What’s the Best Truck for Towing?
Modern SUVs are often considered a vehicle that can do it all. While this may be true, and some SUVs can easily handle moderate towing needs, when it comes to hauling heavy loads, the best option is, and will always be pickup trucks.
The rugged construction provides pickups with the strength to transport campers, trailers, and boats without issue. While there’s a general thought that, the more you need to tow, the bigger truck you need; however, this isn’t the best way to find the best truck for towing.
Here you can learn about some of the top contenders available for sale today.
The Most Important Consideration: Towing Capacity
Before diving into the best towing trucks, it’s essential to consider one, crucial factor: the towing capacity. The towing capacity is to American pickups what horsepower is to muscle cars.
Every year, manufacturers work to gain the ability to say their truck is the “best” when it comes to general ruggedness and towing capacity.
This is good news for you, as you are going to find trucks with higher and higher towing capacities as the year’s pass. Now that you understand the most important factor to consider, it’s time to get into the best of the best.
The Best Midsized Trucks for Towing
If you are looking for the most affordable option, then midsized trucks are the way to go. The somewhat compact size is ideal for those who live in the city and have to deal with small parking spots and traffic-jammed streets.
These also provide good value for individuals who want to tow something but don’t need the extreme capabilities of larger trucks used for towing bigger items and to ship freight. Midsized trucks are usually powered by four- or six-cylinder engines, which makes them more fuel-efficient than larger pickup trucks.
The top contenders in the midsized truck realm for towing capacity include:
The GMC Canyon
This is considered one of the most well-rounded trucks available for sale today. With a responsive V6 engine, car-like handling, and comfortable seats, it’s a truck that can tow, and that’s fun to drive.
While the Chevrolet Colorado is very similar to this option, the Canyon’s interior is a bit more upscale, especially if you opt for the top trim level, the Denali. The base model comes with a four-cylinder engine, so to achieve the towing capacity desired, you’ll need the V6 option.
The maximum towing capacity of the GMC Canyon is 7,000 pounds with a maximum payload of 1,605 pounds.
The Honda Ridgeline
The Ridgeline provides you with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and has earned a five-star safety rating from NHTSA. Unlike other trucks in this class, the Ridgeline offers a carlike body construction, rather than the body-on-frame seen usually.
This provides several advantages over the competition, including a spacious interior, smart handling, and an excellent fuel economy.
With no frame rails under the pickup bed, there is plenty of room for a lockable “trunk.” This makes it a much more versatile midsized truck than the others available on the market today.
The Best Large Trucks for Towing
There’s no question that larger trucks are considered some of the best-selling vehicles available on the market today. There are more than a few configurations, from luxury sedans to humble work trucks and everything in between.
What’s even more important is that these trucks offer a much bigger towing capability and increased payload than the above-mentioned midsize pickups. The top picks for the best towing trucks in this class include:
The Ford F-150
When it comes to towing and payload capacities, the Ford F-150 is at the top of its class. While the generation initially debuted in 2015, the numbers speak for themselves.
The maximum towing capacity of the Ford F-150 is 13,200 pounds with a maximum payload of 3,270 pounds. It’s the reduced weight of the F-150’s truck bed that provides it with higher payload capabilities than its closest competition.
The Ram 1500
While this makes the top of the list for the best large-sized trucks for towing, it’s also one of the best vehicles overall that you can purchase today. Thanks to features such as the crew-cab and high-tech cabin, it’s not just the superior towing capacity that’s catching the interest of buyers.
However, the towing capability is nothing to scoff at, with 12,750 pounds being the max. It also has a maximum payload of 2,320 pounds, making it one of the most capable towing trucks available for sale today.
While the payload abilities aren’t as high as the F-150, the Ram’s towing capabilities are only a few hundred pounds less than the Fords. Make sure to choose the optional V8 engine in the Ram, as it tops the V6’s towing capacity by an impressive 5,000 pounds.
Best Truck for Towing: Now You Know
When it comes to finding the best truck for towing, there’s no question you have more than a few options to choose from. Make sure to consider both mid- and full-sized truck options, as they both offer impressive towing capabilities.
It’s a good idea to determine what needs to be towed before shopping for any truck. This is going to help you eliminate the options that don’t meet your needs. In the long run, this is also going to help you save money while ensuring you can easily tow your camper, boat, or anything else you plan to pull.
Remember, to choose the right truck, you need to see it in person and get behind the wheel. This is going to help ensure you get the truck that best suits your needs.