Ram 3500 6.4 HEMI Weight By Cab And Drivetrain
The 6.4L HEMI V8 Ram 3500 has a curb weight that ranges from roughly 6,072 pounds in Regular Cab form up to over 8,600 pounds in Mega Cab configurations, according to Ram’s own 2026 model FAQ. That is a wide spread, and cab style, drivetrain, and trim level all move the number significantly.
Curb weight matters because it directly determines your available payload and how much room you have before hitting your Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, or GVWR, the maximum weight Ram allows the fully loaded truck to reach. Here is exactly how that weight breaks down by configuration, and how it stacks up against the 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel option.
| Configuration | Curb Weight | GVWR | Max Payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Cab 4×2 SRW | 6,072–6,500 lbs | 10,000–11,400 lbs | Up to 7,590 lbs |
| Crew Cab 4×2 SRW | 6,400–6,570 lbs | 11,400–14,000 lbs | Up to 7,590 lbs |
| Crew Cab 4×4 SRW | 6,570–6,920 lbs | 11,400–14,000 lbs | 7,080–7,430 lbs |
| Mega Cab 4×4 | 8,000–8,600+ lbs | 14,000 lbs | Reduced vs base |
Ram 3500 6.4 HEMI Curb Weight By Cab And Drivetrain
Curb weight on the 6.4L HEMI 3500 shifts noticeably by cab and drivetrain. The lightest configurations are Regular Cab 4×2 models, while the heaviest are Mega Cab 4×4 trucks loaded with options.
| Configuration | Approximate Curb Weight | Typical GVWR | Max Payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Cab 4×2 SRW | 6,072 to 6,500 lbs | 10,000 to 11,400 lbs | Up to 7,590 lbs |
| Crew Cab 4×2 SRW | 6,400 to 6,570 lbs | 11,400 to 14,000 lbs | Up to 7,590 lbs |
| Crew Cab 4×4 SRW | 6,570 to 6,920 lbs | 11,400 to 14,000 lbs | Roughly 7,080 to 7,430 lbs |
| Mega Cab 4×4 | 8,000 to over 8,600 lbs | 14,000 lbs | Reduced due to higher base weight |
These figures come from Ram’s official curb weight range for the 2026 Ram 3500 and confirmed Crew Cab curb weight data of 6,399 to 6,920 pounds reported by Kelley Blue Book across current HEMI-equipped trims. The exact number for any individual truck depends on axle ratio, rear axle GAWR, and installed options, so the official Ram towing capacity charts by configuration are the best source for a specific model year and build.
Trim level adds another layer on top of these base numbers.
How Trim Level Changes 6.4 HEMI 3500 Weight
Work-focused trims weigh less than luxury trims on the same cab and drivetrain. Kelley Blue Book data on the current Ram 3500 Crew Cab shows Tradesman, Big Horn, Laramie, and Limited trims all landing near 6,920 pounds in one specific 4×4 configuration, but that figure climbs on trucks loaded with additional equipment.
Options that add curb weight include:
- Sound deadening and additional interior insulation on Laramie and above
- Auto-Level Rear Air Suspension
- RamBox cargo management system
- 4×4 transfer case and front differential hardware
- Larger fuel tanks on Crew Cab long bed configurations
A stripped Tradesman work truck will always carry more usable payload than a loaded Limited on the identical cab and drivetrain, because every added feature eats directly into the GVWR headroom.
Trim aside, the biggest weight factor is which engine sits under the hood.
6.4 HEMI Vs 6.7 Cummins Weight And Payload Tradeoff
| Configuration | Curb Weight | Typical GVWR | Max Payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Cab 4×2 SRW | 6,072 to 6,500 lbs | 10,000 to 11,400 lbs | Up to 7,590 lbs |
| Crew Cab 4×2 SRW | 6,400 to 6,570 lbs | 11,400 to 14,000 lbs | Up to 7,590 lbs |
| Crew Cab 4×4 SRW | 6,570 to 6,920 lbs | 11,400 to 14,000 lbs | 7,080 to 7,430 lbs |
| Mega Cab 4×4 | 8,000 to 8,600+ lbs | 14,000 lbs | Reduced due to base weight |
The HEMI’s biggest advantage over the Cummins is not power. It is weight. The 6.4L HEMI V8 has a dry engine weight of approximately 500 pounds, a figure confirmed by an owner who weighed a complete engine on a certified digital scale before shipping it and got 500.6 pounds. The 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel, by comparison, is estimated by owners at around 1,050 pounds dry, a roughly 550 pound gap that shows up directly in payload numbers.
| Engine | Approximate Dry Weight | Max Payload | Max Towing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.4L HEMI V8 | About 500 lbs | Up to 7,590 lbs | Up to 18,210 lbs |
| 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel | About 1,050 lbs (owner estimate) | Lower than HEMI on matching configs | Up to 36,610 lbs |
Ram’s official 2026 engine performance data confirms the 6.4L HEMI’s maximum payload of 7,590 pounds and maximum towing of 18,210 pounds, while the High-Output 6.7L Cummins trades payload for towing capacity. A 2016 Ram 3500 short bed Cummins Longhorn SRW 4×4 owner posted a CAT scale ticket showing an empty truck weighing 8,000 pounds total, against an 11,700 pound GVWR and a 3,700 pound payload sticker, illustrating how much of the diesel’s GVWR gets consumed by the engine and drivetrain alone.
