A Ram chassis cab is a heavy duty Ram that leaves the factory with a cab and a bare frame behind it, with no box, so a body can be built on it for the job: a flat deck, a service body, a dump box or a plow setup. The short answer on the three models is that the 3500, 4500 and 5500 share the same two engines and the same upfit ready frame, and the weight ratings, towing and payload climb as the number does. If you would rather order one built around the body you need, our guide to factory ordering a Ram in Canada walks through how an order works.
Across Manitoba these trucks earn their keep on gravel grid roads, in municipal equipment yards, on farm lanes and on job sites. If you are shopping the heavy end of the lineup, browse our new Ram 3500 inventory and ask our team about chassis cab models and timing.
Key Takeaways
- Same engines across the line. Ram's 2026 Chassis Cab Canada press kit lists the 6.4 litre HEMI V8 (375 horsepower, 429 lb ft) and the 6.7 litre Cummins HO Turbo Diesel I6 (360 horsepower, 800 lb ft), each with an eight speed automatic.
- The ratings climb by model. The same press kit lists a top GVWR of 14,000 lb on the 3500 (with a package), 16,500 lb on the 4500 and 19,500 lb on the 5500 (with a package).
- Four cab to axle lengths: 1,524, 2,134, 2,743 and 3,048 mm (60, 84, 108 and 120 inches), so the frame matches the body.
- The body comes from an upfitter. Ask our team about upfitters for the body you need.
- Licence class depends on the trailer, not the badge. Manitoba Public Insurance's Class 5 covers "A truck with two axles"; a trailer with a registered gross weight over 4,540 kg moves you into Class 3.
The Three Ram Chassis Cab Models at a Glance
| Model (2026) | Top GVWR, Ram Canada press kit | Fits jobs like |
|---|---|---|
| Ram 3500 Chassis Cab | 14,000 lb (about 6,350 kg), with package | service body, small deck, plow |
| Ram 4500 Chassis Cab | 16,500 lb (about 7,484 kg) | dump box, larger deck |
| Ram 5500 Chassis Cab | 19,500 lb (about 8,845 kg), with package | heavier deck or dump, heavier trailers |
The press kit prints GVWR in pounds, and the kilograms are our conversion. GVWR changes with the cab, the drive and the packages, and some packages on the 4500 carry a lower rating, so the window sticker and the order guide settle the number for one truck.
What Ram Canada Lists for the 2026 Chassis Cab
The 2026 Ram Chassis Cab Canada press kit from Stellantis Canada (dated May 1, 2026) is the source for the figures here.
Engines. The 6.4 litre HEMI V8 makes 375 horsepower and 429 lb ft. The 6.7 litre Cummins HO Turbo Diesel I6 makes 360 horsepower and 800 lb ft. The press kit pairs each with the TorqueFlite HD eight speed automatic.
Towing, by the press kit's maximums. With the Cummins, up to 11,648 kg (25,680 lb) on the 3500, up to 13,354 kg (29,440 lb) on the 4500, and up to 15,594 kg (34,380 lb) on the 5500. Each is a maximum for a properly equipped configuration, not a promise for every truck.
Payload, and a detail worth knowing. On the 4500 and 5500, the HEMI versions list the higher maximum payload: up to 5,611 kg on a HEMI 5500 against up to 5,230 kg on a Cummins 5500, and up to 4,259 kg against 3,883 kg on the 4500. If the job is carrying weight more than pulling it, price both engines.
Frame and upfit features. The press kit lists cab to axle lengths of 60, 84, 108 and 120 inches, "No components or lines above the rear frame rails", through the frame plumbing and electrical, and power take off (PTO) capability for left and right side operation. It also lists the Heavy Duty Snow Plow Prep Group as standard on the Ram 3500 Chassis Cab and available on the 4500 and 5500.
Equipment changes by trim, cab and package, so read the window sticker for the build in front of you. For 2027, Ram has announced a Night Edition appearance package for the Chassis Cab, and our post on what's new for 2027 Ram heavy duty covers the wider lineup.
Who Orders Which One
The Ram 3500 Chassis Cab
The 3500 is the lightest of the three and the closest to a pickup in how it drives. It suits a service body for a plumber, electrician or mechanic, a small deck for hauling seed totes or fencing supplies around the farm, or a truck that pulls a grain or equipment trailer on the weekends. If what you really want is a pickup with a box, our post on the Ram 3500 dually versus single rear wheel is the better starting point.
The Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cab
Step up when the body itself is heavy or the load is. A dump box for a landscaper or a gravel contractor, a larger steel deck, a crane or a heavier trailer are 4500 and 5500 jobs. The 5500 carries the highest ratings in the press kit, so it is the one to look at when the body, the load and the trailer all add up.
The Plow Truck
A rural municipality, a contractor clearing commercial lots or an acreage owner with a long lane can all justify a plow truck. Ram lists the Heavy Duty Snow Plow Prep Group as standard on the 3500 Chassis Cab, which makes it a natural place to start. The plow, the mount and any sander are upfit items, sized to the truck's front axle and ratings.
