Articles
Towing, oil and wheel basics, explained with figures from the manufacturers' own documents.
5W-20 vs 5W-30Both oils meet the same SAE winter rating and differ once the engine is hot. Which one your truck takes is printed in the manual, and for some popular engines it changed from one model year to the next.Oct 2026
Fifth wheel vs gooseneckMost people will tell you they are interchangeable. Ford's towing guides disagree, often by thousands of pounds on the same truck.Oct 2026
GVWR, GCWR and towing capacity, explainedGVWR and GAWR are on the label in the door. GCWR and the trailer rating are in the manufacturer's manual or towing guide. Here is how all four limit one loaded truck and trailer.Oct 2026
How much can a half-ton truck tow?On paper, 12,000 to 13,500 lb for a 2026 truck. In practice, a lot less, and the reason is rarely the engine.Oct 2026
How to measure a bolt patternCounting the studs is the easy half. Measuring the circle they sit on is where people buy the wrong wheels, so here is the method we trust, and the shortcuts we don't.Oct 2026
Payload vs towing capacityTowing capacity is the number on the brochure. Payload is the one on the door, and on most trucks it runs out first.Oct 2026