The Ultimate 2025 Full-Size Pickup Truck Towing Challenge: Ford F-150, Ram 1500, or GMC Sierra 1500?
As a veteran in the automotive testing arena, with ov
er a decade spent dissecting the capabilities of America’s most critical workhorses, few segments demand the kind of rigorous, real-world evaluation as the full-size pickup truck. These aren’t just vehicles; they’re investments, tools, and often, extensions of their owners’ lifestyles. For 2025, the competition in the light-duty segment remains fiercely contested, particularly when it comes to the crucial metric of towing performance. Owners expect their trucks not just to haul, but to do so with confidence, efficiency, and a level of comfort that belies their rugged purpose.
This year, we assembled the titans of the segment—the 2025 Ford F-150 Platinum, the 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate, and the 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten—to determine which one truly reigns supreme when put to the test. These aren’t merely base models; these are top-tier trims, showcasing the pinnacle of engineering, luxury, and technology each manufacturer offers, and, perhaps most importantly, featuring powertrains that represent divergent philosophies in a rapidly evolving market. With price points hovering around the high $80,000 to low $90,000 range, understanding their towing prowess is paramount for discerning buyers seeking premium capability.
The Contenders and Our Approach to Unbiased Evaluation
Our 2025 challenge brought together three distinct powertrain philosophies. The Ford F-150 Platinum arrived equipped with Ford’s hybridized gasoline-electric twin-turbocharged V-6 PowerBoost, a testament to the brand’s commitment to blended efficiency and robust torque delivery. The GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate, meanwhile, flexed its muscles with the venerable, naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8, a powerplant known for its immediate response and proven reliability. Rounding out the trio was the Ram 1500 Tungsten, making a bold statement with its twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder Hurricane engine, boasting a significant power advantage over its competitors on paper. This diverse lineup provided an unparalleled opportunity to assess how different engine architectures translate into real-world towing performance.
To mirror typical American towing scenarios, we paired each truck with identical 20-foot, single-axle camper trailers, each weighing approximately 3,500 pounds. While these trailers didn’t push the trucks to their absolute maximum towing capacities, their substantial frontal area served as an excellent real-world test for stability, aerodynamic drag, and—critically—fuel economy. Our roughly 200-mile fuel-economy loop, incorporating varied terrain and highway speeds, was further complicated by sustained 16 mph crosswinds and gusts up to 28 mph, simulating the challenging conditions frequently encountered on long hauls across open country. Tongue weights were carefully calibrated, falling within the optimal 13.4% to 14.8% range of trailer weight, and trailers were rotated among the trucks to eliminate any trailer-specific biases in handling dynamics.
Beyond objective metrics, our panel of seasoned evaluators—comprising myself and two other deeply experienced road test editors—meticulously scored each truck across critical towing categories. We assessed powertrain feel, braking consistency, and ride quality under load. Furthermore, we extensively utilized and scored each truck’s integrated towing technologies, from hitch and trailer backup assist systems to the array of camera views designed to simplify the trailering experience. To fully encompass their utility, we also introduced an additional 1,000 pounds of payload into each truck’s bed for acceleration and braking tests, pushing them closer to their operational limits. Our comprehensive scoring methodology provided a holistic view of each truck’s capabilities, both objective and subjective, in conditions that truly matter to the end-user.
Here’s a snapshot of the raw data and our deeper analysis:
| Metric | 2025 Ford F-150 Platinum | 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate | 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten |
| :—————————— | :———————– | :———————————- | :——————— |
| Price (as tested) | $87,625 | $87,305 | $90,505 |
| Horsepower | 430 | 420 | 540 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 570 | 460 | 521 |
| Measured Weight (lbs) | 6,020 | 5,580 | 6,000 |
| 0-60 mph Empty (sec) | 5.62 | 6.16 | 4.75 |
| 0-60 mph Loaded (sec) | 6.18 | 6.99 | 5.27 |
| Quarter-Mile Empty (sec @ mph) | 13.82 @ 99.88 | 14.17 @ 99.34 | 13.00 @ 104.91 |
| Quarter-Mile Loaded (sec @ mph) | 14.40 @ 96.04 | 14.92 @ 94.60 | 13.53 @ 101.85 |
| 60-0 mph Empty (ft) | 135 | 146 | 140 |
| 60-0 mph Loaded (ft) | 141 | 139 | 146 |
| Real-World MPG (Empty) | 23.3 | 21.5 | 21.0 |
| Real-World MPG (Towing) | 11.5 | 11.0 | 10.6 |
The Contenders: A Deep Dive into Towing Dynamics
2025 Ford F-150 Platinum
The 2025 Ford F-150 Platinum with the PowerBoost hybrid powertrain presented a familiar yet enhanced experience. Our editorial team has extensive prior experience with this hybrid setup, providing us with a strong baseline understanding of its towing characteristics. The notable addition for 2025 was an adaptive suspension system, a feature absent in our long-term test vehicle from previous years. While this enhancement brought subtle improvements, it wasn’t enough to elevate the F-150 to the same echelon of towing confidence or ride comfort exhibited by the Ram or GMC. However, where the F-150 truly distinguished itself was in its suite of advanced towing technology, particularly its ingenious trailer hookup and reverse assist features.
