Pickup trucks are becoming more popular around the globe, but no country appreciates trucks like the United States. The US generated about $80.5 million in truck sales revenue in 2024, while the second closest country, Japan, made $7.3 million.
American manufacturers have changed pickups from being simple work vehicles to models that combine powerful performance with luxury features typically found in high-end sedans.
Despite the rise of more advanced and luxurious truck models, towing capability remains one of the most important factors for truck buyers. To better understand their customers, Chevrolet hired Harris Poll to explore how drivers use their trucks. The survey revealed that 89% of respondents said they use their trucks to help others, and 33% reported towing family or friends.
The amount of towing power needed depends on what the buyer requires, as different automotive brands and models offer varying levels of towing capacity. While some of the trucks listed may not be the most powerful, they are still reliable vehicles.
It might seem that the smallest pickup trucks in the US market for 2024 would have the lowest towing capacities, but some mid-sized trucks can also tow less than 6,500 pounds.
Trucks were originally built for work, and towing power continues to be an important factor for almost every pickup. For every type of pickup, there is one model that stands out in towing capacity, often due to its high rating, but sometimes because of its ease of use when towing. In this article, we will take a look at 10 trucks that are best for towing and also 10 trucks that are not so good.
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Best Trucks for Towing
2020 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Next up is the 2020 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins, which has a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0. Even though it has similar towing and payload capabilities as the 2017 version, the 2020 Ram is part of the newest group of trucks, which gives it some advantages.
The earlier generation, which came out during the early years of the Obama presidency, had started to feel outdated — especially when it came to the interior design.
On the other hand, the 2020 version has a much more updated look and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both built into Chrysler’s well-known UConnect infotainment system.
This model is powered by a 6.7-liter inline-six Cummins diesel engine, matched with a 68RFE six-speed automatic transmission. It puts out 370 horsepower and 850 lb-ft of torque, and it’s available in both 4×2 and 4×4 options.
It can tow up to 19,680 pounds and has a maximum payload capacity of 2,810 pounds.
Even so, buyers should make sure that any open recalls — such as the one about the high-pressure fuel pump — have been taken care of. Thankfully, there haven’t been any major issues with the powertrain so far.
The early reliability ratings, along with strong towing power and a better interior, make the 2020 Ram 2500 a solid choice for people looking for both style and performance.
2024 Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon
The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado is our top pick among midsize trucks and is the strongest in this category. It shares its design and features with the GMC Canyon. Although the Jeep Gladiator can tow just as much, it doesn’t feel as safe or stable when doing so, which keeps it from earning the same praise.
It’s important to note that the lower trims of the Colorado come with a weaker engine. In contrast, every version of the GMC Canyon gets the more powerful version of the 2.7-liter turbocharged engine. The standard engine on the Colorado can tow only 3,500 pounds, while the high-output version of the 2.7-liter engine can handle the full 7,700-pound capacity.
2024 Rivian R1T
The 2024 Rivian R1T is expensive but very good at doing many different things. It handles turns like a sports car, is quicker than many powerful gas cars, and can tow more weight than any other electric truck.
Other electric trucks aren’t far behind, but towing long distances with the R1T takes a lot of time because you need to stop more often to charge, as pulling heavy loads uses more energy. Still, for about 100 to maybe 200 miles, the R1T can tow really well thanks to its four electric motors, special suspension, and strong frame.
But the charging system out there doesn’t match how capable the truck is. There’s a cheaper version of the R1T with two motors instead of four, but it doesn’t go farther when towing.
2024 Ford F-150
For full-size trucks that can tow heavy loads, the 2024 Ford F-150 is at the top. It can tow up to 13,500 pounds, which means one F-150 could tow two basic 2023 F-150 trucks if it had a strong enough trailer.
To get this full towing ability, you need a specific setup that includes the SuperCrew cab, a 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 engine, four-wheel drive, and the 6.5-foot bed. Most people won’t need to pull anything that heavy unless they’re using the truck for work.
But if you do, the F-150 can handle it easily. For people who don’t need to tow that much, a smaller truck like the Colorado would still be more than enough.
2024 Ford F-250 Super Duty
Trucks are made for different uses—from personal jobs to heavy-duty work. The 2024 Ford F-250 Super Duty fits on the commercial end of that range. It looks like an F-150 both inside and outside, but it is built stronger and has more powerful engines made for pulling very heavy loads.
The Super Duty models offer features made for towing, like a $550 prep package for fifth-wheel and gooseneck hitches, a $1,345 gooseneck hitch kit rated for 20,000 pounds, and a $250 fifth-wheel hitch kit. These trucks are built at the factory to handle tough work jobs with ease.
With the high-output 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V-8 and the right equipment, the F-250 can pull up to 23,000 pounds using a gooseneck hitch. Even using the regular tow hitch, it can still pull 22,000 pounds.
