Top 5 Trucks To Tow a Travel Trailer

If you want to know the best truck to tow a travel trailer, you’ve come to the right place. Finding a solid truck is an essential first step to buying a travel trailer. Let’s jump into which trucks are the best so you can make your pick. 

What Is the Best Truck to Tow a Travel Trailer? 

The best truck to tow a travel trailer depends on your needs and preferences when it comes down to it. What works best for someone else might not be best for you. Besides only towing capacity, you need to consider what else you will use your truck for. 

For example, will it be your daily driver, do you have family or pets to tow around, will you be traveling off-road? These can affect which truck you choose. Here are several more things you need to consider to find your best truck. 

What to Look for In A Truck for Towing a Travel Trailer

You need to consider the following factors to find the best truck to tow a travel trailer. 

Towing and Payload Capacity

Towing and payload are essential things to consider. So towing simply refers to how much weight your truck can tow. This will affect the size and weight of your travel trailer. 

Payload means how much weight you can add to your cargo area. This could include the bed of the truck and the cab space. If you are looking for a large rig or transport heavy items with your truck, higher is better for towing and payload capacities. This will allow you more flexibility in what you can transport. 

Interior Space

You should also think about interior space. While a particular truck might have a high towing and payload capacity, it doesn’t do you much good if it doesn’t have enough room for everything else. 

If you have family members or pets who will travel with you, you need more interior space. You might also want some added room for transporting cargo. Sure, you have the bed of the truck, but some things are better off in the cab. 

Price

You also need to consider the cost. While we would all love the best of everything, price constraints might hold us back. It is crucial to get a truck that fits your budget. After all, you won’t have much fun with your truck if you can’t afford the payments. 

Gas vs. Diesel Trucks

Another consideration to find the best truck to tow a travel trailer is if you want a gas or diesel truck. The most significant difference is the type of fuel used. Gas engines use gas, and diesel engines use diesel. No surprises there. 

However, diesel engines can generally tow heavier weights than gas engines. This isn’t always the case, but it is often true. If you want a large travel trailer, a diesel engine may provide the extra oomph needed to get from point A to point B. 

Do You Need 4WD? 

When deciding on a truck, you want to think about the primary purpose. Chances are you will use your vehicle for more than just towing your travel trailer. When you think about your travels and other uses, do you need 4WD? 

If you do, you’ll want to make sure the truck you pick has this feature. While people usually assume all trucks have four-wheel drive, this isn’t the case. If you plan to go off-road or boondock, having this bonus is convenient. 

5 Best Trucks for Towing a Travel Trailer

Although the best truck for towing a travel trailer depends on your preferences, there are some clear front runners. We recommend giving the following a test drive when deciding what to buy. 

Ford F-150

The Ford F-150 is a solid choice for towing a travel trailer. It can tow between 5,000 and 11,300 pounds and has a payload capacity of 1,745 to 2,238 pounds. The base model has a starting MSRP of $28,940, which goes up from there to $36,650 starting for the super crew cab. 

The Ford F-150 has seating for between 3 and 6, depending on which trim package you get. This gives you plenty of interior space for transporting, especially with the super crew cab model. It also has an 8’ box. 

Dodge Ram 1500

If you opt for a Dodge Ram 1500, you can expect a tough truck as well. It has a towing capacity of 6,150 to 12,750 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,242 to 2,322 pounds.

The price tag starts a little higher than the Ford F-150. The Dodge Ram 1500 starts at $32,795 and goes up to $36,645 for the crew cab. The Ram 1500 is a better option for people who want more interior cab capacity. It can seat 5 to 6 people. It has a 5’7” or 6’4” box, depending on the model. 

Chevy Silverado 1500

The Chevy Silverado 1500 is a fantastic travel trailer towing option. It can tow up to 13,300 pounds and has a max payload of 2,280, making it one of the heaviest duty trucks we’ve covered. Lower models tow between 7,200 and 9,7000 pounds. 

Prices range from $28,900 to $35,200 depending on the trim package and cab size. The models seat three, five, or six people with a maximum available cargo space of 89.1 cubic feet. These options give you plenty of room to meet your needs. 

GMC Sierra 1500

Another one of the best trucks to tow a travel trailer is the GMC Sierra 1500. This vehicle can pull a maximum of 11,800 pounds with a payload capacity of up to 2,250 pounds, depending on the trim package. 

If you opt for this truck, you can expect to see starting prices of $30,000 to $36,300. However, some upgrades result in a much higher price tag, just like all vehicles. The GMC Sierra can seat either 3 or 6 people, depending on the model. It also boasts 89.1 cubic feet of cargo space. 

Toyota Tundra

Finally, you could choose the Toyota Tundra for your travel trailer. You’ll be able to tow a maximum of 10,200 pounds with a payload capacity of 1,730 pounds with this truck.  

The starting price for a lower-end model is $34,025 and increases to $38,320 for the crew max trim package. Cargo bed length comes in either 5’5” or 6’5”, and the Tundra can seat either 5 or 6 people. 

Need More Towing Capacity? Size Up!

If these towing capacities don’t seem like they will cut it for you, don’t fret. You can easily upgrade to a 2500 or 3500 truck for more towing capacity. If you want to tow it, there is a truck out there that is up for the job. You just may have to pay more for the added capabilities, which is to be expected. 

Conclusion

Getting a 1500 truck for an entry-level travel trailer is a great option. Now that you know what the best trucks for towing a travel trailer are take your pick. They build these trucks tough to handle the challenge. Just be sure to get the exact specifications of your trim package and any add-ons before purchasing a travel trailer. This will let you make sure your truck is up to the task.