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The Best Towing Trucks for Under $20,000The Best Towing Trucks for Under $20,000
Campers, boats, trailers loaded with dirt bikes, you’ve already spent plenty on what you’re towing and now you need to save on the truck. Here’s the best trucks for towing under $20,000.
Finding the Best Towing Trucks for Less
When it comes to towing all the fun toys – boats, trailers, snowmobiles, and the like – it’s hard to beat a pickup truck as the vehicle of choice. But if you want to buy new, prepare to shell out the big bucks. A 2026 Ford F150 XLT starts at $47,000 and the popular Lariat? Try $62,000! Fortunately, there are a whole bunch of trucks on the used market, from both the mid- and full-size segments, that are capable towing vehicles and cost less than $20,000. If trails and dunes are more your thing, check out our list of the best used off-road pickup trucks.
The Best Used Full-Size Pickup Trucks for Towing
2015 – 2020 Ford F-150
The longtime pickup truck sales champ, the Ford F-150, can be had for under $20,000 if you go back 5-10 years on the used market. These F-150s came with a wide range of powertrains, but it is the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 you’ll be wanting to tow with as it maxed out at 13,200 pounds when properly equipped. The naturally aspirated Coyote V8-powered models were also strong in the towing department with an 11,500-pound rating. In either case, try to find a model with the more efficient 10-speed transmission that replaced the 6-speed unit in 2018.
2009 – 2018 Ram 1500
For diesel fans, a used Ram 1500 offers a 3.0L turbodiesel V6 that made 420 lb-ft of torque and had a tow rating of 9,200 pounds. However, it is the lauded 5.7L Hemi V8 that topped the towing charts for these pickups with a 10,650-pound rating from its 395 hp and 410 torques. Early models were named the Dodge Ram 1500, until Ram became a standalone brand in 2010. Aim for a 2012 or newer truck, as this is when a new 6-speed automatic transmission began replacing the older 5-speed unit.
2007 – 2021 Toyota Tundra
Before Toyota started turbocharging its pickup trucks, the previous long-running Tundra generation featured a strong, naturally aspirated 5.7L iForce V8. Rated for 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque, it could tow up to 10,200 pounds when equipped with the factory tow package that added a heavy-duty alternator to the mix. Another option was the 4.6L V8 that made less power and torque, but could still manage up to 8,100 pounds of towing, and in both cases, you’re getting the famed Toyota reliability reputation.
2014 – 2018 Chevrolet Silverado
Bowtie brand loyalists know that Chevy’s long-running Silverado V8 setups are ideal for towing. These naturally aspirated engines come in 335-horse 5.3L guise or the more potent 6.2L mill with 420 hp. It is the latter V8 that boasts the most towing, up to 12,500 pounds, thanks in part to the strong 460 lb-ft of torque figure. For those who don’t need quite so much towing grunt, but still want a full-size pickup, look to the 4.3L V6-powered Silverados that could tow up to 7,600 pounds.
The Best Used Mid-Size Pickup Truck for Towing
2016 – 2023 Toyota Tacoma
The 3rd generation Toyota Tacoma comes with the Japanese automaker’s reputation for reliability and a towing capacity of up to 6,800 pounds. Getting there requires skipping four-cylinder models, as they can only handle 3,500 pounds, and opting for the V6. They were rated for 278 horsepower, 265 lb-ft of torque, and had the option of a 6-speed automatic or manual transmission. Make sure to check that the Tacoma you find came with the factory-optional towing package that added a Class IV hitch, transmission cooler, and trailer sway control.
2019 – 2023 Ford Ranger
You only have to go back a few years to find a used 4th-gen Ford Ranger for $20,000 or less. All of these Rangers came with a torque-rich 2.3L turbocharged inline-4 that was good for 270 hp and 310 torques. A 10-speed automatic was also standard. When equipped with the available trailering package, that included an integrated trailer brake controller, these mid-size Fords were rated for up to 7,500 pounds of towing. Like every truck here, it’s important to check the actual towing capacity of the model you’re considering, as it can vary based on cab style, bed length, and rear axle ratio.
2015 – 2022 Chevrolet Colorado
One of the most powerful midsize pickups when it comes to towing is the previous generation Chevy Colorado. Not the four-cylinder variant and not the Colorados with the naturally aspirated V6 that topped out at 7,000 pounds. Instead look for trucks with the 2.8L Duramax diesel-powered four-cylinder. A rarity in this segment, these engines made just 181 horses, but a heady 369 lb-ft of torque, which translated to 7,700 pounds of pulling power. Like the rest of these trucks, you’ll want a Colorado with the factory-fitted tow package that added the usual roster of upgrades like a built-in trailer wiring harness.
2005 – 2021 Nissan Frontier
Nissan’s 2nd-generation Frontier mid-size pickup truck had a seriously long production run that included multiple powertrains. The 4.0L V6 that was available for most of that time could pull up to 6,500 pounds and was offered with a manual or automatic transmission. However, the 3.8L V6 that arrived in 2020 upped the power output, added a 9-speed automatic as the sole transmission, and bumped maximum towing capacity to 6,700 pounds.
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