Work Trucks and Vans for Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver and Boise Builders

New subdivisions in the Phoenix valley, warehouses around Las Vegas, apartment towers along Denver's light-rail lines and housing tracts outside Boise and Spokane all need the same thing: trades that show up with tools, materials and a trailer. Plumbers, electricians, framers, landscapers and HVAC crews live in their vehicles. The work truck is a tool, and the buyer's job is matching its rating to what it actually carries.

This guide compares Ram's commercial lineup for 2027, from the compact ProMaster City to the 5500 Chassis Cab. Prices are starting MSRP before destination, and they change.

The numbers at a glance

Maximums come from different engines and configurations, so treat the table as a ceiling for each family. Always confirm the exact truck's rating on its door label.

Vehicle	Entry price	Max tow	Max payload
ProMaster City Cargo	$37,400	About 2,000 lbs (targeted)	2,200 lbs (targeted)
ProMaster Cargo Van (Tradesman)	$46,370	7,130 lbs	4,750 lbs
Ram 2500 Tradesman	$48,040	20,000 lbs (diesel)	4,580 lbs (HEMI with package)
Ram 3500 Tradesman	$49,340	37,020 lbs (diesel)	7,580 lbs (HEMI)
Chassis Cab 3500 Tradesman	$49,170	25,680 lbs (diesel)	7,710 lbs (HEMI)
Chassis Cab 4500 Tradesman	$56,420	29,440 lbs (diesel)	9,390 lbs (HEMI)
Chassis Cab 5500 Tradesman	$57,620	34,540 lbs (diesel)	12,370 lbs (HEMI)

Ram lists the 2500 and 3500 pickup ratings as preliminary.

Pickups: Ram 2500 and 3500

A half-ton is a poor fit for daily loads of block, drywall or sod. The 2500 starts the heavy-duty class, and its Tradesman begins at $48,040 as a Regular Cab with an 8-foot bed. The HEMI 2500 can carry 4,580 pounds when it has the $835 Payload Upgrade Package, which raises GVWR to 11,040 pounds. The Cummins diesel tows up to 20,000 pounds but carries less, at 3,990.

The Ram 3500 is the better pick for steady heavy hauling. The HEMI version carries up to 7,580 pounds, and the diesel tows up to 37,020 with the Max Tow package. Dual rear wheels give stability under a gooseneck trailer. Its Tradesman starts at $49,340 in Regular Cab and $52,960 as a Crew Cab. A Crew Cab seats a full crew, but it shortens the bed, so check the length against your material.

Fleet-friendly choices are practical ones. On the 3500 Tradesman, the Commercial Features Package ($495) adds a 115-volt outlet and a 400-watt inverter. On the 2500 Tradesman, the Level 1 group ($2,295) adds tinted acoustic glass, dual-zone climate control and remote keyless entry, among other items. The Spray-In Bedliner sits inside Bed Utility Group ($895 on most 2500 and 3500 trims).

Chassis Cab: when the body is the product

Dump trucks, flatbeds, service bodies and utility beds start here. Ram Chassis Cab comes as a 3500, 4500 or 5500, with a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 standard (375 hp) or a Cummins diesel (360 hp, 800 lb-ft) as an option. Cab-to-axle lengths run from 60 to 120 inches on Regular Cabs, and 3500 Crew Cabs come only in 60 inches.

Weight ratings climb with each step.

• 3500: GVWR 11,040 to 12,000 pounds single rear wheel, 13,500 dual
• 4500: GVWR 15,000 to 16,500 pounds
• 5500: GVWR 18,000 to 19,500 pounds

The Payload Upgrade Package ($95) lists a 19,500-pound GVW rating, a cheap item to price out if you are close to the limit. The weight of any body, toolboxes and a crane comes out of payload, so ask the upfitter for the finished weight before you choose. The chassis also offers a fuel capacity of up to 74 gallons, an optional inverter up to 2.4 kW, and a dual-alternator system up to 480 amps for powered equipment. Tradesman Level 2 ($2,945) adds a 115-volt outlet, a 400-watt inverter and a telematics module.

ProMaster: the van for tools and parts

For electricians, plumbers and HVAC companies, a van keeps materials dry and locked. The Ram ProMaster is front-wheel drive with a low load floor, a 276-hp V6 and a 9-speed automatic. Choose among 118-, 136- and 159-inch wheelbases, three roof heights, and up to 524 cubic feet of cargo space. Payload peaks at 4,750 pounds on the 3500 cargo van, and the 1500 tows up to 7,130.

Prices start at $44,105 for the Tradesman cutaway and $46,370 for the Tradesman Cargo Van. SLT and SLT+ add comfort items, but the Tradesman suits most fleets. Two options matter for upfitters: the Upfitter's Prep Package ($495) adds auxiliary switches and an upfitter electronic module, and the Power Group ($495) adds a 115-volt outlet, a rear 12-volt outlet and a 220-amp alternator. For Denver, Spokane or Boise winters, the Cold Weather Group ($1,695 on Tradesman) adds a heated windshield, heated seats and adaptive cruise control.

The ProMaster EV pairs a 110 kWh battery with 268 hp and is quoted at up to 164 miles of range with 3,170 pounds of payload. It suits dense, predictable routes where a depot charges every night. Hot afternoons in Phoenix or Las Vegas draw more power for cooling, so expect less than the listed range.

ProMaster City: the small-business option

The all-new ProMaster City is a midsize van that stands just under 77 inches tall, so it clears most garages. It uses a 166-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. Ram targets 2,200 pounds of payload and about 2,000 pounds of towing with the optional Class 3 hitch, and its cargo floor is 111 inches long.

The Tradesman Cargo starts at $37,400, and the SLT Cargo at $38,900. Dealer arrivals are expected in the first quarter of 2027. It fits a handyman, a mobile detailer or a courier. It does not fit a crew that hauls pipe or drywall; step up to the full-size ProMaster for that.

Heat and altitude

Western work trucks face more than load. Jobsites in Phoenix and Las Vegas can see extreme summer heat, which stresses cooling systems, batteries and tires. Park in shade when you can, keep fluids and tire pressures checked, and favor the next step up in capacity so a loaded vehicle is not working at its limit.

Altitude matters on I-70 west of Denver and on mountain routes around Boise. Thinner air costs naturally aspirated engines some power, while turbocharged engines such as the Cummins diesel and the City's four-cylinder cope better. Heavy loads going down a long grade also lean on the brakes, so match the rating to the route, not just the destination.

Choosing quickly

If your crew carries tools and small parts, a ProMaster or the ProMaster City is the economical choice. If you haul material and tow a trailer, the Ram 2500 or 3500 Tradesman is the baseline. If a body is going on the back, start with Chassis Cab and let the upfitter's weight figure drive the decision.