Elk Grove Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM
Elk Grove Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram · Ram Chassis Cab Research
The three Ram chassis cabs share cabs, engines and interiors. The differences sit under the frame: axles, brakes, front suspension and the weight ratings that come with them. Here is what changes, and how to match each one to a dump, flatbed, service or hotshot body.
| 3500 | 4500 | 5500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Class 3 | Class 4 or 5, by GVWR | Class 5 |
| GVWR | 11,040 to 14,000 lb | 15,000, 16,000 or 16,500 lb | 18,000 to 19,500 lb |
| How you get there | 11,040 HEMI SRW; 11,600 or 12,000 Cummins SRW; 13,500 HEMI DRW with 8HP75; 14,000 DRW with TorqueFlite HD | 16,500 standard; 15,000 and 16,000 GVWR packages | 18,000 HEMI standard; 19,000 or 19,500 with the HEMI Max Payload Package; 19,500 Cummins |
| Rear wheels | Single or dual | Dual | Dual |
| Curb weight (before body) | About 5,860 to 8,020 lb | About 7,100 to 8,900 lb | About 7,100 to 8,950 lb |
Ram describes the 4500 and 5500 as its medium-duty Class 4 and Class 5 trucks. Because the 4500 is offered at up to 16,500 lb GVWR, a 16,500-lb 4500 falls into Class 5, so check the GVWR on the door-jamb label against your registration and licensing needs before you order. The 15,000 and 16,000-lb GVWR packages keep a 4500 within the 16,000-lb Class 4 ceiling.
| 3500 | 4500 / 5500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear axle | AAM 11.5 in | AAM 12.0 in |
| Front axle | Front GAWR 5,500 or 6,000 lb | AAM 10.5 in; front GAWR 6,000 to 7,250 lb |
| Rear axle rating (GAWR) | 6,800 lb SRW / 9,850 lb DRW | 12,000 lb (4500) / 13,500 lb (5500) |
| Front suspension | Three-link, coil springs | Five-link with track bar, coil springs |
| Brakes | 14.2-in front, 14.1-in rear discs; vacuum assist (HEMI) or hydro-boost (Cummins) | 15.4-in discs front and rear, hydro-boost |
| Track, front / rear | 67.6 / 67.0 in SRW; 69.6 / 71.9 in DRW | 77.1 / 73.6 in |
| Overall width | 82.6 in SRW / 92.2 in DRW | 93.2 in |
| 4x4 extras | Part-time transfer case, 2.64 low range | Same, plus electronic front-axle disconnect on every 4x4 |
The 4500 and 5500 share hardware; the 5500 gets the higher rear axle rating and GVWR. Ask about the optional 7,250-lb front axle for snowplows or heavy front-mounted equipment. All three use a ladder frame with 34-in rail spacing; CA length, payload and axle ratings decide which body each one can wear.
| 3500 | 4500 / 5500 | |
|---|---|---|
| 6.4L HEMI V8 (375 hp, 429 lb-ft) | Standard, TorqueFlite 8HP75 8-speed; TorqueFlite HD 8AP430 optional | Standard, TorqueFlite HD 8AP430 |
| 6.7L Cummins I-6 (360 hp, 800 lb-ft) | Optional, TorqueFlite HD 8AP850 | Optional, TorqueFlite HD 8AP850 |
| Axle ratio | 4.10 HEMI / 3.42 Cummins | 4.44, both engines |
| PTO | TorqueFlite HD only (not with the 8HP75) | Available with either engine |
| Drive | Tradesman 4x2 or 4x4; Big Horn 4x4 only | 4x2 or 4x4 on both trims |
On a 3500 with the HEMI, the TorqueFlite HD upgrade raises the GVWR on dual-rear-wheel trucks from 13,500 to 14,000 lb and the GCWR from 22,000 to 25,000 lb, and it's the only way to get PTO on a gas 3500.
