Supercars are all about performance and power, sedans are about features and luxury, SUVs are about practicality and space, and trucks are about towing and payload capacities. The lines are getting blurred these days with all kinds of vehicles trying to be everything at once, but these are the core aspects that differentiate each body style and give them a sense of individuality.
Pickup trucks have come a long way from being luggage and family haulers to fantastic all-rounders. However, when you speak from a utility and commercial point of view, people still gauge and rate them based on their pulling and hauling capabilities. Plus, when the hybrid truck models are thrown into the mix, there may be a moment when confusion sets in. That is to be expected until you better understand what truck can tow what trailer or camper.
Knowing your minimum needs is essential before spending hard-earned cash on a new pickup. So, here's a list of the 10 pickup trucks with the best towing capacity in 2022.
Updated April 06, 2023: Even though the towing capacity will not change for the 2022 pickup truck lineup, some other models need to be considered. Since this list is due for an update and refresh, you will find that the original trucks are still listed here, as well as five more that may not have been considered until now.
2022 Ram 3500: 37,090 Pounds
With a maximum towing capacity of 37,090 pounds, the Ram 3500 takes the cake. This capability is achieved when you opt for the 3500 in the regular cab body style with the eight-foot bed and the Cummins high-output engine. This 6.7-liter, turbocharged inline-six diesel engine produces 420 horsepower and 1,075 pound-feet of twist. An Aisin six-speed automatic gearbox channels power to the wheels. You must opt for the 4x2 model to get the 37,000+ pound towing capacity. The 2022 Ram 3500 range starts at $44,520.
2022 Ford F-450: 37,000 Pounds
The Ford F-450 comes in on a close second when it comes to maximum towing capacity. When powered by the 6.7-liter Power Stroke Turbo Diesel V-8, the F-450 can tow up to 37,000 pounds. You need to opt for the regular cab model with the 4x2 system. Opting for the 4x4 model in this body style will reduce the towing capacity to 36,400 pounds. This turbo-diesel mill makes 475 horses at 2,600 rpm and a whopping 1,050 pound-feet of torque at as low as 1,600 rpm. It is mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox. The 2022 Ford Super Duty F-450 range starts at $55,625.
2023 GMC Sierra 3500 HD: 36,000 Pounds
The GMC Sierra 3500 HD takes up the next spot, tied with its cousin, the Chevy Silverado 3500 HD, with a maximum towing capacity of 36,000 pounds. You'll have to opt for the regular cab long box model, powered by the Duramax engine with a 4x2 system. This 6.6-liter turbocharged V-8 diesel engine produces 445 horsepower at 2,800 rpm and 910 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. It is available with Allison 10-speed automatic gearbox. The 2023 GMC Sierra 3500 HD range starts at $51,395.
2022 Chevy Silverado 3500 HD: 36,000 Pounds
The Silverado 3500 HD also offers a maximum towing capacity of up to 36,000 pounds – the same as the GMC Sierra 3500 HD. To attain this, you'll have to spec it the same way as its GMC cousin. You must opt for the regular cab, long bed model with a 4x2 system and a 6.6-liter Duramax V-8. Even here, it puts out the same 445 horses and 910 pound-feet of torque and is mated to the Allison 10-speed automatic gearbox. The 2022 Chevy Silverado 3500 HD series starts at $42,395.
2022 Ford F-250: 20,000 Pounds
Since the ratings with different engines and configurations in the 3500 HD and F-450/F-350 series can take up more spots than we have in the list, we step down to the 2500/F-250 sub-segment. Here, the Ford F-250 beats its rivals with a maximum conventional towing capacity of 20,000 pounds. You'll have to choose the F-250 Crew Cab 4x4 with the optional 6.7-liter diesel engine and the Trailer Tow package. The gooseneck and fifth-wheel tow rating is 22,800 pounds in this case. The 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine makes 450 horsepower and 935 pound-feet of torque here. The 2022 Ford F-250 range starts at $39,445.
2022 Ram 2500 HD: 19,990 Pounds
Step down to the RAM 2500 HD series, and you'll be able to get up to 19,990 pounds of towing capacity in the Ram range. You'll also have to opt for the 6.7-liter, inline-six Cummins diesel engine in the crew cab form with the eight-foot bed. In this configuration, it makes 370 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic gearbox powers the wheels. You'll have to choose the 4x2 model to get this rating. The 2022 Ram 2500 HD starts at $42,775.
2022 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD: 14,500 Pounds
This Silverado 2500 HD takes up the next spot with a maximum towing capacity of 18,510 pounds, but this comes with an asterisk. You must choose the regular cab, long bed model with the 6.6-liter Duramax engine and 4x2 system. This will give you a maximum towing capacity of 14,500 pounds. Now you'll have to choose the 17-inch wheels and the available fifth-wheel/gooseneck hitch to increase the towing capacity to 18,510 pounds. The 2022 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD range starts at $38,500.
