Heavy-duty trucks take the power of light-duty models and turn it up to eleven, with engines that can crank out truly impressive horsepower and torque. While there are certainly other factors to consider when buying a heavy-duty truck, like technology, available trims, and interior comfort, power is going to be at the top of almost every driver’s list of priorities.
We’re proud to offer the 2026 Ford F-250 for sale here at LaFontaine Ford Grand Rapids because we know that it has the power drivers need to succeed, whether they’re working on construction jobs, home improvement projects, or whatever else needs doing.
To put its figures in perspective, we’ll see how it stacks up against one of its most popular rivals, the 2026 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD. The numbers don’t lie, so it will be easy to see which one of these heavy-duty pickups comes out on top.
Read more: 2026 Ford F-250 vs 2026 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD: Who’s Got the Power?Towing Capacity
Going for the three-quarter-ton truck means you are looking to get stuff done. Towing a heavy trailer is one of the main jobs a heavy-duty truck should be able to handle. While light-duty pickups can handle the kinds of loads that most everyday drivers need to move, heavy-duty trucks are there for the bigger jobs.
Whether your work requires towing bulky equipment or your idea of a weekend getaway involves a deluxe camping trailer, it’s important to have enough towing capacity to get the job done safely.
Comparing these figures can be complicated because trucks are highly configurable, and not all configurations are created equal. Different cab styles and bed lengths affect a truck’s weight, which, in turn, affects its overall towing capacity.
To keep things simple, right now we’ll just look at each truck’s maximum towing capacity, configured as optimally as possible. Later on, we’ll look more closely at each model’s engine lineup to give you a better picture of each truck’s range.
The Chevy Silverado 2500 HD has a maximum towing capacity of 22,430 lbs. That’s not bad—it beats the 20,000 lbs the 2026 Ram 2500 can handle—but it’s not a best-in-class figure either. The Ford F-250 can tow up to 23,000 lbs, giving you hundreds of extra pounds of towing capacity so you can hitch your trailer with complete confidence.
Payload Capacity
Now that we’ve covered what these trucks can tow with a trailer, let’s turn to how much payload they can carry in the truck bed. This can also be used for a wide range of applications. You might be filling the bed with cement bricks for a construction job or carrying an ATV in the back for a fun weekend outdoors. Either way, you’ll want to know that your truck can handle some serious weight.
Looking at payload, not only does the F-250 still come out on top, but its victory over the Silverado 2500 HD is even starker. The Chevy’s top payload capacity is 3,689 lbs, while the Ford’s is a whopping 4,246 lbs. That’s over 500 lbs higher, giving you a lot more freedom to load up your bed with whatever you need to haul.
But what’s even more dramatic is that every engine in the 2026 F-250 lineup has a maximum payload capacity higher than the very highest figure in the 2026 Silverado 2500 HD lineup. Whether you’re choosing gas or diesel, Ford has your back.
Powertrain Options
These towing and hauling numbers are all matched up with specific engines, so let’s take a closer look at engine options for both of these pickups. The Silverado 2500 HD has just two powertrains to choose from: a gas-powered 6.6L V8 and a 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8. The F-250, on the other hand, has four engines to choose from: a 6.8L V8 and a 7.3L “Godzilla” V8 (both gasoline-powered), as well as a 6.7L Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8 that offers both standard-output and high-output versions.
Of course, right off the bat, this means that Ford gives you more variety. This gives you the freedom to strike your own perfect balance between power and price, towing and hauling, thrills and efficiency. But simply having more options isn’t enough—we know that you’re looking for the best possible option. So let’s take a look at the details:
| F-250 6.8L V8 | F-250 7.3L “Godzilla” V8 | F-250 6.7L Power Stroke turbo-diesel V8 | F-250 6.7L Power Stroke High Output turbo-diesel V8 | Silverado 2500 HD 6.6L V8 | Silverado 2500 HD 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel V8 | |
| Horsepower | 405 hp | 430 hp | 475 hp | 500 hp | 401 hp | 470 hp |
| Torque | 445 lb-ft | 485 lb-ft | 1,050 lb-ft | 1,200 lb-ft | 464 lb-ft | 975 lb-ft |
| Max Towing | 17,300 lbs | 19,500 lbs | 22,900 lbs | 23,000 lbs | 18,700 lbs | 22,430 lbs |
| Max Payload | 4,240 lbs | 4,246 lbs | 4,048 lbs | 3,918 lbs | 3,689 lbs | 3,615 lbs |
Comparing just the base engines, the Silverado 2500 HD does have some advantages: it delivers more torque and a higher maximum towing capacity. However, it also has slightly less horsepower and a significantly lower payload capacity than the base engine on the F-250.
Upgrade to the “Godzilla” V8 on the F-250, though, and you get higher figures than the Chevy’s base engine across the board. This allows you to significantly boost your towing capacity and torque while sticking with a gas-powered option. That’s something Chevy simply doesn’t offer.
Turn to the diesel option, and the offering from the Silverado 2500 HD can’t even outperform the standard-output option on the F-250. Chevy’s lone diesel offering delivers less horsepower, torque, towing capacity, and payload capacity than Ford’s standard-output diesel engine, and then Ford also offers a high-output version that brings three of those four figures higher still (payload capacity drops slightly compared to the standard-output, but is still hundreds of pounds higher than what Chevy’s diesel engine can handle).
These figures tell a story: not only does Ford offer a wider variety of engines, but it also offers powertrains that provide a better balance of power than those under the hood of the Silverado 2500 HD. Whether you want gas or diesel, the F-250 is going to give you the better option.
The F-250 Is a Hard Truck to Beat
Chevy certainly knows how to build a good pickup, but when it comes to towing, hauling, horsepower, and torque, the 2026 Silverado 2500 HD is simply overpowered by the 2026 F-250. Since just about any driver looking to upgrade to a heavy-duty model over a half-ton pickup is looking for serious power, that’s a weakness that’s hard to ignore.
If you want to see the 2026 F-250 lineup for yourself, visit us at LaFontaine Ford Grand Rapids. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about this truck or any of the other vehicles in our inventory so that you can explore all your options. We’ll also let you know about the various configurations and trim levels the F-250 offers and get you set up for a test drive or two so you can feel this heavy-duty truck’s awesome power for yourself.
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