Best Ford Trucks for Towing — Maverick, F-150 & Super Duty Compared

Choosing the best Ford truck for towing comes down to one question: what are you pulling?

A kayak rack and a small utility trailer need a completely different truck than a 30-foot camper or a gooseneck horse trailer. Ford builds trucks across the entire towing spectrum — from the compact Maverick at 4,000 pounds to the Super Duty F-350 at a staggering 40,000 pounds — and the right match depends on your trailer weight, how often you tow, and what else you need the truck to do.

This guide compares every Ford truck’s towing capacity, matches each one to common trailer types, and helps Reading, PA drivers find the right truck for the job at Tom Masano Ford.

Ford Truck Towing Capacity Comparison

Here’s how the 2026 Ford truck lineup stacks up for towing:

*Maverick requires the 4K Tow Package and AWD for 4,000 lbs; standard towing is 2,000 lbs.

The gap between each truck is intentional. Ford designed the lineup so there’s never a reason to over-buy — or under-buy — for your towing needs.

Match Your Trailer to Your Truck

The most common mistake truck buyers make is guessing their towing needs. Here’s a practical guide based on what Berks County drivers actually tow:

Ford Maverick (Up to 4,000 lbs)

The Maverick is Ford’s most fuel-efficient truck and an excellent daily driver that also happens to tow. With the 4K Tow Package and AWD, it handles:

• Jet skis or personal watercraft (1,000–1,500 lbs loaded)
• Small utility trailers for yard work or moving (1,500–2,500 lbs)
• Single-axle enclosed trailers (2,000–3,500 lbs)
• Small pop-up campers (1,500–3,000 lbs)

If your towing is occasional and your loads are light, the Maverick saves you thousands upfront and at the gas pump while still getting the job done.

Ford F-150 (Up to 13,500 lbs)

The F-150 is America’s best-selling truck for a reason — it covers the widest range of towing needs. Properly equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and Max Trailer Tow Package, it handles:

• Bass boats and mid-size fishing boats (3,000–5,000 lbs loaded)
• Travel trailers and mid-size campers (4,000–8,000 lbs)
• Enclosed car haulers (5,000–10,000 lbs)
• Dual-axle utility trailers with equipment (4,000–8,000 lbs)
• Horse trailers with 2 horses (5,000–8,000 lbs)

The F-150 offers five engine choices in 2026, and towing capacity varies significantly by configuration:

Reaching the 13,500-lb maximum requires the 3.5L EcoBoost with the Max Trailer Tow Package and the proper axle ratio — not the base configuration. If heavy towing is your priority, make sure your F-150 is configured for it.

Ford Super Duty F-250 / F-350 (Up to 40,000 lbs)

When the F-150 isn’t enough, the Super Duty lineup steps in with commercial-grade towing power:

F-250 (up to 23,000 lbs gooseneck/fifth-wheel):

• Large travel trailers and fifth-wheel campers (8,000–15,000 lbs)
• Horse trailers with 3–4 horses (8,000–14,000 lbs)
• Heavy equipment trailers (10,000–20,000 lbs)
• Construction materials and flatbed loads

F-350 (up to 40,000 lbs with DRW gooseneck/fifth-wheel):

• Fifth-wheel toy haulers and luxury RVs (12,000–20,000 lbs)
• Gooseneck livestock trailers (15,000–30,000 lbs)
• Heavy construction equipment on flatbeds (20,000–35,000 lbs)
• Commercial hotshot hauling

The Super Duty’s engine options deliver massive torque for heavy loads:

The High-Output Power Stroke diesel delivers 1,200 lb-ft of torque — enough to pull virtually anything road-legal up the steepest grades in Pennsylvania.

Towing Tips for Pennsylvania Drivers

Towing in Berks County and the surrounding region comes with specific considerations that flat-state drivers don’t face:

Grades and Hills — Routes like I-78 through the Blue Mountain tunnel, Route 61 north of Hamburg, and Route 222 through the hills near Ephrata put extra strain on your drivetrain. If you tow heavy loads regularly on hilly terrain, the diesel Super Duty’s engine braking and low-end torque are major advantages over gas engines.

PA State Inspection — Pennsylvania requires annual safety inspections for trucks and trailers. Tow vehicles must have working trailer lighting connections, properly rated hitches, and functioning brake controllers if the trailer has electric brakes.

Weight Limits — Pennsylvania enforces weight limits on many rural roads and bridges in Berks, Schuylkill, and Lebanon counties. If you’re hauling heavy loads to job sites or farms, plan your routes to avoid posted weight restrictions.

Blue Marsh Lake and Local Recreation — Blue Marsh Lake is one of the most popular boating destinations in the Reading area. Most boats trailered to Blue Marsh weigh between 3,000 and 6,000 pounds loaded, making the F-150 the sweet spot for recreational boating in our area.

Find Your Tow Truck at Tom Masano Ford

At Tom Masano Ford in Shillington, PA, our truck specialists help you match the right truck and tow package to your specific needs. We’ll calculate your actual towing requirements, recommend the right engine and axle ratio, and make sure your truck is configured for maximum capability from day one.

Whether you need a Maverick for weekend utility or a Super Duty F-350 for commercial hauling, we keep a deep inventory of Ford trucks ready to work.

Tom Masano Ford — 1600 Lancaster Ave, Shillington, PA 19607. Serving Reading, Wyomissing, Sinking Spring, Birdsboro, Hamburg, and all of Berks County.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much can a Ford F-150 tow?

The 2026 Ford F-150 can tow up to 13,500 pounds when properly equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine and Max Trailer Tow Package. Base configurations start at 7,700 pounds of towing capacity. The exact capacity depends on your engine choice, cab style, bed length, and axle ratio.

What is the best Ford truck for towing a camper?

It depends on your camper’s weight. For pop-up campers and small travel trailers under 4,000 lbs, the Ford Maverick works. For mid-size travel trailers (4,000–10,000 lbs), the Ford F-150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost is the most popular choice. For fifth-wheel campers and large RVs over 10,000 lbs, you’ll need a Ford Super Duty F-250 or F-350.

Can the Ford Maverick tow a boat?

Yes. The 2026 Ford Maverick can tow up to 4,000 pounds with the 4K Tow Package and AWD, which is enough for most jet skis, personal watercraft, and small fishing boats. Without the tow package, the standard towing capacity is 2,000 pounds.

What Ford truck has the highest towing capacity?

The 2026 Ford F-450 Super Duty has the highest towing capacity in the Ford truck lineup at 40,000 pounds (gooseneck/fifth-wheel). The F-350 Super Duty with dual rear wheels also reaches 38,000 pounds. Both require the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel engine for maximum towing.

Do I need a diesel truck for towing?

Not necessarily. The Ford F-150’s 3.5L EcoBoost V6 tows up to 13,500 pounds on gasoline alone — more than enough for most recreational and light commercial towing. Diesel becomes advantageous when you’re regularly towing above 15,000 pounds, need maximum engine braking on steep grades, or want the durability and fuel efficiency of diesel for high-mileage commercial use.