Compare | Farmington, MO
Half ton trucks do every job around here. They pull the boat to Wappapello in July, haul feed in January and carry the kids to practice in between. Two of them come up in nearly every truck conversation we have.
Walk the lot at Sam Scism Ford on a Saturday and you'll hear it. Somebody's dad drove a Ford, somebody's brother swears by his Ram, and the truck they're shopping has to be good at a little bit of everything.
The Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500 are both strong answers. They split on a few things that matter around Farmington: the engines on the order sheet for 2026, how much help you get hooking up a trailer, how each one rides on a washboard county road, and what the bed and cab do for a family. This guide sticks to those differences. For the full spec sheet, our Ford F-150 comparison page lines the trucks up side by side.
Quick answer: The Ford F-150 gives you four mainstream engines, including a PowerBoost full hybrid, a towing rating of up to 13,500 pounds when properly equipped, and work tools like Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Pro Power Onboard. The Ram 1500 brings back the 5.7L HEMI V8 for 2026 and rides on coil springs, so it suits drivers who run empty most of the week and want a softer ride.
Ford F-150 max tow
Up to 13,500 lb, 3.5L EcoBoost, properly equipped
Ram 1500 for 2026
5.7L HEMI V8 with eTorque returns, 395 hp
Rear suspension
Ford: leaf springs; Ram: coil springs
In this post
How Do the 2026 Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 Engines Compare?
The 2026 Ford F-150 gives you four mainstream engines. The 2.7L EcoBoost V6 makes 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft. The 3.5L EcoBoost V6 is rated at up to 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft, and it's the one to pick for the heaviest towing. The 5.0L V8 makes 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft for folks who want a V8 under the hood. Then there's the 3.5L PowerBoost full hybrid, rated at up to 430 horsepower.
That hybrid is easier to get this year. Ford added it to the STX for 2026, so you no longer have to step up to an XLT or higher to put one in the driveway. If you idle at job sites or run a lot of stop and go miles through Park Hills and Desloge, it's worth a test drive.
The 2026 Ram 1500 made its own headline. Ram brought back the 5.7L HEMI V8 with its eTorque mild hybrid system, rated at 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft. It's offered across most of the lineup, from Tradesman and Express up through Limited and Longhorn, though not on Tungsten or RHO. Ram also keeps the 3.6L Pentastar V6 on mainstream trims and its 3.0L Hurricane twin turbo inline six, rated at 420 horsepower, or 540 in high output form.
Both trucks will do the daily work. The F-150 gives you more ways to build it, including the hybrid. The Ram makes sense if a V8 rumble and a big inline six are what you're after.

Which Truck Makes Towing Easier, the Ford F-150 or the Ram 1500?
Tow ratings swing a lot with cab, bed, axle and engine. The Ford F-150 is rated at up to 13,500 pounds with the 3.5L EcoBoost when properly equipped, and payload reaches 2,440 pounds on the right build. Compare the exact trucks you're looking at, not brochure maximums, because the window sticker number is the one that counts.
Where the F-150 pulls ahead is the stuff that makes towing easier when you're alone with the trailer:
- Pro Trailer Hitch Assist: available on XLT and up, it steers, accelerates and brakes to line the hitch ball up with a conventional trailer while you hold a button.
- Pro Power Onboard: comes with the PowerBoost hybrid at 2.0 kW, with a 7.2 kW version available, so you can run tools, a camper or lights off the truck.
- BlueCruise: available hands free highway driving on select trims for long stretches of divided highway.
The Ram 1500 handles a trailer well too, with an 8 speed automatic and available air suspension that levels the truck under a load. Pick whichever matches the trailer you own. A bass boat and a utility trailer don't ask the same thing of a truck as a 30 foot camper.
Farmington driver tip
Take the test drive with your own trailer if you can. Backing a boat down the ramp at Lake Wappapello or a stock trailer into a tight barn lot tells you more than any spec sheet, and Pro Trailer Hitch Assist earns its keep on a cold morning when nobody's around to guide you back.
Which Rides Better on Gravel and County Roads?
This is where the two trucks are built differently. The Ram 1500 uses a five link coil spring rear suspension, and empty, on a rough stretch of county road off MO 32, a coil spring truck usually feels softer. An available air suspension can level it when the bed is loaded.
The Ford F-150 sticks with leaf springs out back. Empty, it rides firmer than the Ram. Put a load of fencing supplies in the bed or a trailer on the hitch and it settles in, which is why so many people who work their trucks every day still prefer leaf springs.
Ask yourself how many days a week the bed is loaded. If it's most of them, the F-150's setup is built for that life. If the truck mostly carries you and a lunch box up US 67, the Ram's ride is a fair point in its favor.
Shop Ford F-150 InventorySee Side by Side Specs
Which Works Better as a Family Truck?
Both crew cabs carry four adults in comfort, so the deciding things are smaller. On the Ford F-150, the available Pro Access Tailgate swings open like a door, which puts the bed within easier reach when you're grabbing groceries or a car seat bag. You also get the hybrid option and BlueCruise for long highway runs to see family.
