CarTrek Ford F-150 vs Chevrolet Silverado 1500 in 2026
Ford F-150 vs Chevrolet Silverado 1500 in 2026
Choose F-150 PowerBoost if you want hybrid power and strong torque while using gasoline. Choose Silverado Duramax if a light-duty diesel suits your regular work and local fuel prices. For the highest rated trailer ceiling in this comparison, start with the properly equipped 3.5-liter EcoBoost F-150. Cab, axle, payload, and tow packages determine whether the particular truck meets your load.
The right comparison is between two configured trucks that meet your load and passenger requirements. This guide uses the manufacturers’ 2026 towing documents, federal fuel-economy records, and published equipment information checked November 2, 2026. Maximum ratings are configuration-dependent.
Engine choices: hybrid or diesel is the main fork
Ford’s 2026 F-150 towing guide, version 4, lists these outputs:
| F-150 engine | Horsepower | Torque |
|---|---|---|
| 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 | 325 hp | 400 lb-ft |
| 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 | 382 hp | 500 lb-ft |
| 3.5-liter PowerBoost hybrid V6 | 420 hp | 570 lb-ft |
| 5.0-liter V8 | 400 hp | 410 lb-ft |
| Raptor 3.5-liter high-output V6 | 450 hp | 510 lb-ft |
| Raptor R 5.2-liter supercharged V8 | 720 hp | 640 lb-ft |
All use a ten-speed automatic in that guide. Ford notes that some published engine ratings use premium fuel. Ford’s 2026 specification and towing guide.
Chevrolet lists four Silverado 1500 choices:
| Silverado engine | Horsepower | Torque | Automatic transmission |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7-liter TurboMax | 310 hp | 430 lb-ft | Eight-speed |
| 5.3-liter V8 | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | Ten-speed |
| 6.2-liter V8 | 420 hp | 460 lb-ft | Ten-speed |
| 3.0-liter Duramax diesel | 305 hp | 495 lb-ft | Ten-speed |
These are the 2026 engines on Chevrolet’s commercial Silverado page. Do not substitute specifications from another model year when comparing dealer stock.
Choose the engine with the cab, drive system, axle, and towing package. Match each candidate to the loaded trailer and payload before comparing power figures.
Maximum towing: 13,500 versus 13,300 pounds
Ford lists a maximum of 13,500 pounds with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost. Its PowerBoost maximum is 12,400 pounds, and the 5.0-liter V8 maximum is 12,800 pounds. The guide specifies the Tow/Haul Package and Max Tow Axle upgrade for those maximum ratings.
Chevrolet’s 13,300-pound maximum belongs to a Duramax Double Cab, standard-bed, 2WD configuration with the Max Trailering Package and 20-inch wheels. Its chart lists 13,000 pounds for the Duramax Crew Cab short-bed 4x4 at the highest listed rating, and 13,200 pounds for qualifying 6.2-liter RST configurations. Chevrolet’s 2026 maximum-trailering chart.
The overall maximum-rating gap is 200 pounds, comparing the gasoline F-150 with the diesel Silverado. For gasoline engines on both sides, the gap is 300 pounds: 13,500 versus 13,200. Chevrolet’s 13,200-pound 6.2-liter rating requires the RST Crew Cab 4x4, Max Trailering Package and 20-inch wheels, with either listed bed length. Cab, drive system and package changes can outweigh either small headline gap.
Off-road trims trade away some trailer capacity
Ford’s guide lists 8,200 pounds maximum towing for the Raptor V6 and 8,700 pounds for Raptor R. Chevrolet’s chart lists 8,800 pounds for the 6.2-liter ZR2 and 8,700 pounds for the diesel ZR2.
A 9,000-pound loaded trailer exceeds all four off-road ratings listed here. For that load, choose an appropriately equipped ordinary trim and verify its full towing and payload requirements.
Chevrolet specifies a two-inch factory lift, Multimatic DSSV dampers, and front and rear electronic lockers for the 2026 ZR2. Those features serve a different purpose from maximizing a highway trailer rating. Chevrolet’s 2026 trim information.
