I thought to stick this in a separate post from the original thread since it might make it easier to search the next time someone is looking for this.
Answers found. Contrary to some numbers provided by others and some resulting debate, the sales literature available from the dealership made it all much clearer.
As Tom Lawrence correctly stated, the MAXIMUM *TOWING* CAPACITY of the '06 Ram 3500 is in fact 16,250 pounds - AND - read the fine print.
The fine print says "WHEN PROPERLY EQUIPPED". Now, as applied to the 3500, "Properly Equipped" to achieve the 16,250-lb maximum towing capacity means specifically **ALL SIX** of the following configuration specifications:
1 - Cummins Turbo-Diesel engine, mandatory2 - SINGLE Rear Wheels! (Sorry dually fans, the DRW option reduces the max tow capacity by 400 pounds to compensate for the added weight of that option)
3 - 2 Wheel Drive! (Sorry again 4X4 fans, the 4X4 option reduces the max tow capacity by another 400 pounds to compensate for the added weight of that option.4 - 4.10:1 rear axle ratio required (with the 3.73 you actually sacrifice a whopping 2000 lbs of your towing capacity)
5 - Automatic transmission (the manual tranny was rated 3000 lbs less)6 - Long bed. (Long bed vs short bed had only 50 lbs impact, oddly the long bed was rated higher. Go figure)
IMPORTANT - Don't confuse GCWR ratings with TOWING capacity. The GCWR number (23,000 lbs) means the combined weight of the tow vehicle plus the weight you are wanting to tow (GCWR = Weight of fully-loaded truck + the weight of the fully-loaded trailer, the two weights added together).
Finally, 2500 vs 3500? No big surprises here. From the *SPECS* it appears the 3500 out-pulls a similarly equipped 2500 by approx. 2,750 pounds. But wait a second... On the 2500 (again from published specs) the axle ratio (3.73 vs 4.10) suddenly makes no difference, both being rated at 13,400 pounds. I don't know about you but this makes me a bit suspicious here. Why would the 4.10 rear-end boost the 3500's tug specs but not the 2500's? Uhuh...
Honestly? Methinks the only reason to get a 3500 (other than bragging rights) would be to get the dually. I think the trucks are otherwise closer to being two peas in a pod than Chryco would have (or want) us to believe.