Top 10 Best Pickups for Towing
Need a vehicle to tow a big trailer or boat, or maybe do serious work around the house, the farm or the jobsite? A full-size pickup is the most logical option, but not all of them are created equal, of course. Below are the top 10 trucks with the highest towing capacities.
In order to include a larger variety of models, we chose to identify a single configuration for each one. Also, we kept the heavy-duty pickups out of this ranking, but just for the record, the top 3 would have included the Ford F-350 Power Stroke with a maximum of 38,000 lbs, the Ram 3500 Cummins High Output with 37,090 lbs, as well as the Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD and GMC Sierra 3500HD Duramax with 36,000 lbs of towing.
- Also: Refreshed 2025 Nissan Frontier Gets Larger Screen, Slightly Better Towing
- Also: 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning: Serious Towing Pains
Scroll down to see the full list…
10. Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and Jeep Gladiator
Maximum towing capacity: 7,700 lbs
These three pickups are the only midsize models among the top 10. GM relies on a turbocharged 2.7-litre four-cylinder engine producing 310 horsepower, while Jeep sticks with the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 delivering 285 horsepower.
Maximum towing capacity: 10,000 lbs
Ford’s electric pickup offers two batteries. The extended-range 131kWh pack boasts superior towing capacity, except in Platinum trim (8,500 lbs).
8. Rivian R1T
Maximum towing capacity: 11,000 lbs
Updated for 2025, the R1T offers a Large Battery (135 kWh) or Max Battery (149 kWh), which is what you want for towing the heaviest loads.
Maximum towing capacity: 11,000 lbs
Forget about the design. The Cybertruck is a capable pickup. Obviously, it needs either two or three motors to achieve that maximum tow rating.
Maximum towing capacity: 11,200 lbs
You’ll need the twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 that produces 389 horsepower, not the base version. The Tundra’s more potent hybrid system, meanwhile, is good for 11,175 lbs.
5. Ram 1500
Maximum towing capacity: 11,340 lbs
Go with the Standard Output version of the new twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine a.k.a. Hurricane, because the High Output version is limited to 9,920 lbs.
Maximum towing capacity: 12,500 lbs
In 3WT trim, it’s the best electric pickup for towing. Other models are rated at 10,000 lbs. The closely related GMC Sierra EV will arrive first in Denali trim with 10,500 lbs of towing.
3. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax and GMC Sierra 1500 Duramax
Maximum towing capacity: 13,300 lbs
If you want no part of the six-cylinder diesel, then go with the 6.2-litre V8 which is almost as good (13,200 lbs).
2. Ford F-150
Maximum towing capacity: 13,500 lbs
The 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 is the engine you want. The 5.0-litre V8 is your second-best option at 12,800 lbs.
1. Ram 1500 Ramcharger REx and Ram 1500 REV
Maximum towing capacity: 14,000 lbs
The Ramcharger REx uses a 3.6-litre gasoline V6 as a generator to extend range. The Ram 1500 REV is fully electric. Neither is on sale in Canada yet.