2016 Ram 3500 Towing Capacity Chart by Engine Guide 2026

The 2016 Ram 3500’s official 31,210-pound towing rating gets repeated everywhere online, but it only applies to one exact build. That truck is a Regular Cab, 4×2, dual rear wheel model with the High-Output 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel, the Aisin AS69RC automatic transmission, and a 4.10 axle ratio.

Step outside that combination and the number drops fast. A Crew Cab or Mega Cab loses capacity to extra weight. A single rear wheel truck is locked to a 3.42 axle and can’t reach the top ratings at all. Even the standard 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel, without the High-Output upgrade, tops out thousands of pounds lower.

This chart breaks down every 2016 Ram 3500 configuration that affects towing capacity, pulled directly from Ram’s official SAE J2807 compliant towing guide, so you can find the number that actually applies to your truck.

Towing above your truck’s actual GCWR is not just a paperwork issue. It pushes braking distance, transmission temperature, and frame stress past what the truck was engineered for, and it can affect insurance coverage after an accident. Knowing your real number matters more than knowing the headline number.

2016 Ram 3500 Towing Capacity by Engine

Three engines were available in the 2016 Ram 3500 pickup: the 5.7L HEMI V8, the 6.4L HEMI V8, and the 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel. The Cummins came in two distinct versions, a standard-output variant and a High-Output variant built only for the 3500, and the difference between them matters more than most listings explain.

*7,390 lbs payload applies to Tradesman and ST trim only. Other trims at this configuration are rated for 7,290 lbs.

The 5.7L HEMI V8 makes 383 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, and it is the lightest option and the easiest on fuel, but it caps out well below half of what the High-Output Cummins can pull. The 6.4L HEMI V8 makes 410 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque, splits the towing difference between the 5.7L and the Cummins, and actually posts the highest payload rating of any 2016 Ram 3500 engine, since it weighs less than the diesel.

Both HEMI engines pair with the same 66RFE six-speed automatic transmission across every cab and drivetrain combination. Neither gas engine offers a manual transmission option, unlike the standard Cummins.

According to Ram’s official 2016 towing guide, every figure above is certified to the SAE J2807 standard. If you’re comparing this model year against others, the Ram 3500 towing capacity charts covers every model year side by side.

Why SRW and DRW Change 2016 Ram 3500 Towing

Every 2016 Ram 3500 ships with one of two rear axle setups: single rear wheel (SRW) or dual rear wheel (DRW). SRW trucks have one wheel on each side of the rear axle, the same as a Ram 1500 or 2500. DRW trucks, often called “dually” trucks, run two wheels on each side, widening the rear track and adding load-bearing capacity. This choice does more than change how the truck looks from behind.

SRW trucks are limited to a 3.42 axle ratio across every engine. DRW trucks can be ordered with a 3.42, 3.73, or 4.10 axle, and each step up unlocks meaningfully more GCWR, the Gross Combined Weight Rating that caps how much truck plus trailer the vehicle can legally pull.

A Regular Cab SRW truck with the High-Output Cummins maxes out at 17,770 pounds of towing. The same engine in a DRW truck with the 4.10 axle reaches 31,210 pounds. Wheel count, not engine choice alone, is what unlocks the biggest numbers.

How Axle Ratio Affects 2016 Ram 3500 Max Trailer Weight

Axle ratio only matters once a truck is DRW, since SRW models are locked to 3.42 regardless of engine. For a Regular Cab, 4×2 DRW truck with the High-Output 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel, here’s exactly what each axle ratio is worth:

Moving from 3.42 to 4.10 adds nearly 10,000 pounds of capacity on the same truck with the same engine. The tradeoff is highway RPM and fuel economy, since a 4.10 axle spins the engine faster at a given road speed than a 3.42. This same axle-ratio pattern shows up across Ram’s towing capacity chart by year, not just on the 3500.

Axle ratio is set at the factory and listed on the build sheet, not something most owners change after purchase. Owners who have swapped ring and pinion gears to move from a 3.42 to a 4.10 report parts and labor costs in the $5,000 range, since the front axle, transmission cooler, and driveline components all need to match the new ratio to stay within warranty and safety limits.

These ratings are calculated under the SAE J2807 towing standard, which standardizes how manufacturers test and report GCWR and trailer weight ratings across brands.

Standard vs High Output 6.7 Cummins Towing Capacity

Not every 2016 Ram 3500 Cummins is the same engine. The standard 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel pairs with either a six-speed manual (G56) or the 68RFE six-speed automatic, and produces up to 370 horsepower and 800 lb-ft of torque with the automatic. The High-Output version is exclusive to the 3500, pairs only with the Aisin AS69RC six-speed automatic, and produces 385 horsepower and 900 lb-ft of torque.

The transmission name is the easiest way to tell them apart. If a 2016 Ram 3500 does not have the AS69RC transmission, it is not the High-Output Cummins, and it cannot reach the 31,210-pound rating no matter the axle ratio. The High-Output engine was a new addition for the 2016 model year and was marketed at the time as the segment’s first 900 lb-ft pickup engine, which is why so many secondhand listings still lead with that torque figure without clarifying the transmission requirement.

The standard Cummins with the 68RFE automatic still pulls a respectable 22,550 pounds in a Regular Cab DRW truck with the 4.10 axle. That’s nearly 8,700 pounds less than the High-Output version in the identical configuration, according to Ram’s 2016 Heavy Duty press materials.