2024 Ford F-450 Super Duty
If you need to pull something as heavy as a load from a semi truck, the 2024 Ford F-450 Super Duty can handle it. It can be equipped with the same features as the smaller F-250, but the F-350 and F-450 versions are much stronger. These trucks can pull very large loads uphill that would be too much for weaker trucks.
The biggest weights they can pull require either gooseneck or fifth-wheel hitches. These hitches are placed in the truck bed to spread out the heavy weight from the trailer. Even with a regular bumper-mounted hitch, the F-450 can still pull 30,000 pounds.
2017 Ram 3500 6.7L Cummins
The 2017 Ram 3500 with the 6.7L Cummins engine is a strong option in the heavy-duty truck category, especially for that year.
This marks the fourth 2017 Ram truck mentioned, showing that it was a good year for the brand. As the second-to-last model year of the fourth-generation Ram pickups, 2017 took advantage of the kind of improvements that usually happen after years of production, when most big problems have already been fixed.
In terms of performance, the truck features a 6.7L Cummins High-Output Diesel engine, which could be paired with either an Aisin HD 6-speed automatic or a G56 6-speed manual transmission.
It produces 385 horsepower and 900 lb-ft of torque. The truck can tow up to 31,210 pounds and has a maximum payload capacity of 6,580 pounds. Buyers could choose between 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains. These numbers come directly from Ramtrucks.com.
Its performance is similar to the newer 2019 model, but the 2017 version doesn’t include some newer features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This might be a downside for people who want the latest tech.
Still, having fewer modern features may actually help the 2017 version be more reliable. Even though at first it might not seem like the least problematic year on Car Complaints, looking closer tells a different story.
For example, the 2018 model had over 300 reports of ABS issues filed with the NHTSA, while the 2017 model had only 84. Repair Pal also says the 2017 Ram 3500 has the lowest average yearly maintenance cost among similar trucks at $1,184.
That’s still a large cost, but you’re getting a truck that can haul more than 30,000 pounds and has fewer reported issues than trucks from around the same time.
2023 Ram 1500 Classic 5.7L
For anyone looking for a full-size pickup with an older design, the 2023 Ram 1500 Classic with the 5.7L Hemi offers a strong option.
If you like the idea of a truck built on a platform that dates back to 2009—a time when Taylor Swift was still mainly a country singer—then this could be the right pick.
Instead of stopping the older model when the fifth-generation Ram 1500 came out in 2019, Stellantis kept selling it under the “Classic” name.
By doing this, Ram is able to offer more options, especially for people who are trying to save money. The 1500 Classic starts at under $40,000 for a 4×4 model, which is much lower than the nearly $48,000 starting price of the newer fifth-gen version.
For an extra $2,500, you can get the 5.7L Hemi engine. It gives you nearly 400 horsepower and can tow up to 10,620 pounds—better than the base rear-wheel-drive V6 in the newer version.
Looking at the specs, the 2023 Ram 1500 Classic comes with a 5.7L Hemi engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission. It makes 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. You can get it in either 4×2 or 4×4 driveline setups, and it can carry up to 1,930 pounds of payload.
Like with the 3500, this data is from Ramtrucks.com. Beyond its performance numbers, the 1500 Classic stands out for reliability. It scored 88 out of 100 from J.D. Power and doesn’t show any common major problems on Car Complaints.
That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, but because this truck has been made for so long, most of the older problems have already been fixed.
For people who want a brand-new truck with a proven design and a lower price, the 1500 Classic is a hard option to pass up.
Worst Trucks for Towing
Nissan Titan XD
Once again, a Nissan truck appears, only to fall behind its rivals when it comes to towing strength. The Nissan Titan XD is meant to be a heavy-duty pickup that belongs to a class filled with giants. It runs on the same 400-hp 5.7-liter V8 engine as the regular Nissan Titan. This helps explain why the Titan XD has a towing capacity of just 11,033 lbs.
Other trucks in the same category can pull more than twice what the Titan XD can handle. The Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty can tow an impressive 24,200 lbs, while the Ram 2500HD and 3500HD reach up to 23,000 lbs. These figures clearly show how far behind the Titan XD is compared to its competitors.
Toyota Tundra
The new Toyota Tundra doesn’t perform terribly when it comes to towing. Still, its towing ability isn’t strong enough to match the best trucks in its class. The Tundra is the only full-size pickup truck that doesn’t use a V8 engine. Instead, it features a twin-turbo V6 available in both hybrid and non-hybrid versions. This engine produces up to 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque.
These numbers sound great on paper, but the absence of a V8 does limit the Tundra’s towing performance, as it can tow only 12,000 lbs. While this is more than what the Nissan Titan can do, it still doesn’t compare well with other trucks in the segment.
