Are you considering investing in a new tow vehicle to carry you to your trail adventures in safety, comfort, and style? Check out the 2009 Ford F150 King Ranch Edition and the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie. Below, you’ll find benefits of each, broken out by curb appeal, money-savers, and towing extras.

2009 Ford F150 King Ranch Edition
“This is the most significant tow vehicle in the half-ton class. Ford is leading the pack.”

Curb Appeal

Gorgeous brown paint

Full-grain leather seats

Bold chrome grill

6-speed automatic transmission

Money-Savers

8% better mpg than the 2008 F150

2 mpg improvement in fuel economy overall

Excellent price point for what you get

Towing Extras

All V8 Powertrain line-up ½-ton class at almost ¾-ton capacity, 11,300 pounds

Same trailer capacity for all three cab configurations, so it’s easy to match to your trailer

Electronic stability control

Integrated trailer brake controller

Automatic trailer sway control

Engine torque converter extended lockup

Increased lateral stiffness of the frame

8,200 pound GVWR

3,030 pound payload

Big towing mirrors

2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie
“If you have a Ram 1500 now, you’ll notice the improvements to the ’09 Ram. If you drive the other brands, this Dodge will impress you.”

Curb Appeal

Added storage room

Optional heated steering wheel

Ventilated front seats

Seat heaters in both rows

Automatic headlights

Automatic up and down on all front windows

Moon roof

Triple seal doors for quieter ride

5-speed automatic transmission (with the Hemi only) Built in the USA

Money-Savers

Up to 20 mpg on the highway

Optional axle ratios are 3.21 for fuel economy

Excellent price point for what you get

Towing Extras

Rear coil suspension

Electronic stability control

Backup camera

Bigger anti-sway bars that are hollow tubes on both front and back

ERS for forced grade shifting

Drive train improvements

Automatic-engaging 4 x 4

Kent Sundling (a.k.a Mr. Truck; www.mrtruck.com) is a well-known automotive journalist, reviewing trucks, trailers, and accessories for magazines and websites. He travels the country test-driving new trucks, towing trailers, and reviewing horse-trailer factories. His trail mount is a 12-year-old Paint Horse named Tonto.