The Battle for Heavy-Duty Supremacy: The Chevy Silverado 2500 HD vs The 2024 Ram 2500

When buying a heavy-duty truck, one of the most important considerations is capability. Heavy-duty trucks are designed to handle the toughest jobs by towing heavy trailers and carrying large payloads. This is certainly the case for folks who live and work in Covington. This town is not only filled with historic places like MainStrasse Village and St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, but it also has scenic vistas like Devour Park and George Rogers Clark Park. Lying just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, the workers in Covington often find themselves serving clients in two states. So, if you are considering a heavy-duty truck, two of the most capable to look at are the 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD and the 2024 Ram 2500.

Finding the dealer with the best assortment of heavy-duty trucks to choose from can be a challenge. This is why so many drivers looking for a Chevy Silverado 2500 for sale near Covington head over to Dan Cummins Chevrolet Buick of Georgetown. We offer an unrivaled selection of Chevy Silverado 2500 trucks to choose from so you can get the features you desire. Chevy offers the Silverado 2500 with an incredible number of different trim levels, engine options, drivetrains, and cab styles, so you can get exactly what you are looking for when you buy one here.

A Look at Powertrain Options

When you look at the 2024 models of the Chevy Silverado 2500 and the Ram 2500, you will see that both trucks come with either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. Choosing rear-wheel drive improves trailering capability, while four-wheel drive gives you better overall traction. Beyond that, both trucks come with two different engines. This makes comparing performance and capability easy, since each has a standard conventional gas engine with an available turbo-diesel option.

The gas engine on the Silverado 2500 is a 6.6-liter V8 gas engine. This comes paired with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain combination can produce up to 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque. In contrast, the Ram 2500 has a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This engine has been called the Apache and produces up to 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. So, as you can see, the Ram will give you slightly more horsepower with its conventional gas engine, while you will get considerably more torque when you choose the Chevy. This will have an impact on capability.

When you look at the available diesel engines on the two trucks, you will see that the one on the Chevy Silverado 2500 is more powerful than that on the Ram 2500. Chevy offers an available 6.6-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8 engine. Like the gas engine, this comes paired with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. There is an engine block heater and a winter grille cover for use during cold weather, so you won’t have any issues getting it started. The powertrain on this truck combines to produce 470 hp and 975 lb-ft of torque. The Ram 2500’s diesel engine is clearly less powerful. This is a 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo-Diesel I-6 with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It can deliver up to 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque.

How Much Can Each Model Tow?

There are a number of different factors that can determine the maximum towing capacity of a truck. Things like gross vehicle weight, cab style, and drivetrain choice will either help increase or decrease this number. However, the biggest factor comes down to engine choice. Some engines will provide more torque, which allows for more towing strength at lower engine RPMs. This is why the 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 outperforms the Ram 2500 regarding trailering.

If you opt for a Silverado 2500 with the 6.6-liter V8 gas engine, you can tow up to 18,700 lbs depending on which trim level, cab style, and drivetrain you choose. The Ram 2500 with the 6.4-liter HEMI V8 has a maximum towing capability of only 17,730 pounds. This means you will have over 1,000 pounds of extra towing capability when you choose the Chevy.

We see the same thing with the turbo-diesel engine options on these two heavy-duty trucks. The Silverado 2500 with the 6.6-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8 can tow up to 22,510 lbs. Meanwhile, the Ram 2500, with the available 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo-Diesel, can only tow up to 19,990 lbs. This is a difference of over 2,500 lbs. This will make a major difference if you plan to use your heavy-duty truck to tow equipment for work or boats, campers, or other recreational vehicles for fun.

Payload Capacities

There are two key factors for determining your heavy-duty truck’s capacity when it comes to hauling loads. The first is engine capability, and the other is payload bed size. In comparing the two trucks, we see some interesting outcomes. If you choose the Chevy Silverado 2500 with the 6.6-liter V8 gas engine, you can carry up to 3,689 lbs of cargo. This is less than the maximum 4,000-pound cargo rating of the Ram 2500 with the 6.4-liter HEMI V8. However, the Silverado 2500 will give you more cargo space, regardless of which payload bed size you choose.

Each of these two trucks offers two payload bed sizes. The standard bed on the Silverado 2500 measures 6’9” and offers up to 69.5 cu.ft. of cargo space. This is significantly larger than the standard bed on the Ram 2500, which measures 6’4” and fits only 57.5 cu.ft. of cargo. This same difference can be seen if you choose a long bed on your heavy-duty truck, despite the Chevy and the Ram having long boxes of 8’2”. The Chevy has 83.5 cu.ft. of cargo space, while the Ram only offers 74.7 cu.ft. of space.

If you decide on a diesel engine for your heavy-duty truck, the Chevy Silverado 2500 will give you more carrying capacity and space than the Ram 2500. The Silverado 2500, with the available 6.6-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel, can carry up to 3,615 pounds of cargo. The Ram 2500 with the optional 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo-Diesel has a maximum cargo capacity of only 3,150 pounds. This is in addition to the fact that Chevy provides more space inside of its payload boxes.

There is one other factor to consider when deciding between these two trucks when hauling cargo. When you choose a Chevy Silverado 2500, you have the ability to add a Multi-Flex Tailgate to your truck. This comes with six different functions, making loading and unloading your truck easier than ever. This includes the ability to turn the tailgate into a workbench.

For Heavy-Duty Strength, Choose the 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD

When you need to carry a large load or tow a heavy trailer, you don’t want to get caught short. This is especially true if you have something important to do in Cincinnati or Lexington and must drive from Covington. The 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 is built for these long-hauls and short trips, giving you more trailering capability and payload capacity than comparable models of the 2024 Ram 2500. This is the same no matter which powertrain you choose on your heavy-duty truck.

In addition, the Silverado 2500 has features like the Multi-Flex Tailgate and available payload box power source that improve the capability and functionality of your heavy-duty truck, regardless of whether you are using it for work, play, or a little of both. Head into our dealership today and see why your next heavy-duty truck should be a 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 from us!