Heavy-duty work needs a heavy-duty truck, and the three Detroit-based automakers deliver on that.

While other automakers offer light-duty trucks, only Ford, General Motors, and Ram make heavy-duty versions. We have the specifications that can help you decide which trucks are right for your fleet.

Chevrolet Silverado 2500

The Chevrolet Silverado 2500 receives considerable updates for 2024. The gasoline V8 gets an Allison ten-speed automatic transmission in place of its previous six-speed, and the diesel engine gets an increase of 25 horsepower and 65 lb-ft of torque. The maximum towing capacity also increases. The exterior and interior styling get a considerable refresh, and the cabin now has an available 13.4-inch centre touchscreen.

The Specs

Engines:

• 6.6-litre V8
• 6.6-litre Duramax V8 turbodiesel

Power:

• 401 hp/464 lb-ft torque (gasoline)
• 470 hp/975 lb-ft torque (diesel)

Maximum Towing Conventional:

• 14,500 lbs (Regular Cab)
• 17,900 lbs (Double Cab)
• 20,000 lbs (Crew Cab)

Maximum Towing 5^th Wheel/Gooseneck:

• 22,430 lbs (Regular Cab)
• 18,500 lbs (Double Cab)
• 22,070 lbs (Crew Cab)

Chevrolet Silverado 3500

Like the Silverado 2500, the 3500 also gets the updated styling, a new gas-engine transmission, and more power for its diesel engine choice. All cab configurations can be ordered with single or dual rear wheels.

The Specs

Engines:

• 6.6-litre V8
• 6.6-litre Duramax V8 turbodiesel

Power:

• 401 hp/464 lb-ft torque (gasoline)
• 470 hp/975 lb-ft torque (diesel)

Maximum Towing Conventional:

• 20,000 lbs (Regular Cab DRW)
• 20,000 lbs (Double Cab DRW)
• 20,000 lbs (Crew Cab DRW)

Maximum Towing 5^th Wheel/Gooseneck:

• 36,000 lbs (Regular Cab DRW)
• 31,580 lbs (Double Cab DRW)
• 31,450 lbs (Crew Cab DRW)

Ford F-250

The F-250 was all-new for 2023 and so it only gets some tweaks for 2024. These include an available 360-degree trailer camera kit; and the Onboard Scales with Smart Hitch feature, which measures payload and trailer tongue weight, can now be optioned on the base XL and XLT trims as well as higher trims. An engine block heater is now optional on the gasoline engines but still standard on the diesel. Two gasoline engines are offered, and the diesel engine comes in standard or high-output.

The Specs

Engines:

• 6.8-litre V8
• 7.3-litre V8
• 6.7-litre Power Stroke turbodiesel (standard or high-output)

Power:

• 400 hp/445 lb-ft torque (6.8-litre)
• 430 hp/485 lb-ft torque (7.3-litre)
• 475 hp/1,050 lb-ft torque (diesel)
• 500 hp/1,200 lb-ft torque (high-output diesel)

Maximum Towing Conventional:

• 20,000 lbs (Regular Cab)
• 22,000 lbs (SuperCab)
• 22,000 lbs (Crew Cab)

Maximum Towing 5^th Wheel/Gooseneck:

• 23,000 lbs (Regular Cab)
• 22,000 lbs (SuperCab)
• 22,000 lbs (Crew Cab)

Ford F-350

The minor updates to the 2024 F-250 also apply to the F-350, including the available trailer camera kit, and the onboard scales for payload and trailer tongue weight. As with the F-250, the F-350 also has two power options for its available diesel engine. If the F-350 isn’t enough, you can also opt for the F-450, which comes in Regular or Crew Cab, and strictly with dual rear wheels. For fifth-wheel towing, the F-450 can go as high as 40,000 lbs.

