Dodge RAM VAN
Built: 1981-2001 · Series: RAM
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
RAM 1500, 2500, 3500 — the number is a payload in pounds
The figures 1500, 2500 and 3500 are not model names but a legacy of measurement: they originally denoted payload in American pounds. The principle has held — the higher the number, the greater the payload. In kilograms, a 1500 carries around 700 kg, a 2500 about 1,200 kg and a 3500 roughly 1,700 kg.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The difference is not only on paper, though. Axles, transmissions and frame are consistently stronger on the 2500 and 3500 than on the 1500. That explains why the 1500 is regarded as a comfortable everyday vehicle and the heavy models as working tools — they share a name, not a substance.
The engines divide the range too. The 6.7-litre Cummins six-cylinder turbodiesel is available only in the 2500 and 3500; it was never offered in the 1500, nor was the 6.4-litre HEMI. The HEMI name denotes no series but a combustion chamber shape: hemispherical, a design feature of Chrysler V8s for decades.
Anyone assessing a vehicle should therefore read model year and engine together. For the 2025 model year the HEMI V8 in the regular 1500 range was replaced by Hurricane-family inline sixes of up to 540 hp — the same type number, a fundamentally different machine.
Sources: Wikipedia: Dodge Ram, auto motor und sport
Technical data
Engine
| Power | 171 kWcorrect |
|---|---|
| Cylinders | 8correct |
| Displacement | 5,210 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 5,320 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,960 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 3,240 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 2,223 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 3,947 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 76.9 kW/t (171 kW / 2.2 t)
Stronger than 26% of the trucks over 7.5 t in the register — out of 27,776 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Dodge RAM VAN have?
The Dodge RAM VAN delivers 171 kW.
How much does the Dodge RAM VAN weigh?
The unladen weight is 2,223 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Dodge RAM VAN?
3,947 kg.
What engine does the Dodge RAM VAN have?
8 cylinders, 5,210 cm³ displacement.
What are the dimensions of the Dodge RAM VAN?
5,320 mm × 1,960 mm.
When was the Dodge RAM VAN built?
Production years: 1981-2001.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
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This page carries 12 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
4D RAM 2500-4X4/357
RAM 1500 E-TORQUE
RAM 1500 LARAMIE
RAM 1500 LARAMIE CREW CAB 4X4
RAM 1500 MEGA CAB 4X4 LARAMIE
RAM 1500 SLT CREW CAB
RAM 1500 SLT CREW CAB 4X4
RAM 1500 SLT QUADCAB 4X4
RAM 1500 SPORT
RAM 1500 SPORT CREW CAB 4X4
RAM 1500 SPORT QUAD CAB 4X4
RAM 1500 TRX
Truck in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.