There are many things to consider when looking for a truck – size, color, horsepower, and, most importantly – the towing capacity. Towing capacity is the maximum amount of weight that a truck is capable of pulling. The higher your truck’s towing capacity is, the more you can tow. If your purpose of owning a truck is to use it for hauling trailers and vehicles, then you’ll have to make sure you get one that can handle these demands.
Below are some trucks that have excellent towing capacity.
Ford Maverick
Maximum conventional towing: 4,000 pounds
The Ford Maverick is one of two compact pickup models on the market. These small trucks focus more on a lower starting price and better fuel economy than towing. The Maverick comes standard with a front-wheel drive and a 191-hp inline-four hybrid engine. The base powertrain is capable of towing up to 2,000 pounds. Mavericks equipped with the 4K Tow package can tow up to 4,000 pounds, regardless of whether they have front- or all-wheel drive.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
Maximum conventional towing: 5,000 pounds
The unique design of the front grille on Hyundai’s Santa Cruz makes it stand out from other trucks. It looks nothing like the other trucks, but despite its smaller size, it matches some of the capabilities of larger trucks. The standard engine is a 191-horsepower four-cylinder with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It also comes standard with a four-door body style, a roughly four-foot-long bed, and front-wheel drive, with a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
A Santa Cruz with all-wheel drive and a 281-horsepower turbocharged inline-four with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is best for towing heavier loads. This comes with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
Honda Ridgeline
Maximum conventional towing: 5,000 pounds
The Honda Ridgeline provides the ride comfort of a midsize pickup truck with the utility and handling characteristics of larger crossovers and SUVs. The Ridgeline comes with a 3.5-liter V-6 with 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque at 4,700 rpm and is only available in a crew-cab configuration with four doors. The all-wheel drive standard on the Ridgeline makes it capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds.
Nissan Frontier
Maximum conventional towing: 6,720 pounds
The Nissan Frontier has been redesigned and now offers a 310-hp V-6 3.8-liter engine and nine-speed automatic transmission. It uses the same ladder-type frame as previous models of the Nissan Frontier, but with stronger mounting points for suspension components, hydraulic body mounts, and bump stops that better insulate the vehicle from road noise. The Frontier’s 3.8-liter V-6 makes 281 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm, and the cheapest version tows more than any other model in its class.
