Are you thinking of buying a truck to haul heavy loads? Are you having a hard time deciding on which one to buy? It's no surprise that it can be hard to settle on the best truck for hauling heavy loads.
These days trucks are more than just haulers. They are also more specialized, with excellent towing capabilities, fuel efficiency, and plenty of cabin space. But let's not forget about the reason they were invented in the first place: hauling heavy loads.
If you're having trouble deciding which truck to buy or already have a rig but are looking for one that can haul heavy loads, this guide is for you. This guide will discuss the best of the top 10 best trucks for heavy loads on the market today.
Let's get to it.
Towing capacity: 37,100 pounds
The truck that tops our list of the best trucks for heavy loads is the Ram 3500, released in December 2020. This beast offers several features designed to help with heavy lifting.
With variable-geometry turbos and improved fuel flow, diesel engines in 2021 will produce more power. As a result, the Cummins engine can deliver one hundred and seventy-five lb-ft of torque, which surpasses the competition, without sacrificing the efficiency and durability of diesel engines.
The Ram 3500 HD can tow the heaviest trailers in the industry with its in-house-designed fifth-wheel hitch that increases the fifth-wheel towing capability to 37,100 pounds.
For those seeking the most powerful and capable truck in their category, the Ram Heavy Duty 3500 is a top choice. It holds a 37,100-pound towing capacity with a gooseneck hitch.
Towing capacity: 37,000 pounds
Powerful pickup trucks such as the 2021 Ford F-Series Super give you more power and flexibility for tackling challenging work.
When it comes to big boats, horse trailers, or fifth-wheels, the Lariat and Platinum trims with their extra luxuries might be the ideal fit, especially for long trips, but the XLT can also be relied upon to perform. Co-Pilot360 safety systems, Sync 3 infotainment, and the maximum towing and hauling potential are among its features. The XLT comes in regular or crew cab configurations.
With a 6.7-liter diesel V8 turbocharged engine, the F-450 Super Duty has a staggering towing and hauling capacity of 37,000 pounds. Remember, the F-450 is a hefty vehicle. As a result of the added weight and thirsty engine, fuel consumption is around 10 mpg, below the F-350's average of 12 mpg and the F-250's average of 14 mpg.
Towing capacity: 35 500 pounds
Heavy-duty pickup trucks often focus on their towing ability and workhorse capabilities, but the GMC Sierra 3500HD tries to strike a balance. You can haul or tow heavy loads comfortably in the cab of this pickup truck while your family sits comfortably in the back.
It strikes a reasonable balance between work capability and ride quality. Although it isn't ideal for off-roading, it's a viable option for people looking for a powerful truck that excels at towing and hauling, with a hassle-free and comfortable ownership experience.
Compared to its predecessor, Sierra offers a lot of improvements, and it is more value for money than ever. Its high position on our list of best trucks for heavy loads is not surprising as the 6.6L turbo-diesel V8 engine of the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD can produce 445 hp and 910 lb-ft of torque. Towing capacity for the diesel Sierra 3500HD is 35,500 pounds.
Towing capacity: 35,500 pounds
A 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine powers Chevrolet's Silverado. The 3500 is available with a turbocharged V-8 engine making 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque.
Chevy trucks can haul much more weight with this engine than they can with a 6.6-liter non-turbo V-8.
With the gas engine, the 3500 can tow up to 16,800 pounds, and with the diesel engine, 20,000 pounds. The 3500 has a maximum weight capacity of 35,500 pounds for fifth-wheels and gooseneck trailers.
Towing capacity: 32,000 pounds
Ford F-350 pickup trucks draw on a rich heritage and a high-strength steel frame to make an impressive hauler.
Towing is a breeze with the F-350 thanks to surrounding cameras (on the Lariat and higher trims) and trailer blind-spot monitoring.
If properly equipped, the Ford F-350 can tow an estimated 32,000 pounds when it comes with dual rear wheels and the 6.7L diesel engine.
Towing capacity: 17,980
With an impressive selection of engines, including Hemi gas or Cummins diesel, the Ram 2500 is a stylish take and one of the best trucks for heavy load.
It offers 385 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque with its 5.7L Hemi V8. The air suspension comes with four-corner self-leveling, except for the Power Wagon trim.
