Towing Titans: Testing the 2025 Ram Cummins Diesel Pickup Truck with 19,500 Pounds
Ram has significantly upgraded its Heavy Duty pickup truck line for 2025. These new Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks are designed to make hauling tens of thousands of pounds feel almost effortless. But what’s it really like putting these trucks to the test?
I set out to pull a variety of trailers, some weighing up to 19,500 pounds, along one of America’s most demanding grades. The experiences revealed the impressive capabilities of the Ram HD, and it’s clear why they’re a top choice in the heavy-duty truck market.
America’s truck manufacturers are constantly competing to claim “best-in-class” status, frequently accompanied by impressive figures. Modern pickup trucks are incredibly capable. For instance, a properly equipped Ford Super Duty F-350 can tow a gooseneck trailer weighing up to 40,000 pounds. Ram’s trucks are similarly impressive. A 2025 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty can handle a 36,610-pound gooseneck or a 23,000-pound conventional trailer. The Ram 2500 HD is also a strong contender, with a towing capacity up to 20,000 pounds.
Payload capacities are also noteworthy. A Ram 3500 with a gas engine can haul up to 7,660 pounds, while the diesel version can handle a respectable 6,050 pounds. The 2500 HD, equipped with a gas engine, can manage up to 3,970 pounds.
But all these numbers raise the question: what is this like in real life?
How The Sausage Is Made
(Full Disclosure: Ram invited me to Las Vegas, Nevada to put its new Heavy Duty lineup through an intensive 24-hour testing period. Ram covered travel, lodging, meals, and fuel.)
Truck manufacturers often boast about their maximum capacity numbers, but it’s crucial to remember that these figures apply only to very specific configurations. You can’t just hitch a 36,610-pound gooseneck to any random Ram 3500 HD off the lot and expect stellar results. Thankfully, manufacturers provide charts to clarify the capabilities of each configuration. While these charts can be complex, here’s how to determine if the Ram Heavy Duty you’re considering can safely tow your desired load:
As you can see, trucks with lighter gas engines are best for payload, while those with diesel engines and the correct rear axle ratios excel at towing. This should help you pick the best Heavy Duty truck for your specific needs.
During the event, Ram configured its trucks to reflect how most owners use them. Despite the impressive ratings, Ram estimates that many HD truck owners use only about 60% of their truck’s potential. These owners tow project cars, larger fifth-wheel campers, and heavy equipment. Others use them to transport landscaping materials or race cars to the track.
Ram credits much of its trucks’ capability to the engine and transmission pairing in the new 2025 Ram Heavy Duty. The ideal setup for most buyers is the 6.7-liter Cummins straight-six diesel. About 70% of Ram 2500 customers and nearly all 3500 customers opt for the diesel. The 6.7-liter Cummins may not have the iconic status of the 5.9, but it’s a legend in its own right.
Cummins 6.7 Diesel Engine Upgrades for 2025
Working closely with Cummins, the 6.7-liter High-Output inline-6-cylinder Turbo Diesel engine features several improvements in drivability, fuel economy, durability, startability, serviceability, and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH).
The 2025 Cummins 6.7 diesel offers:
- A remodeled block and head
- Robust heavy-duty pistons
- A new performance intake manifold
- A new turbo
- Larger intake/exhaust valves for improved port flow
- A higher-pressure fuel system
To make service easier the new Cummins engine uses:
- Improved intake port geometry for top feed injectors
- Top load lubrication
- Integrated fuel filters
To aid customers in very cold environments, Ram Heavy Duty trucks using the Cummins High-Output Turbo Diesel use glow plugs. Noise, vibration, and harshness were reduced utilizing helical transmission gears.
The new 2025 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty integrates the TorqueFlite HD eight-speed automatic transmission, which offers a lower cruise engine rpm and improved performance on graded roads.
This new fuel system includes a fuel pump that helps diesel fire into the cylinders at 30,000 PSI. This new TorqueFlite replaces the previous AISIN AS69RC six-speed and the Chrysler 68 RFE. The HD 8 transmission has a relatively tall 3.42 rear axle ratio for better fuel economy and a relatively short 4.89 ratio first gear to help with starts while loaded. When the truck is unloaded, it starts in second gear.
The Davis Dam Test
Ram wanted to demonstrate its capabilities by taking us to the infamous Davis Dam grade. Automakers have long made bold claims about their trucks’ towing abilities. While vehicles might perform well on flat surfaces, some trucks in the past struggled on long grades.
