Trucks are often associated with work and challenging jobs, but can also be an excellent choice for families. In fact, many families have found that owning a pickup truck provides numerous benefits, including extra space, large cabins, and modern safety features. The best pickup trucks for families in 2023 come from Ram, Ford, and GMC, but these aren’t your basic work truck anymore.

The Ram 1500 is one of the best pickup trucks for families

There isn’t much to dislike about the 2023 Ram 1500. U.S. News says it offers a comfortable ride but is still highly capable, with a maximum towing capacity of 12,750 pounds. However, you need the Quad Cab, V8 engine, and Maz Tow package to get that. The Ram truck has roomy seats that adults will be comfortable in and a more luxurious cabin than any others in the lineup. As far as safety features go, you’ll want to add some.

The only standard safety feature is a rearview camera again for 2023, so you’ll want to add some driver-assistance features. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning are available. Adding a safety package or two might be a good idea if you plan on moving the family around town regularly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2023 Ram 1500 Crew Cab an overall safety rating of five out of five stars. With a few tweaks, the 2023 Ram received the Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Add the Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus system in the Advanced Safety Group or Level 1 Safety Group package to make this one of the best pickup trucks for families. The LED projector headlights on the Longhorn, Limited, and TRX trim offer the best visibility.

Second-Row Legroom: 45.2 inches

Maximum Towing Capacity: 12,750 pounds

Ford’s F-150 is one of the best pickup trucks for families

The 2023 Ford F-150 has plenty of room for the whole family. Spacious, comfortable, and highly capable have made the F-150 a best seller for years. Now for 2023, Ford offers more trim levels and powertrain options to suit many customers’ needs. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come on the new infotainment system.

The 2023 F-150 has a maximum towing capacity of 14,000 pounds when configured with the Super Cab cabin and eight-foot bed. The SuperCrew with either bed size will also do. While the V8 is a good option, the 400-hp twin-turbo V6 is the best for towing. Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights come standard, too.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2023 Ford F-150 a five-star safety rating, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it a Top Safety Pick award.

Second-Row Legroom: 43.6 inches

Maximum Towing Capacity: 14,000 lbs

Don’t count out the GMC Sierra 1500

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 received a refresh for this year, hitting the market with an updated interior and infotainment system. GMC uses a turbodiesel inline-six that gets 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. With this engine, rear-wheel drive, and the 6.6-foot bed, the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 can tow 13,200 pounds.

The Sierra has a huge cabin suitable for adults and families. It offers a smooth ride and added more standard safety features for this year. Forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist are all standard on the 2022 Sierra.

The Sierra received many high scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and a four-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Second-Row Legroom: 43.4 inches

Maximum Towing Capacity: 13,200 lbs

If you have your eye on a truck, but it doesn’t have all of the features necessary to keep the family safe, there should be an additional package or two you can add. The best pickup trucks for families can still do all of the tough jobs necessary during the day while offering a comfortable and safe ride off the clock.