{"id":75160,"date":"2024-08-02T09:03:56","date_gmt":"2024-08-02T13:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=75160"},"modified":"2024-08-02T09:03:56","modified_gmt":"2024-08-02T13:03:56","slug":"1144001_2025-ram-1500-towing-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=75160","title":{"rendered":"Review: 2025 Ram 1500 tows like a champion"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul readability=\"1\">\n<li dir=\"ltr\" readability=\"0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>The Ram 1500 has the most power of any light-duty pickup truck, except Raptor R<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" readability=\"0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Hooking up a 5,000-pound trailer to the Ram 1500 doesn\u2019t phase the truck<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" readability=\"-1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>The Ram instantly integrates its active safety tech with a trailer<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The Ram 1500 may not have the highest towing rating, but it offers one of the best towing experiences among gas-powered full-size light-duty pickups.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The updated<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.motorauthority.com\/news\/1141316_2025-ram-1500-goes-6-cylinder-swaps-trx-for-rho\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025 Ram 1500<\/a> <span>tows with authority thanks to high horsepower and torque, its self-leveling suspension, and the ability to integrate its safety systems with trailers. But it\u2019s not all roses, as it might have the worst safety chain hookups on a pickup truck, the engine drinks gas, and it lacks some neat tech features the competition has.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"static-marker-video-player-primis\"\/><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Ironically, the updated 2025 Ram 1500\u2019s <strong>max towing rating fell to 11,580 pounds<\/strong> from 12,750 pounds for the previous model. Max payload ratings held steady at 2,300 pounds. As a reference point, the towing rating king of the segment is the Ford F-150 with a rating of up to 13,500 pounds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Let\u2019s hook up and get into it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span><\/p>\n<div class=\"image_wrapper first_wrapper\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" name=\"tccimg_100935610_m\" title=\"2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten\" src=\"data:image\/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD\/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=\" alt=\"2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" class=\"first_image lazy\" data-width=\"1024\" data-height=\"680\" data-url=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100935610_l.webp\" data-src-h=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/hug\/2025-ram-1500_100935610_h.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100935610_l.webp\" data-src-l=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100935610_l.webp\" data-src-m=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/med\/2025-ram-1500_100935610_m.webp\" data-src-s=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/sml\/2025-ram-1500_100935610_s.webp\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\"><span>Pro: Ram 1500 has all the power<\/span><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>My top-spec Tungsten tester had the <strong>high-output twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6<\/strong> pushing up to 28 psi of boost. That huffs output to 540 hp and 521 lb-ft of torque. The math says that\u2019s 145 hp and 110 lb-ft of torque more than the old V-8 engine. Bye, Felicia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">It means this truck doesn\u2019t care if 5,000 pounds of boat and trailer are hooked to the rear end. Going over 70 mph isn\u2019t an issue. Mash the throttle at highway speeds and the truck lunges forward even with the trailer hooked to the back. The only other light-duty gas-powered truck that felt like this was the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecarconnection.com\/news\/1123297_review-update-2019-ford-f-150-limited-shows-great-power-comes-with-great-thirst\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2019-2020 Ford F-150 Limited<\/a>, which had the Raptor\u2019s high-output twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 shoved under its hood. But with 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque, it was down on power compared to this Ram, by a considerable margin.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The Ram has so much power and the accelerator is so sensitive that you need to be careful. Boats can slide back on a trailer if yanked forward too quickly, risking damage. Tow mode thankfully recalibrates shift points and throttle mapping to take it down a notch. Safety first.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span readability=\"1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"image_wrapper\" readability=\"7\"><img decoding=\"async\" name=\"tccimg_100938135_m\" title=\"2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten towing\" src=\"data:image\/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD\/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=\" alt=\"2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten towing\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-width=\"1024\" data-height=\"768\" data-url=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100938135_l.webp\" data-src-h=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/hug\/2025-ram-1500_100938135_h.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100938135_l.webp\" data-src-l=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100938135_l.webp\" data-src-m=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/med\/2025-ram-1500_100938135_m.webp\" data-src-s=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/sml\/2025-ram-1500_100938135_s.webp\" class=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten towing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\"><span>Con: Ram 1500 gets Hemi V-8-like efficiency<\/span><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">With 5,000 pounds of boat and trailer hooked to the back, the <strong>turbo-6 averaged 9.3 mpg<\/strong> over the course of 144 miles of towing. I averaged about 9.5 mpg with this same boat and the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8. The Ram 1600 has gained a ton of power without losing efficiency. The aforementioned high-output turbo V-6 in the F-150 Limited averaged 8.1 mpg with the same boat on the same route. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.motorauthority.com\/news\/1137014_2022-toyota-tundra-capstone-test-drive-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Toyota Tundra<\/a> with a twin-turbo V-6 hybrid powertrain averaged 9.4 mpg. But GM\u2019s 6.2-liter V-8 averages just over 12 mpg, though it\u2019s down on power. With power and boost comes thirst.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span readability=\"1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"image_wrapper\" readability=\"7\"><img decoding=\"async\" name=\"tccimg_100938129_m\" title=\"2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten towing\" src=\"data:image\/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD\/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=\" alt=\"2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten towing\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-width=\"1024\" data-height=\"768\" data-url=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100938129_l.webp\" data-src-h=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/hug\/2025-ram-1500_100938129_h.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100938129_l.webp\" data-src-l=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100938129_l.webp\" data-src-m=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/med\/2025-ram-1500_100938129_m.webp\" data-src-s=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/sml\/2025-ram-1500_100938129_s.webp\" class=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten towing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\"><span>Pro: Ram 1500 self levels<\/span><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>As soon as I lowered the trailer onto the ball and latched it I heard the truck\u2019s air compressor kick on. It pumped up the rear air suspension to <strong>automatically level the load<\/strong>. Slick. The four-corner air suspension (an available option on mid-trim Rams and standard on upper trims) reacted instantly to the load. No squatting rear end here. No other full-size pickup offers a four-corner air suspension. Toyota has rear air suspension for self leveling, while Ford gets around this issue with stiffer rear leaf springs that give the truck a rake when it isn\u2019t loaded.