The SAE J2807 standard, implemented for all tow vehicles from 2013 onward, guarantees that if a manufacturer claims a truck can pull 36,000 pounds, it can do so up a mountain in high temperatures. The Davis Dam test requires a truck to climb Arizona State Route 68 between Bullhead City and Golden Valley. It’s an 11.4-mile run with a 6 percent grade, rising 3,500 feet. The test requires outside temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, with the truck’s air conditioning on full blast. Minimums for this test include a single-rear-wheel truck hauling up the grade at 40 mph or better, while dual-rear-wheel trucks need to do 35 mph or faster. If you’re driving a new heavy-duty pickup from any brand, you can expect to haul some serious loads up Davis Dam with the AC blasting. That’s the whole point of SAE J2807.
First Test: The Ram 2500 Laramie and a Dodge Ram SRT-10
I began by testing the most common configuration: a 2025 Ram 2500 Laramie, which is the most popular model Ram sells. The new Ram HD grille looks great, and the body-color grille surround gives the Ram 2500 a handsome appearance.
Hooked up to the Laramie was a Dodge Ram SRT-10 from the Stellantis historic fleet. The odometer showed just 17,000 miles, and it was still on its original tires. The combination of truck and trailer totaled around 8,000 pounds. A Ram 2500 HD can tow up to 20,000 pounds, so this setup was well within its capabilities.
During the drive, the truck accelerated with impressive gusto, and the already comfortable Ram ride was further improved with the trailer’s weight. I drove through the casino-filled area of Laughlin with complete confidence and the same confidence continued through the duration of the Davis Dam grade.
While it’s a cliché to say a truck tows a trailer “like it’s not even there,” you always feel the trailer. But the Ram 2500 comes the closest to making that claim accurate. The Ram 2500 Cummins handled the weight easily, climbing the 6% grade like a casual Sunday drive. There was ample power available, and you’d be wise to carefully secure your load. The Davis Dam run also provided a chance to evaluate how the trucks manage the downgrade. The Ram 2500 features an exhaust brake, which closes the engine exhaust route and uses pressure to slow the engine. This system allows you to either leave the exhaust brake on or set it to automatic mode. The automatic mode works as a sort of cruise control, regulating speed with the exhaust brake.
I was impressed by the 2500’s performance. The Ram 2500 pulled the heavier pickup truck with remarkable finesse. The Davis Dam grade was easy. The towing experience with the SRT-10 was confidence inspiring.
Fifth Wheel Camper Test: The Ram 3500 and Coachmen Brookstone
My next assessment involved an incredibly common setup: an HD truck towing a fifth-wheel camper. Ram’s selection for this was a 2025 Ram 3500 pulling a Coachmen Brookstone 318RLL. This fifth wheel, weighs 13,153 pounds unloaded, at the event it may have weighed 13,500.
This configuration, combined weight, would exceed the legal limit in some states. Towing a fifth wheel is a substantial undertaking, requiring additional care and attention due to its size and reduced maneuverability.
The 2025 Ram 3500 handled the camper with ease. The steering was accurate, and I never felt like I needed to make significant corrections to stay in the lane. The truck remained a responsive performer, even with the camper attached. The Cummins engine’s torque feels immense, and doing the 50 mph to 65 mph speed on the grade was effortless. Even with the camper, there was more than enough power to pass vehicles in the left lane. The crosswind stability was impressive, making it easy to keep the truck and trailer on track. The exhaust brake, in automatic mode, managed the downhill speed effectively.
The Ultimate Test: Towing 19,500 Pounds with a Ram 3500 Limited
Perhaps the test’s highlight involved towing a Case L630 tractor on a Liberty trailer with a 2025 Ram 3500 Limited. Ram’s estimate for the total weight of this setup was approximately 19,500 pounds. This tractor and trailer were selected based on feedback from Ram owners. The total weight, including the truck, pushed the combination close to the 26,000-pound weight limit for a standard driver’s license in Nevada.
Towing the tractor definitely demanded more from the truck than the other setups, although given the weight, that wasn’t unexpected. All the advice pertaining to towing a large fifth-wheel camper only becomes more critical when towing a tractor too. Pay extra care to your surroundings, taking time, and driving more slowly.
The Davis Dam run revealed how the transmission selected the right gear to maintain 2,500 RPM. The truck’s vitals did not seem affected. The downhill section was especially remarkable, with the exhaust brake managing the weight effectively.
Pricing and Conclusion
The 2025 Ram HD lineup pricing:
- Ram 2500 Tradesman 4×2 Regular Cab with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 gas engine: starting at $45,565.
- 2025 Ram 2500 Tradesman with Crew Cab, the 6.7 Cummins and a 6’4″ box: starting at $62,775.
- A well-equipped 2025 Ram 2500 Laramie: around $85,000.
- Ram 3500 Limited 4×4: about $102,000.
Big trucks are expensive. Yet the comfort and capability you get cannot be matched with a stock truck from over two decades ago. If you need a truck for hauling larger loads, you won’t be disappointed.
