Max Tow F150s
How can I identify a Max Tow F150 by decoding the VIN? I'll be replacing my 2012 F150 with a newer one in the next 6 months or so. I'd like the heavier duty package when I do. But how does Ford identify it? Thanks.
Forum Discussion
116 Replies
Huntindog wrote:
Maury82 wrote:
Have you ever heard of Duty Cycle or Half life? (I do not recall the exact names/terms)Fordlover wrote:
FishOnOne wrote:
bid_time wrote:
That's were you're wrong. Most everyone here uses their truck 85% of the time going back and forth to work, 15% of the time towing a traier. Good news though, there are forums for elitist, smart ass know it alls.
Well said...
And if a F150 Max Tow was in my future I would simply order it. No big deal.
Agreed.. But I wasn't willing to make a 55K dollar gamble on the chance that a HD F-150 would be sufficient to tow my camper. Because of course there weren't any HD F-150's I could rent to test tow, nor even a truck on the lot in all of the Houston area to test drive. This needle in the haystack effect was a contributing factor to going with the F-250. I was able to test drive a truck that the suspension and drive train was identical to what I ended up ordering.
It's worth repeating... 3/4 and 1 tons aren't for everyone. I towed with a Ford Explorer for 10 years before I upgraded, and it's not even as stout as a modern half ton, but towed circles around my previous mid 90's F-150. Not everyone tows the same distances, in the same circumstances, with the same regularity.
While visiting dealers, one thing I discovered about the HDPP trucks, they don't order them because few people know enough about them to ask about them. A lot of the sales personnel are clueless, and they using the term Max Towith as if it is the HDPP.
I wasn't looking for one on the lots, but I was looking for the best deal when ordering.
I got a $53,000 truck for $45,000 plus Tax/Title, and the dealer didn't resist my offer, because that was profit that wasn't coming until I brought it to them, as opposed to the truck already sitting on the lot.
As for gambling on the HDPP being able to tow my trailer, the specs said I could, and reading about HDPP equipped trucks towing in the F150 forum, I was convinced it would tow.
The only persons proclaiming it can't were guys with big trucks who either towed with some over burden, antiquated and old 1/2 ton, or guys who if faced with heavy towing, would never tow heavy with a 1/2 ton, and go straight to a 3/4 ton or larger, but proclaim it can't because they wouldn't.
I'm not spending my dollars based on that.
If the specs says I can, and people who are towing heavy with HDPP 1/2 tons are doing it, I'm rolling the dice on that.
I've rented the gas 2/3 tons, and I know without a doubt I don't like those. It towed on flat land well, but I wouldn't want anything to do with it when not towing.
They are ratings on durability. All of the manufacturers have such ratings. They don't push this out to the public, as it won't sell trucks or service, but with some digging, it can be found.
They would be of interest to those that plan to keep their trucks after the warranty is over.
With the price of these trucks.... I would want to know what those figures are.
As for ordering a vehicle. I have always ordered mine. It is not always a smooth process.
First the dealer Must have an allocation available for the vehicle you want.
Then the wait begins. Many problems can delay it's arrival. I have waited over 6 months for one to show up.... And then it wasn't exactly as I had ordered it. I came very close to walking away from that deal. The dealer made some more concessions to convince me to take the truck. To this day, I have some remorse on that deal.
Now the last two I ordered went smooth... Just know about the potential for problems.
What will you do it your max tow / max payload arrives in 6 months without the max payload? What if you need the truck at that time?
Every mechanical and electrical item will have some sort of life/duty cycle, and even living organs and body parts will wear and degrade over time, and I can prove that...lol
I don't get the point for that one.
Well, I picked it up yesterday, and it was delayed by two weeks due to the shutdown, but I was able to verify via their website that my truck was spec as I ordered it. There was plenty of time to check the ordet, and even make adjustments before it reached the assembly line.
As for needing a truck in an emergency, I can't think of any emergency reason's for a truck to tow a trailer, but Enterprise will rent me a gas HD truck, or a diesel HD for 75 bucks/200 miles per day...Dodge/Ford gas or diesel same price.
I always picked the gas over the diesel.Maury82 wrote:
Have you ever heard of Duty Cycle or Half life? (I do not recall the exact names/terms)Fordlover wrote:
FishOnOne wrote:
bid_time wrote:
That's were you're wrong. Most everyone here uses their truck 85% of the time going back and forth to work, 15% of the time towing a traier. Good news though, there are forums for elitist, smart ass know it alls.
Well said...
And if a F150 Max Tow was in my future I would simply order it. No big deal.