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span readability=\"1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"image_wrapper\" readability=\"7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" name=\"tccimg_100938144_m\" title=\"2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten towing\" src=\"data:image\/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD\/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=\" alt=\"2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten towing\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-width=\"1024\" data-height=\"768\" data-url=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100938144_l.webp\" data-src-h=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/hug\/2025-ram-1500_100938144_h.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100938144_l.webp\" data-src-l=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100938144_l.webp\" data-src-m=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/med\/2025-ram-1500_100938144_m.webp\" data-src-s=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/sml\/2025-ram-1500_100938144_s.webp\" class=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten towing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\"><span>Con: Ram 1500 safety chain hookups are annoying<\/span><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>That\u2019s putting it nicely. The safety chain hookups on the Ram 1500\u2019s receiver are far and away the hardest to hook up on any full-size pickup truck. The chains hook to the truck via a fully boxed hookup assembly with cutouts on the outside and bottom. It\u2019s difficult to see where you\u2019re threading the hooks through, and the stamped-steel right angle that the hooks need to clear is large. I\u2019ve never seen anything like it. This design led to compatibility issues with the emergency brake hooks on two different boat trailers I tried. Ram should just copy what Ford\u2019s put on the latest Super Duty with large, flat openings that are easy to see and hook up to.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span readability=\"1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"image_wrapper\" readability=\"7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" name=\"tccimg_100938133_m\" title=\"2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten towing\" src=\"data:image\/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD\/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=\" alt=\"2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten towing\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-width=\"1024\" data-height=\"768\" data-url=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100938133_l.webp\" data-src-h=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/hug\/2025-ram-1500_100938133_h.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100938133_l.webp\" data-src-l=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100938133_l.webp\" data-src-m=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/med\/2025-ram-1500_100938133_m.webp\" data-src-s=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/sml\/2025-ram-1500_100938133_s.webp\" class=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten towing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\"><span>Pro: Ram 1500 integrates safety systems while towing<\/span><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Quickly. Most of today\u2019s pickup trucks can <strong>integrate the blind-spot monitoring system<\/strong> with a trailer. Ford\u2019s system requires the driver to input the trailer\u2019s length. Toyota\u2019s system on the Tundra scans the trailer and then will account for the added length. But never have I seen a system react so quickly as the Ram 1500. After hookup and within feet of beginning to roll forward the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster lit up and informed me that a 20-foot trailer had been accounted for and integrated into the blind-spot monitoring system. The boat\u2019s 20.6-feet long. Impressive, Ram.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span><\/p>\n<div class=\"image_wrapper\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" name=\"tccimg_100935621_m\" title=\"2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten\" src=\"data:image\/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD\/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=\" alt=\"2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" data-width=\"1024\" data-height=\"680\" data-url=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100935621_l.webp\" data-src-h=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/hug\/2025-ram-1500_100935621_h.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100935621_l.webp\" data-src-l=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/2025-ram-1500_100935621_l.webp\" data-src-m=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/med\/2025-ram-1500_100935621_m.webp\" data-src-s=\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/sml\/2025-ram-1500_100935621_s.webp\" class=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\"><span>Con: Ram 1500 lacks some towing tech features<\/span><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The Ram\u2019s lack of a boost gauge is unacceptable. Both the F-150 and Tundra have boost gauges. A truck with a turbo engine better show how much boost it\u2019s pushing when it\u2019s towing or hauling. The GMC Sierra offers a camera view that looks down the side of the trailer while going around a corner. It activates the side view mirror cameras when the turn signal is engaged. Super clutch. Ram has cameras in the mirrors but doesn\u2019t do this. At the push of a button, the Ford F-150 can now back itself up and place the receiver directly under the trailer to be hooked up. That\u2019s another neat trick the Ram lacks. Note, however, that if someone needs these tech features to tow they probably shouldn\u2019t be towing. File them under a \u201cnice to have.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The 2025 Ram 1500 I towed with was a Tungsten model. It<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.motorauthority.com\/news\/1143966_2025-ram-1500-tungsten-test-drive-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>sits atop the luxury truck hill<\/span><\/a> <span>and is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class of pickup trucks. It\u2019s also priced accordingly at $90,505 as tested, including the $1,995 destination fee. The word value can\u2019t be thrown around here, but that doesn&#8217;t change the fact it\u2019s the truck keys I\u2019d reach for when towing a 5,000-pound boat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Base price:<\/strong> $89,070 including $1,995 destination<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Price as tested:<\/strong> <span>$90,505<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Powertrain:<\/strong> <span>540-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6, 8-speed automatic transmission, full-time four-wheel drive<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>EPA fuel economy:<\/strong> <span>15\/21\/17 mpg<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>The pros:<\/strong> <span>Lots of horsepower, useful air suspension, safety tech integrates with trailers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>The cons:<\/strong> <span>Drinks gas, poorly designed safety chain hookups, lacks some competitors\u2019 tech features.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ram 1500 has the most power of any light-duty pickup truck, except Raptor R Hooking up a 5,000-pound trailer to the Ram 1500 doesn\u2019t phase the truck The Ram instantly integrates its active safety tech with a trailer The Ram 1500 may not have the highest towing rating, but it offers one of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8313,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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