2012 RAM 3500 towing capacity
Trim-level maximum towing capacity — 10,850 – 13,850 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?
26 configurations
26 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 2012 RAM 3500 tow?
Across 26 configurations with published ratings, 2012 RAM 3500 towing capacity ranges from 10,850 lbs to 13,850 lbs. Exact capacity depends on configuration — not every 2012 RAM 3500 can tow the maximum value.
- Minimum published towing capacity in this dataset: 10,850 lbs
- Maximum published towing capacity in this dataset: 13,850 lbs
- Configurations with a towing rating: 26 of 26
Highest-rated example: Laramie Longhorn/Limited Edition · 4x2 · Crew Cab — 13,850 lbs
Lowest-rated example: Laramie · 4x4 — 10,850 lbs
Highest towing configurations
Top configurations by published maximum trailer rating for the 2012 RAM 3500. Payload is shown only when present in the dataset.
| Trim | Cab | Drivetrain | Bed | Axle ratio | Max towing | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laramie Longhorn/Limited Edition | Crew Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 13,850 lbs | 3,110 lbs |
| Laramie Longhorn/Limited Edition | Crew Cab | 4x4 | — | 3.73 | 13,450 lbs | 2,890 lbs |
| Laramie Longhorn/Limited Edition | Crew Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 13,300 lbs | 3,960 lbs |
| Laramie Longhorn/Limited Edition | Mega Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 13,250 lbs | 2,880 lbs |
| Laramie Longhorn/Limited Edition | Crew Cab | 4x4 | — | 3.73 | 12,900 lbs | 4,340 lbs |
| Laramie Longhorn/Limited Edition | Mega Cab | 4x4 | — | 3.73 | 12,800 lbs | 2,460 lbs |
| ST | Crew Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.42 | 12,000 lbs | 3,250 lbs |
| SLT | Crew Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.42 | 11,950 lbs | 3,190 lbs |
| ST | Regular Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.42 | 11,950 lbs | 5,100 lbs |
| Laramie | Crew Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.42 | 11,900 lbs | 3,130 lbs |
Towing capacity by drivetrain
2012 RAM 3500 4x2 towing capacity
Range: 11,250 – 13,850 lbs (median 11,900 lbs) across 13 configurations in this dataset.
2012 RAM 3500 4x4 towing capacity
Range: 10,850 – 13,450 lbs (median 11,450 lbs) across 13 configurations in this dataset.
Towing capacity by cab style
2012 RAM 3500 Crew Cab towing capacity
Observed range: 10,900 – 13,850 lbs (16 configurations).
2012 RAM 3500 Mega Cab towing capacity
Observed range: 10,850 – 13,250 lbs (6 configurations).
2012 RAM 3500 Regular Cab towing capacity
Observed range: 11,450 – 11,950 lbs (4 configurations).
Towing capacity by axle ratio
| Axle ratio | Towing range | Configurations |
|---|---|---|
| 3.42 | 10,850 – 12,000 lbs | 20 |
| 3.73 | 12,800 – 13,850 lbs | 6 |
2012 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: 2,460 – 5,100 lbs
- Configurations with payload data: 26
Highest-payload configurations
- ST · 4x2 · Regular Cab — 5,100 lbs
- SLT · 4x2 · Regular Cab — 5,040 lbs
- ST · 4x4 · Regular Cab — 4,880 lbs
- SLT · 4x4 · Regular Cab — 4,820 lbs
- ST · 4x4 · Crew Cab — 4,490 lbs
Quick configuration comparison
Observed towing ranges from the 2012 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 | 11,250 – 13,850 lbs | 13 |
| 4x4 | 10,850 – 13,450 lbs | 13 |
Cab styles
| Cab | Towing range | Configs |
|---|---|---|
| Crew Cab | 10,900 – 13,850 lbs | 16 |
| Mega Cab | 10,850 – 13,250 lbs | 6 |
| Regular Cab | 11,450 – 11,950 lbs | 4 |
Axle ratios
| Axle | Towing range | Median | Configs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.42 | 10,850 – 12,000 lbs | 11,450 lbs | 20 |
| 3.73 | 12,800 – 13,850 lbs | 13,275 lbs | 6 |
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: 3.42, 3.73
- Cab styles: Crew Cab, Mega Cab, Regular Cab
- Published towing range: 10,850 – 13,850 lbs
Compare this vehicle
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Towing capacity by trim
| Trim | Max towing | Curb weight | Payload* | HP | Torque | Axle | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laramie Longhorn/Limited Edition 4x2 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 13,850 lbs | 6,987 lbs | 3,110 lbs | 350 | 800 | 3.73 | 149.5 |
| Laramie Longhorn/Limited Edition 4x4 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 13,450 lbs | 7,407 lbs | 2,890 lbs | 350 | 800 | 3.73 | 149.5 |
| Laramie Longhorn/Limited Edition 4x2 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 13,300 lbs | 7,536 lbs | 3,960 lbs | 350 | 800 | 3.73 | 169.5 |
| Laramie Longhorn/Limited Edition 4x2 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 13,250 lbs | 7,619 lbs | 2,880 lbs | 350 | 800 | 3.73 | 160.5 |
| Laramie Longhorn/Limited Edition 4x4 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 12,900 lbs | 7,956 lbs | 4,340 lbs | 350 | 800 | 3.73 | 169.5 |
| Laramie Longhorn/Limited Edition 4x4 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 12,800 lbs | 8,039 lbs | 2,460 lbs | 350 | 800 | 3.73 | 160.5 |
| ST 4x2 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 12,000 lbs | 6,852 lbs | 3,250 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 149.5 |
| SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 11,950 lbs | 6,912 lbs | 3,190 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 149.5 |
| ST 4x2 Regular Cab 140.5 in. WB DRW | 11,950 lbs | 6,901 lbs | 5,100 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| Laramie 4x2 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 11,900 lbs | 6,971 lbs | 3,130 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 149.5 |
| SLT 4x2 Regular Cab 140.5 in. WB DRW | 11,900 lbs | 6,956 lbs | 5,040 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| ST 4x4 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 11,600 lbs | 7,272 lbs | 2,830 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 149.5 |
| ST 4x4 Regular Cab 140.5 in. WB DRW | 11,550 lbs | 7,321 lbs | 4,880 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 11,500 lbs | 7,332 lbs | 2,770 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 149.5 |
| Laramie 4x4 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 11,450 lbs | 7,391 lbs | 2,710 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 149.5 |
| SLT 4x4 Regular Cab 140.5 in. WB DRW | 11,450 lbs | 7,376 lbs | 4,820 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 140.5 |
| ST 4x2 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 11,450 lbs | 7,391 lbs | 4,110 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 169.5 |
| SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 11,400 lbs | 7,441 lbs | 4,060 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 169.5 |
| Laramie 4x2 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 11,350 lbs | 7,509 lbs | 3,990 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 169.5 |
| SLT 4x2 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,300 lbs | 7,539 lbs | 2,960 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 160.5 |
| Laramie 4x2 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,250 lbs | 7,581 lbs | 2,920 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 160.5 |
| ST 4x4 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 11,050 lbs | 7,811 lbs | 4,490 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 169.5 |
| SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 11,000 lbs | 7,861 lbs | 4,440 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 169.5 |
| Laramie 4x4 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 10,900 lbs | 7,929 lbs | 4,370 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 169.5 |
| SLT 4x4 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 10,900 lbs | 7,959 lbs | 2,540 lbs | 350 | 610 | 3.42 | 160.5 |
| Laramie 4x4 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 10,850 lbs | 8,001 lbs | 2,500 lbs | 350 | 610 | 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.