The snow is melting and that prized collectible car will soon be out of storage, sometimes towed to shows. What will be your tow rig this summer?
The preferred choice for those who tow on a regular basis is to go with a 2500 series truck for its stronger frame and tow-optimized components when compared to a 1500 series truck. Torque being king when it comes to towing, diesel trucks often get the nod. Here is a quick rundown of four 2500 series trucks offered.

2014 Chevrolet Silverado

The Silverado 2500HD is offered with two engines: the Vortec 6.0 litre gasoline V8 producing 360 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque @ 4,200 rpm; or the Duramax 6.6 litre V8 turbo diesel producing 397 hp and 765 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm.
With the Vortec 6.0L V8, the Silverado 2500HD can tow up to 6,668 kg (14,700 lb.) or up to 8,074 kg (17,800 lb.) with the Duramax.

2014 Ford F-250

The F-250 Super Duty also comes with a choice of two V8s, either gasoline or diesel: the 6.2 litre gasoline V8 produces 385 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque @ 4500 rpm while the 6.7L Power Stroke Turbo Diesel V8 produces 400 hp and 800 lb-ft of torque @ 1600 rpm.
While more powerful engine-wise, the F-250 has a lower tow rating. With the gasoline engine, the F-250 can tow up to 5,670 kg (12,500 lb.) or up to 6,350 kg (14,000 lb.) with the diesel engine.

2014 GMC Sierra

GMC’s Sierra is the Chevy Silverado twin, but comes in two 2500 flavors: 2500HD and the luxurious 2500HD Denali. Mechanically, The Sierra 2500HD is offered with the same two engines as its Chevy couterpart: the Vortec 6.0 litre gasoline V8 producing 360 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque @ 4,200 rpm; or the Duramax 6.6 litre V8 turbo diesel producing 397 hp and 765 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm.
With the Vortec 6.0L, the Sierra 2500HD can tow up to 6,668 kg (14,700 lb.) or up to 8,074 kg (17,800 lb.) with the Duramax 6.6L.

2014 Ram 2500

The Ram 2500 offers a choice of three engines, two gasoline V8 Hemi and the well-known Cummins turbo diesel.
On the Hemi side, choices are the 5.7 litre producing 383 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque @ 4000 rpm; or the 6.4 litre producing 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque @ 4000 rpm. The 6-cylinder inline Cummins diesel comes in two flavors, depending on whether it is combined to a manual or an automatic transmission. With the manual transmission it produces 350 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque @ 1400 rpm; and 370 hp and 800 lb-ft of torque @ 1600 rpm with the 68RFE 6-speed automatic.
For towing capacity, the 5.7 Hemi is rated up to 6,287 kg (13,860 lb), the 6.4 Hemi up to 6,287 kg (13,860 lb) while the Cummins diesel go up to 8,151 kg (17,970 lb) with the automatic transmission.
Being within 200 pounds of each other, the Ram and both General Motors diesel trucks are pretty much at the same level when it comes to towing capacity for their diesel engines. A difference easily offset by one extra friend in the cab or a car slightly heavier than another… But all these pickups can easily tow two cars at a time if needed.
Choosing between any of these four pickups comes down to properly evaluating your needs, the weight of the vehicle you need to tow regularly and the weight of the trailer used for towing. Once this done, it is a matter of choosing the one offering the options sought; the one offering a driving position you can live with on the long run; and personal taste and preferences.