Committing to a 5th wheel trailer means you’re ready for some bigtime adventures. This trailer hookup is reserved for the largest travel trailers and boats.
When towing is at the top of your shopping list, you’ll want to choose from some of the strongest heavy-duty trucks to enjoy maximum towing capacity. Bigger trucks can pull heavier loads, which means hooking them up with a 5th wheel tow hitch instead of a traditional setup. This specialized setup places the hitch in the middle of the truck bed and utilizes much more of the truck’s frame to handle the towing capacity.
Here are the top three trucks for towing a 5th wheel for you to choose from.
Chevrolet Silverado HD
The heavy-duty truck lineup from Chevrolet gives you incredible strength and capability while pulling a heavy trailer. Previous versions of this Silverado weren’t equipped with off-road variants such as the ZR2 and Trail Boss, but those names are now part of the mix. When you choose the one-ton version with the 6.6-liter turbocharged Duramax diesel V8 engine, you’ll enjoy up to 36,000 pounds of towing capacity while using a 5th wheel hookup.
If you want the most comfortable and feature-rich version of this heavy-duty truck, you’ll want to go for the High Country trim. Although it’s packed with high-end features, this model has an understated approach to the luxury truck world compared to the Ram HD and Ford Super Duty trucks. Still, the Silverado HD doesn’t skip anything that can make it one of the best trucks for you to tow a heavy load. The massive engine produces 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of torque, which translates to twice the tow rating of the base gasoline engine offered for this big and powerful Chevy truck.
Ram HD
One of the best trucks for towing a 5th wheel is the Ram HD. This pickup truck lineup brings incredible power and performance that could remind you of the toughness you’ll find in an NFL lineman. The Ram HD uses an incredible 6.7-liter Cummins diesel 6-cylinder engine that’s equipped with either RWD or 4WD to give you the power and drive desired. When you hook up a 5th wheel, this impressive pickup can handle up to 37,000 pounds of towing, making it stronger than the Chevy by 1,000 pounds.
In addition to the massive towing capacity, the Ram HD can carry more than 7,600 pounds of payload in the bed. This truck also boasts the most comfortable and upscale cabin at its highest trim level. When you want to experience pure comfort and quality during your drive, this Ram heavy-duty pickup truck is the right choice. Ram offers three cab options for this big truck lineup: single, Crew, and Mega Cab options to give you the right setup for your driving needs. Whether you use this truck to tote your work crew or carry your family where you need to go, this truck has everything you want and need.
Ford Super Duty
The Ford Super Duty lineup is the only heavy-duty truck lineup that goes above a one-ton truck size. The Chevy and Ram lines have two models each at 2500 and 3500 names to signify the three-quarter-ton and one-ton models, but the Ford lineup has the F-250, F-350, and F-450 models to give you more choices. When you want the best trucks for towing a 5th wheel, these Ford trucks provide the highest towing and payload figures. The maximum towing of a Ford F-450 is 40,000 pounds and this same truck has an 8,000-pound payload capacity.
What gives these Ford trucks their incredible power figures? The Super Duty lineup is powered by a massive 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8 engine that delivers 500 horsepower and up to 1,200 lb-ft of torque to the wheels. These trucks are more than just massive workhorses; they can also be comfortable and enjoyable while you are driving. All you’ve got to do to have a cabin filled with impressive features is step up higher than the base XL trim. You’ll find a bevy of excellent items to make your family or work crew comfortable during your time in this truck.
The three trucks with the most towing capacity to handle a 5th wheel are the Chevrolet Silverado HD, Ram HD, and Ford Super Duty trucks. Which of these models will you choose to provide your work crew or family with the big truck that handles everything you need while towing a large trailer?
This article might include affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, without any additional cost to you. We have thoroughly researched and tested all products featured to provide a trustworthy review.
Lily Campbell