-weight table and footnote 10. Visually reviewed. Table lists 4x2/4x4 pairs. The 36,610 lb 3500 cell is recorded as a contextual fact pending hitch-specific verification; it is not assigned to both fifth-wheel and gooseneck.

Spec sheet

14 of 25 fields cited; 0 estimates. 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: 20,000 lb. Cummins High-Output diesel, Crew Cab 8-ft box, 4x2, 3.42 axle, 28,010 lb GCWR; 10,000 / 10,190 / 11,040 lb GVWR row. Footnote 10 requires an in-bed hitch only above 20,000 lb and limits receiver tongue weight to 2,000 lb.Ram source
Gooseneck maximum: Not transcribed for this model year.
Fifth-wheel maximum: Not transcribed for this model year.
Tongue or pin load: Class V receiver maximum tongue weight: 2,000 lb. Footnote 10 recommends 10% conventional tongue weight and requires an in-bed hitch above 20,000 lb trailer weight. In-bed pin load must stay within payload, axle and hitch limits.Ram source — Page 1: powertrains, tables and footnote 10: Tongue or pin load
Weight distribution: Not transcribed for this model year.
Trailer frontal area: Not transcribed for this model year.

Weights

Payload: Maximum 4,580 lb: 6.4L gas Crew Cab 6-ft 4-in box, 4x4, 11,040 lb GVWR. Payload and trailer-weight ratings are mutually exclusive per footnote 10.Ram source — Page 1: 2500 trailer and payload tables: Payload
GCWR: Selected chart configurations: 6.4L gas with 3.73 axle 22,050 lb; 4.10 axle 24,250 lb. Cummins Crew Cab 8-ft 4x2 maximum-tow row: 28,010 lb. Other diesel/Power Wagon rows differ.Ram source — Page 1: 2500 trailer and payload tables: GCWR
GVWR: Published rows include 8,565 lb Power Wagon, 9,900, 10,000, 10,190 and 11,040 lb configurations. The 11,040 lb starred diesel rows require sales codes Z2K/Z7G/Z3Y.Ram source — Page 1: 2500 trailer and payload tables: GVWR
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: Regular Cab 8-ft: 140.2 in. Crew Cab 6-ft 4-in / 8-ft: 149.1 / 169 in. Mega Cab 6-ft 4-in: 160.4 in.Stellantis source — PDF page 28: 2500: Wheelbase
Bed length: 6-ft 4-in box: 76.3 in floor length (100.2 in with tailgate open). 8-ft box: 98.3 in (120.2 in with tailgate open).Stellantis source — PDF page 28: Bed length
Bed width and depth: Both boxes: 66.4 in maximum width; 51 in between wheel wells. Depth: 20.1 in (6-ft 4-in box), 20.2 in (8-ft box).Stellantis source — PDF page 28: Bed width and depth
Cab-to-axle: Not transcribed for this model year.
Overall length, width, height: Lengths: Regular Cab 232 in; Crew short/long 238.8 / 260.8; Mega 249.9. Width 83.5 in. Heights: Regular 78 / 80.2, Crew short 78.2 / 80.2, Crew long 78.1 / 80.1 in (4x2 / 4x4); Mega 80.1 in (4x4).Stellantis source — PDF page 28: 2500: Overall length, width, height
Ground clearance and angles: Not transcribed for this model year.
Fifth-wheel clearance: Not transcribed for this model year.

Power

Engine, horsepower, torque: 6.4L HEMI V8: 405 hp at 5,600 rpm / 429 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm. 6.7L High-Output Cummins turbo diesel: 430 hp at 2,800 rpm / 1,075 lb-ft at 1,800 rpm.Stellantis source — PDF page 28: Engine, horsepower, torque
Transmission: 6.4L HEMI: 8HP75-LCV eight-speed automatic. High-Output Cummins: ZF PowerLine / TorqueFlite HD eight-speed automatic.Ram source — Page 1: powertrains, tables and footnote 10: Transmission
Fuel type and tank: Not transcribed for this model year.
Drivetrain: 4x2 and 4x4 Regular/Crew Cab configurations; the dimensional table lists Mega Cab only as 4x4.Stellantis source — PDF page 28: Drivetrain
Axle ratio: Gas 6.4L: 3.73 or 4.10 in the published table. High-Output 6.7L diesel: 3.42. Verify the row for the cab, rear wheels and GVWR.Ram source — Page 1: powertrains, tables and footnote 10: Axle ratio
Tow package: Class V receiver hitch and 7-pin wiring harness listed as standard features. In-bed hitch equipment and maximum-rating packages require separate verification.Stellantis source — PDF page 28: Tow package

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 20,000 lb conventional maximum is 2,000 lb of tongue weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher. The payload figure on file is 4,580 lb, and it is not the same truck unless the configurations match.

Receiver and in-bed hitch limits: The chart's 20,000 lb Cummins Crew Cab long-bed 4x2 row is now imported with footnote 10: receiver tongue weight cannot exceed 2,000 lb, and an in-bed hitch is required above 20,000 lb. Actual payload and axle limits still apply.

Bed capacity · Tongue and pin weight · Wheelbase · GCWR, GVWR, and GAWR. The spec sheet above lists the sourced wheelbase information 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

Change from 2025

Conventional: 20,000 lb in 2025, 20,000 lb in 2026 (unchanged maximum, different source or equipment list).

Generation

2025 heavy-duty update

2026 is year 2 of this generation (2025–2026). Ram updated the heavy-duty trucks for 2025, including more Cummins output.

