This is the biggest Ike GauntletTM – world’s toughest towing test we have done over the last 11 years. Our goal is to find out which new 2024 midsize pickup truck is best at towing. We have some surprises! We crunch the numbers and figure out a winner. Let’s dig in!
Ike GauntletTM
This is the world’s toughest towing test because this is an 8-mile stretch of I-70 Interstate highway that goes up to an elevation of 11,158-feet above sea level at a 7% grade. If a truck tows well here, it will tow great anywhere.
Here are the pickup trucks we are testing:
- 2024 Nissan Frontier SV Hardbody 4×4
- 2022 Jeep Gladiator Mojave 4×4
- 2024 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 4×4
- 2023 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss 4×4
- 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4×4
We are towing a 6,200-lbs hauler trailer by Aluma and Rifle Truck & Trailer. It’s a tandem axle trailer with a 14,000 lbs GVWR and a 1998 Dodge Dakota R/T on top. We are using our tough and heigh-adjustable GenY Hitch Phantom hitch.
Nissan Frontier
First up is the 2024 Nissan Frontier. It’s the first of the traditional V6-powered midsize trucks. It’s packing a 3.8L V6 with 310 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm and 281 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm. It’s mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission and a 3.69-to-1 rear axle ratio. It has 1,090 lbs of payload and 6,350 lbs of towing capacity.
The payload and towing ratings listed for this comparison are for the specific trim level and configuration of the truck. Base versions of all of these pickup trucks with 2WD will have significantly higher payload and tow ratings.
Jeep Gladiator
The Jeep Gladiator is powered by a traditional 3.6L V6 with 285 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm. It’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and an aggressive 4.10-to-1 rear axle ratio. This Mojave version of the truck has a payload of 1,050 lbs and a maximum towing rating of 6,000 lbs.
Chevy Colorado
This is a 2023 version of the Chevy Colorado, and it is mechanically identical to a 2024 model. It’s powered by a new 2.7L Turbo I4 high-output engine with 310 horsepower @ 5,600 and 430 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm. It’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and a 3.42-to-1 rear axle ratio. This Trail Boss off-road model has a payload of 1,514 lbs and a tow rating of 7,700 lbs.
Toyota Tacoma
The Tacoma is all-new for 2024. It’s powered by a 2.4L Turbo I4 with 278 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and 317 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700 rpm. It’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and a 3.58-to-1 rear axle ratio. This TRD Off-road model has a payload rating of 1,200 lbs and a towing rating of 6,400 lbs.
Huge thanks to the O’Sullivan Law Firm for helping us with the 2024 Toyota Tacoma video series.
Ford Ranger
The Ranger is also all-new for 2024 (or mostly new). It’s powered by a 2.3L Turbo I4 that was there in the previous generation. The engine is rated at 270 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm. It’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 3.73-to-1 rear axle ratio. This XLT FX4 model has a payload of 1,524 lbs and a tow rating of 7,500 lbs.
The Verdict
After the dust settled and we crunched all the numbers. We evaluated each truck in seven categories with 1-5 rating in each category. 1 – being the lowest, and 5 – being the highest rating.
We averaged it all together, and the new Chevy Colorado Trail Boss 4×4 came out as the winner. The best towing 2024 midsize pickup truck. The competition was very close, which is why we used a carefully graded spreadsheet for this competition.
Please join Mr. Truck and I in the video below for all the trailer-towing fun.
