The History of the Dodge Super Bee: From 1968 to 2027

A tow rating looks simple until you add four passengers, a bed full of gear, a trailer tongue pressing down on the hitch, and the exact truck configuration you’re actually driving. That’s why Ram 1500 towing capacity is more useful as a range than a single headline number. For 2026, the Ram 1500 can tow up to 11,610 pounds when properly equipped, but engine, drivetrain, axle ratio, cab, bed, and payload all affect what an individual truck can handle. For drivers around Starke and North Florida, the right question isn’t just “What can a Ram 1500 tow?” It’s “What can the Ram 1500 I’m considering tow with the people and gear I actually carry?” The Headline Number: 11,610 Pounds The maximum Ram 1500 towing capacity comes from a properly equipped truck with the standard-output 3.0L Hurricane engine. For 2026, Ram’s published maximums break down like this: Engine Maximum Towing Maximum Payload 3.6L Pentastar V6 with eTorque 8,130 lbs. 2,360 lbs. 3.0L Hurricane Standard Output 11,610 lbs. 1,930 lbs. 5.7L HEMI V8 with eTorque 11,320 lbs. 1,650 lbs. 3.0L Hurricane High Output 10,000 lbs. 1,490 lbs. Notice something interesting? The most powerful engine doesn’t automatically tow the most. That’s why choosing a truck by horsepower alone can send you in the wrong direction. Hurricane, HEMI, or Pentastar? The standard-output 3.0L Hurricane makes 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque and delivers the highest 2026 Ram 1500 towing capacity at 11,610 pounds when properly configured. The returning 5.7L HEMI V8 produces 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque while offering up to 11,320 pounds of towing. Meanwhile, the 540-horsepower Hurricane High Output tops out at 10,000 pounds. So when you’re looking at Ram 1500 towing capacity, think about the complete truck rather than simply choosing the engine with the biggest horsepower figure. Payload Can Stop You Before Towing Capacity Does Here’s the number that deserves more attention: Ram 1500 payload capacity. Payload includes more than whatever you throw in the bed. Passengers, tools, coolers, accessories, cargo, and trailer tongue weight all use part of the truck’s available payload. For example, Ram lists a maximum payload of 2,360 pounds with the 3.6L Pentastar V6, while the standard-output Hurricane reaches up to 1,930 pounds. Exact ratings vary by configuration. That means a truck can theoretically have enough Ram 1500 towing capacity for your trailer while running short on available payload once you load the family and gear. The door-jamb labels on the actual truck matter more than a maximum number from a brochure. Cab, Bed, Drivetrain, and Axle Ratio All Get a Vote Two Ram 1500s with the same engine can have different tow ratings. Ram’s official towing chart shows how Ram 1500 payload capacity and trailer ratings change with Quad Cab versus Crew Cab, 4x2 versus 4x4, bed length, GVWR, and axle ratio. With the standard-output Hurricane, for example, configurations with a 3.92 axle ratio can exceed 11,000 pounds of towing, while other combinations are rated substantially lower. That’s why the advertised maximum Ram 1500 towing capacity shouldn’t be applied to every truck on the lot. If towing is central to how you’ll use your Ram, start with the trailer and work backward. Know its loaded weight, expected tongue weight, and what normally rides in the truck. What Does That Mean for a Real Trailer? The 2026 Ram 1500 towing capacity can cover a wide range of recreational and work-related trailers when the truck and trailer are properly matched. Depending on weight and configuration, that could include certain boats, utility trailers, campers, enclosed trailers, or equipment haulers. But trailer type alone doesn’t determine whether a setup works. A travel trailer and equipment trailer with similar scale weights can place different demands on the truck based on tongue weight, cargo distribution, aerodynamics, and loading. That’s why Ram 1500 towing capacity is best treated as one part of the calculation, not permission to hook up anything below 11,610 pounds. Towing Tech Helps When the Trailer Is Attached Capability isn’t only about moving the weight. Controlling and monitoring the trailer matters too. The 2026 Ram 1500 offers available towing technologies including Trailer Hitch Assist, Trailer Reverse Guidance with Dynamic Gridlines, a Digital Rearview Mirror with Tow Mode, an Integrated Trailer Health Monitor, and power telescoping trailer tow mirrors. These features don’t increase Ram 1500 towing capacity, but they can make connecting, backing, monitoring, and maneuvering with a trailer less stressful. They also don’t change Ram 1500 payload capacity, so the truck’s actual weight ratings still need to guide your setup. If you tow regularly, equipment like this may be just as important to your truck search as the maximum rating itself. Bring Us the Trailer Numbers The easiest way to choose the wrong tow vehicle is to start with a big number and assume everything underneath it will work. At Murray CDJR Starke, we can help you explore current Ram 1500 inventory and identify configurations that fit what you actually need to pull. If Ram 1500 towing capacity is a priority, bring us your trailer’s loaded weight, tongue-weight information, and an idea of what normally rides in the cab and bed. We can also help you look at Ram 1500 payload capacity, engine choice, drivetrain, axle ratio, and equipment on the specific truck you’re considering. The goal isn’t to buy the Ram with the biggest number on paper. It’s to leave with a truck that makes sense when the hitch is loaded, the bed is packed, and it’s time to pull onto the highway.