2016 Ram 3500 GCWR and Tow Rating by Cab Style

Cab style adds weight, and weight eats directly into GCWR. Holding the engine, drivetrain, and axle ratio constant at High-Output Cummins, 4×2 DRW, and a 4.10 axle, here’s how the three available cab styles compare:

Bed length matters here too. Crew Cab Short Box trucks were only available with SRW rear axles that year, topping out around 17,350 pounds with the High-Output Cummins. Buyers who wanted the Crew Cab body style with DRW and the highest tow ratings needed the Long Box, which is the configuration shown in the table above.

The gap between Regular Cab and Mega Cab is roughly 800 pounds, small compared to the swings from engine or axle changes, but real once a trailer is close to the rated maximum. Later model years shifted these numbers slightly. The 2018 Ram 3500 towing capacity chart shows how the lineup changed two years later.

2016 Ram 3500 Payload Capacity by Configuration

Payload and towing capacity draw from the same GVWR and GCWR pool, so a truck built to tow more often carries slightly less in the bed. As an example, a Regular Cab 4×2 DRW with the High-Output Cummins has a 14,000 lb GVWR and a 7,423 lb base curb weight, which is where the 6,580 lb payload figure in the engine table comes from: 14,000 minus 7,423, rounded to the nearest 10 lbs.

The 6.4L HEMI V8 actually posts the highest payload of any 2016 Ram 3500 engine, up to 7,390 pounds in a Regular Cab DRW Tradesman or ST trim, because it weighs less than the diesel.

Switching from DRW to SRW trades payload differently than it trades towing capacity. A Regular Cab SRW truck with the High-Output Cummins carries up to 4,040 pounds, while the same engine in a DRW truck jumps to 6,580 pounds.

Trucks that consistently run near their payload limit, especially with a camper or tool body, often benefit from added rear support. The best air bag suspension kits for a Ram 3500 help manage squat under heavy bed loads without changing the factory payload rating.

How to Find Your Exact 2016 Ram 3500 Tow Rating

1. Open the driver’s door and check the yellow certification sticker on the door jamb. It lists GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), front and rear GAWR, and the truck’s certified curb weight.
2. Subtract the curb weight from the GVWR to get your actual payload. This reflects your specific truck’s options, not just the chart average.
3. Match your engine, drivetrain, and axle ratio to the chart above to find your GCWR.
4. Subtract your truck’s actual weight, loaded with passengers and cargo, from the GCWR to get your real available towing capacity.
5. Confirm your axle ratio using the build sheet or RPO codes if it isn’t listed on the door sticker itself.

Real World 2016 Ram 3500 Towing Reports from Owners

Forum reports from 2016 Ram 3500 owners line up closely with the official chart. One owner with a Mega Cab 4×4 Cummins SRW and the 3.42 axle reported a payload rating around 4,020 pounds and a towing figure in the 15,500 to 17,000 pound range, consistent with the official Crew Cab and Mega Cab SRW numbers above.

Other SRW 3500 owners towing fifth wheel trailers in the 15,000 to 20,000 pound range say they stay within both payload and rear axle limits by watching pin weight closely, rather than relying on the GCWR figure alone.

A separate owner thread about a DRW 3500 with the 3.42 axle and the standard 68RFE Cummins noted a real towing figure just north of 17,000 pounds, close to the chart’s 17,550-pound rating for that exact build, and pointed out that few owners tow with a completely full water and waste tank, which leaves a practical safety margin below the official maximum even when towing near the rated limit.

Matching Your 2016 Ram 3500 Build to Your Towing Needs

The 31,210-pound number is real, but it belongs to one specific 2016 Ram 3500 build: Regular Cab, 4×2, dual rear wheel, High-Output 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel, and a 4.10 axle. Most 3500s on the road, especially Crew Cab and Mega Cab family trucks, are built differently and tow meaningfully less.

Check your door jamb sticker, match your engine and axle ratio to the chart above, and you’ll know your truck’s real 2016 Ram 3500 towing capacity instead of the marketing headline. That number, not the best-case figure, is the one that should guide what trailer you buy.

2016 Ram 3500 Towing Capacity FAQ

What is the maximum towing capacity of a 2016 Ram 3500?

The maximum is 31,210 pounds, achieved only with a Regular Cab, 4×2, dual rear wheel truck running the High-Output 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel and a 4.10 axle ratio. Other configurations tow significantly less.

Does a 2016 Ram 3500 SRW tow as much as a DRW?

No. SRW trucks are locked to a 3.42 axle ratio and top out around 17,770 to 17,910 pounds with the Cummins. DRW trucks can reach over 30,000 pounds with the right axle and engine.

What is the difference between the standard and High-Output 6.7L Cummins?

The standard Cummins pairs with a manual or the 68RFE automatic and makes up to 800 lb-ft of torque. The High-Output version uses the Aisin AS69RC automatic exclusively and makes 900 lb-ft, which unlocks the highest tow ratings.

Which axle ratio gives the 2016 Ram 3500 the most towing capacity?

The 4.10 axle ratio, available only on DRW trucks, provides the highest GCWR and max trailer weight rating across every engine offered that year.

How do I find the exact towing rating for my specific 2016 Ram 3500?

Check the door jamb sticker for your GVWR and curb weight, then match your engine, drivetrain, and axle ratio to the official chart. Subtract your truck’s actual weight from GCWR for your real number.