Which 2025 Ram Trucks Can Handle Fifth-Wheel Towing?

Fifth-wheel towing requires serious capability that goes beyond what most vehicles can handle. Ram's 2025 truck lineup includes models specifically designed for this demanding type of trailering, but choosing the right truck depends on understanding your trailer's weight requirements and each model's unique capabilities. The key to successful fifth-wheel towing lies in matching your truck's capacity to your trailer's loaded weight, while ensuring you have the proper equipment and configuration for safe, confident hauling.

Most fifth-wheel RVs weigh between 5,443 kg and 9,072 kg (12,000 and 20,000 lbs) when fully loaded, so you need a truck with substantial towing power and the correct hitch setup. Ram's 2025 lineup offers three distinct approaches to fifth-wheel towing, each designed for different weight categories and user needs.

Ram 1500: Limited Fifth-Wheel Applications

The 2025 Ram 1500 presents a challenging scenario for fifth-wheel towing. While technically capable of pulling a fifth-wheel trailer, most full-size fifth-wheel RVs exceed the Ram 1500's maximum trailer rating. The most capable Ram 1500 configuration offers up to 5,253 kg (11,580 lbs) of conventional towing capacity with the 3.0-litre Hurricane High Output engine, which produces 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque.

However, this capacity applies only to conventional towing. Fifth-wheel trailers typically exceed half-ton truck capabilities, and payload capacity further limits real-world fifth-wheel towing when you factor in trailer pin weight plus cargo. For drivers considering fifth-wheel towing, Ram recommends moving to the Heavy Duty lineup for proper capability and safety margins.

Available Ram 1500 Engines:

• 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 eTorque (305 hp, 269 lb-ft)
• 3.0-litre Hurricane (420 hp, 469 lb-ft)
• 3.0-litre Hurricane High Output (540 hp, 521 lb-ft)

Ram 2500 Heavy Duty: Built for Fifth-Wheel Work

The 2025 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty represents a significant step up in fifth-wheel towing capability. This truck comes standard with either the 6.4-litre HEMI V8 producing 405 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque, or the available 6.7-litre Cummins High-Output Turbo Diesel producing 430 horsepower and 1,075 lb-ft of torque.

Ram 2500 Fifth-Wheel Towing Capacities (lbs):

The new Cummins diesel engine and TorqueFlite HD eight-speed transmission combination enables maximum towing capacity up to 20,000 lbs in fifth-wheel configuration. This system recognizes whether the truck is loaded or unloaded and allows for smooth second-gear starts when unladen, making it ideal for heavy fifth-wheel applications.

The Fifth-wheel/Gooseneck Prep Group is available as an option or part of a package on most Ram 2500 models, providing:

• Bed-mounted seven-pin connector
• Mounting holes for fifth-wheel hitch and gooseneck ball
• Mounting hole covers

Ram 3500 Heavy Duty: Maximum Fifth-Wheel Capability

The 2025 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty provides the ultimate towing solution for the heaviest fifth-wheel trailers. It shares the same engine options as the 2500 but offers even greater capability, with maximum fifth-wheel towing ratings up to 36,610 lbs.

Ram 3500 Fifth-Wheel Towing Capacities (lbs):

The Ram 3500 has single rear wheel (SRW) and dual rear wheel (DRW) configurations. The DRW models provide additional stability and maximum towing capacity, making them ideal for the largest fifth-wheel RVs on the market.

The Dual Rear Wheel Group includes:

• Rear wheelhouse liners
• Cab-mounted, box and rear fender LED clearance lamps

Fifth-Wheel Towing Technology Features

Ram Heavy Duty trucks equipped for fifth-wheel towing include several important features designed specifically for this application. The available Tow Technology Group provides:

• Surround view camera with trailer reverse guidance
• Cargo View Camera with dynamic grid lines
• Trailer reverse guidance
• Trailer-tow mirror with trailer spot lamp
• Blind-spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Path detection
• Premium LED taillights

Advanced Towing Features:

• Trailer reverse steering control located below the touchscreen
• Trailer-Tow Pages for comprehensive trailer monitoring
• Trailer Light Check-out functionality
• Available trailer tire pressure monitoring
• Trailer Brake Status monitoring
• Auxiliary camera shortcuts

The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster shows nearly two dozen menus, including driver-assist technologies and towing-specific information displays.

Choosing the Right Configuration

When selecting a Ram truck for fifth-wheel towing, consider your current trailer weight and any future upgrades you might make. The fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15% to 25% of the total loaded trailer weight, and this weight cannot exceed your truck's payload capacity.

Key Considerations:

• Trailer loaded weight vs. truck towing capacity
• Kingpin weight vs. truck payload capacity
• Truck bed length for proper turning clearance
• 2WD vs. 4WD impact on capacity
• Engine choice based on towing frequency

Adding trailer kingpin weight affects your truck's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), so calculate your total loaded weight, including passengers, cargo, and the fifth-wheel's pin weight.

Making Your Fifth-Wheel Decision

From the Ram 1500's limited capability for smaller fifth-wheel applications to the Ram 3500 Heavy Duty's ability to handle the largest RVs on the road, Ram offers trucks designed for virtually any fifth-wheel towing need. The Heavy Duty lineup with the 6.7-litre Cummins diesel engine provides the torque and capability needed for confident fifth-wheel towing, while advanced technologies make the experience safer and more convenient.

Schedule a consultation at Cooksville Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram in Mississauga to explore which Ram Heavy Duty configuration works best for your fifth-wheel setup.