The Specs

Engines:

• 6.8-litre V8
• 7.3-litre V8
• 6.7-litre Power Stroke turbodiesel (standard or high-output)

Power:

• 400 hp/445 lb-ft torque (6.8-litre)
• 430 hp/485 lb-ft torque (7.3-litre)
• 475 hp/1,050 lb-ft torque (diesel)
• 500 hp/1,200 lb-ft torque (high-output diesel)

Maximum Towing Conventional:

• 24,800 lbs (Regular Cab DRW)
• 26,700 lbs (Super Cab DRW)
• 28,000 lbs (Crew Cab DRW)

Maximum Towing 5^th Wheel/Gooseneck:

• 38,000 lbs (Regular Cab DRW)
• 37,600 lbs (SuperCab DRW)
• 37,400 lbs (Crew Cab DRW)

GMC Sierra 2500

The GMC Sierra is a mechanical twin to the Chevrolet Silverado, and so shares that model’s updates for 2024. In addition, it also adds a first-ever Denali Ultimate trim, previously found only on the Sierra 1500. Its features include massaging seats, full-grain leather upholstery, power sunroof, and more.

The Specs

Engines:

• 6.6-litre V8
• 6.6-litre Duramax V8 turbodiesel

Power:

• 401 hp/464 lb-ft torque (gasoline)
• 470 hp/975 lb-ft torque (diesel)

Maximum Towing Conventional:

• 14,500 lbs (Regular Cab)
• 17,900 lbs (Double Cab)
• 20,000 lbs (Crew Cab)

Maximum Towing 5^th Wheel/Gooseneck:

• 22,500 lbs (Regular Cab)
• 18,600 lbs (Double Cab)
• 21,900 lbs (Crew Cab)

GMC Sierra 3500

The Sierra 3500 shares those 2024 updates with the Sierra 2500, as well as with its Chevrolet Silverado siblings, including those new styling cues, the ten-speed automatic transmission on the gasoline engine, and the power updates to the turbodiesel option. All cab configurations are available with single or dual rear wheels.

The Specs

Engines:

• 6.6-litre V8
• 6.6-litre Duramax V8 turbodiesel

Power:

• 401 hp/464 lb-ft torque (gasoline)
• 470 hp/975 lb-ft torque (diesel)

Maximum Towing Conventional:

• 20,000 lbs (Regular Cab DRW)
• 20,000 lbs (Double Cab DRW)
• 20,000 lbs (Crew Cab DRW)

Maximum Towing 5^th Wheel/Gooseneck:

• 36,000 lbs (Regular Cab DRW)
• 31,600 lbs (Double Cab DRW)
• 31,500 lbs (Crew Cab DRW)

Ram 2500

The Ram 2500 undergoes few changes for 2024, other than a standard warning light when the tailgate is ajar. It comes in Regular Cab, but doesn’t offer a Quad Cab; instead, there’s a Crew Cab and then the Mega Cab, with more rear-seat legroom and storage space behind those seats. The Mega Cab comes in 4×4 only. The 2500 uses a five-link coil-spring rear suspension with available auto-levelling rear air suspension. Note that Ram does not break out towing numbers by conventional or fifth-wheel.

The Specs

Engines:

• 6.4-litre V8
• 6.7-litre Cummins I6 turbodiesel

Power:

• 410 hp/429 lb-ft torque (gasoline)
• 370 hp/850 lb-ft torque (diesel)

Maximum Towing:

• 19,900 lbs (Regular Cab)
• 20,000 lbs (Crew Cab)
• 16,600 lbs (Mega Cab)

Ram 3500

Like the 2500, the Ram 3500 is mostly unchanged for 2024, other than its open-tailgate warning. It also comes in Regular, Crew, or Mega Cab, and all cab configurations are available with single or dual rear wheels. It uses a rear leaf spring suspension with optional supplemental air suspension. Unique to the 3500, the turbodiesel can be ordered in standard power or with a high-output option. Note that Ram doesn’t break out conventional versus fifth-wheel maximum towing numbers.

The Specs

Engines:

• 6.4-litre V8
• 6.7-litre Cummins I6 turbodiesel (standard or high-output)

Power:

• 410 hp/429 lb-ft torque (gasoline);
• 370 hp/850 lb-ft torque (standard diesel)
• 420 hp/1,075 lb-ft torque (high-output diesel)

Maximum Towing:

• 18,210 lbs (with 6.4L V8)
• 37,090 lbs (with 6.7L I6 high-output)