Getting Towed Away with the 2020 Ram 1500

One of the best things about owning a pickup truck is having the ability to tow things. Whether it’s a trailer full of equipment for work or a boat for recreational purposes, there is no other vehicle that has the power to handle towing quite like a truck. And if you want something with real towing capabilities, you should consider visiting a Ram dealer to check out the 2020 Ram 1500. You might be wondering, now, how much a Ram 1500 can tow. When properly equipped, the 2020 Ram 1500 has the ability to tow up to 12,750 pounds, one of the largest figures in its vehicle class. But there is much more to know about towing and the Ram 1500 than that one number, so today, we at Dan Cummins CDJR Paris are going to dive a little deeper into the topic. Let’s get into it!

Towing Ratings

Before you buy your next 2020 Ram 1500, you should know how much your individual truck will be able to tow. While the maximum towing capacity is the aforementioned 12,750 pounds, different variations of the Ram 1500 will have different capabilities. And the last thing you want to do is hitch up a trailer only to find out that you have exceeded your truck’s towing capacity. At best, you’re not going to be able to get your truck into gear. At worst, you can do some significant damage to your truck’s powertrain, drivetrain, or suspension. Those truck capacity ratings published by Ram are not just there for fun; they are part of a serious mathematical equation determined by the manufacturer. And as you will see, as we get into this, the maximum towing capacity varies from 7,230 pounds to 12,750 pounds; and there is a reason for that.

Let’s look at two examples of a 2020 Ram 1500. The first is a Ram 1500 Rebel with a Crew Cab, 3.6-liter V6 24 valve gas engine with variable valve timing (VVT), and eTorque. As a trim dedicated to off-roading, the Rebel features a 4X4 drivetrain and a long box payload. The second is a Ram 1500 Lone Star with a Quad Cab, 5.7-liter V8 Hemi MDS gas engine with VVT. It has a 4X2 drivetrain and a short box payload. The Rebel tops out at 7,230 pounds, while the Lone Star has a conventional towing capacity of 11,620 pounds that can get boosted to 12,750 pounds of trailer with the proper equipment, like a Class 5 trailer hitch. A number of factors determine why the Lone Star can tow more weight than a Rebel, and this includes engine type, drivetrain, gross weight, and hitch type.

The First Variable: Engine Type

The amount of torque your engine produces will influence the amount of weight your truck can tow. In general, the greater the amount of torque, the more weight a truck can pull. The 2020 Ram 1500 offers three engine choices. The 3.6-liter V6 engine with VVT produces 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. This engine is designed to produce solid pickup with exceptional fuel economy. VVT helps achieve this by increasing the efficiency of the engine valves. However, this is not your best choice if you are looking to get maximum towing out of your truck.

If you are looking to do trailering, your best bet is to go with one of the other two engine options. If you choose the 5.7-liter V8 Hemi MDS gas engine with VVT, your fuel economy will be less than the V6 gas engine. However, this engine produces a stronger 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. As a result, you can get up to 12,750 pounds of towing capacity, depending on the other factors.

The other option is a 3.0-liter turbocharged EcoDiesel V6. This produces 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. While its maximum towing capacity is just slightly less than the V8 gas engine, a total of 12,560 pounds, you will get better fuel economy with the EcoDiesel, so it is a small tradeoff. However, the towing capabilities of this engine are excellent and only slightly lower than the absolute maximum.

The Second Variable: Drivetrain

The 2020 Ram 1500 comes in two choices of drivetrain: 2X4 and 4X4. The 2X4 is also known as a rear-wheel drive. The 4X4 is an all-wheel drivetrain. Having a 4X4 drivetrain is preferable when you are driving over rough terrain or in inclement weather. This is why the Rebel trim features a 4X4 drivetrain; it is designed for off-roading. However, when it comes to towing, your best bet is a 2X4 rear-wheel drivetrain.

This means that the two rear wheels will get the engine’s power, increasing its pull for towing purposes. It also is lighter than a 4X4 drivetrain. As you may recall from our example above, the Lone Star features a 2X4 drivetrain to improve the trailer rating. This is also why you almost never see a pickup truck with front-wheel drive, as this would be the least optimal type of drivetrain for towing purposes. The front-wheel drive would put too much power and weight in the front of the truck, making towing more difficult. That said, the drivetrain is an important consideration when it comes to towing.

The Third Variable: Gross Weight

Every vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating. This is the total maximum weight of the truck on a fully-loaded basis, including its curb weight, the weight of you and your passengers, and the weight of any cargo. However, it does not include the weight of the trailer you are planning to tow. In addition, each vehicle has a gross combined weight rating that cannot be exceeded without risking significant damage. This combines the weight of the trailer with the gross vehicle weight.

You can calculate the trailer capacity of your Ram 1500 by simply deducting the gross vehicle weight from the gross combined weight rating. This means that, in most cases, the heavier a truck is, the heavier trailers it will be able to tow. So as you are looking for a Ram 150, keep gross weight in mind.

The Fourth Variable: Hitch

Trailer hitches come in five classes, with each number increasing the amount trailer the hitch can handle. While a Class 1 hitch might be fine for most purposes, it is not going to work for your heavier trailers. There is a great deal of difference between towing a bicycle rack and a trailer home. Your Class 5 hitch is going to be your ideal choice for towing most of your heavier trailers.

Additionally, you can boost your Ram 1500 truck’s trailer rating with other things, such as a fifth wheel and a gooseneck trailer hitch. While these are not standard features on the 2020 Ram 1500, your Ram dealer can help you get this put on your truck if you have a need for them. That said, the hitch on a truck certainly plays a factor in its capabilities.

The 2020 Ram 1500

Overall, if you want a truck that can tow and doubles as an everyday driver, the 2020 Ram 1500 is the best choice. However, when you make your purchase, make sure to check all four variables we looked at today: engine type, drivetrain, gross weight, and the hitch. Everyone’s trailering needs vary, so checking in on all of this and understanding the maximum towing capacity is important. And now that you know all of this, you will be able to make a fully informed decision on which Ram 1500 configuration is best for you.

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