2026 towing by engine

Lowest to highest printed rating for each engine across 244 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
6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL	11,660–20,000 lb	84
6.4L V8 HEMI UPGRADE HD	10,420–17,840 lb	160

Highest-rated configurations

Trailer	Engine	Cab / bed	Drive	Axle / package	GCWR	Evidence
20,000 lb Conventional	6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL	Regular Cab, 8'0"	4WD	3.42 · RAM 2500 4X4 REG CAB TRADESMAN 8'0" BOX^{note 1}	27,790 lb	Page 2, section 'RAM 2500 4X4 REG CAB TRADESMAN 8'0" BOX', row 6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL axle 3.42
20,000 lb Conventional	6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL	Regular Cab, 8'0"	4WD	3.42 · RAM 2500 4X4 REG CAB TRADESMAN 8'0" BOX^{note 2}	27,820 lb	Page 2, section 'RAM 2500 4X4 REG CAB TRADESMAN 8'0" BOX', row 6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL axle 3.42
20,000 lb Conventional	6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL	Regular Cab, 8'0"	4WD	3.42 · RAM 2500 4X4 REG CAB TRADESMAN 8'0" BOX^{note 3}	27,820 lb	Page 2, section 'RAM 2500 4X4 REG CAB TRADESMAN 8'0" BOX', row 6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL axle 3.42
20,000 lb Conventional	6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL	Crew Cab, 6'4"	2WD	3.42 · RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB TRADESMAN 6'4" BOX^{note 2}	27,810 lb	Page 5, section 'RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB TRADESMAN 6'4" BOX', row 6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL axle 3.42
20,000 lb Conventional	6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL	Crew Cab, 6'4"	2WD	3.42 · RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB TRADESMAN 6'4" BOX^{note 1}	27,810 lb	Page 5, section 'RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB TRADESMAN 6'4" BOX', row 6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL axle 3.42
20,000 lb Conventional	6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL	Crew Cab, 6'4"	2WD	3.42 · RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB TRADESMAN 6'4" BOX^{note 3}	27,810 lb	Page 5, section 'RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB TRADESMAN 6'4" BOX', row 6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL axle 3.42
20,000 lb Conventional	6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL	Crew Cab, 8'0"	2WD	3.42 · RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB TRADESMAN 8'0" BOX^{note 2}	27,930 lb	Page 6, section 'RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB TRADESMAN 8'0" BOX', row 6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL axle 3.42
20,000 lb Conventional	6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL	Crew Cab, 8'0"	2WD	3.42 · RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB TRADESMAN 8'0" BOX^{note 1}	27,910 lb	Page 6, section 'RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB TRADESMAN 8'0" BOX', row 6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL axle 3.42
20,000 lb Conventional	6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL	Crew Cab, 8'0"	2WD	3.42 · RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB TRADESMAN 8'0" BOX^{note 3}	27,910 lb	Page 6, section 'RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB TRADESMAN 8'0" BOX', row 6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL axle 3.42
20,000 lb Conventional	6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL	Regular Cab, 8'0"	4WD	3.42 · RAM 2500 4X4 REG CAB BIG HORN/LONE STAR 8'0" BOX^{note 1}	27,790 lb	Page 9, section 'RAM 2500 4X4 REG CAB BIG HORN/LONE STAR 8'0" BOX', row 6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL axle 3.42
20,000 lb Conventional	6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL	Regular Cab, 8'0"	4WD	3.42 · RAM 2500 4X4 REG CAB BIG HORN/LONE STAR 8'0" BOX^{note 3}	27,820 lb	Page 9, section 'RAM 2500 4X4 REG CAB BIG HORN/LONE STAR 8'0" BOX', row 6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL axle 3.42
20,000 lb Conventional	6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL	Crew Cab, 8'0"	2WD	3.42 · RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB BIG HORN/LONE STAR 8'0" BOX^{note 2}	28,010 lb	Page 12, section 'RAM 2500 4X2 CREW CAB BIG HORN/LONE STAR 8'0" BOX', row 6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL axle 3.42

GVWR 11040 lb
GVWR 9900 lb
GVWR 10000 lb

Chart source: Ram, 2026 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Trailer Towing Charts. The evidence column gives each row’s page and table.

Find your exact configuration (244 rows) →Download 2026 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 2026 Ram 2500 tow?: Ram lists a maximum of 20,000 lb on a conventional hitch for the 2026 Ram 2500 in its 2026 Ram Heavy Duty Payload & Towing. That rating requires the Cummins High-Output diesel, Crew Cab 8-ft box, 4x2, 3.42 axle, 28,010 lb GCWR; 10,000 / 10,190 / 11,040 lb GVWR row. Footnote 10 requires an in-bed hitch only above 20,000 lb and limits receiver tongue weight to 2,000 lb. Most configurations are rated lower: 230 of the 244 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2026 are below 20,000 lb.
Did 2500 towing change for 2026?: Compare the cited 2026 figures on this page with the 2025 record. They are stored separately.
Which configuration hits the maximum?: The 20,000 lb conventional maximum requires the Cummins High-Output diesel, Crew Cab 8-ft box, 4x2, 3.42 axle, 28,010 lb GCWR; 10,000 / 10,190 / 11,040 lb GVWR row. Footnote 10 requires an in-bed hitch only above 20,000 lb and limits receiver tongue weight to 2,000 lb.
What tongue weight should I plan for a 2026 2500?: At the cited 20,000 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 2,000 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

2024 · 2025 · All 2500 years