2027 Ram Heavy Duty Payload Chart & Loading Guide
Compare 2027 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 payload configurations for crews, tools, materials and RV hitch loads. The manufacturer guide lists Ram 3500 payload up to 7,580 pounds in a specific properly equipped HEMI dually configuration. Use the exact vehicle’s loading label when planning what your truck will carry.
*Specific properly equipped Ram 3500 HEMI DRW 4x2 Regular Cab configuration. Other trucks have different loading limits.
Which 2027 Ram Heavy Duty Has the Highest Listed Payload?
The guide’s 7,580-pound payload figure applies to a Ram 3500 with the 6.4L HEMI V8, dual rear wheels, 4x2 drivetrain, Regular Cab, 8-foot bed and 14,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating. The corresponding 4x4 entry is 7,200 pounds.
The Cummins diesel configuration that achieves the highest listed towing rating is not the truck that achieves the highest listed payload. Compare the complete configuration rather than assuming the most powerful engine carries the most weight.
2027 Ram 2500 & 3500 Manufacturer Payload Chart
Review the manufacturer chart below, then compare the selected configurations in the text tables. Click the chart to open the full-size image.
How to Read the Payload Tables
- All weights are in pounds.
- SRW means single rear wheels; DRW means dual rear wheels.
- HO means High Output.
- GVWR means gross vehicle weight rating.
- A dash represents NA in the manufacturer source.
- 4x2 and 4x4 payload ratings are shown separately.
These selected tables omit blank, unclear or unlabeled entries rather than inferring a configuration. They are not complete all-trim listings or a substitute for a specific vehicle’s loading label. On mobile, swipe horizontally within each table.
Selected 2027 Ram 2500 Payload Ratings
| Engine | Rear wheels | GVWR (lbs) | Cab / bed | 4x2 payload (lbs) | 4x4 payload (lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.4L HEMI V8 | SRW | 10,000 | Regular Cab / 8′ | 3,940 | 3,630 |
| 6.4L HEMI V8 | SRW | 10,000 | Crew Cab / 6′4″ | 3,620 | 3,310 |
| 6.4L HEMI V8 | SRW | 10,000 | Crew Cab / 8′ | 3,470 | 3,130 |
| 6.4L HEMI V8 — Power Wagon | SRW | 8,565 | Crew Cab / 6′4″ | — | 1,570 |
| 6.7L Cummins HO | SRW | 11,040* | Regular Cab / 8′ | 3,990 | 3,620 |
| 6.7L Cummins HO | SRW | 11,040* | Crew Cab / 6′4″ | 3,600 | 3,310 |
| 6.7L Cummins HO | SRW | 11,040* | Crew Cab / 8′ | 3,490 | 3,170 |
| 6.7L Cummins HO | SRW | 11,040* | Mega Cab / 6′4″ | — | 2,910 |
| 6.7L Cummins HO — Power Wagon | SRW | 11,040 | Crew Cab / 6′4″ | — | 2,930 |
*The source identifies sales codes Z2K/Z7G/Z3Y for starred entries. Verify the matching production configuration.
Selected 2027 Ram 3500 Payload Ratings
| Engine | Rear wheels | GVWR (lbs) | Cab / bed | 4x2 payload (lbs) | 4x4 payload (lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.4L HEMI V8 | SRW | 11,040 | Regular Cab / 8′ | 4,970 | 4,580 |
| 6.4L HEMI V8 | SRW | 11,040 | Crew Cab / 6′4″ | 4,580 | 4,280 |
| 6.4L HEMI V8 | DRW | 14,000 | Regular Cab / 8′ | 7,580 | 7,200 |
| 6.4L HEMI V8 | DRW | 14,000 | Crew Cab / 8′ | 6,990 | 6,640 |
| 6.7L Cummins HO | DRW | 14,000 | Regular Cab / 8′ | 6,460 | 6,060 |
| 6.7L Cummins HO | DRW | 14,000 | Crew Cab / 8′ | 5,890 | 5,510 |
What Counts Toward Heavy Duty Payload?
Payload includes more than materials carried in the bed. People, cargo, equipment added after manufacture and weight transferred through a trailer hitch all use available loading capacity.
- The driver and all passengers.
- Tools, materials, luggage and supplies.
- Accessories added after manufacture.
- Added hitch equipment.
- Loaded trailer tongue or fifth-wheel/gooseneck pin weight.
A toolbox, bed rack, camper shell or added fifth-wheel hitch uses capacity otherwise available for occupants and cargo. Account for these items when planning the load.
