How Far Can You Drive? We Analyze Half-Ton Fuel-Tank Range
As truckmakers race to discover new technology to improve fuel economy ratings for half-ton pickup trucks, the one piece of equipment that could help you drive past more fuel stations more often is your pickup's fuel tank. Today, almost every one of the half-ton manufacturers offer an optional larger factory fuel tank; however, just two (Ford and Ram) make that option available across the majority of their lineup. We should note that the GM models (Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra half-tons) only offer the larger fuel tank option on their regular cab model, so there is no way to order the premium V-8 engine with the larger 34 gallon tank.
The 2016 Toyota Tundra is the most recent pickup to offer the larger-tank option (not available in regular cab or base trim), but when the new Nissan Titan comes to market at the end of this year, the entire segment will offer a vehicle capable of driving hundreds of miles farther than the average car.
We've taken each of the half-ton pickups and their strongest V-6 and V-8 engines to see how far their EPA fuel economy numbers can carry them. All ranges were calculated using combined EPA fuel economy numbers.
Largest Optional Fuel Tank
1. 2015 Ford F-150, 2.7L V-6 EcoBoost, 19/22/26 mpg city/combined/highway
22 mpg combined times 36-gallon (optional) tank = 792-mile range
2. 2015 Ram 1500, 3.0L V-6 EcoDiesel, 20/23/28 mpg
23 mpg combined times 32-gallon (optional) tank = 736-mile range
3. 2015 Ford F-150, 3.5L V-6 EcoBoost, 17/20/24 mpg
20 mpg combined times 36-gallon (optional) tank = 720-mile range
4. 2015 Ford F-150, 5.0L V-8 Coyote, 15/18/22 mpg
18 mpg combined times 36-gallon (optional) tank = 648-mile range
5. 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 5.3L V-8, 16/19/23 mpg
19 mpg combined times 34-gallon (optional) tank = 646-mile range
6. 2015 GMC Sierra 1500, 5.3L V-8, 16/19/23 mpg
19 mpg combined times 34-gallon (optional) tank = 646-mile range
7. 2016 Toyota Tundra, 4.6L V-8, 15/16/19 mpg
16 mpg combine times 38-gallon (optional) tank = 608-mile range
8. 2016 Toyota Tundra, 5.7L V-8, 13/15/18 mpg
15 mpg combined times 38-gallon (optional) tank = 570-mile range
9. 2015 Ram 1500, 5.7L V-8 Hemi, 14/16/20 mpg
16 mpg combined times 32-gallon (optional) tank = 512-mile range
Standard Fuel Tank
1. 2015 Ram 1500, 3.0L V-6 EcoDiesel, 20/23/29 mpg city/combined/highway
23 mpg combined times 26-gallon tank = 598-mile range
2. 2015 Ford F-150, 2.7L V-6 EcoBoost, 19/22/26 mpg
22 mpg combined times 23-gallon tank = 506-mile range
3. 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 5.3L V-8, 16/19/23 mpg
19 mpg combined times 26-gallon tank = 494-mile range
4. 2015 GMC Sierra 1500, 5.3L V-8, 16/19/23 mpg
19 mpg combined times 26-gallon tank = 494-mile range
5. 2015 Ford F-150, 3.5L V-6 EcoBoost, 17/20/24 mpg
20 mpg combined times 23-gallon tank = 460-mile range
6. 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 6.2L V-8, 15/17/21 mpg
17 mpg combined times 26-gallon tank = 442-mile range
7. 2015 GMC Sierra 1500, 6.2L V-8, 15/17/21 mpg
17 mpg combined times 26-gallon tank = 442-mile range
8. 2015 Nissan Titan, 5.6L V-8, 13/15/18 mpg
15 mpg combined times 28-gallon tank = 420-mile range
9. 2015 Ram 1500, 5.7L V-8 Hemi, 14/16/20 mpg
16 mpg combined times 26-gallon tank = 416-mile range
10. 2016 Toyota Tundra, 4.6L V-8, 15/16/19 mpg
16 mpg combined times 26-gallon tank = 416-mile range
11. 2015 Ford F-150, 5.0L V-8 Coyote, 15/18/22 mpg
18 mpg combined times 23-gallon tank = 414-mile range
12. 2016 Toyota Tundra, 5.7L V-8, 13/15/18 mpg
15 mpg combined times 26-gallon tank = 390-mile range
Manufacturer images
