Towing capacity has always been a significant part of a truck’s appeal. It’s like a high-top speed for car enthusiasts. The bigger the number, the better.
Which truck is your best option when you need to tow something that weighs a lot? Is it a titan pickup? Or is it another vehicle? It’s time to find out.
GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD
The Sierra HD is the best towing vehicle made by GMC. It is available with GM’s 6.6-liter diesel in three-quarter-ton 2500 and one-ton 3500 variants. The turbocharged V-8, which has 445 horsepower and a massive 910 pound-feet of torque, pulls a lot more weight than its 401-hp 6.6-liter normally aspirated gas V-8 counterpart thanks to an Allison-sourced 10-speed automatic transmission.
The 2500 model of this truck can tow a maximum of 14,500 pounds; add the diesel engine, and that number jumps to 18,500 pounds. With the 3500 model, you can tow up to 20,000 pounds with the diesel and 16,800 pounds with the gas engine. It can haul a fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer up to 36,000 pounds when properly equipped.
Ram 2500HD and 3500HD
Ram’s three-quarter- and one-ton pickups have been about burly diesel power for decades, specifically the Cummins diesel engines. Ram offers two six-cylinder Cummins-sourced diesel types in its biggest big rigs: the 6.7-liter version offers 370 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque.
The 3500HD offers even more power—400 horsepower and 1075 lb-ft of torque. It has a high-power configuration that can tow a 23,000-pound trailer or up to 37,100 pounds when equipped with a gooseneck hitch.
Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty
The Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks are among the top-ranked trucks in terms of torque output, thanks to their optional 6.7-liter turbodiesel V8 engine with 1050 lb-ft of torque. Chevrolet and GMC offer similar diesel engines, but Ram’s Cummins turbo diesel is 25 lb-ft stronger.
Ford’s F-250 Super Duty comes with a 475-hp V-8, available on all models. This gas-burning engine costs about $10,000 more than Ford’s other gas engines. In addition to being powerful, it allows the F-250’s four-wheel drive to tow up to 20,000 pounds; the rear-wheel drive F-450 can tow up to 37,000 pounds.