Oil changes always seem to come due when your calendar is already full. Maybe the maintenance reminder just appeared. Maybe your tires need attention before another North Florida road trip. Or maybe your wipers have officially lost their battle with afternoon rain. However maintenance landed back on your to-do list, Mopar Express Lane makes routine service easier to fit into your day. At Murray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Starke, we know most drivers would rather spend their day driving than waiting on basic maintenance. Express Lane gives you a convenient way to take care of common service needs and get back to everything else on your schedule. Routine Maintenance Without Making a Day of It The idea behind Express Lane is simple. Not every maintenance visit needs to feel like a major repair appointment. If you’re searching for a Mopar Express Lane near you, you’re probably looking for help with routine services such as an oil change, tire rotation, or vehicle checkup. Express Lane focuses on those common maintenance needs and is designed around convenience. That’s especially useful when your vehicle is running well and you simply want to keep it that way. Staying ahead of maintenance can also help you catch smaller concerns before they turn into inconvenient surprises. What Can You Get Done in the Mopar Express Lane? Common Mopar Express Lane services focus on preventive maintenance and everyday wear items. Depending on your vehicle and its needs, service may include: Oil and filter changes Tire rotations Multi-point inspections Wiper blade replacement Air filter replacement Tire checks and related maintenance Those aren’t glamorous jobs, but they matter. Healthy tires become especially important when a Florida downpour hits US-301. Fresh wiper blades make those same storms easier to see through. Regular oil changes help you stay on top of one of your engine’s most basic maintenance needs. Mopar Express Lane makes handling those smaller jobs a little less disruptive. Do You Need an Appointment? Convenience is one of the biggest reasons people use Mopar Express Lane. The program is built around quick routine maintenance, and participating locations can offer no-appointment-needed service for eligible needs. That gives you more flexibility when your schedule suddenly opens up or you realize your vehicle is overdue for attention. So, when you find yourself looking for a Mopar Express Lane near you while you’re out running errands, you may not need to plan your maintenance visit weeks ahead. Wait times and service availability can still vary. If you need a specific service or want to know what to expect before coming in, our Murray CDJR Starke team can help. Quick Service Should Still Feel Thorough Fast shouldn’t mean careless. Routine maintenance gives technicians an opportunity to handle the service you requested while paying attention to other basic areas of your vehicle. A multi-point inspection can help uncover everyday wear you may not notice from behind the wheel. Think about a weakening battery, uneven tire wear, worn wipers, or a dirty filter. None of those issues may stop your vehicle today, but knowing about them sooner gives you more control over when and how you address them. That’s part of the value of Mopar Express Lane. You’re not just checking a maintenance reminder off your list. You’re giving your vehicle regular attention before it has to demand it. Built for the Way Starke Drivers Actually Drive North Florida can keep a vehicle busy. Daily commutes, trips toward Gainesville or Jacksonville, school runs, towing, weekend travel, summer heat, and sudden storms all put different demands on your car, truck, SUV, or Jeep. Regular Mopar Express Lane services can help you stay ahead of those miles without making maintenance harder than necessary. And if your vehicle needs more than routine care, our full service department is here for the bigger jobs too. Express Lane simply gives everyday maintenance a faster path. Need a Mopar Express Lane Near You? Make It Murray CDJR Starke When the oil-change reminder appears, you don’t need to keep pressing “remind me later.” If you’re looking for a Mopar Express Lane, bring your vehicle to Murray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Starke. Our team can help determine what maintenance your vehicle needs and whether Express Lane is the right place to handle it. Take care of the routine stuff now, and you’ll have one less thing competing for your attention later. Mopar Express Lane FAQs Still deciding whether Express Lane fits your next service visit? Here are quick answers about Mopar Express Lane services and how it can make routine maintenance easier. What is Mopar Express Lane? It’s a quick-service option for common vehicle maintenance such as oil changes, tire rotations, inspections, filters, wiper blades, and other routine needs. It’s designed to help drivers take care of regular maintenance conveniently. Do you need an appointment for Mopar Express Lane? Many eligible Express Lane services are designed to be available without a traditional appointment. If you’re looking for a Mopar Express Lane near you, wait times and availability can still vary, so you can contact Murray CDJR Starke if you have a specific maintenance need or want to check before visiting. How does Mopar Express Lane work? Bring your vehicle in for an eligible routine maintenance service. The service team reviews what you need, technicians complete the applicable work, and your vehicle can receive additional basic checks as appropriate. The goal is straightforward: handle routine care efficiently and get you back on the road.

