To start out this really rubs me the wrong way:
A complete ego stroking, for the exact demographic that would read an article like this. Stop pretending that a majority of 1 ton buyers tow this much, and said another way, stop pretending that people who actually regularly tow 35k use a 1 ton truck. It's ridiculous. I mean you wouldn't want these fake cowboys to boycott this CAR magazine by telling them something they don't want to hear, right?Living in Los Angeles, we're used to seeing people who own and drive pickup trucks mostly because they want to, and that's fine. But for many, driving a truck isn't so much a matter of "want" but of "need." Although "want" does often play a part. When you have a boat or a camper or a toy hauler you need to pull—or even a small trailer you have to transport from time to time—owning a truck with towing capability is a must.
Also, the boat/camper/toy hauler is reasonable (to the extent that people have those - it is nowhere near the rate of actual trucks on the road that can tow them), but "a small trailer???" No, you can tow a small trailer with a 1/2 ton, a compact pickup like a Colorado and, yes, you can tow 5k or more with crossovers like a Toyota Highlander. You don't make that comment and then proceed to list tow ratings in the 35k range. It's just stupidity.
And to MY point about people don't use 1 ton trucks for these weights:
If you have an actual CDL and tow over 26k regularly, pretty sure you are going to be in a medium duty (4500/5500 type). The whole thing is bogus.Also be aware of your GCVWR if you're planning to tow extremely heavy loads with your heavy-duty truck. In the United States, a GCVWR above 26,000 pounds requires a commercial license. That means if your truck and trailer combined weigh more than 26,000 pounds, you can't legally drive it unless you have a Class A commercial driver's license.