The 6.4L HEMI trades outright towing muscle for hauling capacity. If you carry heavy cargo more often than you tow near-max trailers, that weight difference works in your favor. For engine-specific torque, horsepower, and cooling specs, see the full Ram 2500 6.4 HEMI specs breakdown, which covers the same engine platform shared across the 2500 and 3500.
That weight difference also determines how close you will run to GVWR.
GVWR And Payload Math For The 6.4 HEMI 3500
Payload is calculated with a simple formula: Payload equals GVWR minus curb weight. If your 6.4L HEMI Crew Cab 4×4 has a GVWR of 14,000 pounds and a curb weight of 6,690 pounds, your factory-rated payload is roughly 7,310 pounds.
That number is not what you actually have available on a loaded truck. Passengers, a full fuel tank, tools, and any installed accessories all subtract from that figure before you add a single pound of cargo or trailer tongue weight. A crew of four at 200 pounds each and a full 50-gallon fuel tank can remove close to 1,100 pounds from your usable payload before you load anything else.
Gross Combined Weight Rating, or GCWR, works the same way for towing. It caps the combined weight of your loaded truck plus your loaded trailer, so payload and towing calculations need to be run together, not separately. For a full payload reference across the Ram lineup, the Ram payload capacity chart breaks down these numbers by model and year.
Here is how that plays out with real owner-reported numbers.
What Owners Report About Real World 6.4 HEMI 3500 Weight
Factory curb weight figures are measured on a base truck with no options and a specific fuel level, so real-world scale weights almost always run higher. Owners on RamForumZ have documented this gap directly. One 2016 Ram 3500 owner’s completely empty truck weighed within 5 pounds of the door jamb sticker on a CAT scale, while another owner’s loaded truck with a full tank and gear came in noticeably above the published curb weight once fuel, a driver, and cargo were added.
Scale-weight threads specific to the 6.4L HEMI 3500 are less common than 2500 threads on the same forums, since most 3500 buyers in these discussions lean toward the Cummins. Owners cross-shopping the HEMI 3500 consistently note that the gas engine’s lighter front end noticeably improves payload margin over an equivalent diesel build. If you are close to your GVWR, a trip across a CAT scale with your actual load is the only way to know your real number.
If you are speccing a new 3500, here is the short answer.
Should You Choose The 6.4 HEMI By Weight
The 6.4L HEMI V8 is roughly 550 pounds lighter than the 6.7L Cummins, and that weight savings translates directly into higher available payload on matching cab and drivetrain configurations. It makes the most sense for owners who haul heavy cargo, tools, or equipment more often than they tow near the truck’s maximum trailer rating, where the Cummins still has a clear advantage. Before you buy or load a specific 3500, check the Ram towing capacity chart by year for your exact model year, and confirm the door jamb sticker on the actual VIN, since axle ratio and options shift these numbers truck to truck.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Ram 3500 with the 6.4 HEMI weigh?
Curb weight ranges from about 6,072 pounds on a Regular Cab 4×2 up to over 8,600 pounds on a loaded Mega Cab 4×4. Crew Cab configurations typically fall between 6,400 and 6,920 pounds depending on drivetrain and trim.
Is the 6.4 HEMI lighter than the 6.7 Cummins?
Yes, the 6.4L HEMI engine weighs approximately 500 pounds dry compared to roughly 1,050 pounds for the Cummins. That difference gives HEMI-equipped trucks a payload advantage on comparable configurations.
Does a Crew Cab 3500 weigh more than a Regular Cab?
Yes, Crew Cab models weigh several hundred pounds more than Regular Cab trucks due to the extended frame, additional doors, and rear seating. A 4×4 Crew Cab typically adds another 300 to 500 pounds over a 4×2 version.
How do I find my exact Ram 3500 curb weight?
Check the door jamb sticker on your specific VIN, which lists curb weight, GVWR, and payload as built. For pre-purchase research, the Stellantis Body Builder weight and tow charts list figures by cab, drivetrain, and axle ratio.
Does the 6.4 HEMI give more payload than the diesel?
On matching cab and drivetrain configurations, yes. The HEMI’s lighter engine leaves more of the GVWR available for cargo, while the Cummins trades that payload margin for significantly higher towing capacity.
