The best pickup trucks are the all-round multi-purpose tool of the vehicle world. They are capable of carrying out some serious hard labour on their own, but sometimes the loading bay isn’t enough and you’ll need to tow a trailer. We assembled all the best pickups for towing in the UK and have brought you our expert verdict as a result.
Fortunately, by their very nature pickups are designed to be hard working, and every model on sale in the UK has a good towing capacity if you go by the numbers alone. However, there is more to it than just some data on a spreadsheet, so we got the five main contenders in the truck class together and assessed them back-to-back in a big pickup towing group test.
We looked at features such as visibility, the gearbox, steering and the reversing camera and how it was integrated with the trailer. We also considered what they are like to drive without a trailer attached, as the chances are you will want to do that from time to time as well.
Our towing expert Gareth Evans brought along his trailer, complete with racing car. We concentrated on double-cab trucks and all were in the higher-end trims that are popular among those looking for a vehicle that can be a workhorse and a more comfortable family transporter in one. The same observations apply whatever is hooked up behind you though. Our guide to van weights is another handy read if you aren’t sure what terms such as gross train weight and braked towing weight mean.
The maximum you can legally tow with a truck is 3.5 tonnes (3,500kg) and while many allow you to make the most of this, others fall short of the limit. It’s also worth reading up on the full UK towing laws as you are allowed to tow different weights depending on when you passed your test. Our guide to towing goes into more detail on what you need to know before you set off for the first time.
We recommend only using manufacturer-approved wiring kits, as low-cost universal wiring will not activate trailer stability programmes when towing.
The best pickups for towing UK
1. Isuzu D-Max
The Isuzu D-Max is the most no-nonsense of all the trucks in our list, with many of the versions in its range geared towards a hard day’s work rather than the school run. It might come with the smallest engine of all those here – it features a 1.9-litre diesel – but this doesn’t stop it offering an overall train weight of 6,000kg and a 3,500kg maximum towing weight. This gross train weight is the lowest in the class, but the towing weight is as good as any of its rivals.
You certainly don’t notice a performance deficit, the 1.9-litre motor having a whopping 360Nm of pulling power at 2,000rpm. The one we tested was a manual, too, which definitely helps when dragging heavier loads because you can be more precise and pre-emptive to changes in traffic or unexpected movements of surrounding vehicles. Isuzu states 43% of D-Maxes sold in 2024 were manuals, so sales appear to back up this gearbox’s advantages.
Another thing the D-Max has going for it is the field of vision from the cab. You’re sat very high and the windows are vast, which means you’re able to see loads from the driver’s seat. Also handy on the V-Cross version is the 9.0-inch screen that features a helpful reversing camera, the lens itself situated high in the tailgate, which means you’re able to very accurately place the towbar under your trailer’s coupling.
Finally, the D-Max’s towbar is nice and low, which also facilitates simple hook-up, and makes a level load easier to achieve, which is important if you’re towing a car on a trailer.
- Braked trailer weight: 3,500kg
- Unbraked trailer weight: 750kg
- Gross vehicle weight: 3,100kg
- Gross train weight: 6,000kg
2. Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger is one of the most technology-laden trucks in our group test, with only the closely-related VW Amarok able to offer anything similar. It has a massive vertical infotainment screen that shows both a bird’s-eye view and a rear-view lens with a bending line that draws you directly to the towbar, the blend of which makes parking and manoeuvring quite easy.
However, the latter view is a ‘fisheye’, which means when you’re backing towards the towbar your perspective is thrown off, and the trailer appears to approach increasingly quickly as you get nearer. This is disconcerting, although we’re sure you’d get used to it.
One thing that sets the Ranger apart from the Amarok – and we really had to split hairs here because they’re very similar indeed – is the metal loop you hook your breakaway cable onto. This is thinner and easier to use than the VW’s. The hook itself sits noticeably higher than the KGM or Isuzu’s, though, which can result in a more sloped trailer
- Braked trailer weight: 3,420kg-3,500kg
- Unbraked trailer weight: 750kg
- Gross vehicle weight: 3,190kg-3,500kg
- Gross train weight: 6,150-6,600kg
3. Volkswagen Amarok
Much of what we said about the Ford could also apply to the Volkswagen Amarok, which is little surprise given they are fundamentally the same vehicle. It’s fine margins that dictates the final positioning in this list therefore.
