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Best Trucks for Towing
The Highest Towing-Capacity Pickup Trucks for 2021
February 27th, 2021
Best Midsize Trucks for Towing
- Starting price (including destination fee):
- $27,595
- Maximum towing capacity:
- 7,700 pounds
- Maximum payload:
- 1,609 pounds
- Combined mpg:
- 19-23
2021 GMC Canyon
Although the current Canyon is getting on in years, it's still one of the most well-rounded trucks on the market. A responsive V6 engine, comfortable seats and reasonably car-like handling are all highlights. The same can be said of the mechanically similar… Chevrolet Colorado, but we like the Canyon's more upscale interior trim, especially in the range-topping Denali model. The base four-cylinder engine is for commuting or light work duty only, so we recommended stepping up to the optional V6 to unlock its 7,000-pound towing capacity. The Ford Ranger (detailed below) offers a marginally higher tow rating, but the Canyon's more composed ride and intuitive interior layout make it hard to beat. Note that the Canyon's maximum 7,700-pound towing capacity comes via the optional Duramax turbodiesel four-cylinder, more on which in the Chevy Colorado entry below.- Starting price (including destination fee):
- $26,015
- Maximum towing capacity:
- 7,500 pounds
- Maximum payload:
- 1,860 pounds
- Combined mpg:
- 19-23
2021 Ford Ranger
For many midsize truck buyers, the Ranger name carries some nostalgia for Ford's long-running pickup. Even though this generation Ranger is relatively new to the U.S. market, it's been available globally for about a decade and it's starting to show its age a… bit. We are nevertheless impressed by its class-leading towing and payload capacities among gasoline-powered midsize trucks. Driving the Ranger's towing excellence is its capable turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is standard on every model. Not only is this motor more efficient than rivals' four-cylinder offerings, it also provides serious power.
Best Large Trucks for Towing
- Starting price (including destination fee):
- $30,635
- Maximum towing capacity:
- 14,000 pounds
- Maximum payload:
- 3,325 pounds
- Combined mpg:
- 13-25
2021 Ford F-150
Redesigned for 2021, the F-150 boasts formidable towing and payload capacities. Some may scoff at Ford's use of lightweight, high-strength aluminum construction, but the numbers speak for themselves. The reduced bed weight gives the F-150 far greater payload… capabilities than its nearest competitor, and its tow ratings are class-leading as well. But the F-150's strengths are not limited to towing performance. We also like its premium cabin, well-shaped seats and wide range of powertrain choices. To that end, the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 has the highest tow rating at 14,000 pounds, followed by the 5.0-liter V8 with a 13,000-pound rating and the new PowerBoost 3.5-liter turbocharged hybrid powertrain, offering a 12,700-pound maximum towing capacity.- Starting price (including destination fee):
- $34,290
- Maximum towing capacity:
- 12,750 pounds
- Maximum payload:
- 2,300 pounds
- Combined mpg:
- 12-26
2021 Ram 1500
Forget the pickup truck class — the current Ram 1500 is one of the best vehicles on sale today, period. Passengers will be enthralled by the high-tech cabin, and crew-cab models even feature a reclining rear seat for enhanced comfort. But the Ram's true… competitive edge lies in its coil-spring multilink rear suspension, which translates to a far more composed ride than you'll find in any other large truck. While its payload capabilities are not as extreme as the F-150's, the Ram's ultimate towing capacity is only a few hundred pounds less than the Ford's. Notably, the towing capacity of the Ram's optional V8 tops that of the gasoline V6 by 5,000 pounds, but the turbodiesel V6 is right on the V8's heels.
Best Heavy-Duty Trucks for Towing
- Starting price (including destination fee):
- $36,040
- Maximum towing capacity:
- 19,680 pounds
- Maximum payload:
- 4,010 pounds
2021 Ram 2500
Like its baby brother, the 2021 Ram 2500 uses rear coil springs for unsurpassed ride comfort. The Ram 2500's plush ride is even more apparent in the heavy-duty class, where towing performance is prioritized above all else. But the coil springs don't exist… solely to make the ride better — they also free up space for the optional air suspension. It helps the Ram stay level by counteracting the forces that weigh down the back of the truck while towing, providing a more stable towing experience. Add the trick suspension to class-leading towing and payload capabilities, and you've got the most well-rounded heavy-duty pickup in the 2500-series class.- Starting price (including destination fee):
- $37,240
- Maximum towing capacity:
- 37,100 pounds
- Maximum payload:
- 7,680 pounds
2021 Ram 3500
The 3500-series class puts even more of an emphasis on towing than 2500-series pickups and, again, Ram's truck shines brightest. The 2021 Ram 3500 comes in a variety of styles, including two crew-cab configurations. (The larger Mega Cab adds two bins behind… the rear seats for extra in-cabin storage.) It has a more traditional leaf-spring rear suspension to maximize towing capabilities, but an air suspension is available to smooth out the bumps and provide a level ride while towing. As with the 2500, the Ram 3500 can carry heavier items in the bed, and the gas-engine model tows more than other like-minded trucks. But if towing capacity means everything, Ram's got you covered with the high-output Cummins turbodiesel engine. For 2021 it makes an additional 75 lb-ft of torque to bring the total up to a head-spinning 1,075 lb-ft. If you need to tow more than the Ram 3500's new 37,100-pound capacity, you might want to look into a commercial driver's license. As of this writing, Ram hasn't revealed much beyond basic specs about its 2021 3500 lineup, but it should be largely similar to the 2020 lineup.
