Ram 2500 vs Ford F-250: Engines, Towing, Price and Resale

The Ford F-250 has more diesel horsepower (475 or 500 hp vs 430 hp) and a higher maximum towing rating (23,000 lb gooseneck vs 20,000 lb). The Ram 2500 counters with the 1,075 lb-ft Cummins inline-six and a coil-spring rear suspension. Base prices are within $320 for 2026, and resale values track closely.

By CarWhere Research · Updated November 3, 2026

Engines: Ram 2500 vs F-250

Ram 2500 and Ford F-250 engines with manufacturer-rated horsepower and torque (2026 model year)
Truck	Engine	Output (hp / lb-ft)
6.4L HEMI V8 (gas, std)	Ram 2500	405 hp / 429 lb-ft
6.7L Cummins High Output I6 turbo-diesel	Ram 2500	430 hp / 1,075 lb-ft
6.8L V8 (gas, std)	Ford F-250	405 hp / 445 lb-ft
7.3L V8 (gas)	Ford F-250	430 hp / 485 lb-ft
6.7L Power Stroke V8 turbo-diesel	Ford F-250	475 hp / 1,050 lb-ft
6.7L High Output Power Stroke V8 turbo-diesel	Ford F-250	500 hp / 1,200 lb-ft

Ram's Cummins High Output is the only diesel listed for 2025–2027 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups; for 2027 Ram also makes it available on the Power Wagon. Ford pairs every Super Duty engine with a 10-speed automatic; Ram uses eight-speed TorqueFlite automatics. For the engine-by-engine comparison including GM's Duramax, see Cummins vs Duramax vs Power Stroke.

Towing and payload

Maximum manufacturer towing ratings for Ram 2500 and Ford F-250 by engine, in pounds
Configuration	Ram 2500 (lb)	Ford F-250 (lb)
Gas, maximum	17,740 (6.4L HEMI, 2027 prelim.)	18,200 conventional / 19,500 gooseneck (7.3L)
Diesel, conventional	20,000 (Cummins HO; Ram maximum)	22,000 (6.7L or 6.7L H.O.)
Diesel, 5th-wheel / gooseneck	20,000 (Ram maximum, any hitch)	23,000 (6.7L H.O. gooseneck)

Ram 2026 Ram 2500 page and Ram's preliminary 2027 Heavy Duty ratings; Ford 2026 RV & Trailer Towing Guide. Ford's F-250 conventional ratings above 18,200 lb require the High-Capacity Axle Upgrade Package (535). Ratings vary by cab, bed, axle and options.

On payload, Ram's preliminary 2027 figures list up to 4,580 lb for a HEMI 2500 and 3,990 lb with the Cummins; for more, Ram offers an $835 Payload Upgrade Package on select trims. Ford publishes payload by configuration — check the door-jamb label of the specific truck. If you need more than either 2500-class truck offers, the next step is a one-ton: see the Ram 3500 build sheet page and Ford Super Duty trim levels.

Price

2026 base MSRP for the Ram 2500 and Ford F-250, in US dollars
Truck	Base trim	Base MSRP (USD)
2026 Ram 2500	Tradesman	$45,995
2026 Ford F-250	XL Regular Cab 4x2	$45,675 (excl. $2,195 destination)

Ram 2026 Ram 2500 page (read November 3, 2026); Ford Authority's November 2025 pricing report ($47,870 including destination). See dealer invoice price by model for how much room there may be below sticker.

Depreciation: which holds value better?

Ram 2500 vs Ford F-250: median used asking price and percent below new, by age
Age	Ram 2500 median price (USD)	Ram 2500 below new (%)	Ford F-250 median price (USD)	Ford F-250 below new (%)
New (2026)	$75,299	—	$86,182	—
1 year old	$53,997	28.3%	$59,994	30.4%
3 years old	$46,807	37.8%	$55,511	35.6%
5 years old	$39,372	47.7%	$46,165	46.4%
8 years old	$30,999	58.8%	$32,799	61.9%

CarWhere live-listing depreciation study, data as of 2026-10-25. “Below new” compares the median asking price of that model year with the median price of a new one today; model-level medians mix trims, cabs and options. Full curves: Ram 2500 depreciation and Ford F-250 depreciation.