If the work fits inside a van instead, read our post on the Ram ProMaster for Manitoba businesses.
How an Upfit Works, and Who Does It
An upfit is the body and equipment built onto the bare frame after the truck leaves Ram's plant. In plain steps:
- Start with the body. Decide what goes on the back: a deck, a service body, a dump box, a plow setup.
- Match the cab to axle length. The body builder tells you which length the body needs, and that sets the truck you order.
- Check the ratings. The body, the equipment and the load all count against the GVWR, so the model choice follows the weight.
- The upfitter builds it. A body builder or upfitter installs the body, the wiring, the lights and any PTO driven equipment. Ram Canada publishes a Body Builder guide on its site for upfitters.
- Plan the timing. The upfit has its own lead time after the chassis arrives, so work backward from the day you need the truck working.
Ask our team about upfitters for the body you need, and settle the body before you settle the truck.
Licence Classes in Manitoba
This is where buyers get caught. Manitoba Public Insurance's "Types of driving licences" page says Class 5 allows you to operate "A truck with two axles." and "A combination of vehicles consisting of a passenger car or truck with two axles and a towed vehicle with a registered gross vehicle weight of up to 4,540 kg." A Ram chassis cab leaves the factory with a front and a rear axle, and dual rear wheels do not add an axle.
The same page lists Class 3 as covering "A combination of vehicles consisting of a truck with not more than two axles and a towed vehicle with a registered gross weight of more than 4,540 kg." So the badge on the truck is not what moves you up a class. A heavy trailer behind it is.
Two more lines from MPI matter here. Class 5 also lists that a driver "May operate Class 3 vehicles registered as a farm truck and the driver holds a Class 5I (Intermediate stage) licence or 5F (Full stage) licence." And MPI's air brake endorsement "permits the holder to drive vehicles equipped with air brakes in the class of vehicle for which the person is licensed." Confirm the brake system of any truck and trailer on its spec sheet, and confirm your own setup with Manitoba Public Insurance before you hire a driver.
Living With a Chassis Cab in a Manitoba Winter
Cold starts. The press kit lists glow plugs on the Cummins "to deliver reliable starts in cold environments." Check the window sticker for an engine block heater before the first minus 30 morning; if a truck does not have one, our service department installs block heaters.
Salt and gravel. A chassis cab spends its winter on salted highways and sanded grid roads, and the body adds mounts, wiring and lights underneath. Rinse the frame, the body mounts and the lights after a run of salted highway, the same as you would the underbody.
Length and visibility. A deck or a dump box adds length you cannot see over, which makes backing into a snowy yard or up to a loading dock harder than with a pickup. Plan the mirrors and any camera with your upfitter.
Spring. Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure runs a Spring Road Restrictions program that reduces allowable axle weights on some roads during the spring thaw. Check the province's current order before you route a loaded truck.
Maintenance. Our service department does oil and filter changes, gas and diesel, and exhaust and emissions work including DPF and EGR. When the truck is due, book chassis cab service with our team.
Paying for It and Trading In
Replacing a working truck? Find out what your current truck is worth before you order. If you plan to finance, you can apply for financing online; any approval, rate or term is on approved credit. Ask our team which current Ram finance offers apply to a chassis cab.
FAQs
What is a Ram chassis cab?
A Ram chassis cab is a heavy duty Ram built with a cab and a bare frame, with no box, so a body such as a deck, service body or dump box can be built on it. Ram offers it as the 3500, 4500 and 5500.
What is the difference between the Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 chassis cab?
The weight ratings, towing and payload. Ram's 2026 Canada press kit lists a top GVWR of 14,000 lb on the 3500 with a package, 16,500 lb on the 4500 and 19,500 lb on the 5500 with a package, with the same HEMI V8 and Cummins engine choices on all three.
Do I need a Class 3 licence to drive a Ram 5500 in Manitoba?
Not for a two axle truck on its own, by Manitoba Public Insurance's wording: Class 5 covers "A truck with two axles." Towing a trailer with a registered gross weight over 4,540 kg puts the combination in Class 3. Confirm your exact setup with MPI.
Which cab to axle length do I need?
The one your body builder specifies for the body. Ram lists 60, 84, 108 and 120 inch cab to axle lengths (1,524, 2,134, 2,743 and 3,048 mm), and the body sets which one you order.
Does Dunn Ram Trucks do upfits?
The body is built by an upfitter or body builder after the truck leaves Ram's plant. Ask our team about upfitters for the body you need.
The Bottom Line
A Ram chassis cab is chosen backward from the work. Settle the body first, let the body set the cab to axle length, let the weight of the body, the load and the trailer pick the 3500, 4500 or 5500, and pick the engine on whether the job is carrying or pulling. Check your licence class against the trailer you will pull, and plan the upfit lead time before you order. When you are ready, start with our new Ram 3500 inventory and ask our team about building the truck to your job.
Tyler Dunn, Dunn Ram Trucks, Portage la Prairie