What We Appreciated:
The Ford F-150’s ingenuity in trailer management technology is genuinely class-leading. Features like Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Pro Trailer Backup Assist are not mere gimmicks; they are profoundly useful tools that streamline the most challenging aspects of trailering. The automated hitching process, for instance, significantly reduces the frustration and time associated with connecting a trailer, making it a genuinely value-added proposition for both novice and experienced towers. This technology alone can justify the investment for many users.
Furthermore, the F-150’s information displays are exceptionally well-executed. Crucial trailering data, including transmission gear, trailer brake gain, and key instrument readings, are intuitively presented. The replication of this information in the head-up display (HUD) is a masterstroke for maintaining eyes-on-the-road focus, though, like all HUDs, visibility can be slightly compromised when wearing polarized sunglasses. The thoughtful integration of these user-centric features speaks volumes about Ford’s understanding of the modern truck owner’s needs.
From an efficiency standpoint, the F-150’s observed 11.5 mpg while towing was commendable, positioning it as the most fuel-efficient of the trio, albeit by a narrower margin than one might expect from a hybrid. It outperformed the next-best V-8 Sierra by a mere half-mile per gallon. This performance highlights that the PowerBoost system is tuned more for augmenting power and torque when needed, rather than solely maximizing truck fuel efficiency under heavy load. The immediate surge of electric torque aids in low-speed maneuvering and initial acceleration, contributing to a capable feel.
Areas for Improvement:
Despite its technological prowess, the F-150 scored lowest in both braking feel and ride quality during towing. The hybrid system, while efficient, introduced a somewhat inconsistent brake pedal feel, making it challenging to modulate smoothly with a heavy trailer attached. This lack of linear response can detract from driver confidence, especially in demanding situations.
The most significant critique, however, centered on ride quality. The F-150 exhibited a notably harsh and busy ride, transmitting more impacts into the cabin than its competitors. Over undulating pavement, it suffered from pronounced “porpoising,” making for a less stable and comfortable experience, particularly over extended journeys. This tendency for the trailer to exert more influence on the truck’s dynamics means the F-150 felt the least planted, requiring more driver intervention to maintain composure, especially in crosswinds.
A curious oversight for a top-tier Platinum trim was the lack of dedicated towing mirrors. The standard side mirrors, while adequate for daily driving, were less than ideal for seeing around the wide camper trailer. While the innovative side camera view on the center touchscreen provided some compensation during lane changes, it doesn’t fully replace the broad, unhindered visibility offered by proper towing mirrors. This is an area where an upgrade, even if aftermarket, becomes almost essential for optimal safety and convenience.
2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten
The 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten is a masterclass in unladen luxury and refinement, and many of these attributes carry over when hitched to a trailer. It remains remarkably quiet, smooth, and exquisitely refined, eliciting grins with its blistering acceleration at wide-open throttle. However, when tasked with the continuous effort of towing, the potent Hurricane inline-six engine, despite its substantial power figures, revealed a different character.
What We Appreciated:
The Ram’s signature air suspension system is nothing short of revolutionary for luxury pickup truck features. It delivers an exceptionally docile and serene ride while towing, creating an experience that significantly reduces driver fatigue. The ride comfort is simply unmatched in this segment; it truly doesn’t feel like a traditional truck. This almost sedan-like composure only improves with a load in the bed or a trailer attached, making long-distance towing a remarkably pleasant affair. This level of refinement is a huge draw for those prioritizing comfort on the road.
Braking performance in the Ram was also highly commendable, nearly matching the class-best GMC with its confident and consistent pedal feel. This is a critical factor for safety and confidence when managing heavy loads.
Unloaded, and even more impressively, with approximately 1,000 pounds of payload in its bed, the Ram absolutely obliterated the competition in acceleration tests. Its 0-60 mph time of 5.27 seconds while loaded was quicker than the other trucks’ times when completely empty. This next-gen truck powertrain demonstrates astonishing capability, making the high-output 3.0-liter Hurricane engine a truly exciting proposition for those who prioritize raw speed and power. Just be sure your cargo is securely fastened!
Areas for Improvement:
Paradoxically, despite being the most powerful and fastest truck, the Ram felt somewhat taxed while towing. We observed a noticeable delay in acceleration from a complete stop and a sluggishness when attempting to pass on the highway, especially at part-throttle applications. This delay in accessible, usable power outside of wide-open-throttle scenarios resulted in the lowest subjective powertrain score when towing, despite its objectively superior acceleration figures. It suggests that while the engine has immense potential, its delivery under consistent towing demands might benefit from further refinement in transmission tuning or turbocharger responsiveness.
As expected, the Ram was the least efficient in our fuel-economy tests, both unladen and while towing. Averaging 10.6 mpg when towing, it lagged behind the GMC’s 11.0 mpg and the Ford’s 11.5 mpg. While not disastrous given its performance advantage, it’s a point to consider for those whose priority is truck fuel efficiency on every journey.
