Makes · Dodge · Dodge Ram 3500
2009 Dodge Ram 3500 towing capacity
Trim-level maximum towing capacity — 11,200 – 12,300 lbs across packages. Exact capacity depends on configuration. Payload is separate from towing capacity and is shown where GVWR and curb weight (or manufacturer payload) exist.
Tow Planner
Select your exact configuration and tell us what you're towing. We'll compare trailer weight, payload, tongue weight and the available vehicle limits. Year-level towing and payload answers below are available without selecting a configuration.
Which configuration do you have?
20 configurations
20 possible configurations match your selections.
What are you trying to do?
Choose a job to open interactive tools. Year-level towing and payload answers appear below even before you pick a configuration.
What can a 2009 Dodge Ram 3500 tow?
Across 20 configurations with published ratings, 2009 Dodge Ram 3500 towing capacity ranges from 11,200 lbs to 12,300 lbs. Exact capacity depends on configuration — not every 2009 Dodge Ram 3500 can tow the maximum value.
- Minimum published towing capacity in this dataset: 11,200 lbs
- Maximum published towing capacity in this dataset: 12,300 lbs
- Configurations with a towing rating: 20 of 20
Highest-rated example: ST · 4x2 · Quad Cab — 12,300 lbs
Lowest-rated example: Laramie · 4x4 — 11,200 lbs
Highest towing configurations
Top configurations by published maximum trailer rating for the 2009 Dodge Ram 3500. Payload is shown only when present in the dataset.
| Trim | Cab | Drivetrain | Bed | Axle ratio | Max towing | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST | Quad Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.42 | 12,300 lbs | 3,540 lbs |
| SLT | Quad Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.42 | 12,200 lbs | 3,460 lbs |
| Laramie | Quad Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.42 | 12,150 lbs | 3,410 lbs |
| ST | Regular Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.42 | 12,100 lbs | 4,740 lbs |
| SLT | Regular Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.42 | 12,050 lbs | 4,700 lbs |
| ST | Quad Cab | 4x4 | — | 3.42 | 11,900 lbs | 3,170 lbs |
| SLT | Quad Cab | 4x4 | — | 3.42 | 11,800 lbs | 3,060 lbs |
| Laramie | Quad Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.42 | 11,750 lbs | 4,420 lbs |
| ST | Quad Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.42 | 11,750 lbs | 4,410 lbs |
| Laramie | Quad Cab | 4x4 | — | 3.42 | 11,700 lbs | 2,970 lbs |
Towing capacity by drivetrain
2009 Dodge Ram 3500 4x2 towing capacity
Range: 11,500 – 12,300 lbs (median 11,900 lbs) across 10 configurations in this dataset.
2009 Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 towing capacity
Range: 11,200 – 11,900 lbs (median 11,575 lbs) across 10 configurations in this dataset.
Towing capacity by cab style
2009 Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab towing capacity
Observed range: 11,200 – 11,600 lbs (4 configurations).
2009 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab towing capacity
Observed range: 11,350 – 12,300 lbs (12 configurations).
2009 Dodge Ram 3500 Regular Cab towing capacity
Observed range: 11,700 – 12,100 lbs (4 configurations).
Towing capacity by axle ratio
| Axle ratio | Towing range | Configurations |
|---|---|---|
| 3.42 | 11,200 – 12,300 lbs | 20 |
2009 Dodge Ram 3500 payload capacity
Payload is not the same as towing capacity. Where both GVWR and curb weight exist in the catalog, payload is GVWR minus curb weight (or the manufacturer payload field when present). Payload covers people, cargo in the truck, hitch equipment, and trailer tongue weight — not the full trailer weight.
- Observed payload range: 2,840 – 5,070 lbs
- Configurations with payload data: 20
Highest-payload configurations
- ST · 4x4 · Regular Cab — 5,070 lbs
- SLT · 4x4 · Regular Cab — 5,030 lbs
- SLT · 4x4 · Quad Cab — 4,780 lbs
- ST · 4x4 · Quad Cab — 4,750 lbs
- ST · 4x2 · Regular Cab — 4,740 lbs
Quick configuration comparison
Observed towing ranges from the 2009 Dodge Ram 3500 dataset. Values are min–max of published ratings in each group — not a claim that every unit in the group can tow the top figure.
