Best Cars for Towing in 2025

Key Takeaways

Match towing capacity to your actual load — you want at least 20% margin above your trailer's loaded weight
Payload capacity matters as much as towing capacity — the weight of passengers and tongue weight in the truck count against payload
Full-size trucks (F-150, Silverado, Ram 1500) tow 10,000-14,000 lbs; midsize SUVs tow 3,500-5,000 lbs
A properly equipped tow vehicle includes a transmission cooler, trailer brake controller, and tow/haul mode

Towing Capacity by Vehicle Type

Heavy Towing (10,000+ lbs) — Full-Size Trucks

Ford F-150: Up to 14,000 lbs (3.5L EcoBoost, properly equipped)
Ram 1500: Up to 12,750 lbs (5.7L HEMI)
Chevrolet Silverado: Up to 13,300 lbs (6.2L V8)
Toyota Tundra: Up to 12,000 lbs (i-FORCE MAX hybrid)

Medium Towing (5,000-8,000 lbs) — Full-Size SUVs

Chevrolet Tahoe: Up to 8,400 lbs
Ford Expedition: Up to 9,300 lbs
Toyota Sequoia: Up to 9,000 lbs
Jeep Wagoneer: Up to 10,000 lbs

Light Towing (3,500-5,000 lbs) — Midsize Vehicles

Toyota Tacoma: Up to 6,500 lbs
Ford Ranger: Up to 7,500 lbs
Toyota Highlander: Up to 5,000 lbs
Jeep Grand Cherokee: Up to 7,200 lbs

What Most People Actually Tow

Small utility trailer or jet skis: 2,000-3,000 lbs — most midsize SUVs handle this fine. Bass boat or small camper: 3,500-5,000 lbs — midsize truck or full-size SUV territory. Large boat, travel trailer, or car hauler: 7,000-12,000+ lbs — you need a full-size truck. Know your loaded trailer weight before shopping for a tow vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can SUVs tow boats?

Depends on the boat. Small fishing boats (2,000-3,500 lbs loaded): most midsize SUVs can handle this. Larger boats (5,000+ lbs): you need a full-size SUV or truck. Always check the specific model's towing capacity against your loaded trailer weight.

Can electric trucks tow?

Yes, but range drops significantly (40-60% reduction). The Ford F-150 Lightning tows 10,000 lbs but range drops to ~100 miles. For regular towing, gas or diesel trucks remain more practical until charging infrastructure and battery density improve.

What's the difference between towing and payload capacity?

Towing capacity is how much the vehicle can pull behind it. Payload capacity is how much weight can be in/on the vehicle (passengers, cargo in the bed, tongue weight from the trailer). Both limits must be respected — exceeding either is unsafe.