The Ultimate 2025 Towing Test: Ford F-150 PowerBoost vs. Ram 1500 Hurricane vs. GMC Sierra 1500
As a veteran with over a decade immersed in the truck segm
ent, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible evolution of the full-size pickup. What was once a utilitarian workhorse has transformed into a sophisticated, multi-purpose vehicle, often serving as a family hauler, a luxury cruiser, and, crucially, a powerhouse for towing. In 2025, the stakes are higher than ever. Buyers aren’t just looking for brute strength; they demand intelligent performance, advanced technology, comfort, and efficiency. This year, the perennial rivals—Ford, Ram, and GMC—have once again pushed the boundaries, each offering a compelling vision of what the modern light-duty pickup can be.
Our latest real-world towing challenge zeroes in on the three titans that dominate the American landscape: the Ford F-150 PowerBoost Platinum, the Ram 1500 Tungsten with its new Hurricane High Output engine, and the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate, still proudly flexing its 6.2-liter V8. This wasn’t a laboratory exercise. This was a grueling, comprehensive comparison designed to answer one pivotal question for prospective owners and commercial fleet managers alike: Which of these 2025 full-size pickup trucks offers the superior towing experience?
The 2025 Pickup Truck Towing Landscape: A Confluence of Power and Precision
The current market for full-size pickups in 2025 is a fascinating study in contrasts. Ford continues to champion electrification with its PowerBoost hybrid, demonstrating that efficiency and substantial torque can coexist. Ram has boldly pivoted from its iconic HEMI V8 in its top trims, embracing a turbocharged inline-six that promises exhilarating power. Meanwhile, GMC stands firm with its naturally aspirated V8, a testament to traditional, unadulterated grunt and proven reliability. Each manufacturer has invested heavily in proprietary towing technology and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), recognizing that ease-of-use and safety are paramount when navigating busy highways with a substantial load in tow.
For this challenge, we meticulously paired each truck with identical 20-foot, single-axle camper trailers, each weighing approximately 3,500 pounds. While not pushing the absolute maximum towing capacity of these trucks, these trailers present a significant frontal area, creating substantial aerodynamic drag and effectively testing stability, powertrain resilience, and real-world fuel economy. Our rigorous 200-mile test loop, encompassing varied terrain and exposed to sustained 16 mph crosswinds with gusts up to 28 mph, provided the perfect crucible to expose each truck’s strengths and weaknesses under authentic conditions. We meticulously swapped trailers between trucks to eliminate any trailer-specific biases, ensuring our observations were solely attributable to the vehicles themselves.
Our evaluation went beyond mere numbers. We scrutinized every aspect of the towing experience, from the nuanced feedback of the braking pedal to the subtle shifts of the transmission, the composure of the chassis over expansion joints, and the efficacy of each truck’s integrated towing technologies. Our panel of judges—comprising seasoned automotive journalists and myself, bringing a decade of practical experience in heavy-duty and light-duty truck applications—scored each truck across critical categories: powertrain responsiveness under load, braking confidence, ride quality, and the overall utility of their towing assistance features. Additionally, we performed instrumented testing with a 1,000-pound payload in each truck’s bed to assess acceleration and braking performance under more demanding conditions, providing a comprehensive picture of their hauling capabilities.
The Contenders: A Deep Dive into 2025 Towing Prowess
Let’s break down how each of these engineering marvels performed.
The 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate: The Unflappable Workhorse
Price Tested: $87,305
Horsepower: 420 hp | Torque: 460 lb-ft
0-60 mph Loaded: 6.99 seconds | 60-0 mph Loaded: 139 feet
Real-World Towing MPG: 11.0 mpg
The 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate, equipped with the venerable 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8, may seem like the traditionalist in this trio, but its performance while towing is anything but antiquated. It emerged as the unequivocal winner of our challenge, a testament to its harmonious blend of raw power and sophisticated chassis tuning.
