2019 Ford F-150 vs Ram 1500

2018 is on its way out. And in 2019, the Ram comes out with an all-new 1500 pickup truck. But until then its competitors have to contend with the 2018 year model. In this comparison guide, we pit the best-selling 2018 Ford F-150 against the Ram 1500. In this episode of dueling full-size pickup trucks, we'll be looking at what buyers need in a pickup truck, along with a few of the perks they really crave. Which is the best pickup truck at the end of 2018? Find out in this article as we walk through what makes each of these trucks tick.

Towing and Hauling: 2018 Ford F-150

If there's a world where towing isn't important in a pickup truck, that's a world we don't want to live in. Because the class exists for its ability to do the real grunt work. Luckily, we live in this world. And the Ford F-150 continues to be the class leader in towing. Take the F-150's most powerful engine, pair it with the F-150's ten-speed automatic transmission, and you have a tremendous 13,200 pounds of towing capacity. The maximum payload is 3,300 pounds.

Unfortunately, towing is the Ram's weak spot. The 2018 Ram 1500 can tow up to 10,640 pounds, when properly equipped, and haul up to 1,880 pounds. That's kind of stingy for a pickup. The F-150 can tow 2,500 pounds more and haul more than 1,400 pounds more. In other words, if towing and hauling are at all important to you, the Ford F-150 is the obvious choice.

Price: 2018 Ram 1500

One place where the 2018 Ram 1500 shines is in price. The Ram 1500 has the distinction of being the most inexpensive full-size pickup truck on the market. Starting at $27,000, the Ram 1500 Tradesman comes with the 305-horsepower V6 engine, eight-speed automatic transmission, USB port, six-speaker audio system, and rearview camera.

On the other hand, the Ford F-150 is a very close second. The F-150's lowest trim, the F-150 XL, starts at just $27,700. That comes with a 290-horsepower V6 engine, six-speed automatic transmission, and rearview camera with Dynamic Hitch Assist. The Ram 1500 wins this round, but only in the lower trims. As we progress through the trims, the Ford F-150 represents a better value.

Fuel Economy: 2018 Ford F-150

The 2018 Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500 have the same highway miles per gallon: 25 mpg. But the city miles are different, giving the Ford F-150 the win in this category. That's because the F150 gets 20 city miles per gallon, while the Ram 1500 gets a mere 17 city miles per gallon. So if in your neck of the woods stop signs and traffic lights are rare, it doesn't really matter which truck you get when it comes to fuel economy. But if the urban jungle or suburbia is your home, the Ford F-150 is a smarter purchase.

With better fuel economy, better hauling and towing, and more (like more passenger space and better infotainment system) mean anything to you, the Ford F-150 is worth spending just a smidgen more.