Before choosing an off-road package, list how frequently you need its features and how much payload and trailer capacity your normal work requires.
Payload must include people, equipment and tongue weight
Ford advertises up to 2,440 pounds payload in its 2026 guide; Chevrolet advertises up to 2,260 pounds. A particular truck’s door-label allowance can be lower. Maximum payload and maximum towing should not be assumed to occur together.
Here is a hypothetical trip using a truck with a 1,800-pound occupant-and-cargo allowance:
| Load | Weight |
|---|---|
| Occupants | 650 lb |
| Bed cargo and luggage | 300 lb |
| Added accessories and hitch equipment | 150 lb |
| Remaining allowance before trailer tongue weight | 700 lb |
A measured 850-pound tongue load would put this example 150 pounds over the allowance. The trailer might still be below the advertised maximum tow rating.
Use loaded weights and check the truck’s axle limits, combined-weight limit, hitch rating, and trailer requirements separately. Weigh the combination in its travel configuration, including people, accessories, and cargo.
Fuel economy needs the same drivetrain and measurement
The federal database lists these 2026 configurations:
| Vehicle record | Fuel | City / highway / combined mpg |
|---|---|---|
| F-150 4WD, 2.7-liter | Regular gasoline | 18 / 23 / 20 |
| F-150 4WD, 3.5-liter gasoline | Regular gasoline | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| F-150 4WD HEV, 3.5-liter hybrid | Regular gasoline | 22 / 24 / 23 |
| Silverado 4WD, 5.3-liter | Regular gasoline | 15 / 19 / 17 |
| Silverado 4WD, 3.0-liter diesel | Diesel | 22 / 25 / 23 |
Sources: federal records for F-150 2.7, F-150 3.5, F-150 hybrid, Silverado 5.3, and Silverado diesel.
Different tire and off-road configurations can have separate records. These are EPA estimates, not loaded-trailer mileage claims.
At a hypothetical 15,000 miles per year, gasoline at $3.50 per gallon, and diesel at $4.00:
- The 23-mpg hybrid uses about $2,282.61 in gasoline.
- The 23-mpg diesel uses about $2,608.70 in diesel.
- The 17-mpg gasoline truck uses about $3,088.24 in gasoline.
At these fuel-price inputs, the diesel costs $326.09 more annually than the hybrid despite their identical combined MPG. Repeat the calculation with local prices and consumption suitable for your towing or work schedule.
Compare useful equipment at the trim level
Chevrolet LT includes a 13.4-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch driver display. High Country offers Super Cruise with trailering as available equipment. Record the chosen trim and options when comparing those features with Ford.
For both brands, compare a written list of the equipment you need: integrated trailer-brake controller, camera views, bed access, cab storage, and any onboard electrical outlets. Record package prices and any subscription requirements separately from the engine choice.
Set the front seats for the usual occupants, then check rear-seat entry and the load floor. Bring tool or luggage measurements and try the storage you will use on an ordinary workday.
Decide from the complete quote
Request the VIN, cab and bed configuration, engine, drive system, axle information, tow-package codes, and a photo of the payload label. Pair that with an itemized out-the-door quote and an insurance quote for equivalent coverage.
For a used truck, obtain service records, check the VIN for recalls, and arrange an independent inspection. Request insurance quotes and ask about local repair arrangements for the particular powertrain before comparing ownership costs.
PowerBoost is the better fit when you want the hybrid’s 570 lb-ft and gasoline refueling; Duramax is the alternative for a diesel-based work setup, with configuration-specific towing up to 13,300 pounds. For a gasoline towing purchase, the F-150’s maximum is 300 pounds above the 6.2-liter Silverado’s. Choose from the ratings and payload labels of the two equipped trucks you can actually buy.
Our negotiation guide covers the quote comparison. The used-car inspection checklist provides a separate process for evaluating a previously owned truck.