We always say you should job rate your truck,” says Joe Veltri, director of Dodge Trucks, Chrysler. “Make sure you know exactly what you use the truck for, not just on average, but all of the time.”

Based on your application, there are several points to consider when choosing the best power train for your pickup. According to Dennis Slevin, F-150 vehicle engineering manager, Ford, they include:

• base cost of the power train (engine/transmission combination);
  
• duty cycle (light payloads or towing vs. heavier payloads or towing);
  
• operating environmental conditions (on-road vs. off-road or construction sites);
  
• and desired options (some options offered only on specific power train combinations).

Sizing up gas engine alternatives

Picking the right engine for your 1/2-ton pickup involves balancing capability against fuel economy and price, says Joel Fukumoto, Toyota Truck product manager. “The first priority should be capability. [There is no point] in choosing a lower-priced engine that saves on fuel, but can’t do what you need it to do,” he says.

It’s also vital to understand exactly how much your truck and its engine can tow.

“Even if you have a big trailer, choosing the biggest engine isn’t necessarily what you need to do,” says Carl Hillenbrand, Silverado product manager, General Motors. “The towing ratings vary by models, by engines and by 2WD and 4WD. On some models between the 5.3-liter and a 6-liter, you basically aren’t getting any extra if you don’t have an extra towing package on it. You have already basically maxed out the chassis and cooling.”

First, you need to determine what you actually tow. “Sometimes people guess what their trailer weighs,” says Hillenbrand. He advises taking it to a scale to weigh it. “From there, we have our towing charts. Try to figure out what combination fits best. [You] are probably better off with an engine that is as small as possible but can still get the job done well.”

Don’t assume small displacement engines are always more fuel-efficient than their larger counterparts. “For example, GM’s 5.3-liter V-8 engine actually gets better fuel economy than the company’s smaller V-6,” says Hillenbrand. This is because the 5.3-liter V-8 has more advanced technology. “It has active fuel management. It has a lot of enhancements, including six-speed transmissions that are rolling out this year.”