What Are the Best 3/4 Ton Trucks?

Michael Collado

Michael Collado is a car buying expert and has been a professional automotive writer since 2009.  He’s written about dealership sales, vehicle reviews and comparisons, and service and maintenance for over 100 national automotive dealerships.  Previously, Collado was a copywriter at the ad agency TBWA/Chiat/Day where he worked on brand campaigns for Nissan, ABC Television, Sony PlayStation, and Energizer. His recognition in the ad industry includes awards from Communication Arts and The Clios.

Collado has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Marketing.

If you're looking for a truck that is going to give you more towing power and payload capability than a half-ton truck, then you will want to consider a three-quarter-ton truck.

Three-quarter-ton trucks sit in the middle in terms of truck sizes, so it's a balance of performance and cost when choosing the right model.

We've compared all the three-quarter-ton trucks and looked at their towing, payload, value, and reliability to select our top picks.

Need more power? Check out our list of the best one-ton trucks >>

Best Overall Three-Quarter-Ton Truck

If you're looking for a ¾-ton truck that does it all, then you'll want to get the Ford F-250 Super Duty. For over a century, Ford has been known for building the most popular pick-up trucks on the planet. When it comes to heavy-duty trucks, Ford gets it right with the F-250 Super Duty.

So why should you choose the F-250 over other ¾-ton trucks on the market? Let’s start with the fact that this heavy-duty truck comes standard with a powerful 6.7-liter Powerstroke V-8 engine. This big engine allows the F-250 Superduty to have the best tow rating in its class. Additionally, the F-250 Super Duty is available with either a gas or a diesel-powered engine.

Best Three-Quarter-Ton Truck for Towing

It should be no surprise that the Ford F-250 Super Duty is here. Thanks to its massive 6.7-liter Powerstroke V-8 engine, this heavy-duty truck has a max tow rating of 22,000 pounds.

Coming in second is the RAM 2500 with 20,000 when equipped with its Cummins diesel engine.

After that, GM’s line-up of ¾-ton trucks gives you a max tow rating of 18,510 pounds.

• Check out our picks for the best trucks for towing >>

Best Three-Quarter-Ton Truck for Payload

We don’t want to sound like a broken record here, but the Ford F-250 Super Duty does it again. Whether you're looking to carry a couple of motorbikes or a bunch of construction materials, the F-250 Super Duty will carry what you need. This heavy-duty truck comes with a max payload rating of 4,260 pounds.

Coming in second is the RAM 2500 which has a max payload rating of 4,010 pounds. After that, GM's Silverado and Sierra 2500 give you a max payload rating of 3,979 pounds.

Cheapest Three-Quarter-Ton Truck

If you're shopping for a ¾-ton truck, then you know that these big trucks are not on the cheap side.

However, if you're on a budget, then you'll be glad to know that the cheapest new ¾-ton truck available is the Chevy Silverado HD with a starting price of just $35,300.

This undercuts the Ford F-250 Super Duty by more than $2,000.

Most Reliable Three-Quarter-Ton Truck

If you're looking for a ¾-ton truck that will last, then you'll want to go with the F-250 Super Duty. These heavy-duty trucks feature some of the most advanced engineering in their class.

A well-maintained F-250 Super Duty should be able to give you at least 200,000 miles before they need to get an engine overhaul.

If you're looking for something other than a Ford, then you may want to consider the GMC Sierra 2500HD which is known for having high-reliability ratings.

Best Diesel Three-Quarter-Ton Truck

If you want to get lots more torque, then you'll want to get a diesel ¾-ton truck. The good news is that there are several excellent choices out there.

However, our pick goes to the F-250 Super Duty with its 6.7-liter turbodiesel V-8. This powerful engine gives you up to 1,050 pounds of torque. Also, the MPG rating on the diesel version of the F-250 Super Duty is respectable with up to 21 miles per gallon on the highway.

What Can a Three-Quarter-Ton Truck Pull?

One of the reasons why you'll want to consider a ¾-ton truck is because of its excellent towing and trailering capability. The ¾-ton truck with the highest tow rating is the Ford F-250 Super Duty with a max tow rating of up to 22,000 pounds. This is more than enough for you to tow a large trailer over long distances.

If you opt to go with another ¾-ton truck, then don’t worry. Most of these super-duty trucks can tow around 20,000 pounds with makes them suitable for large trailer towing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best 3/4 ton truck available right now?

If you're looking for the best overall ¾ ton truck in terms of power and reliability, then you'll want to go with the Ford F-250 Super Duty. Yes, you will pay a little bit of a premium versus other ¾ ton trucks in its class. However, the high level of engineering and performance is worth the higher price.

What is the best 3/4 ton truck for towing?

Currently, the Ford F-250 Super Duty has a max tow rating of 22,000 pounds. The runner-up in towing belongs to the RAM 2500 with a max tow rating of 20,000 pounds when equipped with the Cummins diesel engine. Finally, the Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra 2500 have a max tow rating of 18,510.

What is the cheapest 3/4 ton truck?

The least expensive ¾ ton truck on the market is the Chevy Silverado HD with a starting price of $35,300.

What is the most reliable 3/4 ton truck?

According to most magazines and consumer rating services, the top ¾ ton truck in terms of reliability is the Ford F-250. This is due to the truck’s high level of engineering and its long-term track record of reliable performance.

What is the most powerful 3/4 ton truck?

Currently, the most powerful ¾ ton truck belongs to the Ford F-250 Super Duty. The standard 6.7-liter V-8 engine offers up to 385 horsepower.