Here Are Each Brand's Best Half-Ton Trucks For Towing

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After the year we had in 2020, it seems that everyone has gone out and bought either a new towable toy (boat, travel trailer, etc. ), a new truck, or both. Seeing as the half-ton truck class is the largest, selling more than 2 million units last year, we figured now was a good time for a quick refresher on which half-ton trucks are the best for towing. Follow along as we dig deep into the specs of all five half-ton manufacturers.

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The Best Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Half-Ton For Towing

For the 2021 model year, the highest tow rating for a Chevy Silverado 1500 or GMC Sierra 1500 is found in an extended-cab four-wheel-drive model equipped with the company's 6.2L V-8 engine and its NFT towing package. This gets a maximum rating of 13,300 pounds.

Silverado and Sierra models equipped with the 4.3L V-6 top out at 7,900 pounds, while those with the 2.7L I-4 bump up to 9,600 pounds. Trucks with the 5.3L V-8 can tow up to 11,500 pounds. Surprisingly, the 3.0L Duramax diesel tops out at a maximum towing of 9,500 pounds.

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The Best Ford F-150 Half-Ton For Towing

For 2021, Ford reclaimed the best-in-class title for half-ton towing its F-150 pickup. Ford also has the largest number of cab and engine configurations in the class, along with available axle ratios, as well. This makes determining the actual tow rating of any truck a lot more difficult. (GM alleviates this confusion with stickers in the door jamb.) Confusion factor aside, the 3.5L EcoBoost V-6-equipped Ford F-150 can tow a maximum of 14,000 pounds. And this can be achieved with both Super Cab and Super Crew configured trucks in two-wheel drive.

Ford 5.0L V-8-equipped F-150 can tow up to 13,000 pounds in all cab configurations, while the 2.7L EcoBoost V-6 is capable of up to 10,100 pounds for Super Cab and Super Crew four-wheel-drive models. Ford's 3.0L Power Stroke diesel V-6 is available only in four-wheel-drive Super Cab and Super Crew models and is rated at a maximum of 12,100 pounds in both. The company's base 3.3L V-6 is rated at a max of 8,200 pounds in all cab configurations, and the new 3.5L Power Boost hybrid-equipped trucks can drag up to 12,700 pounds.

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The Best Nissan Titan Half-Ton For Towing

Nissan updated its half-ton Titan for the 2021 model year. Unfortunately for those looking to tow heavy, Nissan has the lowest rated maximum for a V-8-powered truck. With only one engine option, the 5.6L Endurance V-8, Nissan rates both King Cab and crew cab two-wheel-drive models of Titan at a maximum of 9,310 pounds of towing. Adding four-wheel drive drops that number by just 100 pounds, to 9,210.

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The Best Ram 1500 Half-Ton For Towing

Ram's best towing effort with its 2021 1500 pickup comes from a two-wheel-drive Quad Cab model equipped with the 5.7L Hemi V-8 engine. With 3.92:1 axle gears and the company's max tow package, this Ram 1500 can drag up to 12,750 pounds of trailer. Ram doesn't specify if this is with the standard Hemi or the company's eTorque mild hybrid-equipped V-8.

Ram 1500 pickups equipped with the 3.0L EcoDiesel V-6 are rated at a maximum of 12,560 pounds of towing when paired with the company's 3.92:1 axle gears and max tow package. Trucks equipped with the 3.6L V-6 engine can pull up to 7,710 pounds. All of these are in two-wheel-drive Quad Cab configuration.

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The Best Toyota Tundra Half-Ton For Towing

Toyota's 2021 Tundra is going to be the last (finally) for this aging model before the all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra arrives. With its single engine option, a 5.7L V-8 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, the Tundra can tow a maximum of 10,200 pounds. This top spec is found on a two-wheel-drive Double Cab model. The lowest tow rating is a four-wheel-drive Crew Max model, which sees the rating dip to 9,800 pounds. Although neither tow rating is best in class, the spread between best and worst is among the smallest in the industry.