The Ram 1500 counters with the available RamBox storage built into the bed sides and a big available touchscreen inside. Its quieter, softer ride when empty is a real plus for a truck that spends weekdays as the family car.
The window sticker number is the one that counts.

How Do Warranty and Local Service Compare?
Ram made a big move on coverage. It extended its 10 year or 100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty to all 2026 Ram pickups, including the 1500. Fleet buyers don't qualify and it doesn't transfer to a second owner. Ford's factory powertrain coverage on the F-150 is 5 years or 60,000 miles.
Buying your truck here changes that picture. Every new Ford sold at Sam Scism Ford comes with Warranty Forever at no charge. It covers listed engine, transmission and drive axle parts for as long as you own the truck, regardless of miles, with no deductible, as long as you follow the customary maintenance in the agreement and keep records. It's a dealer plan, not a factory warranty, so ask us how it applies to you.
Service stays close to home. Ford trained technicians work on F-150s every day at 5019 Flat River Road, and you can book through the Ford app or by calling 573-430-1693. If the truck works for a business, our commercial team can set up upfits and fleet ordering.
So Which Half Ton Truck Fits Your Life?
Think about the trailer you pull, how often the bed is full, and who rides along on the weekend.
Fits you if
Ford F-150
- You tow often and want up to 13,500 pounds of rating on the right build
- You hitch up alone and want Pro Trailer Hitch Assist
- You'd use the PowerBoost hybrid or Pro Power Onboard for tools or camping
- The bed is loaded most days and you want leaf springs under it
Fits you if
Ram 1500
- You drive empty most of the week and want a softer coil spring ride
- You've waited for the 5.7L HEMI V8 to come back
- You like the RamBox bed storage idea
- A long factory powertrain warranty on a retail purchase matters most
Drive both if you're torn. Then come drive the Ford F-150 the way you'd really use it, trailer and all.
Warranty Forever
Every new Ford F-150 sold at Sam Scism Ford includes Warranty Forever at no charge. Listed engine, transmission and drive axle parts are covered for as long as you own the truck, regardless of miles, with no deductible. Keep up with the customary maintenance and records. See the dealer for details.
How it worksEngines and Power
Is the HEMI V8 back in the Ram 1500 for 2026?
Ram returned the 5.7L HEMI V8 with eTorque for the 2026 Ram 1500, rated at 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft. It's offered on most trims but not Tungsten or RHO.
Does the Ford F-150 still offer a V8?
The 2026 Ford F-150 offers a 5.0L V8 rated at 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft, alongside two EcoBoost V6 engines and the PowerBoost hybrid.
Which Ford F-150 trims offer the PowerBoost hybrid?
For 2026, Ford made the hybrid available on the STX as well as XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum. Our sales team can show you which hybrid trucks are in stock.
Towing and Hauling
How much can a Ford F-150 tow?
A properly equipped 2026 F-150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost is rated at up to 13,500 pounds. Ratings vary by cab, bed, axle and engine, so check the specific truck.
What is Pro Trailer Hitch Assist?
It's an available F-150 feature on XLT and higher trims that steers, accelerates and brakes the truck to line up the hitch ball with a conventional trailer while you hold a button.
Can a Ford F-150 power tools or a campsite?
Pro Power Onboard comes with the PowerBoost hybrid, and a 7.2 kW version is available for bigger loads like saws, compressors or a camper.
Ride and Comfort
Why does the Ram 1500 ride softer when empty?
Ram uses a five link coil spring rear suspension, which tends to absorb bumps better without a load than the leaf springs on the F-150.
Is a leaf spring truck better for hauling?
Plenty of owners who load their trucks daily prefer leaf springs for heavy, repeated loads. A coil or air setup can carry weight too, so the choice comes down to how you use the truck.
Does the Ford F-150 offer hands free driving?
BlueCruise hands free highway driving is available on select F-150 trims for use on qualified divided highways. A subscription applies after any included period.
Warranty and Service
Does Ram offer a longer powertrain warranty than Ford?
Ram's 10 year or 100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty covers 2026 pickups for non fleet buyers and doesn't transfer. Sam Scism Ford adds Warranty Forever powertrain coverage on every new Ford it sells.
Is Warranty Forever a factory warranty?
It's a dealer plan from Sam Scism Ford, separate from Ford's factory coverage. It applies as long as you own the vehicle and follow the maintenance schedule in the agreement.
Where can I get my Ford F-150 serviced near Farmington?
Our service center at 5019 Flat River Road is open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays, closed noon to 1:00 PM. Book through the Ford app or call 573-430-1693.
Buying and Trading
Where can I compare F-150 and Ram 1500 specs side by side?
Our Ford F-150 comparison page lines up the F-150 against the Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Toyota Tundra.
Can I trade in a Ram toward a Ford F-150?
We appraise trucks of any make or condition, including ones with a loan balance. Start online for an offer and finish the appraisal at the store.
Can I order an F-150 built the way I want?
A factory order lets you pick the cab, bed, engine and packages. Ford doesn't charge extra for ordering, and lead times vary.