Skip to main content
A Chevy Silverado High Country on the assembly line.

The Ford F-150 Can’t Out Tow The Chevy Silverado

Today we have a battle of two big truck rivals. The Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado will be judged to see which option is better for towing. If you have trailers and massive payloads, you need the best truck, so will the Ford F-150 or Chevy Silverado win? Let’s compare their power, specs, and features …

Today we have a battle of two big truck rivals. The Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado will be judged to see which option is better for towing. If you have trailers and massive payloads, you need the best truck, so will the Ford F-150 or Chevy Silverado win? Let’s compare their power, specs, and features to determine the best truck for towing. 

The Ford F-150 VS Chevy Silverado For Towing 

To get started in the Ford F-150, you will need to spend about $28k for the base model. The Chevy Silverado also starts around $28k. Meanwhile, The Ram 1500 starts around $32k, and the Toyota Tundra starts around $33k. So, The F-150 and Silverado certainly have our attention with their lower starting prices. 

2021 Chevrolet Silverado Realtree Edition parked in snow
2021 Chevrolet Silverado Realtree Edition | Chevrolet

In terms of fuel efficiency, the Chevy Silverado wins. It gets up to 23 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. The Ford F-150 comes in with 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The Chevrolet Silverado may save more bucks at the fuel pump during your towing trips. 

Ford F-150 And Chevy Silverado Towing Power 

The Ford F-150 has five engine options. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine provides an impressive best in class 375 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. The 3.0-liter V6 power stroke turbo diesel engine offers 240 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque.

You can also upgrade to the 5.0-liter V8 engine that pumps out 390 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Depending on which build you choose, the Ford F-150 can tow between 5,000 to 13,200 lb. 

The 2020 Ford F-150 races down a sandy road
The 2020 Ford F-150 races down a sandy road | Courtesy of Ford.com

The Chevy Silverado offers six different engine options. The Duramax 3.0-liter V6 engine pumps out the best in class 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6 engine provides 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque. 

RELATED READ: The Toyota Tacoma Packs More Value Than The Ford Ranger

There is also the 6.2-liter V8 engine with best in class 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Depending on the build you choose, the Chevy Silverado can tow between 6,600 lb and 13,400 lb. This is a whole 200 lb more than the Ford F-150. Plus, the F-150 starts with the minimum towing ability of 5,000 lb compared to 6,600 lb. 

Chevy Silverado And Ford F-150 Towing Features 

The Ford F-150 comes with many towing bells and whistles, including a factory-installed integrated trailer brake controller that synchronizes with the truck brakes. Use the dynamic hitch assist to easily back up with a line of sight guide. The pro trailer assistance feature will also help you synchronize with your trailer while backing up. 

Of course, the Ford F-150 has roll stability control. It also has a blind spot monitoring system that covers the trailer’s length to alert you if something is in your blind spot. The 8″ productivity screen displays crucial information about tire pressure, battery issues, and more. 

The Chevy Silverado has a touch screen HD backup camera with 15 different angles to help make hitching up easier. The hookup assist will also guide you on where to go. The integrated brake controller will remember your brake settings as well. 

2021 Chevrolet Silverado HD Carhartt Special Edition parked at construction site
2021 Chevrolet Silverado HD Carhartt Special Edition | Chevrolet

The myChevrolet app displays crucial information about your load such as diagnostics and tire pressure, plus it will alert you to trailer theft if you’re away from your load.

This information will appear on your infotainment center and phone. Features such as trailer sway control and hill start assist will get you confidently moving. So, to answer the question, no. The Ford F-150 can’t out tow the Chevy Silverado. The Chevy Silverado is more powerful and smarter.

Related

2014 Ford F-150: The Most Common Complaints You Should Know About