Ram 2500 models equipped with the Cummins 6.7L diesel engine deliver 800 pounds-feet of torque. When properly equipped, this engine can tow 17,980 pounds.
Towing capacity: 12,750
Italian-built VM Motori 3.0-liter engines generate 260 horsepower at 3600 rpm and 480 lb-ft of torque at 1600 rpm. There's no half-ton diesel with a higher torque rating.
Ram 1500s can pull up to 12,560 pounds when equipped with this engine, more than most half-ton types of diesel. However, the less expensive 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 in the Ram can deliver a little more power.
Additionally, Hemi's power of 395 horsepower at 5600 rpm and torque of 410 lb-ft at 3750 rpm proves the importance of displacement once again. The vehicle's maximum towing capacity increases to 12,750 pounds.
Towing capacity: 12,880 pounds
The Nissan Titan XD is a smart choice if you need a vehicle that can haul big-kid toys such as jet skis or dirt bikes while also being comfortable on the road.
The Nissan Titan XD comes with so many great features just in its standard package. Standard horsepower, torque, and safety technology make the model the most advanced in its class. Furthermore, it offers the most comprehensive truck warranty and a giant screen.
Nissan Titan XD is not too small nor too big when it comes to towing a trailer. With its size, it can comfortably pull a fifth wheel that weighs up to 10,880 pounds. A gooseneck hitch is already in place so that you can hook up your trailer.
You'll be able to maneuver through different terrains effortlessly with its unparalleled power, performance, and safety features.
Towing capacity: 10,200 pounds
For those who value towing capacity, the 10,200 pounds of towing capacity will allow them to pull a motorhome, trailer, or boat for their next adventure. The vehicle also offers a 1,730 lb payload capacity. As with any truck, the maximum towing capacity depends on the model, equipment, and other factors.
In addition to features contributing to the Toyota Tundra's towing ability, the truck also has a Strong TripleTechTM frame with a trailer hitch receiver integrated into the rack and a trailer hitch with 12-bolt high endurance available integrated trailer brake controller.
With the Tundra, you can enjoy all the benefits thanks to its i-FORCE 5.7L aluminum V8 engine that produces 381 horsepower and its six-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission with (ECT-i) intelligence.
Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
The Honda Ridgeline combines the charm of a mid-size pickup with the ride of crossovers and SUVs, like the Honda Pilot, that share its chassis.
A 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque is standard on the Ridgeline, which comes only in a crew cab with four doors. Thus, Ridgeline's towing ratings aren't particularly impressive.
Honda Ridgelines had a maximum towing capacity of 5000 pounds for two-wheel-drive models and 3500 pounds for all-wheel-drive models. Hence, it ranks last on our list of the best trucks for heavy loads.
In this guide, we have discussed all the key features of the best trucks for heavy loads, provided you with detailed information on each vehicle, and answered the question - Which is the best truck for a heavy load?
Each truck has its strengths, which you should consider with your specific needs and wants before choosing one. We hope this guide has been helpful.
When it comes to big, burly, heavy-duty pickups, the 2024 Ford Super Duty F-350 is one of the biggest and burliest. It’s the middle child in Ford’s Super Duty F-Series line up that also includes the Ford F-250 and F-450. Combined, they’re the bestselling 3/4-ton and 1-ton trucks in the U.S.
The light-duty Ford F-150 is more than capable enough for most truck buyers, leaving the larger and more powerful Super Duty trucks to those who need the greatest towing and hauling capabilities for extreme commercial jobs. Ford offers the F-350 in a mind-boggling number of configurations. Buyers have a choice of three body styles, six trim levels, and two- or four-wheel drive. Ford also offers four very powerful V8 engines, including two turbodiesels that produce well over 1,000 foot-pounds of torque. Depending on the chosen configuration, the Ford can haul up to 4 tons or tow up to 38,000 pounds. These numbers beat the Chevrolet Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 3500, and Ram 3500.
A mild redesign just last year keeps the F-350 looking tough, but modern. The remarkably quiet cabin has the largest rear seat in the class and enough luxury and features to rival most European sedans. The top trims even include soft leather, heated and cooled front seats, a 12-inch touchscreen, a premium 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, and a digital instrument cluster with a head-up display. Overall, the Ford F-350’s sets the benchmark in a class filled with very big, very strong, and very impressive trucks.