2016 RAM 1500 towing capacity
Trim-level maximum towing capacity — 4,450 – 8,210 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?
7 configurations
7 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 2016 RAM 1500 tow?
Across 7 configurations with published ratings, 2016 RAM 1500 towing capacity ranges from 4,450 lbs to 8,210 lbs. Exact capacity depends on configuration — not every 2016 RAM 1500 can tow the maximum value.
- Minimum published towing capacity in this dataset: 4,450 lbs
- Maximum published towing capacity in this dataset: 8,210 lbs
- Configurations with a towing rating: 7 of 7
Highest-rated example: Sport · 4x2 · Quad Cab — 8,210 lbs
Lowest-rated example: SLT · 4x4 — 4,450 lbs
Highest towing configurations
Top configurations by published maximum trailer rating for the 2016 RAM 1500. Payload is shown only when present in the dataset.
| Trim | Cab | Drivetrain | Bed | Axle ratio | Max towing | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Quad Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.21 | 8,210 lbs | 1,680 lbs |
| HFE | Quad Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.55 | 7,950 lbs | 1,610 lbs |
| Tradesman/Express | Quad Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.21 | 4,680 lbs | 1,950 lbs |
| SLT | Quad Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.21 | 4,620 lbs | 1,900 lbs |
| Tradesman/Express | Quad Cab | 4x4 | — | 3.21 | 4,490 lbs | 1,760 lbs |
| Laramie | Quad Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.21 | 4,480 lbs | 1,740 lbs |
| SLT | Quad Cab | 4x4 | — | 3.21 | 4,450 lbs | 1,720 lbs |
Towing capacity by drivetrain
2016 RAM 1500 4x2 towing capacity
Range: 4,480 – 8,210 lbs (median 4,680 lbs) across 5 configurations in this dataset.
2016 RAM 1500 4x4 towing capacity
Range: 4,450 – 4,490 lbs (median 4,470 lbs) across 2 configurations in this dataset.
Towing capacity by cab style
2016 RAM 1500 Quad Cab towing capacity
Observed range: 4,450 – 8,210 lbs (7 configurations).
Towing capacity by axle ratio
| Axle ratio | Towing range | Configurations |
|---|---|---|
| 3.21 | 4,450 – 8,210 lbs | 6 |
| 3.55 | 7,950 lbs | 1 |
2016 RAM 1500 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: 1,610 – 1,950 lbs
- Configurations with payload data: 7
Highest-payload configurations
- Tradesman/Express · 4x2 · Quad Cab — 1,950 lbs
- SLT · 4x2 · Quad Cab — 1,900 lbs
- Tradesman/Express · 4x4 · Quad Cab — 1,760 lbs
- Laramie · 4x2 · Quad Cab — 1,740 lbs
- SLT · 4x4 · Quad Cab — 1,720 lbs
Quick configuration comparison
Observed towing ranges from the 2016 RAM 1500 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 | 4,480 – 8,210 lbs | 5 |
| 4x4 | 4,450 – 4,490 lbs | 2 |
Axle ratios
| Axle | Towing range | Median | Configs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.21 | 4,450 – 8,210 lbs | 4,555 lbs | 6 |
| 3.55 | 7,950 lbs | 7,950 lbs | 1 |
Why does towing capacity vary for this vehicle?
Towing ratings vary across configurations. These are configuration differences present in our dataset:
- Drivetrain: 4x2, 4x4
- Axle ratios: 3.21, 3.55
- Published towing range: 4,450 – 8,210 lbs
Compare this vehicle
Preselected: 2016 RAM 1500. Pick a second vehicle on the compare page.
Towing capacity by trim
| Trim | Max towing | Curb weight | Payload* | HP | Torque | Axle | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport 4x2 Quad Cab 140 in. WB | 8,210 lbs | 5,218 lbs | 1,680 lbs | 395 | 410 | 3.21 | 140.0 |
| HFE 4x2 Quad Cab 140 in. WB | 7,950 lbs | 5,337 lbs | 1,610 lbs | 240 | 420 | 3.55 | 140.0 |
| Tradesman/Express 4x2 Quad Cab 140 in. WB | 4,680 lbs | 4,852 lbs | 1,950 lbs | 305 | 269 | 3.21 | 140.0 |
| SLT 4x2 Quad Cab 140 in. WB | 4,620 lbs | 4,905 lbs | 1,900 lbs | 305 | 269 | 3.21 | 140.0 |
| Tradesman/Express 4x4 Quad Cab 140 in. WB | 4,490 lbs | 5,037 lbs | 1,760 lbs | 305 | 269 | 3.21 | 140.0 |
| Laramie 4x2 Quad Cab 140 in. WB | 4,480 lbs | 5,057 lbs | 1,740 lbs | 305 | 269 | 3.21 | 140.0 |
| SLT 4x4 Quad Cab 140 in. WB | 4,450 lbs | 5,081 lbs | 1,720 lbs | 305 | 269 | 3.21 | 140.0 |
* 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.