What We Appreciated:
The Sierra’s 6.2-liter V8, paired with its intelligent 10-speed automatic transmission, delivers a towing experience that is refreshingly direct and incredibly confidence-inspiring. Unlike its turbocharged and hybrid counterparts, there’s no perceptible lag, no waiting for boost to build or electric motors to kick in. When you press the accelerator, you get immediate, linear power—a direct connection between your foot and the engine’s output. This translates to effortless merging onto highways, decisive overtakes, and exceptional control over mountainous terrain. It’s the kind of predictable, reliable power delivery that experienced towers swear by, mitigating fatigue on long hauls.
Beyond the powertrain, the Sierra’s chassis truly shines. Despite being the lightest truck in our test, its body control and stability when towing, especially in those punishing crosswinds, were exceptional. It felt profoundly planted, exhibiting minimal sway and resisting trailer push with remarkable composure. As one judge aptly put it, it feels more akin to a heavy-duty truck in its demeanor than a light-duty half-ton. This “tank-like” stability, coupled with a linear and communicative brake pedal, instilled immense confidence in every driving situation. While the Ram might offer a more isolated ride on perfectly smooth surfaces, the Sierra demonstrated superior body control and less float over rougher, undulating roads, maintaining its composure where others began to falter. The refined, yet robust, feel of the Sierra’s suspension components and overall build quality positions it as a premium option for serious towing.
Areas for Improvement:
While the Sierra excels in core towing dynamics, its integrated towing technology suite, particularly in our test model, wasn’t as comprehensive or intuitively “plug-and-play” as the Ford’s. Features like GMC’s “Transparent Trailer View,” while revolutionary, often require additional camera equipment and setup, which isn’t always convenient for everyday users. Our test truck lacked some of the automated hitching and reverse assist systems that Ford offers, making trailer connection a more traditional affair.
The Super Cruise hands-free driving system, uniquely offering towing functionality, is a commendable innovation for long highway stretches. However, in high-wind conditions or complex traffic, its constant, subtle lane-keeping adjustments could feel more distracting than helpful, especially at higher speeds. For routine towing, many users might still prefer a more analog, driver-engaged approach, making the absence of more intuitive trailering assists more noticeable. Real-world fuel economy, while competitive for a large V8, understandably lags behind the F-150’s hybrid setup.
Ultimately, the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate proves that sometimes, the most tried-and-true formula, when executed with precision and engineering excellence, still reigns supreme for the fundamental task of towing. Its unflappable stability and responsive V8 make it the top choice for those who prioritize confidence and effortless control above all else.
The 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten: The Luxurious Powerhouse with a Learning Curve
Price Tested: $90,505
Horsepower: 540 hp | Torque: 521 lb-ft
0-60 mph Loaded: 5.27 seconds | 60-0 mph Loaded: 146 feet
Real-World Towing MPG: 10.6 mpg
The 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten, with its groundbreaking 3.0-liter Hurricane High Output twin-turbo inline-six engine, represents a bold new direction for Ram. This truck is a symphony of luxury and brute force, capable of mind-bending acceleration even with a payload. However, our towing test revealed a nuanced performance profile.
What We Appreciated:
The Ram’s unladen driving experience is simply unmatched. Its standard air suspension delivers a plush, serene ride that genuinely feels more akin to a high-end luxury sedan than a pickup truck. This sublime comfort translates beautifully to towing, absorbing road imperfections and isolating occupants from the usual harshness associated with hauling heavy loads. For long journeys, this significantly reduces driver fatigue, making it an ideal choice for RV enthusiasts or those frequently traveling cross-country.
The Hurricane engine, despite its relatively smaller displacement, is a marvel of modern engineering. With 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque, it boasts the highest power figures in this comparison. Its acceleration, particularly with a 1,000-pound payload in the bed, was nothing short of astonishing. A 0-60 mph time of 5.27 seconds with a load is quicker than the empty times of many competitors, demonstrating its incredible capability to move mass. This raw power provides a commanding presence on the road, allowing for quick merges and confident passing maneuvers. The braking feel, earning an excellent score of 22 points, was also very reassuring, providing strong, predictable stopping power. The Ram also excelled with the best side mirrors of the group, offering superb visibility that mitigated the lack of a dedicated side camera for lane changes.
