Questions on 2015 Ram 2500 and 3500 towing capacity / specs

[392DevilDog]

For 2015...it is the Mega Cab and the box delete trucks that get the 6500lb axle

 

[GsRAM]

I just took a quick look at the towing charts from 2014-2019 and it looks like the RAWR on the 2500s bounces around between 6000 & 6500 until 2018. Finally, in 2019 they all go to 6000# (unless you do a box delete in which case you get a few hundred more pounds). Basically, if anyone is shopping and it might matter, check the door sticker as it can be different depending on model, etc.. I suspect the 6500# axles are the same as the SRW 3500 but don't know for sure.

Good to know. You typically don't see gas powered 3500 srw trucks on dealer lots in my area so I suspect they are all special order. If I could find one somewhere it'd be real interesting to see what the grawr is.

@Bigdaddy bought a srw 3500 Cummins powered truck last year. I haven't seen him on in awhile, but he'd be able to tell us what his door sticker says.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

So what is the difference between GAWR and RAWR? My door sticker on my 17 srw 3500 shows the GAWR as 7000 lbs.

 

[dhay13]

My 2018 has GRAWR of 6500lbs. (no Ram Box-CC)

I'm also surprised that your Eco-Diesel struggles to tow that. I can say that the 2500 6.4 you will have no problems at all towing that TT but agree if miles are going to be excessive then a diesel may be the better option. The biggest weakness of the 2500 Cummins is the payload but with that TT you shouldn't be anywhere near your max limits. Theoretically the heaviest bumper pull TT you can legally tow with a 2500 Cummins will be about 10,000-12,000lbs to stay under payload. A typical 2500 Cummins will have about 2100lbs payload (might be higher depending on configuration) and with 12-15% tongue weight a 12,000lb TT would have about 1400-1500lbs on tongue weight. Add a few passengers and some stuff in the bed and you will be getting close to payload limits. A 2500 Hemi will have closer to 3000lbs of payload (mine is 2973lbs). Again, with your current TT you should be fine but if you decide to upgrade to a larger TT keep this in mind.

We just towed my sons TT 1400 miles to Texas last week with his 2018 2500 6.4 and 4.10's. Weighed it at the CAT scale and total was 16,180lbs. Truck axles were 9120lbs so with a 2500 Cummins we would have been right at our limit and maybe over). His truck weighed about 8100lbs, TT weighed about 8100lbs and had about 1100lbs tongue weight. He did have the back seat pretty well packed and has a toolbox and a few other things in the bed. We were guessing about 500lbs of extra cargo. The truck empty weighed just a hair over 7000lbs. with a full tank of fuel.

 

[ramffml]

The biggest question is different people have vastly different perspectives on what "struggling" to pull a trailer is. I've personally talked to people that say a certain truck "struggled" to pull a load because it downshifted one gear to maintain 65 mph climbing a decent size grade, then somebody else will say their truck has no issues even though the truck downshift 2-3 gears and can only maintain 50 mph on the same grade. The area of the country you normally drive in also makes a big difference, such as driving around the midwest that really has nothing but "big hills" versus running mountain passes out west.

I think that's probably very accurate. The more experience you have, the less you worry about working a truck hard. I know that's the case for me.

My truck sits about 1500 RPMs on the freeway (3.21) unloaded, it's just laughing at how easy it is "working" to keep speed. Dip into the pedal lightly and the truck moves with complete ease.

I attached 4500 - 5000 pound TT and pulled that, and suddenly it was sitting in 6th gear on the freeway doing 2300 RPMs, for about 2 hours. Was not expecting that, and it downshifted to 5th going up hills on the freeway, once it even went to 4th. She was working, no doubt about it. Getting up to speed with Tow Haul engaged etc, would rev out to 4000 RPMs and beyond. If this is your first experience towing heavyier loads, it can make you wonder whether you bought too little truck.

Doing some digging around, turns out 2200 RPMs is pretty much a sweet spot for towing, many guys are sitting 3000+ RPMs for longer periods of time with gas engines.

So I'm not nearly as concerned for short trips (few hours). I do wonder though if it would be wise, say, for someone who RV's full time to work an engine "that hard" (2300 rpms) for 8 hours a few times a week, months on end? Some of these guys go across country in a few days. Or whether a 2500/6.4 might rev and work less hard, or whether a diesel would be smarter there.

 

[392DevilDog]

Look at the power numbers. These trucks are designed to run at 4k rpms all day every day.

When I tow my travel trailer, and I am in the rolling hills of PA I select 3rd gear with tow haul on and let my 392 Hemi set in at 3 to 4k RPM for the trip.

Then it feels like the Big Gas Engine it is.

This is why gas engines get overlooked for power.

When unloaded and going down the highway and thru town...2500 ia as high as it needs to go.

Then they attach a trailer and the truck wants to turn 3500 and they lose their minds.

If you want to feel the power of your truck...select 3rd gear...or even 2nd...and then modulate the throttle. You will see the power come on they way it is intended

 

[ramffml]

Look at the power numbers. These trucks are designed to run at 4k rpms all day every day.

