2026 Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty
5th generation (2019–present; refreshed for 2025)
Spec plateChecked Sep 2026
- Starting price
- $45,995
- 4x4 from
- —
- Max towing
- 36,610 lb
- Max payload
- 7,590 lb
- Most power
- 430 hp
- Ground clearance
- 14.2 in
Power Wagon
Our verdict
Ram's heavy-duty lineup gives 4x4 buyers three distinct steps: the affordable Warlock, a Rebel with a rear locker and Cummins availability, and the Power Wagon, which pairs front and rear lockers with a sway-bar disconnect and a 12,000-lb winch. For 2026 the Power Wagon is gas-only, so diesel buyers who want that hardware should look at the 2027 Cummins version. For heavy towing, the Cummins 3500 is the pick.
Best for
Owners who tow or haul heavy and still need a truck that handles rough two-tracks, or who want the Power Wagon's factory lockers and winch.
Skip it if
You mostly drive empty and rarely tow; a half-ton such as the Ram 1500 Rebel rides softer, parks easier and costs less.
Strengths
- Power Wagon pairs front and rear lockers with a disconnecting sway bar, a factory winch and 14.2 inches of clearance
- Five-link coil rear suspension on the 2500 instead of leaf springs
- Cummins HO makes 1,075 lb-ft and tows up to 36,610 lb in the 3500
- Three factory off-road choices: Warlock, Rebel and Power Wagon
- Up to 7,590 lb payload (3500)
Weak spots
- The 2026 Power Wagon is gas-only; the Cummins Power Wagon is a 2027 model
- Power Wagon gives up capacity for its trail hardware: 10,590 lb max towing and 1,690 lb max payload
- Big trucks for tight trails: the Power Wagon's turning circle is 48.2 ft
- No EPA fuel-economy ratings to compare
Capability vs other heavy-duty trucks
- Cabs
- Regular Cab, Crew Cab, Mega Cab
- Bed lengths
- 6.3 ft, 8 ft
- Fuel economy
- Not EPA-rated (heavy-duty pickups above 8,500 lb GVWR don't carry EPA fuel-economy labels)
- Pricing notes
- 2026 Ram 2500 Tradesman 'starting at' MSRP on ramtrucks.com, excluding the $2,795 destination charge; the 2026 Ram 3500 Tradesman starts at $47,195. The cheapest 4x4 price is not published; Ram's 2026 fact sheet lists the 4x4-only 2500 Warlock from $58,625 including destination.
- Configurations
- Regular Cab with an 8-ft box, Crew Cab with a 6-ft 4-in or 8-ft box, or Mega Cab with a 6-ft 4-in box (4x4 only); the 3500 offers single or dual rear wheels. Warlock, Rebel and Power Wagon are 2500 Crew Cab 6-ft 4-in 4x4s.
Off-road hardware
4WD / AWD system
Part-time, two-speed transfer cases with electric shift and a 2.64:1 low range: BorgWarner 44-46/44-47 with the 6.4L HEMI and BW 44-48 with the Cummins, each with 2WD, 4WD High, Neutral and 4WD Low. Solid AAM 9.25-inch front axle with a center disconnect and an AAM 11.5-inch rear (12.0-inch on 3500 Max Tow). The 2500 uses a five-link coil rear suspension with optional auto-leveling air; the 3500 uses two-stage leaf springs. Power Wagon adds front and rear lockers and an electronically disconnecting front sway bar.
Low range 2.64:1
Locking differentials
Power Wagon: electronic-locking front and rear differentials (Tru-Lok), standard. 2500 Rebel: electronic-locking rear differential. Other trims, including Warlock: rear limited-slip ('anti-spin') differential, standard on Warlock and on every 3500 and part of packages elsewhere. The Power Wagon Equipment Group, lockers included, is also available on a 2500 Tradesman 4x4.
| Approach angle | 29.4° |
|---|---|
| Breakover angle | 22.0° |
| Departure angle | 26.0° |
| Ground clearance | 14.2 in |
| Water fording | Not published |
Off-road tech
- Front and rear electronic lockers (Power Wagon)
- Electronic disconnecting front sway bar (Power Wagon)
- Warn 12,000-lb front winch (Power Wagon)
- Hill Descent Control (Warlock, Power Wagon)
- Auto-leveling rear air suspension (2500)
- Surround-view camera (Tow Technology Group)
Engines & transmissions
| Engine | Power | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.4L HEMI V-8Standard engine and the only engine in the 2026 Power Wagon. Up to 17,740 lb towing in the 2500 and 18,150 lb in the 3500; 3.73 or 4.10 axle. | 405 hp | 429 lb-ft | 8-speed automatic (TorqueFlite 8HP75-LCV) |
| 6.7L Cummins High Output turbo-diesel I-6Optional (not offered on the 2026 Power Wagon). 3.42 axle. Up to 20,000 lb towing in the 2500 and 36,610 lb in the 3500. | 430 hp | 1,075 lb-ft | 8-speed automatic (TorqueFlite HD 8AP1075) |
The off-road trims
2500 Warlock
New for 2026: Crew Cab 4x4 with anti-spin rear differential, Bilstein shocks, transfer-case skid plate, Hill Descent Control and 34-inch Goodyear DuraTrac all-terrain tires; HEMI or Cummins.
2500 Off-Road Group
Available on Big Horn, Laramie and Limited 4x4s: Bilstein shocks, transfer-case skid plate and all-terrain tires.
2500 Rebel
Rear e-locker, 13.3 inches of clearance and a 26.6-degree approach angle, with HEMI or Cummins power (up to 19,760 lb towing with the diesel).
2500 Power Wagon
6.4L HEMI with 4.10 gears, front and rear e-lockers, disconnecting front sway bar, Warn 12,000-lb winch, Power Wagon-tuned Bilstein shocks, fuel-tank and transfer-case skid plates and LT285/70R17 DuraTrac tires.
What's new for 2026
The 2500 Black Express and the first-ever 2500 Warlock join the lineup, and select models gain up to 850 lb of GVWR through revised testing and certification. The Cummins is offered only in its 430-hp, 1,075 lb-ft High Output tune.
Rivals worth a look
Sources & data notes
These specs were checked on September 24, 2026 against the sources below, starting with the manufacturer's own material. When a figure isn't published, we leave it blank instead of estimating. Ratings are maximums for the best-equipped configuration; confirm yours on the door-jamb labels.
Sources for this page 9
- media.stellantisnorthamerica.commedia.stellantisnorthamerica.com/newsrelease.do?id=27087&mid=71
- media.stellantisnorthamerica.commedia.stellantisnorthamerica.com/newsrelease.do?id=27087&fIId=27341&mid=71
- media.stellantisnorthamerica.commedia.stellantisnorthamerica.com/view-spec.do?id=27014
- media.stellantisnorthamerica.commedia.stellantisnorthamerica.com/view-spec.do?id=27025
- media.stellantisnorthamerica.commedia.stellantisnorthamerica.com/view-spec.do?id=27019
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- media.stellantisnorthamerica.commedia.stellantisnorthamerica.com/newsrelease.do?id=27355&mid=71
- ramtrucks.comramtrucks.com/ram-2500.html
- ramtrucks.comramtrucks.com/ram-3500.html
Understand the hardware
