Racecar towing options, old and new - Racer
With half-ton pickups now capable of pulling loads that used to require larger trucks, gas-powered towing isn't what it used to be. It wasn't long ago that towing to the track with a half-ton pickup was a fool's errand. Around that time, companies like Ford, Chevy, and Dodge made heavy-duty, gas-powered tow rigs capable of pulling 11,000 to 13,000lbs, with the diesel option bumping the 14,000lb arena. The half-ton versions of those trucks were sitting in the 8,000lb range, although some might say that number was optimistic. Half-ton trucks now have tow ratings rivaling the three-quarter-ton trucks of yesteryear, making nearly any modern truck a realistic towing option for the average racer. Case in point, you can option a version of the 2015 Ford F-150 with a 12,200lb tow capacity, while the Ram 1500 has a 10,650lb capacity and the Toyota Tundra can pull 10,500lbs. If you're still towing with a first generation F-250 Super Duty powered by the gas-powered V10, you might be considering an upgrade to a new half-ton with all the bells and whistles since the tow capacities are similar. On the flip side, if you're new to the racing game, you might be waffling between buying new and finding a low-mileage, used three-quarter ton. Our staff happens to tow with modified versions of the 1999 Ford F250 V10 and 2014 Toyota Tundra V8. These trucks have similar tow ratings and both do an excellent job. Source: www.racer.com
