1994-1998 Dodge 5.9L Cummins Bumper Hitches

Bumper-pull towing on the 1994-1998 Dodge Ram 5.9L Cummins

The documented bumper-pull tow tests on a second-gen 12-valve all ran a Class V receiver rated to 12,000 lb. That is the receiver's rating, not the truck's. We do not quote factory tow ratings for these trucks, so read the label in your door jamb and the stamp on the receiver, ball mount and ball, and stay under the lowest number. Plan on a trailer brake controller as well; in testing it needed adjusting between loads.

How the pieces fit together

The receiver bolts to the truck and gives you a square opening, 2-inch or 2.5-inch on the receivers here. The ball mount slides into that opening and sets the ball height, so its shank has to match the receiver; 3-inch shanks are for 3-inch receivers. Adjustable mounts like the B&W Tow & Stow let you change the drop between trailers. A pintle-style mount suits trailers with a lunette ring. A weight distribution hitch spreads tongue weight across the truck's axles on long bumper-pull trailers.

What we carry

• Big Hitch Products receivers built for 1994-2002 5.9L Cummins Rams: a 2.5-inch stock-bumper receiver, a 2.5-inch below-roll-pan receiver, and hidden behind-roll-pan receivers in 2-inch and 2.5-inch. Big Hitch also has adjustable pulling hitches in 2-inch and 2.5-inch.
• B&W Trailer Hitches Tow & Stow adjustable ball mounts with standard, MultiPro/MultiFlex and pintle heads, in 2-, 2.5- and 3-inch shanks with drops from 2.5 to 9 inches.
• B&W triple tow ball mount, heavy-duty ball mounts and a weight distribution hitch.

Browse the full hitches collection for more towing hardware.

Fitment notes

Pick the receiver by what is on the back of your truck: the stock bumper, or a roll pan in its place. Pick the ball mount by shank size first, then by drop. To find drop, measure from the ground to the top of the receiver opening and from the ground to the bottom of the trailer coupler with the trailer level; the difference is roughly the drop you need. Hitch fitment on these trucks can also change with bed length and single rear wheel versus dually, so read the listing. A 1998 can be a 12-valve or a 24-valve truck, so verify by VIN when in doubt.

Frequently asked questions

Which receiver fits a 12-valve Ram with a roll pan instead of a bumper?

Big Hitch Products makes roll-pan versions for 1994-2002 5.9L Cummins Rams: a 2.5-inch receiver that mounts below the roll pan, and hidden receivers that sit behind it in 2-inch or 2.5-inch. If your truck still has the factory bumper, the stock-bumper 2.5-inch receiver is the one to look at.

How much can a 1994-1998 Ram pull with a bumper hitch?

We do not quote a factory number for these trucks. What is documented is that second-gen 12-valve bumper-pull testing used a Class V receiver rated to 12,000 lb. Your limit is the lowest of the truck's label, the receiver, the ball mount and the ball.

Do I need a weight distribution hitch?

It depends on the trailer. A weight distribution hitch spreads tongue weight across both axles of the truck, which helps on longer, heavier bumper-pull trailers. Check the trailer maker's and hitch maker's guidance; the B&W weight distribution hitch is in this collection if you need one.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.