Example: Payload With a Fifth-Wheel Trailer
Suppose a particular truck’s loading label allows 4,000 pounds of combined occupants and cargo. The example below illustrates a payload budget. It is not a rating for a stock unit or a guarantee that a towing setup meets all limits.
| Load item | Weight (lbs) |
|---|---|
| Occupants | 600 |
| Cargo and supplies | 400 |
| Added hitch and accessories | 200 |
| Loaded fifth-wheel pin weight | 2,400 |
| Total payload used | 3,600 |
| Remaining against the example 4,000-lb limit | 400 |
The 400 pounds remaining in this example is only a loading calculation. Verify axle, tire, hitch, trailer-weight and combined-weight limits with the truck and trailer fully loaded.
Payload, GVWR, GAWR and GCWR Explained
Payload: The Load Carried by the Truck
Payload is the weight available for occupants and the load carried by the vehicle. Use the specific truck’s Tire and Loading Information label and account for equipment added after manufacture.
GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
GVWR is the maximum permitted total loaded weight of the truck. It includes the vehicle itself, occupants, cargo, added equipment and weight transferred through the hitch.
GAWR: Gross Axle Weight Rating
GAWR limits the weight supported by each axle. Load placement matters. A rear axle can reach its limit even when the vehicle’s total loaded weight is below GVWR.
GCWR: Gross Combined Weight Rating
GCWR limits the combined weight of the loaded truck and trailer. Meeting the payload limit alone does not establish that the combination meets its towing or combined-weight limits.
HEMI vs. Cummins: Compare the Actual Configuration
The guide lists 7,580 pounds of payload for the HEMI DRW 4x2 Regular Cab and 6,460 pounds for the Cummins DRW 4x2 Regular Cab, both with 14,000-pound GVWR. Diesel towing strength does not automatically mean the highest payload.
Cab, bed, drivetrain, rear wheels, vehicle weight and equipment affect the remaining capacity. Compare the exact configuration and its loading label before choosing a truck for your crew or equipment.
Plan for Hauling and Towing Together
For contractors working around San Leandro, Oakland and Hayward, include the crew, tools, materials and permanently added equipment. For RV trips, include people, luggage, supplies and loaded tongue or pin weight.
Review the 2027 Ram Heavy Duty towing capacity guide alongside the loading label. Manufacturer towing and payload maximums are separate ratings, not simultaneous allowances.
For engine specifications and a broader comparison, visit our 2027 Ram Heavy Duty towing and payload overview .
2027 Ram Heavy Duty Payload Questions
Can every 2027 Ram 3500 carry 7,580 pounds?
No. That figure applies to the specific properly equipped HEMI DRW 4x2 Regular Cab configuration described above. Use the loading label on the truck you select.
Does fifth-wheel pin weight count toward payload?
Yes. Weight transferred to the truck through the hitch uses payload alongside occupants, cargo and added equipment.
Do passengers count toward payload?
Yes. The driver and every passenger count toward the combined occupant-and-cargo limit.
Do a toolbox and camper shell reduce available capacity?
Equipment added after manufacture uses part of the capacity otherwise available for occupants and cargo. Include its weight in your load calculation.
Can suspension equipment increase the truck’s rated capacity?
Do not treat added equipment as permission to exceed manufacturer ratings. Added equipment also has weight that must be accounted for.
Where do I find the limit for a truck in inventory?
Check its Tire and Loading Information label for the combined occupant-and-cargo limit and its certification label for GVWR and axle ratings. Send our team the stock number or VIN if you would like help reviewing its configuration and equipment.
Find a Ram Heavy Duty Truck for Your Load
Tell us what you plan to carry, how many people typically ride with you and whether you will tow a trailer. Include a truck stock number or VIN if available. Our San Leandro CDJR team can help you compare configurations and review vehicle loading information.
Source: Ram, “2027 Ram Heavy Duty Payload & Towing — Weight Capacities,” ©2026 FCA US LLC. All ratings are for properly equipped configurations. Source weights are in pounds and rounded to the nearest 10 pounds.
Maximum trailer weight and maximum payload ratings are mutually exclusive; they are not simultaneous allowances. Never exceed GVWR, GCWR, either axle’s GAWR, the vehicle’s loading limit or any tire, hitch or component rating. The guide lists maximum Class V receiver tongue weight of 2,000 pounds for Ram 2500 and 2,300 pounds for Ram 3500. It requires a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch for Ram 2500 trailers over 20,000 pounds and Ram 3500 trailers over 23,000 pounds.
Trailer ratings follow SAE J2807 with source calculation allowances of 300 pounds for passengers, 100 pounds for options and trailering equipment weights of 75 pounds for conventional, 40 pounds for gooseneck or 250 pounds for fifth-wheel equipment. Account for your actual load and equipment. Verify the exact truck’s labels, owner’s manual and applicable Ram configuration data before loading or towing. Specifications may change.