The Redesigned Toyota Tundra Still Can’t Touch Detroit’s Half-Ton Pickup Trucks’ Towing Capacity
Toyota re-engineered its full-size Tundra pickup truck from the ground up for the 2022 model year. This redesign increased the 2022 Tundra’s towing capacity by almost a ton, giving it the highest tow rating of any Tundra, ever: 12,000 pounds. Yet this bump merely puts the Tundra in the ballpark of the half-ton trucks offered by the Detroit Three. General Motors, Ford, and Ram all offer half-ton trucks that can tow more than the Tundra.
Which half-ton pickup truck can tow the most?
The half-ton truck with the highest towing capacity is the Ford F-150 equipped with an EcoBoost V6. This is followed closely by the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (13,300 pounds), the GMC Sierra 1500 (13,000 pounds), and the Ram 1500 (12,750).
You can check out the highest towing capacity of all six half-ton trucks available in the U.S. in the table below. Remember, each of these towing capacities corresponds to a specific configuration, noted on the right.
| Make and Model | Max Towing Capacity | Configuration |
| Ford F-150 | 14,000 pounds | 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 13,300 pounds | 3.0-liter turbodiesel, double cab, 2WD, max trailering package, and 20-inch wheels |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | 13,000 pounds | 3.0-liter turbodiesel, double cab, 4WD, max trailering package, and 20-inch wheels |
| Ram 1500 | 12,750 pounds | 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with eTorque |
| Toyota Tundra | 12,000 pounds | 2WD SR5 with the tow package |
| Nissan Titan | 9,320 pounds | King Cab 4×2 |
Which 2022 Toyota Tundra has the highest towing capacity?
The 2022 Toyota Tundra SR5 can tow up to 12,000 pounds. To get the highest tow rating, you need to order a 2WD truck with Toyota’s relevant trailering package. We will have to see if the soon-to-be-released i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain increases this towing capacity.
The entry-level Toyota Tundra trim is the SR. This truck features the same turbocharged V6 that powers every other Tundra, but it is a detuned version that only makes 348 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque. This reduced power limits the SR’s maximum tow rating to 8,300 pounds.
The Tundra’s next trim level is the SR5, with its 12,000-pound maximum towing capacity. Upgrading again to the Tundra Limited drops your maximum towing capacity to just 11,350 pounds.
Toyota only sells its upper trim levels (1794 Edition, Platinum, TRD Pro, and Capstone) with a heavier CrewMax cab. This keeps their maximum tow ratings to 11,310 or lower. You can only order the TRD Pro as a 4WD, so this further reduces its tow rating to 11,175 pounds.
What does the Toyota Tundra Tow Package include?
If you would like to upgrade your Toyota Tundra’s tow rating, order it with the optional tow package. This package includes a TOW/HAUL drive mode, tow mirrors, a Class-IV trailer hitch receiver, and wiring for a trailer. It also includes many electronic aids to help you tow.
You would expect Toyota’s towing package to include a hitch receiver and tow mirrors. But you might be surprised to hear that every Tundra with the Tow Package also has air suspension with a load-leveling function.
In addition to the Tow Package’s hardware, Toyota includes some special towing software. This includes Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM) which includes front, side, and rear camera views. Other software is more off-road oriented, such as Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) which leverages the trucks ABS to keep a tire from spinning. Another driver aid is essentially off-road cruise control, capable of accelerating and braking to keep the truck moving a slow, steady speed on the trail.
Next, read about the Toyota Tundra’s trim levels or see its towing capacity tested for yourself in the video below:
