When it’s time to hitch up and hit the road, it’s no secret that new diesel trucks are among the best options for towing.
With impressive horsepower and torque, advanced transmissions, and cutting-edge towing technology, modern diesel trucks and SUVs make hauling heavy loads much easier.
Of course, they can’t solve every issue like a crying baby or a closed campground but when it comes to towing, they get the job done.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best new diesel trucks and SUVs capable of towing over 8,000 pounds.
Keep in mind that towing capacities can vary based on configurations, accessories, and even wheel packages, so always check the specific tow rating of the vehicle you choose.
10. 2024 Cadillac Escalade
Price: 8,100 Pounds
While the Cadillac Escalade might not be the first vehicle that comes to mind when thinking about diesel-powered trucks and SUVs in America, this luxury SUV has been available with a 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-six engine since its 2021 redesign.
This engine delivers 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, making it the most fuel-efficient option in the Escalade lineup. It boasts an EPA rating of 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
Regarding towing capabilities, the highest diesel tow rating of 8,100 pounds applies to a standard-length, two-wheel-drive Escalade. Opting for four-wheel drive lowers the maximum towing capacity to 7,800 pounds.
The larger Escalade ESV has a maximum tow rating of 7,900 pounds, which decreases to 7,700 pounds with four-wheel drive.
The maximum payload capacity reaches 1,620 pounds for the standard two-wheel-drive model but drops to 1,329 pounds for four-wheel-drive ESV variants.
If you’re interested in a diesel-powered Escalade, act fast the Duramax diesel option will no longer be available for the 2025 model year.
Base Price: $83,990
Engine: 3.0-liter Duramax I-6
Horsepower: 277 hp
Torque: 460 lb-ft
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Max Payload Capacity: 1,620 pounds
Max Towing Capacity: 8,100 pounds
9. 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban
Price: 8,200 Pounds
Chevrolet’s widely popular full-size SUVs, the Tahoe and Suburban, have been refreshed for the 2025 model year.
A key update includes the introduction of the second-generation LZ0 3.0-liter Duramax diesel engine, which now generates 305 horsepower and an impressive 495 lb-ft of torque.
Thanks to this enhancement, the Tahoe achieves a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds, while the larger Suburban tops out at 8,100 pounds.
Choosing four-wheel drive slightly reduces these figures, with the Tahoe maxing out at 8,000 pounds and the Suburban at 7,800 pounds.
The Duramax diesel engine comes standard on High Country models and is available across the entire lineup.
Base Price: $69,190 (Tahoe) / $72,190 (Suburban)
Engine: 3.0-liter Duramax I-6
Horsepower: 305 hp
Torque: 495 lb-ft
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Max Payload Capacity: 1,717 pounds
Max Towing Capacity: 8,200 pounds
Also Read: 10 Economy Cars That Have Shockingly Long Lifespans Despite Their Cheap Price
8. 2025 Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500
Price: 13,300 Pounds
Back in 2019, GM launched the all-new Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, introducing an impressive 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-six engine as a key feature of this new generation.
By 2022, while Ford and RAM had exited the light-duty diesel market, GM doubled down by introducing a more powerful second-generation version of the Duramax diesel.
With a maximum towing capacity of 13,300 pounds, Silverado models equipped with the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel surpass the towing capability of any other engine in the lineup.
This impressive capacity is available in both Double Cab and Crew Cab configurations. Opting for four-wheel drive reduces the maximum towing figure slightly, dropping it to 13,000 pounds.
Base Price: $55,440
Engine: 3.0-liter Duramax I-6
Horsepower: 305 hp
Torque: 495 lb-ft
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Max Payload Capacity: 1,970 pounds
Max Towing Capacity: 13,300 pounds
Also Read: Top 7 Pickup Trucks That Retain Their Value Over 10 Years
7. 2024 RAM 2500 Heavy Duty
Price: 20,000 Pounds
As we eagerly await RAM’s plans for 2025, the 2024 RAM 2500 Heavy Duty holds the seventh position with an impressive maximum towing capacity of 20,000 pounds.
Currently, the RAM 2500 Heavy Duty is offered exclusively with the standard-output 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine, delivering strong performance across the board.
This 20,000-pound towing figure is achieved using both conventional towing methods as well as fifth-wheel and gooseneck setups.
With the upcoming 2025 model expected to bring further improvements, we anticipate a notable increase in towing capabilities once it is revealed.
Base Price: $57,040
Engine: 6.7-liter Cummins I-6
Horsepower: 370 hp
Torque: 850 lb-ft
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Max Payload Capacity: 3,150 pounds
Max Towing Capacity: 20,000 pounds
6. 2025 Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500HD
Price: 22,430 Pounds
Chevrolet and GMC have never been particularly focused on dominating the horsepower and towing wars. Instead, their approach has been to refine the Silverado and Sierra HD pickups into the most well-rounded towing machines possible.
Equipped with the latest-generation 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8, paired with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission, the Silverado 2500HD and Sierra 2500HD offer impressive towing capabilities.
When properly configured, these trucks can tow up to 22,430 pounds using a gooseneck or fifth-wheel setup. For conventional towing, they achieve a maximum capacity of 20,000 pounds, making them a solid choice for serious hauling needs.
