2011 AutoPacific Individual Vehicle Awards: Heavy Duty Pickup

AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA) are based on 73,000 surveys completed by owners of new cars and light trucks in the United States in the first half of 2011.

Heavy Duty Pickups have a gross vehicle weight ratio over 8,500 lbs and are used primarily to tow and haul.  These are serious work machines and less suited for casual usage.  They all offer diesel or gasoline powertrains and have unmatched towing capability. 

This year's AutoPacific IVA Heavy Duty Pickup winner is the Ford F-Series Duper Duty.

Read on to see the entire list of category candidates and how they scored.

*NOTE: Results for 2010 Model Year Vehicles are Included in the 2011 Model Year Research Because of Availability. Scores Are Shown Where Sample Sizes Allow

#1 Heavy Duty Pickup: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty

Rank: #1

Score: 1233

Ford’s Super Duties are the top ranked Heavy Duty Pickups based on owner ratings in AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Research.  As class winner, Super Duty owners don’t want to change a lot.  About 30% want better lighting in the interior.  About 25% want larger wheels and tires, better interior storage and more infotainment technology.  Heavy Duty pickups are workhorses – about 20% of Super Duty owners want more power.  About 22% of Super Duty owners want a softer ride.  The 2011 Ford F-250 and its Super Duty relatives outpoints second place Chevrolet Silverado HD by a substantial margin. 

#2 Heavy Duty Pickup: 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD

Rank: #2

Score: 1194

As the perennial second-best selling truck on the market, the heavy-duty version of the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is available with an affordable gasoline engine or a power Duramax diesel. This latter engine is not only B20 biodiesel capable, but it also delivers a maximum towing capacity of 21,700 pounds.

#3 Heavy Duty Pickup: 2011 Dodge Ram HD

Rank: #3

Score: 1180

Redesigned for 2010, the Ram Heavy Duty pickup truck is available in the 2011 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 variants. Using the powerful Cummins diesel engine, the Ram HD provides class-leading towing and torque output. For a little added luxury, the Ram Heavy Duty can be optioned with the Laramie Longhorn Edition which includes, among other things, a unique leather interior.

#4 Heavy Duty Pickup: 2011 GMC Sierra HD

Rank: #4

Score: 1155