Best trucks for towing

The best truck for towing is not automatically the biggest or the priciest. The right answer depends, above all, on the actual weight you plan on pulling, the hitch type, and your day-to-day reality.

In other words, you don’t need a 3500 HD to haul two ATVs and a BBQ. But when the load increases, it is better to stop playing tough and equip yourself with the muscle you need.

Here is a lineup of the best trucks for towing. It compares several makes and models to help you find the best fit for your needs.

At GM Paillé, Chevrolet and GMC models available to you have a clear advantage. The range covers just about every use, from a midsize truck for the weekend to an HD with dual rear wheels designed for intensive work. Most importantly, the tow ratings are backed by robust powertrains, modern towing aids, and multiple configurations of cargo bed, cab, and drivetrain.

Summary

Category	Model	Key points of the category	Needs
Very heavy or intensive towing	1.Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD / GMC Sierra 3500 HD 2.RAM 3500	Up to 36 000 lb., the strongest truck category	Large fifth wheel, heavy equipment, intensive use
Heavy towing	1.Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD / GMC Sierra 2500 HD 2.Ford F-250	Up to 22 070 / 22 390 lb., strong diesel torque and advanced towing technologies	Horses, large boat, light to intermediate fifth wheel
Light towing	1. Silverado 1500 / Sierra 1500 2.Ford F-150 3.RAM 1500	Up to 13 300 lb. (6 032 kg), comfort and work-life balance	Family travel trailer, light to mid RV, enclosed trailer

* Manufacturer pricing published in Canada at the time of research. Subject to change without notice.

Trucks for very heavy or intensive towing

Sierra 3500 HD and Silverado 3500 HD: dependable options when towing gets serious

For very heavy or intensive towing, the GMC Sierra 3500 HD and Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD remain very solid choices. They combine genuine work capability with a comprehensive towing environment. Both can go up to 36,000 lb. with the 6.6 L Duramax V8 turbodiesel rated at 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft. That clearly places them in the big-league arena.

GM also scores big in the towing experience. You get a wealth of towing tech and up to 14 camera views with a transparent trailer view to make life easier. In other words, these are not just trucks that pull hard. They are trucks that make towing simpler and more reassuring, which matters a lot in this format, especially when you move into dual rear wheels.

PRO ADVICE

“In other words, if you want to step up to real heavy artillery, you can go with a Silverado 3500 HD or a Sierra 3500 HD. Both let you tow up to 36,000 lb. and give you all the towing aids that make the job easier.

That’s a truck that speaks the language of large fifth wheels.”

‒ Alexandre Rivest, sales consultant

RAM 3500: a big raw number, but not necessarily the best balance

The 2026 RAM 3500 clearly deserves its spot here. It also claims up to 36,610 lb. of towing with the 6.7 L Cummins High-Output. It is therefore practically on par with the Sierra and Silverado 3500 HD.

That said, for a ranking focused on real-world use, Chevrolet and GMC often take the edge. Why? Because they offer an easier-to-explain, easier-to-sell package around towing. Multiple camera views, transparent trailer view, an integrated trailering app or system, MultiPro or Multi-Flex tailgate, and a more refined presentation in upper trims.

In short, the RAM is technological and powerful, but the GM duo makes day-to-day towing easier to live with.

See the spec sheet for the Chevrolet Silverado 3500

See the spec sheet for the GMC Sierra 3500

Trucks for heavy towing

Sierra 2500 HD and Silverado 2500 HD: probably the best fit for many people

In heavy towing, the Sierra 2500 HD and Silverado 2500 HD give you an extremely capable format that is often easier to justify than a 3500 HD for many businesses and owners.

The Sierra 2500 HD goes up to 22,390 lb., while the Silverado 2500 HD climbs to 22,070 lb. With the 6.6 L Duramax rated at 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft, you already have a very serious truck to tow machinery, a heavy trailer, farm equipment, or a large RV.

Again, the GM advantage is not only about the number. The Sierra 2500 HD brings the ProGrade Trailering System, MultiPro tailgate, and up to 13 or 14 views depending on the trim. The Silverado 2500 HD answers with a hitch view, transparent trailer view, an integrated trailering app, and up to 14 camera angles.

For someone who tows often, these are tools that make a real difference every day.

Ford F-250: very strong on paper, less so in practice

The Ford F-250 remains a serious benchmark and a popular model. It offers several engines, including a 6.8 L with 405 horsepower and 445 lb-ft, a 7.3 L with 430 horsepower and 485 lb-ft, plus diesels up to 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft. Yes, that is impressive.