When I tow my travel trailer, and I am in the rolling hills of PA I select 3rd gear with tow haul on and let my 392 Hemi set in at 3 to 4k RPM for the trip.

Then it feels like the Big Gas Engine it is.

This is why gas engines get overlooked for power.

When unloaded and going down the highway and thru town...2500 ia as high as it needs to go.

Then they attach a trailer and the truck wants to turn 3500 and they lose their minds.

If you want to feel the power of your truck...select 3rd gear...or even 2nd...and then modulate the throttle. You will see the power come on they way it is intended

I totally agree, when it comes down to power. Torque and HP curves clearly show that you need to get into high RPMs for max power.

But my question is also about longevity. Working a 5.7 at 2500 to 3000 RPMs for 8 hours a day, several times a month (RV'ing full time or whatever). Assuming proper maintenance and high quality gas etc, wouldn't that still severely cut into expected lifetime of the engine, vs a diesel doing the same job? Course a diesel working at 2300 RPMs is just as close to redline as a gas is at 3500 RPms in terms of percentage of rev range, but I still think a diesel would last longer. Perhaps that's just my inaccurate perception based on their popularity in the 25/3500 trucks.

 

[392DevilDog]

The 5.7l in the 1500 is a light duty cycle...but the light duty cycle ia tested at gross. So, yes...it can turn the RPM NEEDED without issue.

But...you need to follow the severe service maintenance schedule.

The 6.4l in the HeavyDuty is tested to the same 300,000 mile threshold as the Cummins.

It is a true HeavyDuty engine...BGE...Big Gas Engine.

To showcase this thought...look up the ratings foe a 5.7l in the HeavyDuty. Much less than the ratings for the 1500

Same with the chassis cab. Look at how they change the ratings for the 6.4l and the Cummins. This is because it will spend even more time at peak output in Theory.

The 6.4l BGE closes the gap on the SO Cummins. Alot of people are making the switch...especially since the 8 spd.

 

[OC455]

OC- your new 3500 dually is beautiful, but I'm shocked it only has the 3.73s. That's got to be one of the reasons it was at the dealer so long. I don't know who would order a gas powered dually with 3.73s evenwith the 8 speed. Just crazy.

Yeah, I thought the same thing, but it is an awesome rig. I was told some guy ordered it and then tried to scam the dealership....but I lucked out with it. Sooo....there's that.

My 1500 towed my camper fine, but I always thought I was towing heavy as far as payload on the truck was concerned. Was never at max with the trailer though.

 

[Bigdaddy]

My 2018 3500 is GAWR is 6000, RAWR 7000 and my GVWR 11,700 this is on my 3500.

 

[GsRAM]

My 2018 3500 is GAWR is 6000, RAWR 7000 and my GVWR 11,700 this is on my 3500.

Ok that's good info to have big daddy, thank you. Glad to see you back here again.
Looks like your rear axle is heavier than mine or they just gave it 500 lbs more rating in the 3500. It would be really interesting to see what the part numbers are for those axles to know for sure.

How is that 3500 Cummins treating you? Any issues? Do you still like it?

 

[dhay13]

Ok that's good info to have big daddy, thank you. Glad to see you back here again.
Looks like your rear axle is heavier than mine or they just gave it 500 lbs more rating in the 3500. It would be really interesting to see what the part numbers are for those axles to know for sure.

How is that 3500 Cummins treating you? Any issues? Do you still like it?

Yeah my rear axle is 6500 also. Front is 5500

 

[moosejaa]

Currently have a Ram 1500 Express Crew Cab and looking to go to a 2500.
Came a across a 2015 RAM 2500 SLT with 93,000 miles. That seems like a lot of miles for a used truck. Any thoughts?

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[392DevilDog]

Currently have a Ram 1500 Express Crew Cab and looking to go to a 2500.
Came a across a 2015 RAM 2500 SLT with 93,000 miles. That seems like a lot of miles for a used truck. Any thoughts?

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My 2015 has 148k. Your supposed to drive these trucks ya know.

Would not hesitate to buy that truck if the price and options are right.

 

[moosejaa]

My 2015 has 148k. Your supposed to drive these trucks ya know.

Would not hesitate to buy that truck if the price and options are right.

Thanks, buddy! According to KBB it's a good price and I could use the extra muscle.

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[dhay13]

My son has a 2018 2500 6.4 with 87,000 on it with about 7000of that towing his 8000lb travel trailer and other than regular maintenance (brakes, oil changes, etc) he has never had an issue

 

[moosejaa]

My son has a 2018 2500 6.4 with 87,000 on it with about 7000of that towing his 8000lb travel trailer and other than regular maintenance (brakes, oil changes, etc) he has never had an issue

Thanks. This will mostly be used for pulling our travel and utility trailers.

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[392DevilDog]

Mine gets worked like this all the time. I could not have loaded any more in a 3500...so the 2500 works fine for me.

She loves to work. You got to work these HeftyDuty trucks. No one told her she needed a Cummins.

Good times

 

[Gtonram]

great link, and on that page found a pop up of all the years so others can pick an choose there year. click the TOWING INFO in the center of screen...

It is only showing 2020 and 2021