Truck Comparison | Bowie, TX
A plain look at the Toyota Tundra and the Ram 1500, built from each maker's own 2026 numbers, so you can see where they differ before you drive either.
Around Bowie, a half ton pickup does a lot of jobs. It tows the bass boat to Lake Amon G. Carter, hauls feed from the store in Nocona and carries the family to a ball game in Henrietta, all in the same week.
The Toyota Tundra and the Ram 1500 both fit that description. They also differ in ways that show up at the hitch, at the pump and in the driveway, so it helps to line them up before you shop.
One note up front. Kory Hooks sells Ram, not Toyota. Every Toyota Tundra number below comes from Toyota's own 2026 press materials, and every Ram 1500 number comes from Ram's.
Quick answer: Toyota lists a maximum tow rating of 12,000 pounds for the Toyota Tundra, and Ram lists 11,610 pounds for the Ram 1500, so the two are close. The bigger differences are engine choices, cab and bed combinations and warranty terms. Match the truck to the heaviest thing you pull and the way you drive, then ask Kory Hooks in Bowie to read the ratings off the exact Ram 1500.
At a glance
Toyota Tundra max tow
12,000 lbs, per Toyota
Ram 1500 max tow
11,610 lbs, per Ram
Sales line
940-233-9400
In this post
How do the Toyota Tundra and the Ram 1500 compare on paper?
Both are full size half ton crew cab pickups with a modern turbocharged engine and an automatic transmission. Both come in a range of trims, from a work truck to a loaded one.
Toyota's 2026 Toyota Tundra offers two engines, a twin turbo V6 and a hybrid version of that V6, each paired with a 10 speed automatic. The 2026 Ram 1500 offers four engines paired with eight speed automatics, from a V6 up to a twin turbo six cylinder rated at 540 horsepower.
Toyota lists a 12,000 pound maximum for the Toyota Tundra. Ram lists 11,610 pounds for the Ram 1500, and 2,360 pounds as its maximum payload. Toyota's press page for the Toyota Tundra didn't state a maximum payload, so that is one number to look up on the exact truck.
The numbers you can compare today are close. What separates the two trucks is how each one gets there, and how well that fits your week.
Which engine choices does each truck offer?
The Toyota Tundra has two choices. Its i FORCE twin turbo V6 makes 389 horsepower and 479 pound feet of torque. Its i FORCE MAX hybrid makes 437 horsepower and 583 pound feet, and Toyota says that hybrid system can drive on electric power and recover energy when you brake.
The Ram 1500 has four. The 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 with eTorque makes 305 horsepower and 269 pound feet. The 5.7 liter HEMI V8 with eTorque makes 395 horsepower and 410 pound feet. The 3.0 liter Hurricane twin turbo six cylinder comes in a Standard Output version at 420 horsepower and 469 pound feet, and a High Output version at 540 horsepower and 521 pound feet.
The number that matters is the one on the exact truck you plan to buy.
If you want a V8 sound and a familiar feel, the Ram 1500 is the only one of the two that still offers it. If you want a hybrid that Toyota rates at 437 horsepower, the Toyota Tundra offers that. Neither is a wrong answer, and a drive of each tells you more than a spec sheet.
The number that matters is the one on the exact truck you plan to buy. Towing and payload shift with engine, axle, cab and package on both sides.
What do the towing and payload numbers really tell me?
A maximum rating is the ceiling, not the typical figure. Ram reaches its 11,610 pound figure with the Hurricane Standard Output engine in a Quad Cab with a 6 foot 4 inch bed and rear wheel drive. Other Ram 1500 setups tow less, and the High Output Hurricane is rated at 10,000 pounds.
Payload works the same way. Ram's 2,360 pound maximum payload comes from the 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 in a Quad Cab, and the Hurricane High Output is rated at 1,490 pounds. A bed full of people and gear counts against payload before the trailer ever does.
Weigh your trailer loaded
Use a public scale once with a normal load, and write the number down.
Add the people and gear
Passengers, tools and the tongue weight of the trailer all count against payload.
Read the door label
Ask the team to read the ratings off the exact Ram 1500, and ask Toyota's dealer to do the same on a Toyota Tundra.
Leave room to spare
Pick a truck whose ratings clear your heaviest regular load by a comfortable margin.
Trailer pushes the truck: slow down, check the load and the hitch height, and have it looked at before the next trip.
Rear end sits low with the trailer on: check payload and tongue weight before you pull it again.
How do the cab, the bed and the daily drive differ?