Drivetrain
| Drivetrain | Towing range | Configs |
|---|---|---|
| 4x2 | 11,500 – 12,300 lbs | 10 |
| 4x4 | 11,200 – 11,900 lbs | 10 |
Cab styles
| Cab | Towing range | Configs |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Cab | 11,200 – 11,600 lbs | 4 |
| Quad Cab | 11,350 – 12,300 lbs | 12 |
| Regular Cab | 11,700 – 12,100 lbs | 4 |
Why does towing capacity vary for this vehicle?
Towing ratings vary across configurations. These are configuration differences present in our dataset:
- Drivetrain: 4x2, 4x4
- Cab styles: Mega Cab, Quad Cab, Regular Cab
- Published towing range: 11,200 – 12,300 lbs
Compare this vehicle
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Towing capacity by trim
| Trim | Max towing | Curb weight | Payload* | HP | Torque | Axle | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST 4x2 Quad Cab 140.5 in. WB SRW | 12,300 lbs | 6,558 lbs | 3,540 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| SLT 4x2 Quad Cab 140.5 in. WB SRW | 12,200 lbs | 6,644 lbs | 3,460 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| Laramie 4x2 Quad Cab 140.5 in. WB SRW | 12,150 lbs | 6,686 lbs | 3,410 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| ST 4x2 Regular Cab 140.5 in. WB DRW | 12,100 lbs | 6,759 lbs | 4,740 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| SLT 4x2 Regular Cab 140.5 in. WB DRW | 12,050 lbs | 6,800 lbs | 4,700 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| ST 4x4 Quad Cab 140.5 in. WB SRW | 11,900 lbs | 6,934 lbs | 3,170 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| SLT 4x4 Quad Cab 140.5 in. WB SRW | 11,800 lbs | 7,036 lbs | 3,060 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| Laramie 4x2 Quad Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,750 lbs | 7,085 lbs | 4,420 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 160.5 |
| ST 4x2 Quad Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,750 lbs | 7,089 lbs | 4,410 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 160.5 |
| Laramie 4x4 Quad Cab 140.5 in. WB SRW | 11,700 lbs | 7,126 lbs | 2,970 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| SLT 4x2 Quad Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,700 lbs | 7,127 lbs | 4,370 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 160.5 |
| SLT 4x4 Regular Cab 140.5 in. WB DRW | 11,700 lbs | 7,171 lbs | 5,030 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| ST 4x4 Regular Cab 140.5 in. WB DRW | 11,700 lbs | 7,130 lbs | 5,070 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| SXT/SLT 4x2 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,600 lbs | 7,275 lbs | 3,230 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 160.5 |
| Laramie 4x2 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,500 lbs | 7,326 lbs | 3,170 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 160.5 |
| SLT 4x4 Quad Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,450 lbs | 7,417 lbs | 4,780 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 160.5 |
| ST 4x4 Quad Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,400 lbs | 7,455 lbs | 4,750 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 160.5 |
| Laramie 4x4 Quad Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,350 lbs | 7,517 lbs | 4,680 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 160.5 |
| SXT/SLT 4x4 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,250 lbs | 7,618 lbs | 2,880 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 160.5 |
| Laramie 4x4 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,200 lbs | 7,656 lbs | 2,840 lbs | 350 | 611 | 3.42 | 160.5 |
* Payload = manufacturer payload when present, otherwise GVWR − curb weight. Towing capacity is a separate rating and is not the same as payload.
What affects the rating
Higher figures usually need the tow package, the right axle ratio, and enough cooling. Passengers, fuel, gear, and tongue weight all eat into what you can safely pull — stay under both the trailer rating and the vehicle’s payload.