Areas for Improvement:
Despite its formidable power figures and segment-leading acceleration, the Hurricane engine’s power delivery when towing felt less immediate and engaging than the GMC’s V8. There was a noticeable, albeit slight, delay in acceleration from a standstill and when calling for mid-range power to pass. This characteristic, inherent to many highly boosted engines, meant that while the Ram had the highest measured acceleration, its subjective powertrain score for towing was the lowest. It felt like the engine was working harder to manage the load, rather than delivering instant, effortless grunt.
Fuel economy, as expected from such a potent engine, was the lowest in the group, averaging 10.6 mpg while towing. This trade-off between immense power and efficiency is a consideration for those prioritizing long-distance towing budgets. Furthermore, while the Ram offers a trailer backup assist system, our experience with it was frustrating. Despite multiple calibration attempts, the system severely limited trailer steering angle to just 20 degrees, rendering it significantly less useful and intuitive than Ford’s more seamless solution. This highlighted a missed opportunity to complement its luxury and power with equally refined towing technology. While the Ram is incredibly fast and comfortable, its specific towing dynamics and tech implementation presented a slight learning curve compared to its rivals.
The 2025 Ford F-150 Platinum PowerBoost: The Smart, Efficient Innovator
Price Tested: $87,625
Horsepower: 430 hp | Torque: 570 lb-ft
0-60 mph Loaded: 6.18 seconds | 60-0 mph Loaded: 141 feet
Real-World Towing MPG: 11.5 mpg
The 2025 Ford F-150 PowerBoost Platinum brings a compelling hybrid powertrain to the full-size truck market, focusing on intelligent torque delivery and advanced towing technology. With a substantial 570 lb-ft of torque, it promises a blend of performance and efficiency that few can match.
What We Appreciated:
The F-150’s greatest strength lies in its class-leading towing technology. Features like Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Pro Trailer Backup Assist are nothing short of revolutionary for simplifying the often-stressful tasks of connecting and maneuvering a trailer. The hitch assist system practically connects the trailer itself, while the backup assist, once calibrated, allows for intuitive steering via a knob, making trailer maneuvers significantly easier for novices and seasoned towers alike. This suite of technology is incredibly user-friendly and genuinely adds substantial value, making the overall towing experience less daunting.
The F-150 also boasts excellent information displays, providing critical trailering data, transmission gear, and trailer gain prominently in the main screen and, crucially, in the head-up display. This allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road, enhancing safety and awareness. The PowerBoost hybrid system also delivered the best real-world towing fuel economy, averaging 11.5 mpg. While not a dramatic lead over the V8 Sierra, this half-mile-per-gallon advantage can accumulate savings over thousands of miles, especially for commercial applications or frequent towers focused on total cost of ownership. The adaptive suspension, a new addition not available on previous long-term F-150s, also contributed to an improved, albeit still firm, ride experience.
Areas for Improvement:
Despite its impressive torque figures, the F-150 scored lowest in subjective braking feel and overall ride quality when towing. The hybrid system’s regenerative braking can lead to an inconsistent brake pedal feel, making it challenging to modulate smoothly with a heavy trailer attached. This inconsistent feedback diminished driver confidence, particularly in demanding braking situations.
The ride quality, even with the adaptive suspension, was noticeably harsher and busier than its competitors. The F-150 tended to feel less planted, exhibiting more porpoising over undulating pavement and being more susceptible to trailer push from crosswinds. This translated to a less stable and comfortable experience, particularly on extended drives, potentially increasing driver fatigue. While the PowerBoost offers excellent torque for acceleration, the overall chassis composure under load didn’t match the steadfastness of the Sierra or the luxurious isolation of the Ram. Furthermore, our Platinum Plus test model surprisingly lacked the optional towing mirrors available on lesser F-150 trims, a curious omission that reduced rearward visibility. While the side camera view for lane changes was helpful, dedicated towing mirrors are often indispensable for maximum safety and awareness. The PowerBoost’s performance orientation over pure efficiency means its hybrid advantage isn’t as pronounced as one might expect from a purely eco-focused hybrid.
