Staunton Ram - Which Heavy-Duty Truck Is Easier To Tow With for Highland, IL Shoppers — the 2026 Ram 2500 or the 2026 Ford Super Duty F-250?
What most Highland, IL drivers really mean by “easier to tow”
When shoppers ask which heavy-duty truck is easier to tow with, they are usually looking for three things: predictable control in tight spaces, clear real-time visibility around the trailer, and a setup that keeps stress low on long hauls. Both the 2026 Ram 2500 and the 2026 Ford Super Duty F-250 bring big numbers and robust frames, but numbers only tell part of the story. What matters most on a muddy jobsite, a busy boat ramp, or a narrow campground loop is how the truck helps you maneuver, monitor, and manage the trailer without guesswork.
Here is how we evaluate “towing ease” in a way that reflects the real questions Highland drivers bring to our showroom: Is the steering intuitive when backing up with a trailer? Can you actually see around and behind the trailer without hopping in and out of the cab? Does the truck keep a level, stable stance with changing tongue weights and cargo? And how much range and onboard power do you have when the work takes you off the grid for a full day?
Backing up with confidence: steering support that works
Ram’s available Trailer Reverse Steering Control puts a dedicated knob on the console to direct the trailer’s path while the truck modulates its own steering. The benefit is straightforward: you set the arc, the truck helps you hold it. Ford counters with Pro Trailer Backup Assist™, also designed to simplify backing. In our hands-on demos, both systems lower the learning curve for newer towers, but Ram pairs the steering assist with a five-link coil-spring rear suspension and an available Auto-Level Rear Air Suspension on 2500 that help maintain a calmer, more consistent stance as weight shifts. That steadiness translates into small but meaningful advantages—less sawing at the wheel, fewer mid-maneuver corrections, and a smoother approach to tight docks or angled driveways.
One more point for consistency-seekers: the Ram’s Automatic Smart Exhaust Brake, when equipped with the diesel, adds extra control on downhill back-ins, shedding speed without working the service brakes as hard. It is not just about stopping power; it is about modulation for a smoother, less jerky trailer response.
Seeing what matters: camera coverage and trailer awareness
The 2026 Ram 2500 leans into camera tech that prioritizes trailer context. The available 360° Surround View Camera and 360° Trailer Surround View Camera provide a bird’s-eye perspective of truck and trailer together, enhancing spatial awareness in crowded yards or trailhead parking. An available Digital Rearview Mirror with side camera integration streams live video from behind the truck; paired with available exterior mirror cameras and a wired Tow Mode Camera, you can monitor left, right, and rear angles even when a tall trailer blocks the glass mirror.
Ford’s F-250 offers strong camera coverage and helpful guides as well. Where Ram often gains an edge in day-to-day use is how those views integrate with Trailer Tow Pages and the 12-inch Digital Cluster Display, keeping relevant information in your line of sight. Fewer screen swaps, more clarity during the task at hand.
Staying level: suspension tuning and load adaptability
Stability is comfort—and control. The Ram 2500’s standard five-link coil-spring rear suspension delivers a more settled ride than traditional leaf springs during unloaded driving and over broken surfaces. Add the Class-Exclusive available Auto-Level Rear Air Suspension, and the truck automatically adapts to payload and tongue weight to help maintain a level stance. That consistency aids steering response and braking, especially when winding through uneven farm lanes or cresting hills on county roads. While the F-250 is formidable and configurable, it does not offer an equivalent auto-level rear air suspension on 250/three-quarter-ton configurations.
On longer tows, Ram’s available Largest-in-Class 50-gallon fuel tank on certain Crew Cab, 8-foot bed models reduces stops, and Best-in-Class available Onboard Power up to 2.4 kW turns the bed outlets into a mobile power source for tools or campsite gear. Ford’s Pro Power Onboard™ offers up to 2 kW on F-250—useful, but short of the Ram’s headline figure when you need to run multiple devices or heavier tools at once.
Beyond the backing and leveling, the small systems make a big difference. Ram’s available Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring can read out pressures for up to four trailers, while Trailer Light Check and Trailer Tow Pages make pre-trip routines fast and visual. The available 360° Trailer Surround View Camera reduces the “blind commit” moments that cause most parking-lot anxiety. The upshot for Highland, IL shoppers: both trucks tow hard, but the Ram packages more trailer-focused visibility and load-adaptability features in a way that smooths the learning curve and supports confident repetition.
If you are cross-shopping both, plan a test loop that mimics how you actually tow—narrow streets, angled back-ins, a quick lane change at speed—and pay attention to how often you second-guess your inputs. The easier truck is the one that quietly helps you make fewer corrections. In our experience, the Ram’s steering assist, camera integration, and suspension tuning combine to make those corrections rarer.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Which configuration should I test drive if I tow both bumper-pull and fifth-wheel?
Try a diesel Crew Cab with the available Tow Tech Package and the available Fifth-Wheel/Gooseneck Prep Package. On Ram, that setup pairs Trailer Reverse Steering Control, 360° Trailer Surround View Camera, and Trailer TPMS with the hardware you need for either hitch style. If you are considering Ford, match hardware and tech packages as closely as possible for an apples-to-apples feel.
Does the Ram’s larger infotainment screen actually help with towing?
Yes. The Largest-in-Class available 14.5-inch Uconnect® 5 NAV screen gives camera feeds, Trailer Tow Pages, and navigation more real estate. The result is fewer menu changes and clearer overlays when you are aligning a hitch or watching a blind corner. It is a quality-of-life benefit you notice quickly.
How important is an exhaust brake for frequent towing in hilly areas?
Very. An exhaust brake supplements wheel brakes on long descents, improving control and reducing fade. The Ram’s available Automatic Smart Exhaust Brake is particularly helpful when roads tighten or when you need to shed speed smoothly without unsettling the trailer.
What about daily comfort when the trailer is not attached?
Ram’s five-link coil-spring rear suspension shines in unloaded driving, taking the edge off potholes and expansion joints. With the available Auto-Level Rear Air Suspension, the truck also feels composed as you transition from empty to loaded, which many owners do multiple times per week.
If your goal is a heavy-duty truck that makes towing feel instinctive, the Ram stacks small, smart advantages in steering, stability, and visibility. Visit Staunton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, serving Litchfield, Highland, and Hillsboro, to explore towing tech hands-on and map out a configuration plan that fits your trailers, routes, and gear.