2016 RAM 3500 towing capacity
Trim-level maximum towing capacity — 10,990 – 11,910 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 2016 RAM 3500 tow?
Across 26 configurations with published ratings, 2016 RAM 3500 towing capacity ranges from 10,990 lbs to 11,910 lbs. Exact capacity depends on configuration — not every 2016 RAM 3500 can tow the maximum value.
- Minimum published towing capacity in this dataset: 10,990 lbs
- Maximum published towing capacity in this dataset: 11,910 lbs
- Configurations with a towing rating: 26 of 26
Highest-rated example: SLT · 4x2 · Regular Cab — 11,910 lbs
Lowest-rated example: SLT · 4x4 — 10,990 lbs
Highest towing configurations
Top configurations by published maximum trailer rating for the 2016 RAM 3500. Payload is shown only when present in the dataset.
| Trim | Cab | Drivetrain | Bed | Axle ratio | Max towing | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLT | Regular Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 11,910 lbs | 4,080 lbs |
| Tradesman | Regular Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 11,910 lbs | 4,080 lbs |
| SLT | Regular Cab | 4x4 | — | 3.73 | 11,560 lbs | 3,930 lbs |
| Tradesman | Regular Cab | 4x4 | — | 3.73 | 11,560 lbs | 3,930 lbs |
| Laramie | Crew Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 11,520 lbs | 4,090 lbs |
| Longhorn | Crew Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 11,520 lbs | 4,090 lbs |
| SLT | Crew Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 11,520 lbs | 4,090 lbs |
| Tradesman | Crew Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 11,520 lbs | 4,090 lbs |
| Laramie | Crew Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 11,410 lbs | 4,480 lbs |
| Longhorn | Crew Cab | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 11,410 lbs | 4,480 lbs |
Towing capacity by drivetrain
2016 RAM 3500 4x2 towing capacity
Range: 11,270 – 11,910 lbs (median 11,410 lbs) across 13 configurations in this dataset.
2016 RAM 3500 4x4 towing capacity
Range: 10,990 – 11,560 lbs (median 11,020 lbs) across 13 configurations in this dataset.
Towing capacity by cab style
2016 RAM 3500 Crew Cab towing capacity
Observed range: 11,020 – 11,520 lbs (16 configurations).
2016 RAM 3500 Mega Cab towing capacity
Observed range: 10,990 – 11,270 lbs (6 configurations).
2016 RAM 3500 Regular Cab towing capacity
Observed range: 11,560 – 11,910 lbs (4 configurations).
Towing capacity by axle ratio
| Axle ratio | Towing range | Configurations |
|---|---|---|
| 3.73 | 10,990 – 11,910 lbs | 26 |
2016 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: 3,930 – 4,480 lbs
- Configurations with payload data: 26
Highest-payload configurations
- Laramie · 4x2 · Crew Cab — 4,480 lbs
- Longhorn · 4x2 · Crew Cab — 4,480 lbs
- SLT · 4x2 · Crew Cab — 4,480 lbs
- Tradesman · 4x2 · Crew Cab — 4,480 lbs
- Laramie · 4x4 · Crew Cab — 4,390 lbs
Quick configuration comparison
Observed towing ranges from the 2016 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 | 11,270 – 11,910 lbs | 13 |
| 4x4 | 10,990 – 11,560 lbs | 13 |
Cab styles
| Cab | Towing range | Configs |
|---|---|---|
| Crew Cab | 11,020 – 11,520 lbs | 16 |
| Mega Cab | 10,990 – 11,270 lbs | 6 |
| Regular Cab | 11,560 – 11,910 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: Crew Cab, Mega Cab, Regular Cab
- Published towing range: 10,990 – 11,910 lbs
Compare this vehicle
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Towing capacity by trim
| Trim | Max towing | Curb weight | Payload* | HP | Torque | Axle | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLT 4x2 Regular Cab 140 in. WB | 11,910 lbs | 6,022 lbs | 4,080 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 140.0 |
| Tradesman 4x2 Regular Cab 140 in. WB | 11,910 lbs | 6,022 lbs | 4,080 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 140.0 |
| SLT 4x4 Regular Cab 140 in. WB | 11,560 lbs | 6,370 lbs | 3,930 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 140.0 |
| Tradesman 4x4 Regular Cab 140 in. WB | 11,560 lbs | 6,370 lbs | 3,930 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 140.0 |
| Laramie 4x2 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 11,520 lbs | 6,412 lbs | 4,090 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 149.5 |
| Longhorn 4x2 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 11,520 lbs | 6,412 lbs | 4,090 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 149.5 |
| SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 11,520 lbs | 6,412 lbs | 4,090 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 149.5 |
| Tradesman 4x2 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 11,520 lbs | 6,412 lbs | 4,090 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 149.5 |
| Laramie 4x2 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 11,410 lbs | 6,524 lbs | 4,480 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 169.5 |
| Longhorn 4x2 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 11,410 lbs | 6,524 lbs | 4,480 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 169.5 |
| SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 11,410 lbs | 6,524 lbs | 4,480 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 169.5 |
| Tradesman 4x2 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 11,410 lbs | 6,524 lbs | 4,480 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 169.5 |
| Laramie 4x2 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,270 lbs | 6,661 lbs | 4,340 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 160.5 |
| Longhorn 4x2 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,270 lbs | 6,661 lbs | 4,340 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 160.5 |
| SLT 4x2 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 11,270 lbs | 6,661 lbs | 4,340 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 160.5 |
| Laramie 4x4 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SR | 11,200 lbs | 6,732 lbs | 3,970 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 149.5 |
| Longhorn 4x4 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 11,200 lbs | 6,732 lbs | 3,970 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 149.5 |
| SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 11,200 lbs | 6,732 lbs | 3,970 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 149.5 |
| Tradesman 4x4 Crew Cab 149.5 in. WB SRW | 11,200 lbs | 6,732 lbs | 3,970 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 149.5 |
| Laramie 4x4 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 11,020 lbs | 6,909 lbs | 4,390 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 169.5 |
| Longhorn 4x4 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 11,020 lbs | 6,909 lbs | 4,390 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 169.5 |
| SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 11,020 lbs | 6,909 lbs | 4,390 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 169.5 |
| Tradesman 4x4 Crew Cab 169.5 in. WB | 11,020 lbs | 6,909 lbs | 4,390 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 169.5 |
| Laramie 4x4 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 10,990 lbs | 6,945 lbs | 4,360 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 160.5 |
| Longhorn 4x4 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 10,990 lbs | 6,945 lbs | 4,360 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 160.5 |
| SLT 4x4 Mega Cab 160.5 in. WB | 10,990 lbs | 6,945 lbs | 4,360 lbs | 383 | 400 | 3.73 | 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.