Looking for a solid tow? Check out the top 10
There might be a horsepower war among sports car and supercar makers, but truck makers are battling just as hard for boasting rights on who can tow the most.
We’ve pulled together the top new trucks for towing. A couple of caveats, though. The maximum towing capacities for some require a fifthwheel or gooseneck setup. And the competitive nature of the segment might mean that there could be a new truck-towing king crowned by the time of publication.
10th-place tie: 2014 Ram 1500 / 2015 Toyota Tundra
Only 23 kilograms of maximum towing capacity separate this pair of full-sized trucks. With both sporting optional 5.7-litre eight-cylinder gas engines, the Toyota, with 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, can tow as much as 4,763 kg, while the Ram, with 383 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, can haul 4,740 kg.
9th-place: 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 / GMC Sierra 1500
One reason the Silverado and Sierra 1500 twins are GM’s two bestselling new vehicles is their ability to tow. Redesigned last year to be brawnier and truckier, haulers will want to spec the optional 6.2L eight-cylinder gas engine the Chevy and GMC trucks share. The V-8 makes 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, which will allow buyers to tow up to 5,443 kg.
8th-place: 2015 Ford F-150
To keep its F-150 at the top of the sales charts, Ford has redesigned the 2015 version via extensive use of lightweight aluminum in its construction. You can still buy a V-8 if you want, but the best-towing F-150 makes do with a turbocharged 3.5L six-cylinder gas engine. The blown V-6 makes a robust 365 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, and can tow up to 5,534 kg.
7th-place: 2015 Ford F-250 Super Duty
The F-250 is the first in a family of Super Duty Ford trucks. While you can buy a gas V-8, the best mill for towing is the optional 6.2L diesel. Rated at 440 hp and a stump-pulling 860 lb-ft of torque, the diesel allows for a 7,620 kg maximum tow rating.
6th-place: 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD / GMC Sierra 2500 HD
Direct rivals to the Ford F-250 Super Duty and Ram 2500, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 HD platform-mates have been totally redesigned for 2015. Sharing the upscale interior of their less-capable Silverado/Sierra 1500 siblings, the 2500 HD pair, equipped with the 6.6L turbocharged diesel engine and its healthy 397 hp and 795 lb-ft rating, can tow as much as 8,119 kg.
5th-place: 2015 Ram 2500
The 2500 is the starter truck in Ram’s family of heavy duty offerings. The Ram 2500 can be had with a gas V-8 engine. But to access its best-inclass maximum 8,151 kg towing capacity, you’ll need to pop for the optional 6.2L sixcylinder diesel engine, which lets you access its 370-hp and 800 lb-ft ratings.
4th-place: 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD / GMC Sierra 3500 HD
The Silverado/Sierra 3500 HD models sit at the top of the GM pickup truck heap. Like their lesser 2500 HD models, the 3500 HD models are based on the Silverado/Sierra 1500 twins and have been redesigned for 2015. Both of the GM 3500 HD trucks have a maximum fifth-wheel towing capacity of 10,523 kg, up from 10,206 kg.
3rd-place: 2015 Ford F-350 Super Duty
A step up from the F-250 Super Duty, buyers who need to tow even more can choose the F-350 Super Duty, with either single or dual rear wheels. A 385-hp and 405 lbft gas V-8 is standard, but for towing up to the F-350 Super Duty’s maximum capacity of 12,111 kg, heavy haulers will opt for the 6.7L turbodiesel with its 440 hp and 860 lb-ft of torque rating.
2nd-place: 2015 Ram 3500
Even with its class-leading 385-hp and 865 lb-ft 6.7L turbodiesel six-cylinder engine, the Ram 3500 still falls one short of the top tow rating.
1st-place: 2015 Ford F-450 Super Duty
With its topline 6.7L diesel sporting upgraded 440-hp and 860 lb-ft ratings, Ford has been able to reclaim the top towing crown from the Ram 3500 with its F-450 Super Duty’s maximum tow rating of 14,152 kg.