Ford F-150 Vs. Chevy Silverado Towing And Payload Capacity
The Ford F-150 at a Glance
- Popular for a Reason: The best-selling truck in America for over 45 years
- Highly Acclaimed: Named the Best Buy of 2024 in the full-size truck category by Kelley Blue Book®1
- Modernity Magnified: Advanced cabin tech, comfort features, and performance specs
- Vigorous and Versatile: Capable enough for tough projects and everyday travel
Comparing the Ford F-150 vs. Chevy Silverado
The F-150 vs. Silverado battle has been fought for many years. Both of these trucks are common across the United States, but only one of them will be the right choice for you. This article compares and contrasts the Ford F-150 vs. Chevy Silverado 1500 in terms of gas mileage, towing capacity, and payload ratings so you can find the truck that serves you best on the jobsite or as a rugged daily driver.

Ford F-150 vs. Chevy Silverado: Engine Options
The 2024 Ford F-150 has six engine options, while the Chevy Silverado has only four. Each engine has its own towing capacity rating, as we'll see later on. The Ford truck is starting our Ford F-150 vs. Silverado matchup off on better footing, as it has a wider variety of powertrains.
2024 Ford F-150 Engine Choices
- 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6: 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque
- 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6: 400 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque
- 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V-8: 400 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque
- 3.5-liter PowerBoost Full-Hybrid V-6: 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque
- High-Output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6: 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque
- 5.2-liter Supercharged V-8: 720 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque
2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 Engine Choices
- 2.7-liter TurboMax four-cylinder: 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque
- 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V-8: 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque
- 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V-8: 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque
- 3.0-liter Duramax TurboDiesel inline-six-cylinder: 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque
As you can see, the Ford F-150 has superior engine options. You have more choices when you're picking out a powertrain for a Ford truck, and they're more powerful to boot. Even if we set aside the Ford F-150 Raptor trim and its 5.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine possibilities, the second-strongest 3.5-liter PowerBoost Full-Hybrid V-6 engine still has more horsepower and torque than any of the Chevy Silverado 1500 options.
Ford F-150 vs. Chevy Silverado Towing Capacity
Towing capacity is one of the most important dimensions of the Ford F-150 vs. Chevy Silverado matchup. The Ford F-150 has a maximum towing capacity of 13,500 pounds.2 The Chevy Silverado, on the other hand, can only tow up to 13,300 pounds.3 The chart below details the Silverado and Ford F-150 towing capacity ratings.
| Ford F-150 Towing Capacity by Engine | Chevy Silverado 1500 Towing Capacity by Engine | ||
| Engine | Maximum Towing Capacity | Engine | Maximum Towing Capacity |
| 2.7L EcoBoost V-6 | 8,400 lbs2 | 2.7L TurboMax 4-cyl | 9,500 lbs3 |
| 3.6L EcoBoost V-6 | 13,500 lbs2 | 5.3L EcoTec3 V-8 | 11,300 lbs3 |
| 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 | 12,900 lbs2 | 6.2L EcoTec3 V-8 | 13,100 lbs3 |
| 3.5L PowerBoost Full-Hybrid V-6 | 11,200 lbs2 | 3.0L DuraMax Turbo Diesel I-6 | 13,300 lbs3 |
| High-Output 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 | 8,200 lbs2 | ||
| 5.2L Supercharged V-8 | 8,700 lbs2 | ||

