The Ram 4500 cab & chassis is one of the best flatbed platforms sold in Texas: Class 4 capability, a tight turning radius for a truck its size, and a huge selection of bodies that bolt straight on. The trick is matching body length to your cab-to-axle and being honest about payload. Here is how we spec them.

Ram 4500 chassis numbers that matter

Spec	Typical 2025–2026 Ram 4500
GVWR	16,500 lb
Rear wheels	DRW only
Engine options	6.7L Cummins / 6.4L HEMI
Common CA lengths	60″, 84″, 120″, 168″
Typical chassis curb weight	~7,600–8,300 lb
Body + payload budget	~8,200–8,900 lb
Gooseneck towing (properly equipped)	up to ~29,000–31,000 lb

Match the body to your CA

• 60″ CA → 9 ft body. Best maneuverability, common for hotshot-light and city service work. Deck space is limited once you add a headache rack.
• 84″ CA → 11 ft body. The most popular Ram 4500 flatbed configuration. Room for toolboxes, a gooseneck ball well forward of the axle, and a full pallet of material.
• 120″ CA → 12–14 ft body. Hauling pipe, lumber, bales or equipment. Watch your rear overhang and bridge weight if you also pull a heavy gooseneck.
• 168″ CA → 16 ft+ body. Specialty hauling only; check turning clearance for your yard.

Steel skirted vs open steel vs aluminum

Type	Weight (11 ft)	Best for	Trade-off
Skirted steel (CM SK, Norstar SD)	~1,400–1,700 lb	Service work, ranch, storage in the skirts	Heaviest option
Open steel flatbed (CM RD/TM, Bedrock Granite)	~1,000–1,400 lb	Hauling, gooseneck towing, hay	No built-in storage
Aluminum flatbed	~700–1,000 lb	Payload-critical hauling, corrosion resistance	Higher price, softer deck

For most Ram 4500 buyers we land on a CM RD or SK, a Norstar SD/SR, or a Bedrock Granite depending on whether storage or payload wins. All three are in stock in Wharton in DRW-specific configurations — see flatbed truck bodies for the full range.

Payload math, done properly

Take 16,500 lb GVWR, subtract about 8,000 lb of chassis, and you have roughly 8,500 lb to spend. An 11 ft skirted steel bed at 1,600 lb leaves ~6,900 lb. Now subtract fuel, two crew, a headache rack, toolboxes and tie-downs and you are realistically hauling 5,500–6,200 lb of cargo. If you also pull a gooseneck, remember the pin weight (typically 20–25% of trailer weight) lands on the truck’s payload, not the trailer’s axles — that alone can consume 3,000–5,000 lb.

Ram 4500 vs Ram 5500 for a flatbed

If your loaded pin weight plus cargo regularly exceeds about 6,000 lb, step up to the 5500 (19,500 lb GVWR). The bodies are identical; you are buying axle, spring and brake capacity. If you mostly haul deck loads under 5,000 lb and want the easier-driving truck, the 4500 is the better buy.

Options worth ordering up front

• Gooseneck ball and rear receiver plumbed and wired during install — cheaper than retrofitting
• Rear-facing work lights and LED clearance lighting for night jobs
• Under-bed toolboxes on an open flatbed, or skirt boxes on a skirted bed
• Powder-coat finish (we do not stock galvanized beds) and a bed liner on wood decks
• Headache rack with a window guard if you strap pipe or lumber

Get a Real Quote — Installed, Not Estimated

Star Truck Equipment is at 2507 County Rd 231 in Wharton, TX, about an hour southwest of Houston. We stock beds and bodies from Bedrock, CM, Norstar, NXG, Pronghorn and RKI, and most in-stock installs are done in one business day. Call (979) 532-1486 with your year, make, model, cab-to-axle and wheel setup and we’ll tell you exactly what fits and what it costs installed — or browse current inventory.