2017 Ram 1500 Laramie Max Towing Capacity & Payload
Max Towing Capacity
10,340 lbs
Safe limit: 8,272 lbs (80% rule)
Max Payload
1,880 lbs
Often the real limiting factor
Fuel Economy
16.6 mpg
17 city / 25 hwy (EPA Est.)
The 2017 Ram 1500 Laramie is rated to tow up to 10,340 lbs powered by the 3.6L. For real-world towing, the practical limit is 8,272 lbs — that's 80% of max, giving you margin for hills, headwinds, and load variation. The payload rating of 1,880 lbs is the number to watch closely — once you add passengers, hitch weight, and gear, it fills faster than most people expect. With this setup, you're looking at a great selection of travel trailers, toy haulers, and many fifth wheels.
Recommended Equipment
Towing Gear for This Truck
Matched to this trim's Class IV hitch class and 10,340 lb tow rating
Class IV Hitch Receiver
Required for towing. 2" receiver is standard on tow-equipped models.
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Trailer Wiring Adapter
7-pin to 4-pin adapters for trailer brake lights and signals.
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Brake Controller
Required by law in most states for trailers over 3,000 lbs.
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Weight Distribution Hitch
Strongly recommended for trailers over 6,000 lbs to level the load and reduce sway.
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Full Data
Specifications
Towing & Capacity
Engine & Performance
Dimensions
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Towing
Payload & Weight
Curb Weight
0 lbs
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Engine
Engine
3.6L
Horsepower
305 HP @ 6400 rpm
Torque
269 lb-ft @ 4175 rpm
Transmission
8-speed shiftable automatic
Drive Type
Rear Wheel Drive
Fuel Type
Flex-fuel (unleaded/E85)
Fuel Tank
26.0 gallons
Fuel Economy (EPA)
City17 mpg
Highway25 mpg
Combined20 mpg
Real-World (Fuelly, 624 owners)16.6 mpg
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Dimensions
Overall Length229.0"
Overall Width79.4"
Height77.2"
Cab Typequad
What Can I Tow?
RV Class Compatibility
Based on a safe tow limit of 8,272 lbs and 1,880 lb payload. Shows what % of each RV class in our database you can tow.
RV Type
Weight Range
Coverage
Status
Toy Haulers
5th / Bumper
1,300 – 112,250 lbs
Limited
Fifth Wheels
5th Wheel
1,176 – 24,000 lbs
Limited
Destination Trailers
Bumper Pull
9,800 – 16,500 lbs
Out of Range
⚠ Vehicle capacity only — does not include passengers, gear, or tongue weight. Run the full calculator →
Compare Configurations
Other 2017 Ram 1500 Trims
| Configuration | Max Towing | MPG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Ram 1500 RHO 4WD | 9,920 lbs | 17.4 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ram 1500 RHO 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.6 ft SB (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) 4WD | 9,920 lbs | 15.0 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ram 1500 Limited Longhorn 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.6 ft SB (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) 4WD | 0 lbs | 17.0 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ram 1500 Tradesman 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.6 ft SB (3.6L 6cyl gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) 4WD | 0 lbs | 21.0 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.6 ft SB (3.6L 6cyl gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) 4WD | 0 lbs | 21.0 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ram 1500 Limited Longhorn 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.3 ft SB (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) 4WD | 0 lbs | 17.0 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.6 ft SB (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) 4WD | 0 lbs | 19.0 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ram 1500 Rebel 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.6 ft SB (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) 4WD | 0 lbs | 19.0 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ram 1500 Tradesman 4dr Quad Cab 6.3 ft SB (3.6L 6cyl gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) | 0 lbs | 22.0 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4dr Crew Cab 6.3 ft SB (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) | 0 lbs | 21.0 mpg | View → |
Questions & Answers
Common Questions
How much can I actually tow with my 2017 Ram 1500 Laramie?
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The 2017 Ram 1500 Laramie is rated at 10,340 lbs maximum — but the real-world best practice is the 80% rule: target 8,272 lbs as your practical limit. This gives you margin for hills, headwinds, braking distance, and real-world load variance. More critically, check your payload first — the door sticker tells you your specific truck's limit, and payload may be your actual binding constraint.
What about payload — how much stuff can I put in the truck?
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You have 1,880 lbs of payload capacity — that's everything going IN the truck: passengers (~150 lbs each), camping gear, coolers, and critically the tongue weight from your trailer. For bumper pull trailers, tongue weight is typically 10–15% of the trailer's loaded weight. It fills up faster than most people expect, especially on longer trips.
What kind of hitch do I need?
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For the 2017 Ram 1500 Laramie, you need a Class IV receiver hitch rated for 10,340 lbs. Don't skimp here — the hitch is the critical link between truck and trailer. For fifth wheel towing, you'll need a dedicated kingpin-style fifth wheel hitch mounted in the truck bed.
What types of RVs will work with my truck?
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With your 8,272 lb safe towing capacity, you're looking at a great selection of travel trailers, toy haulers, and many fifth wheels. The compatibility chart above shows what percentage of each RV class in our database you can handle. Use the Tow Calculator to check a specific RV including gear, water, and passengers.
What does GVWR mean and why should I care?
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GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating — the maximum your truck can weigh when fully loaded with people, gear, and fuel. Your truck's GVWR is 6,800 lbs. Exceed it and you're over-stressing brakes, suspension, and tires. This is different from towing capacity — it's about what the truck itself can carry.
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