Which should you buy?

Choose the Ram 2500 if you want the Cummins inline-six's torque, a coil-spring rear for a smoother unloaded ride, or the Power Wagon off-road model.
Choose the F-250 if you need the most diesel horsepower, a gas engine with more torque (7.3L), or the highest 2500-class tow ratings.
Either way, check model-year history: Ram 2500 years to avoid, Ram reliability by model and the 6.7 Power Stroke engine guide. The Ram configuration options are covered on the Ram 2500 build sheet page.

Shopping a used Ram 2500? Confirm the drivetrain first

Axle ratio, engine and tow packages decide what a heavy-duty Ram can pull — and listings often get them wrong. Check the exact factory options of the truck before you buy. Enter the VIN on the Ram build sheet page: the availability check is free, and you pay $9.99 only if detailed build data exists for that truck.

Ram build sheet by VIN

Free availability check first · $9.99 one-time only if detailed build data exists for the VIN · no subscription

FAQ

Which tows more, the Ram 2500 or the F-250?

On paper, the F-250. Ford’s 2026 towing guide lists up to 22,000 lb conventional and 23,000 lb gooseneck for a properly equipped F-250 diesel, while Ram lists a maximum of 20,000 lb for the 2500 with the Cummins. Your actual rating depends on cab, bed, axle ratio and options — check the door-jamb label and the manufacturer’s chart.

Is the Cummins or Power Stroke more powerful in a 2500-class truck?

The Power Stroke. Ford rates the 2026 6.7L Power Stroke at 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft, and the High Output version at 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft. Ram rates the 6.7L Cummins High Output at 430 hp and 1,075 lb-ft, so it out-torques Ford’s standard diesel but not the High Output.

Which is cheaper, the Ram 2500 or the F-250?

They start within a few hundred dollars. Ram lists the 2026 Ram 2500 Tradesman from $45,995, and the 2026 F-250 XL regular cab 4x2 starts at $45,675 before Ford’s $2,195 destination charge. The diesel is an extra-cost option on both, so compare like-for-like cab, bed, drivetrain and engine configurations.

Does the Ram 2500 ride better than the F-250?

The Ram 2500 uses a five-link coil-spring rear suspension (with available rear air suspension), while the F-250 uses leaf springs. Coil springs generally ride more smoothly when unloaded; leaf springs are the traditional choice for heavy loads. Test-drive both with the load you plan to carry.

Which holds its value better, the Ram 2500 or F-250?

They are close in CarWhere’s live-listing data. At five years old the median Ram 2500 Pickup is listed 47.7% below the median new price, versus 46.4% for the F-250 Super Duty. At one year the Ram sits closer to new (28.3% below vs 30.4%).

Sources

Ram — What’s new for 2027: Ram Heavy Duty (ramtrucks.com) — HEMI 405 hp / 429 lb-ft; Cummins HO 430 hp / 1,075 lb-ft; preliminary 2027 tow and payload ratings
Ram — 2026 Ram 2500 (ramtrucks.com) — Tradesman from $45,995; 20,000 lb max diesel towing
Ford — 2026 Super Duty specifications (ford.com) — 6.8L, 7.3L, 6.7L and 6.7L H.O. ratings
Ford — 2026 RV & Trailer Towing Guide (revised 11-24-25) — F-250 SRW: 22,000 lb conventional, 23,000 lb gooseneck (6.7L H.O.)
Ford Authority — 2026 Super Duty pricing (Nov 2025) — F-250 XL $47,870 including $2,195 destination
CarWhere — Car depreciation by model (live-listing study)

Specs are manufacturer-published and were read on November 3, 2026. Ram's 2027 tow and payload figures are labeled preliminary by Ram. MSRPs exclude destination unless stated and change during the model year.