A high tow rating might make or break your decision depending on what you need your truck for. These are the best diesel trucks for towing from popular brands like Chevrolet and Ram. If you are looking for a heavy-duty pickup truck, you can skip to the end of this list for Ram’s best offerings.

The Chevy Colorado is one of the best diesel trucks for towing

People love the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado, but Edmunds thinks the Colorado Diesel is a good buy for those who need to tow. While the standard V6 engine has a 7,000-pound towing rating, the diesel offers 7,700 pounds of towing capability. Chevrolet added a built-in brake controller for more effortless towing, which makes the Colorado the only midsize truck with this technology. The max payload is 1,400 pounds.

With the diesel engine, the Chevy truck even has pretty good fuel economy. While the regular V6 engine worked out to 17 city/24 highway, the four-cylinder diesel gets 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. It is no secret Chevrolet makes some of the best diesel trucks for towing, with the Colorado no exception.

Maximum towing capacity: 7,700 pounds

MSRP range: $27,100 – $44,200

Ram’s 1500 is another option for the best diesel trucks for towing

Edmunds likes the 2022 Ram 1500 pickup truck but finds a lot to like about the optional EcoDiesel V6. Both options get good fuel economy, but the 3.0-liter six-cylinder gets 23 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. 26 ppg combined is good enough for most situations. Plus, Ram offers the 1500 in three different versions with diesel. Buyers don’t have to buy the most expensive option in the lineup to get access.

The 2022 Ram 1500 diesel truck can tow between 11,000 and 12,000 pounds, depending on the configuration. As far as the payload goes, that has a maximum of 2,020 pounds.

Maximum towing capacity: 11,520 pounds

MSRP range: $39,200 – $78,790

Don’t overlook the Ram 3500 if you need a heavy-duty option

While the 2022 Ram 3500 is a heavy-duty truck, that means it can tow more than the other options. Ram offers the 3500 in a few diesel engine types, but the 6.7-liter high-output Cummins turbo diesel has a towing capacity of 37,090 pounds and a maximum payload of 6,570 pounds. If buyers opt for the regular 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel, this can tow 22,670 pounds and has a max payload of 6,840 pounds.

With one of the highest tow ratings in the business, the 2022 Ram 3500 is definitely one of the best diesel trucks for towing. You won’t get great fuel economy numbers due to the truck’s sheer size, but that is to be expected.

Maximum towing capacity: 37,090 pounds

MSRP range: $48,060 – $75,505

The good news is that most manufacturers offer a diesel option for popular pickup trucks. Increasing the tow rating is as easy as having the correct setup and a capable truck. Depending on what you plan on towing, these options should get you started.