While the Ram does offer a trailer backup assist system, its implementation proved frustrating. Despite multiple calibration attempts, the system severely limited the trailer’s steering angle to a mere 20 degrees left or right, rendering it largely ineffective for practical maneuvering. This stands in stark contrast to Ford’s system, which allowed for significantly greater articulation after a straightforward one-time setup, highlighting a significant usability gap in this crucial advanced driver assistance system for towing. Additionally, the Ram lacked a dedicated side camera view for lane changes with a trailer, a feature that proved invaluable in the other trucks, though its excellent standard side mirrors did mitigate this somewhat.
2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate
The 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate, with its venerable 420-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 engine, might have been numerically outmatched in raw acceleration by the Ram’s twin-turbo I6 and conceptually by the F-150’s hybrid V6. However, what it lacked on paper, it more than made up for with its unwavering composure and immediate, linear power delivery. This classic V8 setup delivered the most confident and reassuring towing experience of the entire trio.
What We Appreciated:
The 6.2-liter V-8 in the Sierra is a masterclass in traditional truck capability. There’s an undeniable, direct connection between your right foot and the engine’s output—press the accelerator, and the power is there, instantly. There’s no turbo lag, no hybrid system recalibration; just pure, unadulterated grunt ready to work. This immediate responsiveness, coupled with an intelligently programmed transmission that never missed a beat, instilled profound confidence. While the engine might be noisier and less refined than the turbocharged powertrains, its sheer usability and predictability under load are unparalleled. For heavy-duty towing capacity in a light-duty package, this V8 is hard to beat.
Beyond the powertrain, the Sierra’s chassis dynamics are equally impressive. It felt absolutely unflappable, even when contending with the severe crosswinds encountered during our testing. This “tank-like” demeanor created a sensation of robustness, almost blurring the lines between a light-duty and a heavy-duty truck. This inherent stability provided exceptional reassurance.
Our evaluators universally praised the Sierra’s composure. “Despite being the lightest truck in our test,” one remarked, “the Sierra felt the most stable and confident while towing, and its linear brake pedal added to that confidence. The Sierra’s V-8 and transmission make towing feel effortless.” While the Ram might offer a smoother ride on pristine roads, the GMC truly excels when the pavement deteriorates, maintaining superior body control and stability. This predictable behavior is crucial for minimizing stress on long hauls.
Areas for Improvement:
The primary area where our test Sierra fell short was in its integrated trailering technology compared to the Ford. While GMC does offer advanced towing technology, including the innovative Transparent Trailer View, these often require additional camera equipment and wiring, making them less “plug-and-play” than Ford’s solutions. Our specific test truck, for instance, lacked many of the convenient trailering assists that the F-150 offered as standard, making the process of hooking up and maneuvering a trailer less automated.
The Sierra did feature Super Cruise hands-free driving while towing, a novel and intriguing concept. In theory, this allows for hands-free operation on compatible highways even with a trailer. However, in practice, particularly in windy conditions or at speeds exceeding 65 mph, its constant, subtle steering corrections could feel more disconcerting than helpful. It’s a technology that shows immense promise for certain low-speed, stop-and-go scenarios, but for demanding highway towing, most drivers will likely prefer to maintain full manual control. It’s an example of an advanced driver assistance system for towing that, while groundbreaking, still has refinement opportunities for real-world, high-stress applications.
The Verdict: Confidence Reigns Supreme
After extensive testing and meticulous evaluation across a wide range of metrics—from raw power and efficiency to technological sophistication and driver confidence—the 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate emerged as our definitive winner in the ultimate full-size pickup truck towing challenge. Its natural, responsive V-8 powertrain, coupled with its unflappable stability and predictable braking, delivered the most confidence-inspiring towing experience. While it may not boast the cutting-edge hitching technology of the Ford or the raw loaded acceleration of the Ram, its core competence in the fundamental act of towing is simply unmatched. It genuinely feels like a heavy-duty truck in a light-duty package, making it the preferred choice for anyone serious about consistent, effortless towing.
The Ford F-150 Platinum showcases exceptional innovation in its towing assistance technologies and commendable efficiency, making it an attractive option for those who prioritize convenience and fuel savings. The Ram 1500 Tungsten, with its unparalleled luxury and explosive performance when unladen, offers a supremely comfortable ride, but its powertrain delivery and backup assist system could benefit from further tuning for dedicated towing duties.
Ultimately, choosing the right truck for towing is a deeply personal decision, influenced by individual priorities, the type of trailer, and the frequency of use. However, for sheer confidence, control, and an unburdened feel behind the wheel when the hitch is engaged, the 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate sets the benchmark.
Are you ready to experience the true capabilities of these towing giants for yourself? We invite you to explore the detailed specifications, delve deeper into our comprehensive test results, and visit your local dealerships to test drive these remarkable machines. Your next adventure awaits, and the right truck can make all the difference.
