Ram Dakota, Rampage, and 2500: Which Pickup Actually Tows a Horse Trailer?
media.stellantis.com
Ram is showing three pickups at Brazil's Mangalarga Marchador horse show, from the compact Rampage to the heavy-duty 2500 rated to tow nearly 9,000 kg.
A pickup for a horse trailer isn’t chosen by engine power alone — towing capacity, payload, and hitch specifications matter more. At the Mangalarga Marchador show in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Ram is showing three different answers: the midsize Dakota, the more compact Rampage, and the heavy-duty 2500, rated to tow trailers up to 8,948 kg. The event runs from July 18 to August 1, 2026.
Dakota comes in Warlock and Laramie Night Edition trims. Its 2.2-liter turbodiesel makes 200 hp and 450 Nm, paired with an eight-speed automatic. The four-wheel-drive system supports an automatic mode, low-range gearing, and a rear differential lock. The Laramie Night Edition officially costs 329,990 reais.
Rampage Laramie is available with the same diesel or the 2.0 Hurricane 4 Flex gasoline engine, rated at 272 hp and 400 Nm. It runs a nine-speed automatic with automatically engaging all-wheel drive. This version is aimed more at daily driving and moderate loads, since the release doesn’t list a maximum towing figure for the Rampage.
The Ram 2500 runs a Cummins 6.7 High-Output diesel making 436 hp and 1,458 Nm, paired with an eight-speed automatic. Payload tops out at 1,287 kg. That figure covers passengers, bed cargo, and the trailer’s vertical load, so the rated 8,948 kg towing figure can’t be used without calculating the full combined weight.
Before hauling horses, check the trailer’s own weight along with the animals and gear, the allowable hitch load, whether the trailer has its own brakes, and the driver’s license requirements. Peak engine torque doesn’t make up for an overloaded rear axle or poorly distributed weight.
