At Jim Ellis Commercial, we don't only just stock the towing truck options you need – we also help you find the exact make, model, and features that can make your life easier. If this is your first time buying or leasing a towing truck, you're in the right place! We'll cover some of the most capable towing trucks across multiple brands to help you gain your footing.
Are you a seasoned heavy-duty driver looking to upgrade your flatbed or heavy-duty towing truck capabilities? We've got you covered, too. Scroll down to find tips for choosing your next towing truck, including overviews of durability and build quality, cost of ownership, and fuel efficiency. Without further ado, here are the top towing trucks on today's market – and they're all available at Jim Ellis Commercial in Atlanta, GA.
Trucks that are best for towing typically boast powerhouse performance in key areas like engine specs, diesel options, dual-rear-wheel configurations, and long-term durability. While household brands like Ford might spring to mind (and rightfully so!), our inventory carries a range of towing truck brands that can get the job done right. Let's examine the most important aspects of the best towing trucks below to find your best fit.
It likely comes as no surprise that a heavy-duty towing truck is a popular choice for business owners and weekend adventurers alike. From an F-250 to the Chevrolet HD model, you can find the perfect towing capacity for your worksite or for weekend projects. But, when you need to handle titanic hauls, you can rely on a few specific names to get any job done right:
Stop your search for a flatbed towing truck for sale: Our towing trucks inventory of Chevy Silverado 3500 HD Chassis Cab models are ready for work. Thoughtfully designed with standard 4x4, best towing specs like 60- and 84.5-inch cab-to-axle lengths, and Regular or Crew cab options, the Silverado 3500 HD Chassis Cab can be converted into a flatbed for excellent towing capability. Enjoy these other specs:
| GMC Sierra 3500 HD | Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD | Ford Super Duty F-450 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available Engine | 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel V-8 | 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel V-8 | 6.7L H.O. turbo diesel V-8 |
| Horsepower | 470 | 470 | 500 |
| Torque | 975 lb-ft | 975 lb-ft | 1,200 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | 2WD (Dual Rear Wheel) | 2WD (Dual Rear Wheel) | 4x2 |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic |
| Max Fuel Tank Capacity | 36 gal | 36 gal | 48 gal |
| Max Towing Capacity (Gooseneck) | 36,000 lbs1 | 36,000 lbs2 | 40,000 lbs4 |
| Max Towing Capacity (Conventional) | 20,000 lbs1 | 20,000 lbs2 | 30,000 lbs4 |
| Standard or Available Performance/Tech Features |
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Multiple industries, from transport to road service and recovery, need the robust strength that only a top-tier towing truck can deliver. Aside from the impressive towing and engine specs discussed above, here are three other factors you should consider when deciding on the best towing trucks for your needs.
From your driveway to the job site, a towing truck should provide reliable performance for many years, especially when properly maintained. Invest in a towing truck that's built to handle rough terrain and comes equipped with protective coverings, like skid plates. However, if you're towing lighter loads through urban areas, you may only want a single-rear-wheel configuration and more responsive safety features.
Towing trucks aren't widely known for their fuel efficiency, at least not in comparison to other sedans and SUVs on the road. But you can still maximize your gas budget by choosing a powerful truck engine, like a turbo diesel, that's as economical as possible.
There are also electrified, fuel-efficient options, such as the F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid or the all-electric F-150 Lightning. However, keep in mind that these have lower towing capacities than the Ford Super Duty models. A turbo diesel engine will be the best of both worlds: it provides exceptional fuel economy that reduces how often you have to stop while having additional thousands of pounds of towing capacity.
Dealing with high repair and maintenance prices is the last task you want on your plate, so take the time to locate a towing truck that consistently earns high reliability scores. Our Ford, Chevrolet, and GMC trucks may have multiple awards and titles, so when you shop our selection, you know you're taking home the quality you deserve.
Our team will happily walk through expected maintenance schedules, such as how the F-450 may require more maintenance trips than the GMC Sierra 3500 HD due to its larger frame, or how a turbo-diesel engine's schedule differs from that of standard gas options.
Start your next adventure with the best towing trucks at Jim Ellis Commercial. Leverage our special offers on new trucks to save even more on your purchase. We can't wait to meet you!
The truck with the best towing capacity varies by class. Among full-size, light-duty pickup trucks, for example, the Ford F-150 has a best-in-class towing capacity (a maximum of 13,500 pounds).5 Meanwhile, the Ford Super Duty lineup is the best in its class with a maximum diesel towing capacity of 40,000 pounds.5
A heavy-duty pickup truck is usually the best option for towing a gooseneck trailer, though the "best" of this class is a more subjective matter. The Ford F-450 Super Duty has the best towing capacity in this class,5 but other trucks, like the Ram 3500, may sway you with their price, warranty, features, or interior ergonomics.
Any heavy-duty truck with a towing capacity that fits your expected needs will be a good choice, but the "best" choice can vary depending on other factors. Among these are price, available factory options, compatibility with your fleet, and overall brand preference. For help choosing a heavy-duty truck for towing, contact the Jim Ellis Commercial team.
A towing capacity is the maximum weight that your truck can pull via a trailer hitch, while a payload capacity is the maximum weight that your truck can handle as cargo in its pickup bed (and interior). As both involve adding weight to the vehicle, a maximum payload capacity and maximum towing capacity are typically not achievable at the same time.
GCWR stands for "Gross Combined Weight Rating." To get into what this means, GCWR represents the heaviest weight that both your truck and its towed load weigh. Subtract your truck's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) from its GCWR to get a rough estimate of your towing capacity.
A pickup truck is considered a heavy-duty truck if it has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of over 8,500 pounds. Heavy-duty pickup trucks have towing capacities well beyond what light-duty models can achieve and typically have a model name with "25," "35," or "45" in it, such as the Chevy Silverado 2500, Ram 3500, and Ford F-450.
The Ford F-450 Super Duty has a maximum towing capacity of 40,000 pounds,4 which makes it a best-in-class truck for diesel-engine towing capacity.5
In terms of capacity, the Ford F-450 Super Duty with a 6.7-liter High-Output Power Stroke turbo-diesel V-8 is the best option, with its best-in-class maximum diesel towing capacity of 40,000 pounds.5 Other factors, such as personal preference and not needing a towing capacity as high as 40,000 pounds, can make other trucks a better fit for you, though.
1GM-estimated. Maximum trailering ratings are intended for comparison purposes only. Before you buy a vehicle or use it for trailering, carefully review the trailering section of the Owner's Manual. The trailering capacity of your specific vehicle may vary. The weight of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you can trailer.
2Before you buy a vehicle or use it for trailering, carefully review the Trailering section of the Owner's Manual. The weight of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you can tow.
3For comparison purposes only. See the Owner's Manual and the label on the vehicle door jamb for the carrying capacity of a specific vehicle.
4When properly equipped. See dealer for details.
5Maximum towing capabilities are for properly equipped vehicles with required equipment and a 150-lb. driver and passenger and vary based on cargo, vehicle configuration, accessories, option content and number of passengers. Maximum payload capabilities are for properly equipped vehicles with required equipment and vary based on vehicle configuration, accessories, and option content. Horsepower, torque, payload and towing are independent attributes and may not be achieved simultaneously. For additional information, see your Ford Dealer.
