Ram Truck to Adopt SAE Towing Standard
Beginning with the 2015 model-year, Ram will adopt the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J2807 standardized tow rating practices across all three full-size pickup truck segments, including the ½-ton Ram 1500, ¾-ton Ram 2500 Heavy Duty, and 1-ton “King of the Hill” Ram 3500 Heavy Duty,

The SAE J2807 towing capacity for a 2015 Ram 3500 with 6.7L Cummins diesel is 30,000 pounds - 2013-MY vehicle pictured. (PHOTO: Chrysler)

The SAE J2807 towing capacity for a 2015 Ram 3500 with 6.7L Cummins diesel is 30,000 pounds - 2013-MY vehicle pictured. (PHOTO: Chrysler)
Beginning with the 2015 model-year, Ram will become the first automaker to adopt the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J2807 standardized tow rating practices across all three full-size pickup truck segments, including the ½-ton Ram 1500, ¾-ton Ram 2500 Heavy Duty, and 1-ton “King of the Hill” Ram 3500 Heavy Duty, according to the automaker.
“Because our customers asked for it, every single 2015 model year pickup truck Ram sells will come with a trailer-tow rating achieved using SAE’s J2807 testing protocols,” said Reid Bigland, president and CEO – Ram Truck Brand. “No other automaker can make that claim.”
On the heels of finalized SAE towing specifications that now include trucks up to 14,000-pounds GVWR, Ram has validated its full pickup line with the SAE J2807 Towing Standard – the only truck maker to adopt the standard in all three pickup truck weight classes, according to Ram Truck.
“Ram Truck has been preparing for integration of the SAE towing standard over the past few years and adding heavier ¾ and 1-ton trucks to the criteria gives it more teeth,” said Mike Cairns, director- Ram Truck Engineering, Chrysler Group LLC. “For too long, an uneven playing field existed and towing capacities went unchecked. We’re happy to be the only pickup truck manufacturer to align with the SAE J2807 towing standard across our pickup truck lineup.”
The SAE J2807 towing standard outlines dynamic and performance criteria as it relates to a given vehicle. Examples within the standard include a number of tests while towing: 0-60 mph time allowance, tackling the notorious Davis Dam Grade while maintaining no less than 40 MPH for single-rear-wheel trucks and 35 mph for dual-rear-wheel trucks, a constant radius understeer test while increasing speed and a sway maneuver using aggressive steering input. The purpose is to put all trucks through the schedule of tests in which operators will likely see in the real world. SAE standards have existed in a number of other areas including engine torque and horsepower. Ram Truck is the first to adopt the official towing standard for ½-ton, ¾-ton, and 1-ton trucks.
2015 Ram SAE J2807 towing capacities:
Ram 1500 V-6 with 3.6L gasoline Pentastar – 7,600 pounds
Ram 1500 V-6 with 3.0L EcoDiesel – 9,200 pounds
Ram 1500 V-8 with 5.7L gasoline HEMI – 10,650 pounds
Ram 2500 V-8 with 6.4L gasoline HEMI – 16,300 pounds
Ram 2500 with 6.7L Cummins diesel – 17,970 pounds
Ram 3500 V-8 with 6.4L gasoline HEMI – 16,420 pounds
Ram 3500 with 6.7L Cummins diesel – 30,000 pounds
Check out a video below:
Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
More Operations

Elite 11 Semi-Finalists Announced for the 2026 Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award
The 11 semi-finalists for the 2026 Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award have been announced. The award honors the achievements of military veterans who have transitioned into careers in the professional trucking industry.
Read More →
Are You Saying These Work Truck Company Names Correctly?
Think you know how to pronounce the biggest names in work trucks? We asked the companies themselves to settle it once and for all.
Read More →
Why Reactive Fleet Management Is Becoming Too Expensive to Sustain
Research highlights a growing need for proactive management strategies to address rising costs in fleet operations effectively.
Read More →
Is Your Fleet Structure Built to Scale?
As fleets grow across regions, structural inconsistencies can increase costs, limit visibility, and create operational risk. This guide helps fleet and business leaders evaluate whether their current operating model can support growth without sacrificing control or performance.
Read More →
Fleet Management Guide for Growing Field Service Fleets
As HVAC, plumbing and contractor businesses grow, fleet complexity can begin to affect technician productivity, customer response times, operating costs, and revenue. This guide helps field service leaders build a more structured approach to managing vehicles, drivers, maintenance, safety, and lifecycle decisions.
Read More →
Fleet Forward Conference Registration Opens With Plenty on Tap for Work Truck Fleets
From commercial vehicle safety and AI to benchmarking, crash costs, OEM relationships, and autonomy, this year’s Fleet Forward Conference agenda has plenty aimed at the issues work truck fleets are dealing with now and preparing for next.
Read More →
Viatec Fleet Intelligence: Turning Fleet Data into Actionable Insights
Fleet managers don't need more data, they need better answers. Viatec's new Fleet Intelligence platform connects telematics, maintenance, fuel, finance, video, and other systems to deliver actionable insights through simple, natural language queries.
Read More →
Drones, Robots, DTNA Manufacturing Moves, and Smarter Fleet Tech Lead the News
Drones, robots, major manufacturing moves, and smarter connected fleet technology headline this week’s Truck Chat Cheat Sheet.
Read More →Motive Automations Explained: From Insight to Action
Motive Automations helps fleets turn real-time insights into immediate action. In this video, you will learn how automated workflows can notify drivers, alert maintenance teams, streamline coaching, and even use AI-powered Atlas calls to improve safety and efficiency.
Read More →
Automotive Fleet Opens 2026 Personal Use Survey for Commercial Fleet Managers
Commercial and corporate fleet managers are invited to share how their organizations handle company vehicle personal-use policies, charges, and driver eligibility.
Read More →

