When you are buying a truck one of the things you need to consider is its efficiency, and one of the numbers that can have a noticeable effect on that is the curb weight.
Dodge has a number of different setups in their Ram 1500 series, and the curb weight of them ranges from 4,798 to 5374 lbs.
| Model | Curb Weight | Gross Vehicle Weight |
| 2019 RAM 1500 Tradesman | Between 4,798 lbs and 5,227 lbs | Between 6,800 lbs and 7,100 lbs |
| 2019 RAM 1500 Big Horn | Between 4,891 lbs and 5,160 lbs | Between 6,800 lbs and 6,900 lbs |
| 2019 RAM 1500 Laramie | Between 4,891 lbs and 5,232 lbs | Between 6,800 lbs and 6,900 lbs |
| 2019 RAM 1500 Rebel | Between 4,971 lbs and 5,374 lbs | Between 6,800 lbs and 6,900 lbs |
| 2019 RAM 1500 Laramie Longhorn | Between 4,903 lbs and 5,232 lbs | 6,900 lbs |
Understanding what curb weight is and its importance could really help you save on your fuel budget, work out what your payload capacity is, and see how your truck is going to perform. If you have been wondering how the Ram 1500 compares to other trucks, we are also going to briefly compare it with it’s leading competitors and see how it stacks up.
What Is Curb Weight?
Curb weight is worked out by calculating the total mass of the vehicle, which includes all the standard equipment and consumables necessary to operate the vehicle, meaning motor oil, transmission oil, coolant, air conditioning refrigerant, etc, while there are no passengers and cargo present. It is different from dry weight, which would not include any of those consumables, and is basically the truck by itself.
Why Should I Care About Curb Weight?
This is a good question that you may be asking yourself. So, you now know how much the truck that you are driving weighs without you or anything in it, but how does that affect the truck? The first thing that it can have an effect on is fuel efficiency, and one of the best ways to improve that is through weight reduction.
This is going to affect your bottom line in terms of how much it costs to run your truck. The weight also affects the performance of the truck, and the speed that it travels, with a lighter truck being faster.
If you are planning on moving a lot of stuff around in your truck curb weight is also going to impact your payload capacity.
Payload Capacity = Gross Vehicle Weight - Curb Weight
Your manufacturer is going to provide you with the gross vehicle weight (GVW), which is the maximum amount a vehicle can weigh. If you have a 10000 GVW and a curb weight of 4,798 lbs, you would have a payload capacity of is going to be very important when transporting certain items of a certain weight and is going to be something you need to think with when choosing your truck.
How Does The Ram 1500 Compare To Other Trucks?
You may be wondering, if curb weight is so important, how exactly does the Ram 1500 square up against the other trucks that are out there in terms of the curb weight? Also, how does this affect the truck’s performance?
- The Ram 1500 Curb Weight Ranges From 4,798 To 5372 Lbs
- The F-150 Curb Weight Ranges From 4069 To 5697 Lbs
- The Chevy Silverado Curb Weight Ranges From 4520 To 5240 Lbs
As seen above, the trim design you choose affects your curb weight somewhat, but Dodge, as with other manufacturers, is working to keep it low. The Ram does pretty well against the Chevy Silverado, as you can see in the table below, with the payload it can carry.
| Model | Max Tow Capacity | Max Haul (Payload) Capacity |
| Ram 1500 3.6L V6 | 7,320 pounds | 1,900 pounds |
| Ram 1500 5.7L HEMI V8 | 10,640 pounds | 1,720 pounds |
| Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | 12,200 pounds | 3,240 pounds |
| Ford F-150 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 | 10,900 pounds | 3,270 pounds |
| Chevy Silverado 4.3L V6 | 7,600 pounds | 1,980 pounds |
| Chevy Silverado 6.2 L V8 | 18,200 pounds | 2,160 pounds |
Looking at this table you might observe that the Ford seems to have a much larger capacity than its competitors, but whereas the capacities for the Ram 1500 are offered with the base engine models, Ford has that as an optional extra that you have to pay more for.
Choose the Model that is Right for You
If you are looking for a very functional and efficient truck, the Ram 1500 is a great option. If you look at the maximum payload for the Ram you will see that the newer model has increased the payload capacity. Dodge is looking to make the Ram 1500 as functional as possible - they have small Crew Cab models that have in-floor storage and the RamBox, which is a lit drainable, locking storage system which they have built into the side of the truck to give you more storage options.
Work out what you need to haul first, and once you have that nailed down, then you need to work out whether the truck you have in mind has the payload capacity you want. Look at the fuel efficiency and how that curb weight is going to possibly affect that. The price is also something you need to think about, and the fact that the F-150 has a potential larger capacity, but one which you have to pay for, versus the max payload capacity coming with base engine models with the Ram 1500 at $31,895 is definitely something to think about.
Suggested Reading
Want to learn more about the Ram 1500? Check out these posts too -
What are the common problems in the Ram 1500
How much should you be paying for a Ram 1500
You may also find this post about how much the Ford F-150 weighs interesting too. And if you're in the market for a truck - new or used - make sure you look at our Buying a Pickup Truck page for more information.