Where the Sierra 2500 HD and Silverado 2500 HD regain the upper hand is also in towing technologies. In addition, the Sierra gives you a particularly refined and comfortable interior from the base trim, while the Silverado 2500 HD gives you the very practical Durabed cargo bed with 12 standard tie-downs rated at 500 lb. per corner, integrated cargo bed steps, and especially the multi-function Multi-Flex tailgate.

These are concrete arguments for the two GM models, which can easily tip the scales. And despite its impressive power, the Ford's towing capacity remains very close to the two GM trucks, at 23,000 lb.

See the spec sheet for the Chevrolet Silverado 2500

See the spec sheet for the GMC Sierra 2500

Trucks for lighter towing

Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500: the most convincing when you tow often without going HD

For lighter yet frequent towing needs, the Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500 are the most convincing choices. Both can reach up to 13,300 lb. with the 3.0 L Duramax. You get a duo that covers both everyday towing and more sustained work, without having to jump straight to an HD.

Another major strength are the towing aids. You get up to 14 camera views, the ProGrade system, the MultiPro tailgate and the CarbonPro cargo bed on the Sierra. The Silverado 1500 also gives you up to 14 camera views, the Durabed cargo bed, the Multi-Flex tailgate, and a cargo volume of 2,523 L, best in its class.

In short, if you want a 1500 truck that tows well and remains very smart to live with, GM is extremely strong here.

See the spec sheet for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500

See the spec sheet for the GMC Sierra 1500

PRO ADVICE

“In practical terms, these are excellent trucks to pull your travel trailer, enclosed trailer, boat, or small recreational vehicle, while staying pleasant to drive every day.

The Sierra 1500 stands out with a more premium approach in certain trims, while the Silverado 1500 leans heavily on the versatility of its lineup and configurations. Either way, you can’t go wrong.”

‒ Alexandre Rivest, sales consultant

Ford F-150: the king of raw numbers, but less appealing for frequent towing

The 2026 Ford F-150 remains strong on the towing front at up to 13,500 lb., which is practically the same capacity as the Silverado and Sierra 1500.

For a ranking focused on the best trucks for towing, the Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500 keep an advantage because they remain very close at 13,300 lb. while offering the 3.0 L Duramax turbodiesel. Ford no longer offers a diesel engine. A diesel gives you a meaningful edge if you tow often or rack up kilometres on the highway.

Do not forget the 14 camera views, ProGrade, and MultiPro or Multi-Flex on the GM models. In practice, this is what gives you a very complete truck, not just a truck with a big number.

RAM 1500: competitive, but the least muscular

The 2026 RAM 1500 remains competitive, but towing drops to 11,610 lb. Those are still solid figures, and RAM keeps good versatility. It is also a very technological truck.

Once again here, the Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500 keep the advantage. They simply offer more with 13,300 lb. and a real diesel solution with the 3.0 L Duramax, while with RAM, the diesel is also no longer offered. On top of that, GM models add very complete towing tools. They are also among the most reliable trucks.

And what about midsize and EV models?

The Silverado EV and Sierra EV both deserve their place in the discussion. They can tow up to 12,500 lb. (5,670 kg) and provide up to 760 horsepower, 775 lb-ft of torque, and up to 793 km of range depending on the trim. In other words, they are not far off the Sierra and Silverado 1500 at 13,300 lb. They are also the obvious choice if you are looking for the most fuel-efficient truck, since they are 100% electric.

As for midsize trucks, the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado do very well, with 7,700 lb. of towing, which places them ahead of the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma. This number falls under light and occasional towing.

See the spec sheet for the Chevrolet Silverado EV

See the spec sheet for the GMC Sierra EV

See the spec sheet for the Chevrolet Colorado

See the spec sheet for the GMC Canyon

So, which truck should I choose for towing?

It really depends on your use. For light towing, you can aim for a GMC Sierra 1500 or a Chevrolet Silverado 1500. They give you a solid dose of muscle, many towing aids, tons of accessible practicality on the Silverado side, and marked refinement and comfort for the Sierra.

The best move is to come discuss your real-world use with our experts at Paillé, who know every truck model like the back of their hand.

PRO ADVICE

“On the other hand, if you are looking for a truck for very heavy, frequent towing, repeated heavy loads, or long distances with a fifth wheel, the Sierra HD and Silverado HD still hold the advantage for operational simplicity and raw capacity.”