Can You Tow With a Hybrid Truck?

Before we talk about how much you can tow with a hybrid truck, we have to determine if there are any in the market.

Currently, only four models have hybrid powertrains, and one of them isn’t a traditional hybrid setup. These four models are the Ford Maverick, Ford F-150 Hybrid, Ram 1500 eTorque Mild Hybrid, and the Toyota Tundra i-Force Max. Each of these trucks offers different capabilities; three of them are half-ton trucks, and one is a compact model. Can you pull a trailer behind any of these trucks?

How Does a Hybrid-Powered Truck Benefit You?

When not pulling a trailer, a truck that uses a hybrid powertrain gives you several reasons to use it when you need to drive. You can save on fuel, know you’re saving the planet a little bit, and enjoy the typical capabilities that come with a truck. Like other hybrid vehicles, a truck has a hybrid engine with both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Some electric motors are called generators that send electricity directly o the battery. Currently, we don’t have any hybrid truck models that require a plug, but you should expect this setup in the near future.

Two Classes of Hybrid Trucks are Offered

These trucks come in two versions: mild and full. A mild hybrid has an engine start system that shuts the engine down when stopped. Once you push the gas pedal, the electric motor restarts the engine. This system typically improved fuel mileage by 10-15 percent compared to regular gas-only engine operations.

Full hybrid trucks have more powerful electric motors with larger battery packs. The electric motor allows the truck to operate on electric power for a short distance at low speeds. The battery also runs at highway speeds for a few seconds, allowing these trucks to enjoy an increase of fuel mileage by 25-40 percent compared to a gas-only engine.

What Differences Will You Find in a Hybrid Truck

Compared to gas-only trucks, hybrid models should tow heavier loads and do so easier. The hybrid motor allows the truck more power to get things moving. These trucks are also lighter, requiring less energy to operate. A lighter truck makes for easier drivability and maneuvering.

What Can Hybrid Trucks Tow?

Some of these hybrid models include a high enough towing capacity to pull lightweight travel trailers and fifth wheels. The capability of these trucks depends on the engine size, but these trucks can bring more power to your life and allow you to pull your trailer wherever you need to go.

Which Hybrid Truck Should You Drive?

Ford Maverick

Two powertrains are offered for the Ford Maverick with a hybrid system as the base setup for your driving pleasure. This powertrain gives you a 2.5-liter Atkinson four-cylinder engine plus a 94-kW battery pack. This system mates to an electronic CVT to give you 191 horsepower and 155 lb.-ft. of torque sent to the front wheels. This version of the Maverick gives you the best fuel mileage of any hybrid truck. These numbers come in at 42 city/33 hwy mpg. Towing capacity for the hybrid version maxes out at 2,000 pounds, which isn’t enough for a large travel trailer.

If you move up to the higher powertrain of the Maverick, you lose the hybrid engine but gain an additional 2,000 pounds of towing capacity.

Ford F-150 Hybrid

Direct, simple, and right where you need it, the power of this hybrid Ford gives you the drive you’re looking for in a truck. The Ford F-150 Hybrid brings you a strong 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine plus a hybrid electric motor to give you 430 horsepower and 570 lb.-ft. of torque. This powertrain makes 25 city/26 hwy mpg in 2WD models and 24 city/24 hwy mpg in 4WD versions. With this hybrid Ford, you can pull up to 12,700 pounds with the Max Trailer Tow Package installed.

When you see this impressive number for the towing capacity of the Ford F-150 Hybrid, you’ll know you can pull a travel trailer with you. This is easily one of the strongest hybrid vehicles in the market.

Ram 1500 eTorque Mild Hybrid

When you want a tough truck that looks like it can go through walls, the Ram 1500 is what you want to drive. This impressive truck brings you a pair of mild-hybrid powertrains to improve acceleration and towing capacity. The eTorque system does not increase the power of the truck but gets things moving faster. This hybrid truck uses a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine with a mild-hybrid system to give you 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque. You’ll have 18 city/23 hwy mpg in 2WD versions and 18 city/22 hwy mpg for 4WD models.

The tow rating o the Ram 1500 eTorque Mild Hybrid is 11,320 pounds. That’s quite a bit and typically more than enough to pull a heavy trailer. Hook up your fifth wheel to this impressive truck and see where you can go.

Toyota Tundra i-Force Max

Toyota recreated the Tundra after fourteen years with the previous generation. This new Tundra is a powerful hybrid truck, giving you an excellent powertrain and driving capabilities. This Toyota uses a 3.5-liter hybrid twin-turbocharged V6 with an electric motor-generator. You’ll have 437 horsepower and 583 lb.-ft. of torque for this Tundra. The engine/motor setup is attached to a ten-speed automatic transmission to give you the shifting you need. Fuel mileage for this hybrid Tundra is 20 city/24 hwy mpg in 2WD models and 19 city/22 hwy mpg in 4WD versions.

Towing capacity for the Toyota Tundra i-Force Max comes in at 12,000 pounds. You can tow everything you want to take with you when you hitch it up to this truck.

Which Hybrid Truck is Right for You?

Unless you want a compact truck that doesn’t tow much, you’ll likely avoid the Ford Maverick when searching for a hybrid workhorse. The Ford and Toyota are true hybrid models, adding better fuel mileage and more power to the mix compared to gasoline-only trucks, but the Ram does give you decent numbers for both. Do you like the look and feel of one of these trucks? If so, head to the dealership to take a test drive today.