You press the accelerator, the truck moves, and most of the work happening behind the scenes goes unnoticed. That’s exactly how Ram eTorque is supposed to feel. Rather than turning the Ram 1500 into a full hybrid or asking the driver to manage another system, eTorque quietly helps with engine restarts, low-speed response, and energy recovery. For truck shoppers around Starke, understanding what it does can make the engine lineup much easier to navigate. What Is Ram eTorque? Think Electric Assist, Not Electric Driving Ram eTorque is a mild-hybrid system that replaces a traditional alternator with a belt-driven motor generator connected to a 48-volt battery. The gasoline engine still does the primary work of moving the truck, while the electric side steps in at specific moments to improve responsiveness and efficiency. That distinction matters. A Ram eTorque engine isn’t a plug-in hybrid, and you don’t charge it from an outlet. The system works automatically in the background. For 2026, Ram offers eTorque with the 3.6L Pentastar® V6 and the returning 5.7L HEMI® V8. How Does Ram eTorque Work on the Road? If you’re asking how does Ram eTorque work, the motor generator is the heart of the system. When the truck needs assistance, it can use stored electrical energy to add torque through the engine’s belt system. When you slow down, the motor generator can reverse roles and recover energy that would otherwise be lost, sending it back to the 48-volt battery. That stored energy can then support the next engine restart or provide brief torque assistance when conditions call for it. In other words, Ram eTorque is constantly switching between helping and recovering energy without asking you to push another button. Stop-and-Go Driving Is Where You May Notice It Most Automatic start/stop systems sound simple until you’re sitting through one traffic light after another. One of the everyday benefits of Ram eTorque is smoother engine shutdowns and restarts. The belt-driven motor generator can restart the engine quickly instead of relying only on a conventional starter for every stop/start event. Ram also credits the system with supporting an upgraded Start/Stop System and contributing to fuel-economy gains. That helps explain how Ram eTorque works in normal driving. You don’t necessarily feel a dramatic burst of electric power. Instead, the benefit can show up in smoother transitions and less wasted energy during the constant slowing, stopping, and accelerating of everyday traffic. Around Starke, that could mean everything from errands around town to stop-and-go stretches along U.S. 301. The Extra Torque Helps Where Trucks Need It The “torque” in Ram eTorque isn’t just branding. On the current 3.6L Pentastar V6, the system can provide up to 90 lb-ft of initial torque boost. Ram’s 2026 specifications list the engine itself at 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. The 5.7L HEMI V8 with eTorque produces 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of engine torque. Its eTorque system can make up to 130 lb-ft of additional torque available during initial throttle application. That supplemental assistance is especially useful when getting the truck moving from a stop. It doesn’t simply get added to the engine’s peak torque rating, though. Think of it as short-duration help where the powertrain can use it. That’s a more useful way to understand a Ram eTorque engine than expecting the system to behave like a separate electric motor powering the truck. Ram eTorque Also Recovers Energy When You Slow Down Another piece of the what is Ram eTorque question happens when your foot comes off the accelerator. During deceleration and braking, the motor generator can capture energy and send it back to the system’s 48-volt battery. Ram calls this brake energy regeneration. That recovered energy can then be reused instead of simply being lost during slowing. There’s nothing to plug in overnight and no special charging routine to learn. That’s part of what makes Ram eTorque different from the hybrid experience many shoppers picture. The electrical side supports the gasoline powertrain while largely staying out of the driver’s way. Which Ram eTorque Engine Fits Your Truck? The system may be similar, but the two current eTorque engines serve different shoppers. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 with eTorque offers 305 horsepower and can tow up to 8,130 pounds when properly configured. The 5.7L HEMI V8 brings 395 horsepower and can reach up to 11,320 pounds of towing capacity in the right configuration. Actual towing and payload depend on the truck’s cab, drivetrain, axle ratio, equipment, and other factors. So if you’re deciding between Ram eTorque engine options, start with the work. Daily driving and lighter towing may point you toward the V6, while buyers who want V8 sound, power, and greater available towing capability may prefer the HEMI. Put the Ram eTorque to Work in Starke Reading about how Ram eTorque works is useful. Feeling how smoothly it operates from behind the wheel makes the technology easier to understand. At Murray CDJR of Starke, our team can help you look at current Ram 1500 engine options, towing needs, trims, and equipment to find the truck that fits your day-to-day driving. You’ll find us at 15160 U.S. Highway 301 South in Starke. Explore our current Ram inventory today and see how eTorque fits into the truck you actually need. More Help, Without More Work From the Driver The smartest part of Ram eTorque may be how little you have to think about it. The system can recover energy, smooth engine restarts, and provide short bursts of torque assistance while you simply drive. That’s the answer to what is Ram eTorque in practical terms: extra electrical support working quietly behind a gasoline engine to make the Ram 1500 more responsive and efficient.