Not many vehicles can do the job like a diesel truck. Here are three diesel trucks under $40,000 that can easily tow over 10,000 pounds. You’ll have to add or opt for the diesel engine option, but that shouldn’t cause you any problems. Plus, the trucks below also get over 25 mpg combined.
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a diesel truck under $40,000
When ranking the best diesel trucks for towing, Forbes said the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 came out on top. It starts at just $35,600, and the upgrade to the 3.0L Duramax inline-six diesel engine is just $2,540. With that, the Silverado can tow 13,300 pounds.
People say that the Chevy pickup isn’t as luxurious on the inside as some of the other options. What he does well is tow and make less than $40,000. The Silverado gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg combined with 29 mpg on the highway.
This Silverado has earned a four-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Some of the best standard safety technologies include forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane keeping assist.
Price From $35,600
Maximum Towing Capacity: 13,300 lbs.
GMC’s Sierra 1500 is another diesel pickup under $40,000
While the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 is quite similar to the Chevy, it still has a lot to offer buyers. The 277-hp 3.0L Duramax turbodiesel gets 460 lb-ft of torque and a tow rating of 13,200 lbs. On top of that, the MultiPro six-way tailgate makes hauling stuff even easier.
The GMC Sierra diesel also gets 26 mpg combined. That comes from an EPA-rated 23 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway. If you add four-wheel drive, that eliminates a mile or two.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Sierra a four-star safety rating. From the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2022 Sierra received many high marks. GMC added many standard safety features for 2022, including automatic high beams, lane-keep assist, and forward collision warning.
Price From $35,400
Maximum Towing Capacity: 13,200 lbs.
Don’t overlook the Ram 1500 and its 12,560-pound towing capacity
Another solid contender is the 2023 Ram 1500 with the 3.0L EcoDiesel V6. It will cost you $4,995 to add on most trim levels, but it bumps towing capacity up to 12,560 pounds. With 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque, the 2023 Ram remains one of the diesel trucks under $40,000.
With rear-wheel drive, the 2023 Ram 1500 gets 26 mpg combined. That drops to 24 mpg combined with the four-wheel-drive configuration. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Ram a five-star safety rating (for all but the Quad Cab) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named it a Top Safety Pick .
Unfortunately, Ram lags behind when it comes to safety features. Adding the $595 Level 1 Safety Group Package adds automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist and advanced brake assist. Buyers have to upgrade to the Rebel trim and add the $1,695 Advanced Safety Group package to add more features. All of those push you over budget.
Price From $36,820
Maximum Towing Capacity: 12,560 lbs.
For these sub-$40,000 diesel trucks, fuel economy and high towing capacity are just another added benefit. If you’re interested in the diesel option on one of these trucks, the best thing to do is order it directly from the dealer.