The 2026 Ram 1500 comes as a Quad Cab with a 6 foot 4 inch bed, or a Crew Cab with a 5 foot 7 inch or 6 foot 4 inch bed, in rear wheel drive or four wheel drive. Ram's RamBox cargo system adds lockable storage built into the bed sides, and the bed has a divider and a tailgate with a center step.
Toyota lists its own cab and bed choices for the Toyota Tundra, and its page for the 2026 model mentions Double Cab and CrewMax. Check Toyota's site for the exact bed lengths, since that page didn't give them.
Inside, the Ram 1500 offers a 14.5 inch touchscreen, a 12.3 inch digital gauge cluster and available 24 way power front seats with massage. Every 2026 Toyota Tundra comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which includes pedestrian detection, radar cruise control and lane departure alert. Ram says its 1500 offers more than 100 standard and available safety and security features.
Bowie driver tip
Back a truck into the spot where you park at home and fold the seats, open the tailgate and try the bed with the gear you carry. A loaded week tells you more than a showroom lap.
What should I settle before I choose between them?
Start with the heaviest thing you pull most often, then add your daily drive and who rides along. That short list sorts most of the choice for you.
Warranty is the other thing to read side by side. Toyota lists a 36 month or 36,000 mile basic warranty and a 60 month or 60,000 mile powertrain warranty on the Toyota Tundra. Ram advertises a 10 year or 100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty on select 2026 trucks, and its terms are posted at Mopar.com. Confirm which trucks qualify and what the coverage includes.
If the loads you pull ever outgrow a half ton, Ram's heavy duty trucks are the next step up. The model showroom lists every Ram the store sells, and the Ram inventory shows what is on the lot today.
Why Kory Hooks
On US 287 in Bowie for about twenty years
The store has carried the Hooks name in Bowie for about twenty years. Call 940-233-9400 and ask for a Ram 1500 walkaround, or stop by 6486 US Highway 287 N Access Rd.
Hours and directionsComparing the Trucks
Does the Toyota Tundra tow more than the Ram 1500?
On the maximum numbers each maker lists, yes by a small margin: 12,000 pounds for the Toyota Tundra and 11,610 pounds for the Ram 1500. Real towing depends on the exact truck, so read the ratings off the one you plan to buy.
Does the Ram 1500 offer a V8?
Yes. The 2026 Ram 1500 offers the 5.7 liter HEMI V8 with eTorque. The Toyota Tundra does not offer a V8.
Does the Toyota Tundra offer a hybrid?
Yes. Toyota lists an i FORCE MAX hybrid for the Toyota Tundra at 437 horsepower and 583 pound feet of torque. The Ram 1500 uses eTorque hybrid systems on its V6 and V8 engines.
Towing and Payload
What is the Ram 1500 maximum payload?
Ram lists 2,360 pounds as the maximum for the 2026 Ram 1500, with the 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 in a Quad Cab. Other setups carry less, so check the door label.
What is the Toyota Tundra maximum payload?
Toyota's 2026 press page for the Toyota Tundra didn't state a maximum payload. Ask a Toyota dealer to read it off the exact truck.
Should I weigh my trailer before choosing a truck?
Yes. A loaded weight tells you the rating you need, and it's a better guide than the label on the trailer.
Features and Warranty
What safety features come on every Toyota Tundra?
Toyota lists Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 on every grade, including pedestrian detection, radar cruise control and lane departure alert with steering assist.
What warranty does the Ram 1500 have?
Ram advertises a 10 year or 100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty on select 2026 trucks. Confirm which trucks qualify and read the full terms at Mopar.com.
What warranty does the Toyota Tundra have?
Toyota lists 36 months or 36,000 miles basic coverage and 60 months or 60,000 miles powertrain coverage. Ask a Toyota dealer for the full terms.
Visiting the Dealership
Does Kory Hooks sell the Toyota Tundra?
No. The store sells Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram. For a Toyota Tundra, you would visit a Toyota dealer.
Can I drive a Ram 1500 and compare it with a Toyota Tundra?
Yes. Schedule a Ram 1500 test drive here, drive a Toyota Tundra at a Toyota dealer, and compare the two on the same day if you can.
When can I call the sales team?
Sales answers the phone Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 6 PM and Saturday from 8 AM to 5 PM at 940-233-9400.
Buying and Service
Can I trade in my current truck?
Yes. The site has a trade value page, and the final number depends on condition, mileage and the market.
Does the store sell pre owned trucks?
The store has a pre owned inventory page. The lot changes often, so call to confirm what's here before you drive over.
Who services a Ram 1500 in Bowie?
The service department at Kory Hooks lists brake repair, fluid checks, belts and hoses and transmission services, and its technicians are Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram trained.