The VW manages to feel slightly more ponderous on the road, to the point it sometimes feels reluctant to make progress. This is exacerbated by a slow stop-start system, which caught us out a few times when pulling out of junctions. When towing, the need for instant getaway can make the difference between making a gap or not, so we’d be switching this off every time, and that’s not the case with the rest of the trucks in this test. It also suffers the same high tow hook as the Ford.
But with that said, it has the same impressive camera set-up as the Ranger and is incredibly sumptuous inside. If you’re an occasionally towing driver, it’ll do the job nicely.
- Braked trailer weight: 3,420kg-3,500kg
- Unbraked trailer weight: 750kg
- Gross vehicle weight: 3,230kg-3,350kg
- Gross train weight: 6,150-6,500kg
4. Toyota Hilux
The fact that the Toyota Hilux comes so far down this group test is down to a few marginal factors. Chief among these is its age, with many of its attributes now feeling out of date. Its steering is really too heavy for continuous low-speed trailer parking, the gearbox is slow to operate and the ride quality is noticeably worse than the Ford, VW and Isuzu, although the KGM’s is a further downgrade in that regard.
Toyota fights back with an exceptional camera array, which has both rear-view and bird’s-eye view, although the screen is a lot smaller than others in the test. It also has a fantastic warranty, which can last up to 10 years if you service it with Toyota. The Hilux is a regular in the list of the most reliable vans and pickups, too.
The aged feeling means it’s noisy on the move and the interior feels notably more basic than the comfortable and luxurious cabins in the Ford and VW. The Toyota’s numbers are good, but not enough to take it above the others, which offer a more complete all-round package.
- Braked trailer weight: 3,500kg
- Unbraked trailer weight: 750kg
- Gross vehicle weight: 3,210kg
- Gross train weight: 6,300kg
5. KGM Musso
The numbers say the KGM Musso is the best truck for towing, and there are a few neat details that do back that up. The driver’s field of vision is arguably as good as the D-Max’s, and the towing ball is nice and low, but the basic rear-view camera leaves a lot to be desired: it’s not as well positioned as the Isuzu’s and it also gets dirty much quicker.
But it’s not all about the numbers, and the biggest drawback to the Musso as a towing vehicle is its choppy ride quality. Only when fully laden with kit does it settle down somewhat, and when the load area is empty it’s so bouncy that we’ve genuinely pulled over on occasion to check that that the trailer’s tyres are still intact. Over long distances this is so uncomfortable it’s tiring.
Although we’re assessing towing capabilities, we can’t discount how the Musso behaves when it doesn’t have a trailer attached either. It’s the worst of the five here to drive unladen, with a poor ride and a slow, easily confused gearbox.
- Braked trailer weight: 3,500kg
- Unbraked trailer weight: 750kg
- Gross vehicle weight: 3,250kg
- Gross train weight: 6,450kg-6,900kg
Important things to remember when towing
- If you are towing then you are subject to lower speed limits – 60mph on motorways and dual carriageways and 50mph on single carriage roads, although many pickups are already subject to these reduced limits because they meet van speed limit rules
- Your trailer shouldn’t be wider than 2.55 metres and must be no longer than 7.0 metres
- If your trailer is wider than your towing vehicle then you will need to fit supplementary towing mirrors.
- You must display the same number plate on your trailer as on your towing car. If you tow more than one trailer at a time, fix the plate to the trailer at the back
- You can be fined up to £2,500 and have three points put on your licence if you are deemed to be using your car in a dangerous condition.
FAQs: frequently asked questions about pickup towing
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How much can I tow?
Anyone can tow a trailer, so long as you have passed your driving test. However, not everyone can tow the same type of trailer.
If you passed your test before 1 January 1997 then you are usually allowed to drive a wider range of trailer/vehicle combinations. You can usually drive vehicle/trailer combo with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of up to 8,250kg.
If you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997 then you are limited to driving a car or van that weighs up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM. You can tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg.
To tow more than this you were required to pass additional ‘car and trailer’ test. However, in September 2021, the government announced a change to towing laws that would see all drivers moved closer to the pre-1997 rules. -
Do I need a tachograph when towing with a pickup?
If you are towing for work purposes, and your trailer and vehicle weigh more than 3,500kg combined then you will need a tachograph fitted to record your speed, distance travelled and driving activity. Most brands will offer one as a cost option although some, like the Toyota Hilux, have offered them as standard.
If there isn’t one fitted then you can buy one and fit it yourself.
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