The large American pickups/utes with the biggest payload in Australia

If there’s one thing the American auto industry is known for, it’s big pickup trucks.

There aren’t a huge amount of these vehicles that have made their way Down Under, but there is increasing local appetite as more manufacturers look to bring their large utes here.

Although they’re bigger than a Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, and look like they’re made to work, not all of these trucks are made equal when it comes to payload or braked towing capacity.

To find out, we’ve taken the seven cars in the pickups over $100,000 category on the VFACTS sales charts to see which is capable of hauling the most weight.

We’ve only listed the variant of each model with the highest rated payload and braked towing capacity, as different body sizes and powertrains can cause numbers to differ.

The Toyota Tundra is not yet available for purchase in Australia, but we’ve included it as it’s currently undergoing customer evaluation and will be available to buyers next year.

Click on a car’s name above to jump directly to its information on the page, or continue scrolling for the full list.

Payload refers to the load that can be carried by a vehicle excluding weight necessary to its operation, while gross vehicle mass (GVM) is the maximum a vehicle can weigh when fully loaded – excluding a trailer, which is included in the gross combination mass (GCM).

Per Australian law, the operation of all vehicles with a GVM greater than 4.5 tonnes requires the driver to possess a heavy vehicle licence. Anything less can legally be driven on a standard car licence.

Ram 3500 Laramie

Leading the way is the colossal Ram 3500, which is capable of carrying a maximum of 1759kg and towing exactly eight braked tonnes.

You’ll get be able to tow the full eight tonnes with the addition of an auxiliary gooseneck tow hitch and air brakes, but without all that, the 3500 can tow an equal class-leading braked 4500kg with the use of a 70mm tow ball.

It has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 5352kg in its standard form, which means you’ll need a heavy vehicle license to drive it legally.

Where nominated prior to landing in Australia, Ram can derate it to have to a GVM of 4495kg with a payload of 902kg so it can be driven on a car licence.

The 3500 is available here only in Laramie trim, and uses a 6.7-litre inline-six turbo diesel producing 276kW of power and 1152Nm of torque.

It’s priced at $177,950 before on-road costs, and all Ram utes available in Australia are covered by a three-year, 100,000km warranty.

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Ram 3500
MORE: Everything Ram 3500

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Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500 LTZ Premium

The Silverado HD is available in two different variants. Both cost $163,000 before on-roads, but differ in payload and GVM.

The NB1 version of the Silverado 25000 HD LTZ Premium can be driven on a standard car licence and has a payload of 733kg, while the beefier NB2 version requires a heavy vehicle licence and can carry 1386kg.

In line with the car licence cut-off of 4.5 tonnes, the NB1 slips under the threshold with a GVM of 4495kg. The NB2 version is around 600kg heavier with a GVM of 5148kg.

Both versions are powered by a 6.6-litre Duramax V8 turbo-diesel producing 350kW of power and 1322Nm of torque, while both Chevrolets on this list are covered by a three-year, 100,000km warranty.

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Chevrolet Silverado HD
MORE: Everything Chevrolet Silverado HD

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Ram 1500 Big Horn SWB

There are six Ram 1500 variations available in Australia, and it’s the cheapest of the lot that boasts the greatest payload at just under one tonne.

The short-wheelbase Big Horn is priced at $119,950 before on-roads and has a 931kg payload with a braked towing capacity of 4500kg. It matches every other 1500 with a GVM of 3450kg, bar the most expensive TRX variant.

Priced at $224,950 before on-roads, the TRX is the most expensive car on this list but brings with it a smaller 743kg payload and a towing capacity of just 3500kg. Its GVM, however, is heaviest of the 1500 range at 3800kg.

All 1500s come standard with a full-size alloy spare wheel – except the short- and long-wheelbase Big Horns at the bottom of the pecking order, which have a full-size steel spare.

The entire range is fitted with a 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 petrol engine producing 291kW of power and 556Nm of torque, save for the TRX with its supercharged V8 engine.

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Ram 1500
MORE: Everything Ram 1500

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Ram 2500 Laramie

Like the 3500, the Ram 2500 is capable of a maximum 8000kg braked towing capacity. Unlike the 3500, its payload is around 900kg lighter at 886kg.

When fitted with an auxiliary gooseneck tow hitch and air brakes the 2500 can achieve the full eight tonnes. In its standard setup, it can tow a braked 4500kg.

It’s available to Australian buyers in Laramie and Laramie RamBox variants, though the latter reduces its payload rating to 828kg. They’re priced at $172,950 and $175,950 before on-roads respectively.

The Ram Box variant increases kerb weight to 3667kg, though GVM is the same for both at 4495kg. They’re powered by a 6.7-litre inline-six turbo-diesel producing 276kW and 1152Nm.

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Ram 2500
MORE: Everything Ram 2500

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Ford F-150 XLT LWB

The F-150 is available here in four variants, and it’s the long-wheelbase XLT that has the heaviest payload at 794kg.

It’s the second-cheapest F-150 at $107,945 before on-roads, which is $1000 more expensive than the range-opening short-wheelbase XLT. The cheapest version is rated for a payload of 769kg.

The short- and long-wheelbase Lariat variants top the range at $139,950 and $140,945 before on-roads with payloads of 685kg and 710kg respectively. The F-150 lineup is capable of towing a braked 4500kg.

GVM is rated at 3220kg for SWB and 3265kg for LWB, while the F-150 is the only car on this list to offer an 18-inch alloy space saver spare wheel in lieu of a full-size 20-inch spare.

The range is powered by a 3.5-litre EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 petrol engine producing 298kW and 678Nm, and is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Ford F-150
MORE: Everything Ford F-150

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Toyota Tundra Limited

The Tundra is not officially available for Australian purchase, though it’s currently being evaluated here by 300 potential customers on a “Full Service Lease” ahead of its 2025 arrival.

It’ll touch down with one variant – Limited – which sits around the middle of the Tundra range in the USA. It has a payload of 758kg and a braked towing capacity of 4500kg.

GVM is among the lightest on this list at 3279kg, and it’s fitted with a 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine producing 290kW of power and 650Nm of torque. The electric components are good for 36kW and 250Nm, for a combined output of 326kW and 790Nm.

The Tundra will be the only car here with a full hybrid, though others like the F-150 have hybrid options overseas, and the Ram 1500 has a mild-hybrid system.

An industry pricing guide indicated the Tundra Limited will cost $145,990 before on-roads.

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Toyota Tundra
MORE: Everything Toyota Tundra

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Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium

There are two Silverado 1500 models available for purchase in Australia, though they both sit at the bottom of this list for payload.

The cheaper 1500 LTZ Premium has a payload of 757kg and costs $130,500 before on-roads, while the 1500 ZR2 is rated at 717kg and costs $138,000 before on-roads.

Both cars have a braked towing capacity of 4500kg with a 70mm tow ball, alongside a shared GVM of 3300kg.

The Silverado is powered by a 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine producing 313kW of power and 624Nm, while a full-size steel spare wheel is included as standard.

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Chevrolet Silverado
MORE: Everything Chevrolet Silverado

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