Maximum tow ratings are like diet pill claims – they all promise the world, and they all come with one of these – “*” – an asterisk. We’ll explore maximum tow ratings and what they mean in a two-part Maximum Tow Rating Guide. For part one, we’ll give a quick summary of the tow rating claims made by every half-ton manufacturer:
In alphabetical order…
The new 6.2L Silverado has a max tow rating of 10,700 lbs.
2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 – The new 6.2L is a stump puller, with a maximum tow rating of 10,700 lbs. However, the run-of-the-mill 5.3L Chevy (the most popular model), tops out at only 8400 lbs. The vast majority of Chevy trucks are rated to pull 6k to 8k pounds.
Dodge's 2009 HEMI Ram 1500 can tow as much as 9,100 lbs.
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 – Dodge pulls up the rear in terms of max tow rating, but they might be the most responsible when it comes to making outrageous claims. A 5.7 HEMI-equipped Ram can haul 8500-9100 lbs, depending on the cab and the presence of a transfer case.
With the proper equipment, a 2009 F150 can tow 11,300 lbs.
2009 Ford F150 – Ford claims the highest tow rating in it’s class with a max tow rating of 11,300 pounds. The “big” 5.4L motor is required, and most versions of the truck also require either the “heavy duty” or “max” trailer tow package, which adds $2,000 to the price of the vehicle (not including the required 5.4L engine). Skip the extra expense, and the tow ratings (for the exact same engine) can drop as low as 7,700 pounds.
2009 GMC Sierra 1500 – See Chevy Silverado 1500. Did you know the “G” in “GMC” stands for Grabowski? True story. UPDATE: Blog commenter Brian corrected this error – the “Grabowsky” connection is an urban legend. See his comment below.
Nissan's 9,500 lbs max trailer tow rating is no longer class-leading, but it's still respectable.
2009 Nissan Titan – Nissan keeps it simple. There’s only one engine available (a strong 5.6L V8), and with the tow package it’s rated at 9000-9500 pounds, depending on the trim level. Without the tow package, ratings fall as low as 6500 pounds. The tow package will add some cost to the truck – depending on the trim level you start with, max towing will cost an extra $750 to $2800 (keep in mind that includes a BUNCH of other options – it’s a package deal).
With the tow package (standard equipment on most configurations), the Tundra can tow 10,100 to 10,800 lbs.
2010 Toyota Tundra – Some trim levels include a tow package, but almost across the board any 5.7L Tundra tows 9,800 to 10,800 lbs (reg. cab long box). The tow package adds $660 to the cost of a base Doublecab 5.7, and without it the max tow rating is only 8,600 lbs.
So what do all these numbers mean?
If we’re looking for the biggest number, Ford is the winner. If we’re looking at consistently high towing ratings, the Tundra is the winner (no surprise considering the Tundra has the best engine/transmission combo of the bunch). If we’re looking at realistic claims, Dodge seems to be sand-bagging a little (they’ve got a pretty powerful motor).
Still, at the end of the day, none of these numbers are terribly meaningful because every manufacturer has their own testing standards. In part two of our Maximum Tow Rating Guide (next week), we’ll dive into all of the factors that will impact the actual, real-world rating.
Do you see any errors above? Feel free to comment below!
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These are all 1/2 ton trucks. For this class of vehicle, the limiting factor on the type and weight of the trailer to be towed is usually the is the payload instead of the towing capacity.
None of these trucks are suitable for a 5th wheel trailer due to limited payload capacity.