If you want the most power to tow a heavy load, traditional advice is to choose a diesel truck, but which one? You will find three truck classes that are not of commercial class with impressive towing capacity. These classes are medium-sized, full-size and heavy, giving you three great ways to find the diesel truck you want to drive that can pull the most.
We see three options for medium-sized diesel trucks
Currently, only three mid-range trucks offer you a diesel engine. These trucks are Jeep Gladiator, Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. The diesel powertrains you will find in this class are:
- Jeep Gladiator – 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V6 engine plus eight-speed automatic transmission, 260 horsepower, 442 lb-ft of torque
- GMC Canyon / Chevrolet Colorado – 2.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine plus six-speed automatic transmission, 186 horsepower, 369 lb-ft of torque
The Jeep model offers more power, but the maximum towing for the Gladiator is 6,500 pounds, while the GM pair can tow up to 7,700 pounds. In fact, the diesel-powered Gladiator does not have the highest towing rating for the Jeep. According to Car and Driver, that distinction belongs to the version with the Pentastar V6 petrol engine, which can pull up to 7,650 pounds.
Only three full-size trucks have diesel engines
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When we define full-size trucks as halftone models, only three offer diesel power in this class. These two trucks are Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500. Again, the GM pair uses the same driveline to offer the desired diesel power. Drivelines for these trucks are:
- Frame 1500 – 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine plus eight-speed automatic transmission, 260 horsepower, 480 lb-ft of torque
- GMC Sierra 1500 / Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel six-cylinder plus ten-speed automatic transmission, 277 horsepower, 460 lb-ft of torque
The Ram 1500 diesel truck can pull up to 12,560 pounds, but GM Pair delivers a higher towing rating of 13,300 pounds. Although Ford does not have a half-ton diesel engine, it has the highest traction rating in the 14,000-pound class.
On the way to the heavy diesel truck class for the real power masters
Detroit Big Three are the heavy trucks offered with diesel powertrains. These trucks are:
- Frame 2500 and 3500
- Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD
- GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD
- Ford Super Duty F-250 and F-350
The drivelines for these large trucks are:
- Frame – 6.7-liter Cummins diesel six-cylinder engine plus six-speed automatic transmission, 420 horsepower, 1,075 lb-ft of torque
- Chevrolet / GMC – 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8 engine plus Allison ten-speed automatic transmission, 445 horsepower, 910 lb-ft of torque
- Ford – 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8 engine plus TorqShift ten-speed automatic transmission, 475 horsepower, 1050 lb-ft of torque
According to MotorTrend, the Ram diesel truck pulls up to 37,090, the Ford Super Duty models pull up to 37,000, while the GM pair reaches 36,000 pounds of towing. The frame model has the most torque, which translates to traction.
Are diesel cars better for towing?
Diesel engines produce much more torque than their petrol counterparts, resulting in higher towing capacity. Usually, these trucks also offer better fuel economy.
Which diesel car is best for towing?
In mid-size and half-tonne, full-size classes, the Duramax engines, found in Chevrolet and GMC trucks, give you the greatest traction. When you look at the heavy trucks, the Ram Cummins engine tops the list with just under 100 pounds over the Ford Power Stroke diesel engine.
Is it worth it to buy a diesel car?
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If you are looking for the largest towing capacity and a long-lasting truck, you want one with a diesel engine. Autotrader describes what you need to know about a diesel-powered truck. You pay more for the vehicle and maintenance, but the truck can last much longer than a petrol car. Usually, diesel engines do not need major repairs until after 500,000 miles, but gasoline engines often last no more than 200,000 miles.
RELATED: Comparison of maintenance costs: Diesel vs gas engines