2023 GMC Sierra 2500 HD: 14,500 Pounds
As was the case with the 3500 twins, the GMC Sierra 2500 HD also needs to be spec'd like the Silverado 2500 HD to attain the same 18,510-pound tow rating. Mind you, this is with the available gooseneck hitch. The conventional trailering capacity is 14,500 pounds. This needs to be a crew cab model with the 6.6-liter, turbocharged V-8 Duramax engine that makes 445 ponies and 910 pound-feet of torque. The 2023 GMC Sierra 2500 HD range starts at $40,200.
2022 Ford F-150:14,000 Pounds
If you're in the market for a non-Super Duty or non-Heavy Duty truck, then the Ford F-150 offers the best towing capacity of 14,000 pounds. This is available with the SuperCab with an eight-foot box and the SuperCrew 4x2. You'll have to choose the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine and Max Trailer Tow package to achieve this rating. The 3.5-liter, V-6 EcoBoost engine produces 400 horses and 500 pound-feet of torque. The 2022 Ford F-150 starts at $31,520.
2022 Chevy Silverado 1500: 13,300 Pounds
The Silverado takes up the number ten spot on this list with a maximum conventional towing capacity of 13,300 pounds. You'll require to choose the double cab 2WD model with the available 3.0-liter, turbo-diesel Duramax engine or the double cab, standard bed RST 4x4 with the optional 6.2-liter V-8 engine.
In both cases, you'll also have to opt for the 20-inch wheels and max trailering package. As for the engine specs, the 3.0-liter, turbocharged inline-six diesel Duramax puts out 277 horses and 460 pound-feet of torque, whereas the 6.2-liter, V-8 mill puts out 420 horses and 460 pound-feet of twist. The 2022 Chevy Silverado range starts at $34,600.
2022 Ford F-150 Hybrid:12,700 Pounds
Another hybrid available for you is the Ford F-150 Hybrid, which is on the way to being the top dog, just like the ICE F-150. It comes with a 3.5-liter PowerBoost V-6 that can pump out 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque.
The fully hybrid design guarantees that the advanced technology will maximize power and performance in whatever driving mode you choose. The maximum towing capacity of the Hybrid Ford is 12,700 if you go with the 2WD version with the tow package added to it. The 2022 Ford F-150 Hybrid starts out at $44,605 and goes up from there.
2022 Toyota Tundra: 12,000 Pounds
The Toyota Tundra is one of those trucks on the market that is not offered with a mighty V-8, so you must be okay with having a twin-turbo V-6 under the hood. As with most of the other options, you will have to go with the 2WD version if you want the full towing capacity of 12,000 pounds.
The only trim level that offers this high towing capacity is the SR5 DoubleCab, but some of the other options will get you towing capacities of over 10,000 pounds. The interior is much nicer than the previous versions of the Tundra. It is loaded with some high-tech gadgets to help the truck compete with the American truck makers currently corning the pickup market. The 2022 Toyota Tundra has a starting price of $35,050, which is very competitively priced.
2022 Toyota Tundra iForce MAX Hybrid: 11,450 Pounds
Before you know it the internal combustion (ICE) pickups of the past will not be an option when buying a new truck, so it is nice to see a hybrid truck on this list. The 2022 Tundra iForce MAX comes from the factory with a 3.4-liter hybrid V-6 that can push out up to 437 horses and has a torque rating of around 583 pound-feet.
This gives the Tundra Hybrid a maximum towing capacity of 11,450 pounds, which is still not up to the standards the three leading American companies have set as the bar, but Toyota is getting there. The 2022 Toyota Tundra iForce Max starts at $53,000, which is substantially higher than the basic ICE version.
2022 Rivian R1T: 11,000 Pounds
To the surprise of more than a few classic truck lovers, an American start-up company has achieved the unthinkable; gaining a spot in the top 15 trucks with the highest towing capacity. Being an independent carmaker is not the main reason it surprises most. The Rivian R1T is a fully electric truck with dual-electric motors on the base level model and it sets the benchmark for all-electric trucks.
The highest trim level will get you an advanced Quad-Motor AWD system that can pump out 835 horsepower and 908 pound-feet of torque. The maximum towing capacity of the 2022 Rivian R1T is only 11,000 pounds, but keep an eye out because this truck should rise to the top of the EV truck pack. The R1T has a starting price of only $67,500 which may seem high to you, but it is a good investment for the world's future.
2022 Nissan Titan HD: 10,920 Pounds
The 2022 Nissan Titan HD is not the best choice that you can make when looking for a heavy-duty truck because it can only tow up to 10,920 pounds. The Titan HD is basically an upgraded version of the Titan half-ton, so if you are a huge fan of Toyota trucks, the HD will bump up the capacities a bit but still will not get close to the Ram, Ford, or Chevy heavy-duty trucks.
The Nissan Titan HD comes with 4WD standard and a 5.6-liter V-8 that pushes out up to 400 ponies and 413 pound-feet of torque. The starting price for the Titan HD is only $48,275, so it is an affordable option if massive weights are not being towed behind it.