Ram 2500 GVWR & Payload by Engine: Cummins Diesel vs. Hemi Gas Towing Numbers
Performance Dodge Blog · GVWR & Payload Reference
The Numbers Behind Every Ram 2500
Towing capacity gets the headlines, but it is only one of several ratings that decide what a heavy-duty truck can safely do. For anyone researching GVWR Ram 2500 numbers, the ratings that matter most are GVWR, payload, and combined weight, and each one shifts depending on which engine sits under the hood.
This reference lays out 2025 Ram 2500 GVWR, payload, and towing figures for the 6.7L Cummins diesel and the 6.4L HEMI gas V8, configuration by configuration, so you can see exactly where each engine lands.
Payload covers everything in the cab and bed, plus the trailer’s tongue weight.
In This Article
Key Takeaways
- ✓GVWR is the most your truck may weigh with everything on board
- ✓Payload equals GVWR minus the truck’s curb weight
- ✓The 6.4L HEMI carries more payload, up to 3,940 lbs in 2025
- ✓The Cummins tows up to 20,000 lbs but carries about 800 to 900 lbs less
- ✓GCWR caps the truck and trailer combined
GVWR, Payload, and GCWR in Plain English
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, or GVWR, is the maximum your truck is allowed to weigh with everything on board: the truck itself, fuel, passengers, cargo, and the downward tongue or pin weight from a trailer. Payload is what remains after you subtract the truck’s curb weight from its GVWR. Two Ram 2500s with the same GVWR can therefore have very different payloads if one weighs more empty.
Gross Combined Weight Rating, or GCWR, is the maximum allowed weight of the truck and trailer together. Towing capacity is related but separate, and the lowest limit always wins. A truck can sit within its tow rating and still be over its payload or rear axle rating once hitch weight, passengers, and gear are added.
Where to Find Your Truck’s Ratings
Every Ram 2500 carries a certification label on the driver’s door jamb listing GVWR and the front and rear gross axle weight ratings, along with a tire and loading label that shows payload for that exact truck. Those labels reflect the options actually installed, so they are more precise than any brochure, including the table below.
Same truck, different engines, and noticeably different payload and towing ratings.
2025 Ram 2500 Payload and Towing by Engine
The table lists Ram’s 2025 maximum towing and payload figures for the 6.4L HEMI and the 6.7L Cummins in the configurations published for each. All figures are best-case ratings for properly equipped trucks.
| Configuration | HEMI Towing | HEMI Payload | Cummins Towing | Cummins Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×2 Regular Cab, 8-ft box | 17,750 lbs | 3,940 lbs | Not listed | Not listed |
| 4×2 Crew Cab, 6-ft 4-in box | 17,420 lbs | 3,610 lbs | 19,996 lbs | 2,750 lbs |
| 4×2 Crew Cab, 8-ft box | 17,280 lbs | 3,470 lbs | 20,000 lbs | 2,650 lbs |
| 4×4 Regular Cab, 8-ft box | 17,440 lbs | 3,630 lbs | 19,990 lbs | 2,740 lbs |
| 4×4 Crew Cab, 6-ft 4-in box | 17,130 lbs | 3,320 lbs | 19,890 lbs | 2,450 lbs |
| 4×4 Crew Cab, 8-ft box | 16,930 lbs | 3,110 lbs | 18,230 lbs | 2,310 lbs |
| 4×4 Mega Cab, 6-ft 4-in box | Not listed | Not listed | 15,680 lbs | 2,050 lbs |
Maximum ratings for properly equipped 2025 trucks. Options and equipment change the final numbers, so confirm with the door-jamb labels on the specific truck.
Why the Diesel Tows More but Carries Less
The pattern in the table is consistent: the Cummins wins at the hitch, and the HEMI wins in the bed. In the same 4×4 Crew Cab with a 6-foot 4-inch box, the HEMI is rated for 3,320 pounds of payload and the Cummins for 2,450 pounds, a gap of 870 pounds. The reason is weight. The diesel engine, its exhaust aftertreatment hardware, and the heavier-duty drivetrain add several hundred pounds before you load anything.
Because GVWRs for both engines sit in a similar range, that extra curb weight comes straight out of Dodge 2500 payload. The Cummins makes up for it with 1,075 lb-ft of torque and higher combined ratings, so the Ram 2500 diesel tow capacity reaches 20,000 pounds while the Dodge 2500 gas towing capacity tops out at 17,750. Our 6.7L Cummins specs page explains where that diesel weight comes from.