Best Diesel Trucks for Towing
- Starting price (including destination fee):
- $41,275
- Maximum towing capacity:
- 7,700 pounds
- Maximum payload:
- 1,490 pounds
- Combined mpg:
- 19-23
2021 Chevrolet Colorado Diesel
If you want a diesel-equipped midsize truck, the only choice you have is between the Chevrolet Colorado and its nearly identical twin, the GMC Canyon. We give the nod to the Colorado because you can get the diesel in the rock-crawling ZR2 model. (The Canyon… does not have a similar hardcore off-road-focused trim.) Maximum towing numbers aren't much greater than with the available V6 gasoline engine, however, so you'll have to weigh the cost against the marginal tow-rating benefit. But there's no doubt about the turbodiesel's extra punch while pulling a trailer.- Starting price (including destination fee):
- $39,285
- Maximum towing capacity:
- 12,560 pounds
- Maximum payload:
- 2,040 pounds
- Combined mpg:
- 24-26
2021 Ram 1500 Diesel
Rated at 260 horsepower and a substantial 480 lb-ft of torque, the turbocharged 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 gives up hardly anything to the 5.7-liter gasoline V8 in terms of towing capacity. Fuel consumption, meanwhile, isn't even close — the EcoDiesel is EPA-rated… at up to 26 mpg combined, leaving the V8 in the dust. We also appreciate that Ram doesn't force you to buy a fancy version of the 1500 in order to activate the diesel option. The EcoDiesel V6 can be specified on virtually any trim level of the 2021 Ram 1500.- Starting price (including destination fee):
- $49,435
- Maximum towing capacity:
- 37,100 pounds
- Maximum payload:
- 6,840 pounds
2021 Ram 3500 Diesel
By any measure, the diesel-powered 2021 Ram 3500 is one of the most capable heavy-duty trucks on the market. But just to make sure, Ram massaged the high-output Cummins inline-six diesel engine to produce an additional 75 lb-ft of torque for 2021, bringing the… total to a whopping 1,075 lb-ft of torque. This boosts the maximum tow rating of the 3500 to an astonishing 37,100 pounds when properly equipped, more than doubling the maximum towing capacity of the 3500's gasoline V8 and eclipsing the maximum tow ratings of its rivals from Ford and Chevrolet. Throw in the Ram 3500's available load-leveling air suspension, which isn't offered in competing trucks, and it makes a strong case in the battle for heavy-duty diesel truck supremacy.Compare Diesel Trucks for Towing
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Top Towing Features for Trucks
No matter the size class, modern pickup trucks offer many features that help make towing easier. Tailgate-mounted rearview cameras are standard, providing a clear view behind the truck while backing up. Many pickups offer a multi-angle trailer camera that gives a top-down view of the hitch to aid connection. While all rearview cameras display guidelines that span the width of the truck, some have a center line to help guide the hitch to a receiver. There are also available lights in the hitch area to help operators make a connection at night. Some manufacturers also offer a trailer camera connection. And as long as a trailer rearview camera is present and the trailer is connected properly, the trailer camera image can display in the cabin.
Some towing features are manufacturer-specific. Ram pickups can be equipped with a load-leveling air suspension, while Chevrolet and corporate cousin GMC offer sideview cameras that help monitor the trailer's position, as well as apps that aid the trailer-connection process.
Next Steps
No matter what you're looking to tow, there's likely a midsize, large or heavy-duty pickup that meets your needs. Be sure to read Edmunds' expert reviews, which provide an unbiased look at each truck and help you navigate through the seemingly endless number of possible truck combinations. After you make your decision, use Edmunds' unparalleled pricing and shopping tools to find a piece of inventory that matches the truck of your dreams.
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