The Ford F-150 can tow up to 14,000 lbs, and the Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 both have maximum towing capacities above 13,000 lbs.
Nissan Titan
Just like the Nissan Frontier, the brand’s entry in the full-size pickup market follows a similar pattern. The Nissan Titan is currently in its second generation, which started in 2016 and was lightly updated in 2020. Because of this, it’s now one of the oldest trucks in its class, and its age shows in its interior, features, and towing ability.
The Titan runs on a standard 5.6-liter V8 engine that produces 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, which sounds decent on paper but doesn’t translate well to real-world performance. Its maximum towing capacity is 9,323 lbs, which falls short compared to other trucks in the same category that can pull up to 14,000 lbs.
2024 Ford Maverick
First released in 2022, the Ford Maverick stands out as a small and different choice in a market filled with big trucks. You don’t have to climb up high to get into the cab, and you don’t need a built-in step to reach the bed. The small size was planned by the company to attract drivers who want the usefulness of a truck without the large size.
Our 2024 Ford Maverick Review highlighted its low starting price, good fuel economy, and practical features, which make it a great match for the right kind of buyer.
However, for people who need to tow heavy loads, the Maverick is not the best choice. Its top towing limit is just 4,000 pounds. It’s important to remember that many Maverick versions can only pull 2,000 pounds unless they have all-wheel drive and the 4K towing package, which are both required to get the most towing ability out of this truck.
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The new Hyundai Santa Cruz grabs attention with its style, which the company calls a one-of-a-kind adventure vehicle. Its outside look is the most like a crossover and might not look like a pickup truck at first.
Still, the Santa Cruz gives drivers the unique feeling of driving a car while still being able to do jobs that pickups handle. We got to test it for our 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Review, and while it’s not the strongest in towing or carrying weight, it still does more than most would expect.
Looking at the numbers, the regular Santa Cruz can tow up to 3,500 pounds. A version with a turbo engine increases that number to 5,000 pounds. That may seem small next to something like a 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500, which can tow up to 13,300 pounds.
But when the Santa Cruz has the optional turbocharger, it can handle tasks like pulling a 12-foot by 6-foot utility trailer, a small camper, and similar items.
Nissan Frontier
Redesigned for the 2022 model year, the Nissan Frontier is stronger and looks better than before, but it still can’t compete with other midsize trucks. The Nissan Frontier, now in its third generation, is powered by a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 engine that delivers 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque.
It comes with a standard 9-speed automatic transmission, and you can choose between rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD).
While the power and torque numbers are good on paper, the Nissan Frontier falls short when it comes to towing capacity. This truck can tow only 6,720 lbs, which is the lowest in its segment, even lower than the 6,800 lbs that the older third-generation 2023 Toyota Tacoma can pull.
The top competitors in towing are the Chevy Colorado and the GMC Canyon, both of which can tow 7,700 lbs, much more than the Nissan.
2024 Honda Ridgeline
The Ridgeline is the only truck that Honda makes, and it has some great features, but it falls short when it comes to the towing capacity of mid-size trucks. When we spent time driving the 2024 Honda Ridgeline Trailsport, we saw how comfortable it is to drive, thanks to the same design as Honda’s Pilot SUV.
However, many trucks are built with toughness in mind, not comfort, which means the Ridgeline doesn’t quite measure up to other trucks when it comes to towing. The Ridgeline has been praised for its smooth ride, ability to handle corners well, and its comfortable interior with plenty of space for passengers.
One of the biggest drawbacks of the Honda Ridgeline is its 5,000-pound towing limit. While some of the other trucks we’ve talked about are compact, the Ridgeline is actually a mid-size truck.
When other trucks in this category, like the Chevy Colorado, can tow up to 7,700 pounds, the Ridgeline doesn’t seem as good for people who need to tow more. It’s not just the Colorado—many other mid-size trucks can tow more than the Ridgeline.
2024 Toyota Tacoma
The Toyota Tacoma has been around since the mid-90s and has been a strong competitor in the mid-size pickup category. Toward the end of its third-generation cycle, the Tacoma started feeling outdated, with other trucks overtaking it in several important areas.
Thankfully, as we found in our 2024 Toyota Tacoma Review, Toyota has redesigned the truck, making improvements all around. However, with these changes, the Tacoma has moved away from being a budget truck, with higher trims now being much more expensive than before.
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Another problem with the Tacoma is its 6,500-pound towing limit. The only truck with a worse towing capacity than the Tacoma is the Honda Ridgeline, but both trucks fall behind compared to others in their class.
There is also a hybrid version of the Tacoma, but it’s even weaker, with a 6,000-pound maximum towing capacity. When you consider that other trucks from GMC and Jeep, which are priced similarly, can tow 1,200 pounds more than the Tacoma, it may not be the best choice for people who need to do tougher towing tasks.