| Model and engine | Max payload | Max towing | Max GCWR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3500 HEMI | 7,710 lb | 15,980 lb (8HP75); up to 18,860 lb (TorqueFlite HD) | 22,000 / 25,000 lb |
| 3500 Cummins | 6,830 lb | 25,590 lb | 33,000 lb |
| 4500 HEMI | 9,390 lb | 21,240 lb | 28,500 lb |
| 4500 Cummins | 8,420 lb | 29,400 lb | 37,500 lb |
| 5500 HEMI | 12,260 lb | 21,230 lb | 28,500 lb (26,000 at 18,000-lb GVWR) |
| 5500 Cummins | 11,490 lb | 34,540 lb (4x4 Regular Cab 60 CA, Max Tow Package); 29,340 lb on 4x2 | 43,000 lb (4x4, Max Tow) / 37,500 lb |
The HEMI out-carries the Cummins in every model because the truck weighs less; the Cummins tows far more because its GCWR is higher. Payload is measured before the body goes on. Every configuration is on our 2027 Ram Chassis Cab towing chart.
| Job | Where to start | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Landscaping dump body | 4500 or 5500, Regular Cab, HEMI or Cummins | Soil, rock and gravel use up payload fast; PTO runs the hoist; longer dump bodies need the 108 or 120 CA frames, which are 4500/5500 only |
| Short flatbed | 3500 Regular Cab 60 CA, SRW or DRW | A short deck fits the 60 CA, and the 3500 HEMI DRW carries up to 7,710 lb before the body |
| Service body | 3500 DRW or 4500, 60 or 84 CA | Room for tool compartments; the 2.4-kW On-Board Power System, dual alternators and VSIM wiring support the equipment |
| Hotshot (flatbed plus gooseneck trailer) | 5500 4x4 Cummins with the Max Tow Package, or a 4500 Cummins | GCWR is the limit: 43,000 lb with Max Tow, 37,500 lb on the 4500; the cargo-view camera helps with gooseneck hookup |
For Sacramento-area contractors running short routes off I-5 and Hwy 99, a HEMI 4500 or 5500 carries more and runs on 87-octane fuel. If a heavy trailer is part of the daily routine, the Cummins and its exhaust brake earn their place. Our upfit guide covers CA lengths and bodies in more detail, and if you need a bed rather than a body, start with the Ram 3500 pickup.
The weight ratings and the hardware that supports them. The 4500 and 5500 add a 12.0-in rear axle, 15.4-in brakes front and rear, a five-link front suspension, dual rear wheels and CA lengths up to 120 in.
Ram calls it a medium-duty Class 4 truck, but it's offered at up to 16,500 lb GVWR, which falls into Class 5. The 15,000 and 16,000-lb GVWR packages keep it in Class 4.
No. The 4500 and 5500 are dual rear wheel only. The 3500 is offered with single or dual rear wheels, except the 84 CA, which is dual only.
Before the body is installed, the 5500 HEMI carries up to 12,260 lb, the 4500 HEMI carries up to 9,390 lb and the 3500 HEMI up to 7,710 lb.
Landscaping dump bodies usually point to a 4500 or 5500 for payload, and longer bodies need the 108 or 120 CA frames offered only on those two. Confirm the loaded body weight with your body builder.
A 5500 diesel option that adds a max-tow electronic shift-on-the-fly transfer case and a trailer brake controller. It's required for the 34,540-lb rating and 43,000-lb GCWR on a 4x4 Regular Cab 60 CA.
Elk Grove Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram · 8575 Laguna Grove Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95757 · Sales 916-892-0515
*Specifications are based on Ram's 2027 Ram 3500/4500/5500 Chassis Cab information as published in September 2026 and may change. Where Ram's published figures differ, the more conservative figure is shown. Max towing, payload, GVWR and GCWR require proper equipment and apply to specific configurations; ratings assume a base truck plus a 150-lb driver, and body, upfit equipment, passengers and cargo reduce available payload and towing capacity. Confirm ratings on the door-jamb label of a specific truck and with your body builder. Pricing on in-stock vehicles excludes government fees and taxes, any finance charges, dealer document processing charge and emission testing charge. Contact Elk Grove Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram for current pricing and availability.