How Cab, Drivetrain, and Trim Change Payload
Drivetrain and Box Length
Engine choice is the biggest single factor, but it is not the only one. Every option that adds weight to the empty truck subtracts from payload. In the table above, moving from a 4×2 to a 4×4 HEMI Crew Cab with the 6-foot 4-inch box drops payload from 3,610 to 3,320 pounds, a 290-pound difference that comes from the front axle, transfer case, and related hardware. Longer boxes and bigger cabs add weight the same way.
Trim Level and Accessories
Trim level matters too. Upscale trims add power seats, larger wheels, extra sound deadening, sunroofs, and other features that make long drives more comfortable but weigh more than a work-focused Tradesman. Off-road packages and accessories such as running boards, bed liners, and toolboxes add up as well. That is why two trucks with the same engine and cab can show different payload numbers on their door labels.
When you shop, decide which features truly matter and keep your heaviest planned load in mind. A buyer who carries a slide-in camper may be happier in a simpler, lighter configuration than in a fully loaded truck that leaves little payload to spare.
GCWR: The Number for Truck and Trailer Together
For the 2025 Ram 2500 Cummins, combined weight ratings range from about 24,290 pounds on a 4×4 Mega Cab with the 8-foot box to about 28,110 pounds on a 4×4 Crew Cab with the 6-foot 4-inch box. If your loaded truck weighs 9,000 pounds and your GCWR is 28,000, your trailer can weigh no more than 19,000 pounds, even if the published tow rating is higher. Always do the math both ways.
Gas trucks follow the same logic with their own combined ratings. Whatever you drive, keep GCWR, GVWR, both axle ratings, and the hitch rating in mind together. The lowest of them sets your real limit.
Commercial Use Considerations
If the truck works for a business, ratings above 10,000 pounds GVWR or 26,000 pounds combined can bring federal commercial vehicle rules into play, so check with your insurer or a licensing professional before taking on heavier jobs.
Practical Tips for Staying Within Your Ratings
These habits keep you inside every rating printed on the door jamb:
- Add up passengers, cargo, and hitch weight before a trip, not after
- Plan for roughly 10 to 15 percent tongue weight on conventional trailers, and more on fifth-wheels
- Count the hitch itself, since a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch can weigh well over 100 pounds
- Weigh the loaded truck and trailer at a certified scale before a long trip
If you are choosing between engines for the first time, our Ram 2500 Cummins diesel vs. 6.4L HEMI buying guide covers cost, maintenance, and daily drivability, while this article sticks to the numbers. If the numbers point you toward even more capacity, our Ram 2500 vs. Ram 3500 article explains when stepping up makes sense.
Expert Insight: Payload Runs Out Before Towing Does
On a heavy-duty truck, payload is usually the first limit you reach, especially with a fifth-wheel camper. A 15,000-pound fifth-wheel can put well over 2,000 pounds of pin weight on the truck, and that alone can use up most of a diesel crew cab’s payload. Check the camper’s pin weight against the truck’s door-jamb payload before you sign for either one.
Compare Ram 2500 Configurations in Woodbury, NJ
Our team at Performance Dodge RAM can pull the exact GVWR, payload, and towing ratings for any truck on the lot, so you can compare a HEMI and a Cummins with your real trailer and cargo in mind. Browse new Ram 2500 inventory, see new Ram 2500 trucks near Cherry Hill, or check used Ram 2500 trucks for older configurations.
Ready to talk numbers? Visit our finance center, value your trade, or schedule a test drive with the engine you are leaning toward.
Bringing It All Together
For the 2025 Ram 2500, GVWR sits between roughly 9,900 and 10,190 pounds depending on configuration. Within that limit, the 6.4L HEMI carries up to 3,940 pounds and tows up to 17,750 pounds, while the Cummins tows up to 20,000 pounds but carries roughly 800 to 900 pounds less in comparable trucks. Knowing which limit you will hit first is the key to choosing the right setup.
For every cab, box, and drivetrain combination, visit our 2025 Ram 2500 towing capacity and payload page.
Find the Ram 2500 That Fits Your Load
Visit Performance Dodge RAM in Woodbury, NJ, to compare HEMI and Cummins Ram 2500 trucks and check the exact ratings on the trucks you like.
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