Maverick Guide: Best Trucks for Towing


Trucks are as American as apple pie. Like vanilla ice-cream pairs with that classic fruit pastry, trucks also pair well with a tow package. If you’re looking to invest in a boat, snowmobiles, or a side-by-side, you’re going to have a hard time towing in the family minivan.

Buying a truck is serious business, and looking at each truck class’ towing capacity will help you make the right decision when it’s time to visit a dealership. To help with that choice, we looked at three top-selling trucks in each class from 2016-2021, compared their towing capacity, and had our Maverick truck gurus, Service Manager Rich Wilson and Service Advisor Jesse Lawson, make their recommendation from each class.

We’ve also included Kelly Blue Book expert and user reviews, so you can make an informed purchase and get your toys out in Idaho’s outdoors to get started on your first of many adventures to come. 

Bonus: Check out this helpful tow guide to see if the rig you’re looking to buy can handle the toys you’re planning to tow. 

Mid-Size Class

For the couple or solo traveler, mid-size trucks are a great fit because they’re capable of towing small boats, A-frame campers, and teardrop trailers, and they get decent gas mileage, especially compared to trucks in other classes.


2016-2021 Chevrolet Colorado


2016-2021 Toyota Tacoma


2016-2021 Nissan Frontier


Half-Ton Class

When you’re looking to get a great daily driver that can also haul whatever you need, like an average sized boat, cam trailer, and the entire family, a half-ton pickup is an excellent choice. Keep in mind, if you’re trying to tow big toys like 5th Wheel campers attached with gooseneck hitches, that ain’t happenin’ due to half-ton trucks’ payload capacity and tow limitations.


2016-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500


2016-2021 Toyota Tundra


2016-2021 Ford-F150


3/4 & One-Ton Class

Now we’re talking about some serious trucks! Buying a three-quarter or one-ton truck also means you can tow pretty much whatever the heck you want. That means gooseneck hitched trailers with the side-by-side loaded in the back or pontoon party boats that will give you an extra boost of popularity each summer.


2016-2021 Chevy Silverado 2500 & 3500


2016-2021 Ford F-250 & F-350


2016-2021 Dodge Ram 2500 & 3500


We hope this information has been helpful to you. With this market research you have the info needed to buy the rig of your dreams. Feel free to browse our trucks or come by to test drive anything you’d like. Our team is here to serve you and help get you rolling on your next adventure!

Next Week: Dog Gear & Park Guide