Best Trucks for Towing: Top-Rated Trucks for 2021 | Edmunds
While many SUVs can handle moderate towing work, pickup trucks are the best vehicles for pulling truly heavy loads. Rugged body-on-frame construction gives pickups the strength to transport boats, trailers and campers without breaking a sweat. If you’re shopping for the best pickup trucks for towing, Edmunds has you covered, whether you’re looking for a midsize, large or heavy-duty workhorse.
Midsize pickups are generally good for smaller camper trailers, while large trucks can handle larger campers and heavy trailers. However, if you need to tow horse trailers or want the stability that a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch provides, you’ll have to upgrade to a heavy-duty truck.
Each truck model is sold in a variety of cab, bed length, powertrain and axle-ratio configurations. We recommend consulting the manufacturers’ towing guides to make sure the truck you’re considering meets your needs.
Best Trucks for Towing for 2021
Edmunds rates trucks in the three categories mentioned above: midsize, large and heavy-duty. Midsize pickups are the smallest and least expensive of the lot, and they’re suitable if you have modest towing needs. Large pickups are the most popular and strike a good balance between a relatively pleasant ride and high towing limits. Heavy-duty pickups typically trade ride comfort for greater towing capacity, although even these beasts are becoming more luxurious. The trucks below offer the best blend of towing capacity and passenger comfort in their respective classes, which will help you choose the right one for your needs.