Pickup truck engines are maxing out at a record 1,000-pounds of torque. What can this powerful workhorse actually tow? — a large missile, 4 Classic XL Airstream trailers, or a family of 5 Asian elephants. 

If you're shopping for a super heavy duty pickup, though, be sure to weigh the load against the smoothness of the drive.

Keep on Trucking and Hauling 

Time was when hauling cargo was a major expense for a small-to-medium sized business. Or if you did it yourself, you required a separate cargo or tow truck for work. The newest line of pickup trucks are boasting record toque of 1000 pound-foot (LB-FT).  For many business, this more powerful truck is a game changer. 

Whether you're hauling a load daily, a few times a week, or more occasionally, your sports utility vehicle can double as your cargo hauler.  You may do a double take when you see the specs of the most powerful pickup in this class, the 2019 Ram Heavy Duty. Powered by a Cummins 6.7-liter turbodiesel engine, the pickup has a towing capacity of 35,100 lbs and payload capacity of 7,680 lbs.

Sub-550 Torque Heavy Duty Truck 

For the moment, the Cummins 6.7 performance engine puts the Ram in a class of its own. Diesel V8 engine drivetrains are behind higher power and torque heavy duty trucks. Most of these trucks max out at around 500 pounds of torque, but they are not slackers by any means. These heavy duty pickups can top out at a very respectable 20,000 pounds of towing capacity.

Engine Fuel Efficiency

But how do these high output engines handle fuel economy? Construction to e-commerce companies are not only saving on transportation costs. Higher engine performance used to mean fewer miles to the gallon (mpg). The real impressive feat of the new more powerful engines is they're improving fuel efficiency.

With lighter materials, such as graphite iron engine blocks and aluminum truck bodies, engines do not have to work as hard. The latest generation of the Cummins 6.7 engine, for example, has dropped 60 pounds of weight. The most powerful heavy duty trucks have a fuel economy ranging from 15–26 mpg. 

Smoothing Out the Ride 

When shopping for trucks that can take on a super load, you'll also want to consider how it handles off road. The new heavy duty trucks have successfully merged the sports utility and work hauling vehicle. But a pickup designed to haul heavier loads can mean a less stable ride in the outback.  

The new generation of heavy duty trucks is smoothing out the ride with new suspension design, shock absorbers, differentiator gear to control maneuvering, and all terrain tires. Before buying, take your new workhorse for a spin on both a heavy hauling and four-wheel drive excursion to see how well it handles.

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