Towing capabilities vary widely considering the fact that there are different versions of truck models available today. From regular and crew cab to diesel engine options, there are many choices you might have to make on the type of pickup or truck you’re going to use for towing. As a matter of fact, towing is one of those things that can be stressful when behind the wheel of the truck especially when it comes to the demand on your vehicle’s chassis and drivetrain as well as the driver tension.
Before choosing the best truck or pickup for towing, there are several factors truck shoppers should carefully consider. These are factors that contribute to the towing capacity of a truck. One needs to ask himself several questions before narrowing down his choices. Towing capacity in this case, refers to the maximum weight your vehicle can safely haul without harming the vehicle.
The first and most important question to ask yourself is, how am I planning to tow? Secondly, how am I going to use the truck or pickup when am not towing? The point here is that you need to choose the vehicle that suits your needs. Here are some questions to ask to determine a vehicle’s towing capacity:
New Standards
The introduction of new standards for towing capacities has made it easier to compare ratings between different brands. Automakers have also adopted uniform standards and ways of rating and testing pickups.
When it comes to choosing the best pickup for towing, you’ll definitely choose one that is rated to handle the toque weight and total weight of your trailer. That means you must have these figures when doing your search. If you’ll be pulling your trailer regularly, you may consider picking a truck with a higher rating. However, if you’re planning to tow your trailer once in a while, it may be a good idea to choose a truck whose towing rating is slightly above the weight of your trailer.
Gas or Diesel?
Although a diesel engine will add thousands more to the purchasing price it is great for towing. If you’re looking for a truck that can achieve fuel economy and tow more, diesel would be the perfect option. However, if you plan to only tow a few times in a year, you might want to consider gas.
4-wheel-drive or 2-wheel-drive?
People tend to think that a four-wheel-drive truck or pickup has a higher towing capability than a 2-wheel-drive truck. It’s the opposite. Remember that four-wheel-drive vehicles have additional components which add an extra weight. That explains why two-wheel-drive pickups typically have slightly higher towing capabilities that four-wheel-drive pickups. Additionally, two-wheel-drive trucks are more fuel efficient.
While this might make a two-wheel-drive truck appear better, you must realize that a 4-wheel-drive truck can be very handy especially when pulling a trailer. Furthermore, a 4-wheel-drive truck can easily climb a hill with loose gravel or a slippery boat ramp while a 2-wheel-drive pickup might have some trouble.
Heavy duty or light duty
If you have a big trailer such as a gooseneck horse trailer or a fifth-wheel camper, play it safe and choose a heavy duty truck. There are light-duty trucks which have towing ratings in excess of 10,000 pounds but they may not serve you well with bid trailers. However, you should also consider the frequency of use before choosing one. You don’t have to pay thousands more for a GMC Sierra HD or a bid Ford F-350 when you plan to tow a few times in a year.