Heavy-duty pickup trucks feature higher payload capacities and higher towing rates than their “lightweight” counterparts. You might think a light duty is the way to go if you want a less expensive full-size Ram truck. If so, you’d be surprised that some heavy-duty truck MSRPs are barely higher than light-duty MSRPs. Furthermore, when you upgrade the half-ton with features like the V8 engine, that price difference becomes even less.
How much does a heavy duty pickup truck cost?
The difference between the MSRP of a 3/4-ton truck and its 1/2-ton counterpart depends on the manufacturer. The A starts at about $10,000 more than the F-150. But the GMC Sierra 2500 is only $5,100 more than $1,500.
It announces an MSRP of $37,410 for the 2023 1500 half-ton, while the 2023 Ram 2500 starts at just $44,675. Is Ram wrong with light and heavy MSRPs? No, the catch is that Ram only builds the fifth-generation 1500 with a four-door cab. The Ram 2500 Heavy Duty has such a low MSRP because that price is for a two-door regular cab. The Crew Cab and 6’4 box configuration brings the 2023 Ram 2500’s MSRP to $47,825.
On the other hand, the Ford F-150 still has a two-door regular cab, which makes it cheaper than the current generation of half-ton trucks. This may be the reason why the F-250 costs so much more. The price differences between each 1/2 ton and the corresponding 3/4 ton are divided according to the manufacturer in the table below:
| the creator | 1/2 ton MSRP | 3/4 ton MSRP | difference |
| stronghold | $34,585 | $43,970 | $9,385 |
| ram | $37,410 | $44,675 | $7,265 |
| Chevrolet | $36,300 | $41,500 | $5,200 |
| GMC | $37,100 | $42,200 | $5,100 |
The cheapest way to a half-ton option might be to buy a heavy one instead
The entry-level Ram 1500 comes with a naturally aspirated V6 engine. The upgraded Ram 1500 with a V8 engine and towing package costs nearly as much as a heavy-duty Ram 2500—which comes with a V8 engine anyway and a trailer hitch anyway. In fact, the top-of-the-range Ram 1500 is the base engine, while the base Ram 2500 is a 6.4-liter HEMI, giving it more towing capacity than even the most expensive 1500.
Even if you upgrade to a crew cab (the Ram 2500 doesn’t even come with a smaller four-door Quad cab), those prices remain pretty close. If you’re planning to upgrade to a V8 anyway, you might want to consider a 3/4-ton truck. In the following table, you can compare half-ton Ram 1500s and 3/4-ton Ram 2500s:
| Ram 1500 | Ram 2500 | |
| MSRP base | $37,410 | $44,675 |
| net price | $39,305 | $46,570 |
| V8 price | $42,300 | $46,570 |
| Drag package/V8 price | $43,595 | $46,570 |
| 4WD/Tow Package/V8 | $46,690 | $49,500 |
| Crew Cab / 4WD / Towing Package / V8 | $49,690 | $53,315 |
Is a 3/4-ton pickup truck smarter than buying a half-ton?
The best option for a pickup truck really depends on what you’ll be using it for. While some 3/4-ton pickups have attractively low MSRPs, they can have poor fuel economy and much higher maintenance costs than half-ton trucks.
Plus, modern half-ton trucks are engineered to hit the sweet spot between everyday capacity and comfort. Many drivers who commute in their trucks prefer the half-ton for this reason.
Then, see everything you get when you get it, or watch a buying guide for all 2023 heavy-duty pickup trucks in the video below:
