Forum Discussion

plasticmaster's avatar
Aug 14, 2022

How to find tow rating of an F150?

I'm shopping for a used F150. Can someone please explain the easiest method of finding the actual tow rating for an individual truck? I know I can find the axle ratio and payload capacity on the door jamb sticker. That's as far as I've gotten. Thanks.
  • Lwiddis wrote:
    I wouldn’t buy a used truck without the manufacturer’s original door sticker on the jam. It was removed for a reason IMO…to fool you!


    Tow rating isn't on the door sticker.
  • Sport45 wrote:
    Who said anything about the ratings sticker being removed?


    Lol, right?

    OP, another round of bantering has began….like every thread here….
    Look up the basic configuration in the Towing guide and that will be real close to every truck with the same or similar configuration.
  • Who said anything about the ratings sticker being removed?
  • I wouldn’t buy a used truck without the manufacturer’s original door sticker on the jam. It was removed for a reason IMO…to fool you!
  • Think more about the weight your truck will carry than the weight you can pull - you up to 150 pounds and full fuel tanks excepted. Every one and everything else. Mitch offered one from Ford. Here’s my Chevrolet’s…

  • IMO, the 'tow rating' does not mean a whole bunch... Take my rig for example..

    The towing guide says #11,300 for my trucks specs.

    I'm towing a #7000 GVWR TT that's loaded up to the gills (on purpose) and I load the heck out of the bed of the truck too (on purpose)..

    The truck tows it well, and that's what I was going for.. I don't want to tow something at it's max.. The towing experience would be terrible (for me anyway) and that's not why I 'camp' in the first place..

    Anyway, pay attention to the trucks GVWR and it's payload.. The higher the numbers, the better.




    You have to 'decode' the axle code, but in my case, that's 3.73..

    I know I'm maxed out on my trucks GVWR and payload when I'm all loaded up.. But, that's fine as it's still a comfortable tow. I'm just no where near that magical 'tow rating'..

    So, choose 'wisely' for both the Mule and the Cart when that time comes. :)

    Good luck! Mitch
  • It really doesn’t matter; in the vast majority of cases, you’ll bump up against the payload number long before you get to the tow rating.
  • Go to the Ford website and download the specific year’s Towing Guide.
    You’ll need the wheelbase, body style, engine, 4x4/4x2, axle ratio, type of tow package to cross reference factory capacities.
    Look at the Load Capacity sticker on the door frame. That usually limits you more than the factory “pullable/stoppable” rating.
    Tow mirrors and factory integrated trailer brake controller were usually stand-alone options.