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Call or Text (352) 722-5295Towing with the 2014-2017 Ram 1500 3.0L EcoDiesel
Ram's 2016 and 2017 towing charts tell the story. A 2016 Crew Cab 5'7" 4x2 with the 3.55 axle is rated for 7,870 lb of trailer with 1,540 lb of payload; the same truck with 3.92 gears moves to a 14,750 lb GCWR and 8,870 lb of trailer. Go to 4x4 and that Crew Cab drops to 1,330 lb of payload and 8,610 lb of trailer with 3.92s. The 2017 rows are essentially unchanged, topping out at 9,210 lb for a Regular Cab 8' 4x2 with 3.92s, with the Quad Cab HFE at 7,920 lb. The receiver behind those numbers is a Class IV unit, standard on Tradesman and Laramie and rated for 1,100 lb of tongue weight. Ram recommends 10 percent tongue weight and a weight-distributing hitch over 5,000 lb, and it treats payload and trailer rating as mutually exclusive: the more you load into the cab and bed, the less trailer you can pull.
What towing does to this truck
Heat is the big one. Towing and hauling loads are when the EcoDiesel's oil-cooler cross-contamination is at its worst, and owners report the 8HP70's thermal bypass valve letting transmission temperature climb into limp mode on a tow. Keep an eye on oil, coolant and trans temperatures when you're loaded. The other common complaint is rear sag. Owners of coil-spring trucks report squat, headlights aimed high and trailer sway once tongue weight goes on, and that's the usual reason they add helper air springs. Trucks with factory air suspension level themselves, but their air-ride compressors are a documented failure item of their own.
Factory hitch vs. upgrades
If your truck came with the Class IV receiver, the receiver is the rated piece. What you choose is the ball mount and ball and, above 5,000 lb, a weight-distribution hitch. Trucks that didn't get a receiver or the integrated trailer brake controller can add factory-style versions, and 7-pin wiring is standard with the tow package. For sag on coil-spring trucks, Air Lift's LoadLifter 5000 rear kit (57365) fits 2009-2018 Ram 1500s with up to 5,000 lb of leveling capacity, and Air Lift's 88365 pairs it with a WirelessONE compressor. Leveling is not extra rating, though. Your limits still come from the chart.
What we carry
- B&W Trailer Hitches: Tow & Stow adjustable ball mounts with 2-, 2.5- and 3-inch shanks in Standard, Pintle and MultiPro/MultiFlex versions, the triple tow ball mount, heavy duty ball mounts, hitch balls, reducer sleeves and the WDHK4500 weight distribution hitch.
- Big Hitch Products: BHP2000 and BHP2001 adjustable pulling hitches in 2-inch and 2.5-inch sizes.
- Air Lift: WirelessONE and WirelessAIR compressor systems and tanks, the Single Load Controller II and Heavy Duty Dual Load Controller, a replacement on-board compressor, and 2- and 4-inch air spring spacers.
Hitches for other trucks are in our main hitches collection.
Fitment notes
Everything here is listed for the Ram 1500 with the 3.0L EcoDiesel V6. Helper air springs do not fit trucks with factory four-corner air suspension, which is standard on the Limited from 2016 and optional on other trims. Ball mount shanks have to match your receiver opening, so measure before you order. Ratings also change with cab, bed, drive and axle ratio: in the 2016 chart a Crew Cab 6'4" 4x4 with 3.92s is rated 8,340 lb, 530 lb less than a Crew Cab 5'7" 4x2 with the same gears. Go by the chart row for your truck, and verify by VIN if you're in doubt.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a 2014-2017 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel tow?
The top figure is 9,210 lb, which Ram's 2017 chart gives a Regular Cab 8' 4x2 with 3.92 gears; FCA's 2014 launch claim was 9,200 lb. Crew cabs land lower, roughly 7,600 to 8,900 lb depending on box, drive and axle. Use the chart row for your exact truck.
When do I need a weight-distribution hitch?
Ram recommends one for trailers over 5,000 lb, with tongue weight around 10 percent of the trailer and never more than 1,100 lb on the Class IV receiver. On a half-ton with this payload, that tongue weight is a big share of what the truck can carry. B&W's WDHK4500 is in this collection.
Will Air Lift helper springs fit my truck?
They are for coil-spring Ram 1500s and do not fit trucks with factory four-corner air suspension. The LoadLifter 5000 rear kit requires drilling, and lifted trucks may need spacers. Air Lift's 2- and 4-inch air spring spacers are here; confirm the spacer against your kit on the product page.
What should I watch on the gauges when I tow?
Oil, coolant and transmission temperature. Towing heat is the trigger for this engine's oil-cooler cross-contamination, and owners report the 8HP70 can run hot enough to go into limp mode. If a temperature keeps climbing on a grade, ease off and let it settle.
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.