Base Price: $57,410
Engine: 6.6-liter Duramax V8
Horsepower: 470 hp
Torque: 975 lb-ft
Transmission: 10-speed Allison automatic
Max Payload Capacity: 3,615 pounds
Max Towing Capacity: 22,430 pounds
5. 2025 Ford F-250 Super Duty
Price: 23,000 Pounds
Among ¾-ton pickups, no truck surpasses the Ford F-250 Super Duty in towing capability.
With a maximum tow rating of 23,000 pounds, this truck leads its class when equipped with a regular cab, two-wheel drive, and the high-output 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8.
Regardless of configuration, the F-250 Super Duty consistently delivers strong towing performance. Conventional towing reaches a maximum of 22,000 pounds, while every cab, drivetrain, and engine combination offers a towing capacity exceeding 18,000 pounds.
Base Price: $57,790
Engine: High-output 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8
Horsepower: 500 hp
Torque: 1,200 lb-ft
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Max Payload Capacity: 3,636 pounds
Max Towing Capacity: 23,000 pounds
Also Read: Top 10 European Cars With Bulletproof Engines That You Need For Reliable Travel
4. 2025 Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra 3500HD
Price: 36,000 Pounds
Although Chevrolet and GMC have never aggressively pursued dominance in the towing wars, there was a brief period when the Silverado and Sierra 3500HD held the crown with a staggering 36,000-pound towing capacity.
This impressive rating is achieved with a single-cab, long-bed, two-wheel-drive truck equipped solely with the NHT trailering package and no additional options.
What’s even more noteworthy is that every trim level of the 3500HD dually is rated to tow over 30,000 pounds. This means that buyers don’t have to compromise on comfort to achieve exceptional towing capability.
Base Price: $61,810
Engine: 6.6-liter Duramax V8
Horsepower: 470 hp
Torque: 975 lb-ft
Transmission: 10-speed Allison automatic
Max Payload Capacity: TBD
Max Towing Capacity: 36,000 pounds
3. 2024 RAM 3500 Heavy Duty
Price: 37,090 Pounds
Just like its ¾-ton counterpart, the RAM 3500 Heavy Duty is awaiting an all-new version set to debut for the 2025 model year. When it arrives, there’s a strong chance it will reclaim the top towing spot from Ford.
In the meantime, the current RAM 3500 Heavy Duty sits in third place with an incredible maximum tow rating of 37,090 pounds.
This massive towing capacity is achieved with a regular-cab, long-bed, two-wheel-drive configuration equipped with the high-output Cummins diesel engine.
Additionally, the truck must be fitted with 4.10:1 rear axle gears and no extra options. For those who prefer more spacious configurations, Crew Cab and Mega Cab models equipped with the high-output engine can still tow beyond 30,000 pounds.
However, choosing the standard-output Cummins engine limits the RAM 3500 Heavy Duty to a maximum towing capacity of around 22,000 pounds.
Base Price: $60,845
Engine: 6.7-liter Cummins I-6
Horsepower: 420 hp
Torque: 1,075 lb-ft
Transmission: 6-speed Aisin automatic
Max Payload Capacity: TBD
Max Towing Capacity: 37,090 pounds
2. 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty
Price: 38,000 Pounds
For those who argue that Ford’s towing dominance is questionable because the F-450 Super Duty isn’t a “true” 1-ton pickup, consider the F-350 Super Duty, which boasts a staggering 38,000-pound maximum tow rating.
This figure applies specifically to gooseneck trailers when towed with a regular-cab, long-bed, two-wheel-drive F-350 Super Duty equipped with the high-output Power Stroke diesel engine.
For those utilizing a fifth-wheel setup, the maximum towing capacity reaches 35,000 pounds, available across all cab configurations and with both the standard- and high-output engines.
Conventional towing is equally impressive, with crew-cab high-output models whether two- or four-wheel drive achieving up to 28,000 pounds.
Even in its least capable diesel configuration, the F-350 Super Duty still tows a substantial 18,000 pounds, proving its place among the top-tier heavy-duty pickups.
Base Price: $59,085
Engine: High-output 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8
Horsepower: 500 hp
Torque: 1,200 lb-ft
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Max Payload Capacity: 6,558 pounds
Max Towing Capacity: 38,000 pounds (gooseneck)
1. 2025 Ford F-450 Super Duty
Price: 40,000 Pounds
Ford has long held the title for the highest towing capacity among consumer-grade pickups, and the 2025 F-450 Super Duty continues that tradition.
Often considered a medium-duty truck disguised as a 1-ton pickup, the F-450 remains the undisputed king of towing with a maximum gooseneck capacity of 40,000 pounds.
This incredible figure is achieved with a regular-cab, long-bed, two-wheel-drive configuration.
Even in other configurations, the F-450 Super Duty remains a powerhouse, with all models rated to tow more than 30,000 pounds. The crew-cab, long-bed, four-wheel-drive version the least capable in the lineup still boasts an impressive towing capacity of 33,100 pounds.
Buyers can choose between the standard or high-output 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine.
While the high-output variant is necessary to hit the top-tier 40,000-pound towing rating, the standard-output version often delivers a similar, and sometimes even slightly higher, maximum towing figure depending on configuration.
Base Price: $61,950
Engine: High-output 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8
Horsepower: 500 hp
Torque: 1,200 lb-ft
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Max Payload Capacity: 5,983 pounds
Max Towing Capacity: 40,000 pounds (gooseneck)
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