The Expert Verdict: A Hierarchy of Towing Excellence in 2025
After hundreds of miles, meticulous data collection, and extensive expert evaluation, a clear picture emerges for the 2025 full-size pickup truck towing challenge.
Winner: 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate (6.2L V8)
The Sierra’s triumph isn’t about raw power or flashy technology; it’s about the holistic, confidence-inspiring experience it provides. Its 6.2-liter V8 delivers immediate, predictable power, perfectly complemented by a robust chassis that maintains exceptional stability and control even under adverse conditions. For the pure act of towing, especially demanding loads over varied terrain, the Sierra felt the most composed, reliable, and ultimately, the safest. While its advanced towing tech might require a bit more user input or optional equipment, its fundamental towing dynamics are simply unparalleled in this segment. It truly blurs the line between a light-duty and heavy-duty truck in its towing demeanor.
Runner-Up: 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten (Hurricane H.O.)
The Ram 1500 Tungsten is a technological tour de force and an absolute luxury cruiser. Its Hurricane engine provides mind-boggling acceleration, and its air suspension delivers an unrivaled unladen ride. For those who prioritize comfort and immense power (and don’t mind a slight delay in power delivery when actively towing), the Ram is a strong contender. Its superb unladen driving characteristics make it an excellent choice for those who tow occasionally but primarily use their truck as a daily driver and luxury vehicle. However, the subjective feel of its powertrain under load and the less effective implementation of its trailer backup assist system prevented it from clinching the top spot.
Third Place: 2025 Ford F-150 Platinum PowerBoost
The Ford F-150 PowerBoost excels in its cutting-edge towing technology and respectable fuel economy. Its Pro Trailer features are genuinely revolutionary, making trailer hookup and maneuvering significantly easier. However, its inconsistent braking feel and a chassis that felt less composed and planted than its rivals under towing conditions were notable drawbacks. While the PowerBoost is an intelligent, efficient truck, its fundamental towing dynamics, particularly in terms of ride quality and stability, simply didn’t match the confidence inspired by the Sierra or the luxurious comfort offered by the Ram. It’s a fantastic truck, but for pure towing confidence in 2025, it had some ground to make up.
Beyond the Numbers: The 2025 Outlook
The 2025 market for full-size pickup trucks is undeniably vibrant. We’re seeing a trend towards more sophisticated powertrains, from hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and advanced internal combustion engines (ICE) like the Hurricane I6, hinting at a future where diverse powerplants cater to specific consumer needs. Connectivity, luxury features, and advanced safety systems are no longer exclusive to premium cars; they are standard expectations in today’s top-tier trucks. The evolution of ADAS and specialized towing technology will continue to make these powerful machines more accessible and safer for a wider demographic.
Ultimately, the “best” truck for towing in 2025 depends on individual priorities. If you demand immediate, confident power and unflappable stability for serious, frequent towing, the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate remains the gold standard. If you prioritize opulent comfort and blistering acceleration, with towing being a secondary consideration, the Ram 1500 Tungsten is a compelling, technologically advanced choice. And if cutting-edge towing technology, decent fuel economy, and a hybrid powertrain are at the top of your list, the Ford F-150 PowerBoost offers an innovative package.
Each of these trucks represents the pinnacle of modern truck engineering. The choice is yours, but for those who spend significant time with a trailer hitched, the nuances in performance and feel truly matter.
Ready to experience the future of towing for yourself? We invite you to explore the detailed specifications, watch our comprehensive video reviews, and connect with local dealerships to schedule a test drive. Discover which of these exceptional 2025 full-size pickup trucks aligns perfectly with your towing demands and lifestyle. Your next adventure awaits.