F-150 vs. Silverado Gas Mileage
Our next stop in the F-150 vs. Silverado matchup is the question of fuel economy. Between these trucks' various engine and drivetrain options, a staggering array of gas mileage ratings are available to consider. We'll list a few comparable ones to help you get an idea of which vehicle has superior fuel economy overall.
F-150 Fuel Economy
- 2024 F-150 with 2.7-liter engine and two-wheel drive: 19/25/21 MPG (City/Highway/Combined)4
- 2024 F-150 with 2.7-liter engine and four-wheel drive: 18/23/20 MPG (City/Highway/Combined)4
- 2024 F-150 with 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine and four-wheel drive: 16/24/19 MPG (City/Highway/Combined)4
- 2024 F-150 with 5.0-liter V-8 engine and two-wheel drive: 16/24/19 MPG (City/Highway/Combined)4
Silverado Fuel Economy
- 2024 Silverado with 2.7-liter engine and two-wheel drive: 18/22/20 MPG (City/Highway/Combined)5
- 2024 Silverado with 2.7-liter engine and four-wheel drive: 18/21/19 MPG (City/Highway/Combined)6
- 2024 Silverado with 6.2-liter V-8 engine and four-wheel drive: 15/20/17 MPG (City/Highway/Combined)7
- 2024 Silverado with 3.0-liter Turbo Diesel engine and two-wheel drive: 23/29/26 MPG (City/Highway/Combined)8
The gas mileage question for the F-150 vs. Silverado has a mixed result. Gasoline-fed Ford F-150 vehicles tend to score better ratings than their Chevy Silverado 1500 counterparts, but the Turbo Diesel Chevy engine offers the best fuel economy overall. However, we suspect drivers interested in bold trucks are more concerned with towing power than gas mileage.

F-150 vs. Silverado: Payload Capacity
The next part of our Ford F-150 vs. Chevy Silverado comparison has a clear winner. The Ford F-150 payload capacity maxes out at 2,445 pounds, while the Chevy Silverado tops out at 2,260 pounds. When you're filling your pickup bed with lumber, piping, or machine parts, this difference of nearly 200 pounds can be a big deal.
Thank you for reading our F-150 vs. Silverado review. The Jones Ford Casa Grande team hopes that this page has made it clear that the Ford F-150 is a more muscular vehicle that offers better bang for your buck. Our new Ford specials can make it even easier for you to get behind the wheel of a fresh ride.
Please visit us today to test-drive a 2024 F-150 or any other vehicle in our wide-ranging new Ford inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do both trucks offer similar fuel options, such as gas or diesel?
The Ford F-150 can be equipped with a traditional gasoline-only engine or a hybrid powertrain. All six of the Ford F-150 engine options provide impressive power and towing capacity. The Chevy Silverado can be had with diesel or gasoline-powered engines but is not available with a hybrid setup. The Ford F-150 also has a higher maximum towing capacity than the Chevy Silverado 1500.
Are there differences in fuel costs between the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado?
The answer to this question depends on which type of fuel the truck is able to use, as well as its powertrain. That said, the F-150 tends to be more efficient than the Silverado – its standard engine, for example, gets better mileage than that of the Chevy truck. Please contact the Jones Ford Casa Grande team today to learn more about F-150 vs. Silverado gas mileage.
Can I tow a trailer or boat with the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado?
You can tow a variety of trailers or boats with either a Ford F-150 or a Chevy Silverado. However, it's worth noting that the Ford F-150 offers a higher maximum towing capacity than the Chevy Silverado – 13,500 pounds1 compared to 13,300 pounds.2 This difference can come into play when towing large trailers or boats.
1Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://www.kbb.com/awards/best-buy-awards-2024-ford-f-150-full-size-truck/.
2Max towing varies based on cargo, vehicle configuration, accessories and number of passengers.
3Before you buy a vehicle or use it for trailering, carefully review the Trailering section of the Owner's Manual. The weight of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you can tow.
4EPA-estimated city/hwy mpg for the model indicated. See fueleconomy.gov for fuel economy of other engine/transmission combinations. Actual mileage will vary. On plug-in hybrid models and electric models, fuel economy is stated in MPGe. MPGe is the EPA equivalent measure of gasoline fuel efficiency for electric mode operation.
5EPA-estimated 18 city/22 hwy TurboMax four-cylinder engine with two-wheel drive.
6EPA-estimated 18 city/21 hwy TurboMax four-cylinder engine with four-wheel drive.
7EPA-estimated 15 city/20 hwy 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V-8 engine with four-wheel drive.
8EPA-estimated 23 city/29 hwy DuraMax Turbo Diesel inline-six-cylinder engine with two-wheel drive.