Agreed.. But I wasn't willing to make a 55K dollar gamble on the chance that a HD F-150 would be sufficient to tow my camper. Because of course there weren't any HD F-150's I could rent to test tow, nor even a truck on the lot in all of the Houston area to test drive. This needle in the haystack effect was a contributing factor to going with the F-250. I was able to test drive a truck that the suspension and drive train was identical to what I ended up ordering.
It's worth repeating... 3/4 and 1 tons aren't for everyone. I towed with a Ford Explorer for 10 years before I upgraded, and it's not even as stout as a modern half ton, but towed circles around my previous mid 90's F-150. Not everyone tows the same distances, in the same circumstances, with the same regularity.
While visiting dealers, one thing I discovered about the HDPP trucks, they don't order them because few people know enough about them to ask about them. A lot of the sales personnel are clueless, and they using the term Max Towith as if it is the HDPP.
I wasn't looking for one on the lots, but I was looking for the best deal when ordering.
I got a $53,000 truck for $45,000 plus Tax/Title, and the dealer didn't resist my offer, because that was profit that wasn't coming until I brought it to them, as opposed to the truck already sitting on the lot.
As for gambling on the HDPP being able to tow my trailer, the specs said I could, and reading about HDPP equipped trucks towing in the F150 forum, I was convinced it would tow.
The only persons proclaiming it can't were guys with big trucks who either towed with some over burden, antiquated and old 1/2 ton, or guys who if faced with heavy towing, would never tow heavy with a 1/2 ton, and go straight to a 3/4 ton or larger, but proclaim it can't because they wouldn't.
I'm not spending my dollars based on that.
If the specs says I can, and people who are towing heavy with HDPP 1/2 tons are doing it, I'm rolling the dice on that.
I've rented the gas 2/3 tons, and I know without a doubt I don't like those. It towed on flat land well, but I wouldn't want anything to do with it when not towing.
They are ratings on durability. All of the manufacturers have such ratings. They don't push this out to the public, as it won't sell trucks or service, but with some digging, it can be found.
They would be of interest to those that plan to keep their trucks after the warranty is over.
With the price of these trucks.... I would want to know what those figures are.
As for ordering a vehicle. I have always ordered mine. It is not always a smooth process.
First the dealer Must have an allocation available for the vehicle you want.
Then the wait begins. Many problems can delay it's arrival. I have waited over 6 months for one to show up.... And then it wasn't exactly as I had ordered it. I came very close to walking away from that deal. The dealer made some more concessions to convince me to take the truck. To this day, I have some remorse on that deal.
Now the last two I ordered went smooth... Just know about the potential for problems.
What will you do it your max tow / max payload arrives in 6 months without the max payload? What if you need the truck at that time?Maury82 wrote:
Fordlover wrote:
FishOnOne wrote:
bid_time wrote:
That's were you're wrong. Most everyone here uses their truck 85% of the time going back and forth to work, 15% of the time towing a traier. Good news though, there are forums for elitist, smart ass know it alls.
Well said...
And if a F150 Max Tow was in my future I would simply order it. No big deal.
Agreed.. But I wasn't willing to make a 55K dollar gamble on the chance that a HD F-150 would be sufficient to tow my camper. Because of course there weren't any HD F-150's I could rent to test tow, nor even a truck on the lot in all of the Houston area to test drive. This needle in the haystack effect was a contributing factor to going with the F-250. I was able to test drive a truck that the suspension and drive train was identical to what I ended up ordering.
It's worth repeating... 3/4 and 1 tons aren't for everyone. I towed with a Ford Explorer for 10 years before I upgraded, and it's not even as stout as a modern half ton, but towed circles around my previous mid 90's F-150. Not everyone tows the same distances, in the same circumstances, with the same regularity.
While visiting dealers, one thing I discovered about the HDPP trucks, they don't order them because few people know enough about them to ask about them. A lot of the sales personnel are clueless, and they using the term Max Tow as if it was the HDPP.
I wasn't looking for one on the lots, but I was looking for the best deal when ordering.
I got a $53,000 truck for $45,000 plus Tax/Title, and the dealer didn't resist my offer, because that was profit that wasn't coming until I brought it to them, as opposed to the truck already sitting on the lot. There weren't any price gouging for a product few even want, that is for high demand items.
As for gambling on the HDPP being able to tow my trailer, the specs said I could, and reading about HDPP equipped trucks towing in the F150 forum, I was convinced it would tow it.
The only persons proclaiming it can't were guys with big trucks who either towed with some over burden, antiquated and old 1/2 ton, or guys who if faced with heavy towing, would never tow heavy with a 1/2 ton, and go straight to a 3/4 ton or larger, but proclaim it can't because they wouldn't.
I'm not spending my dollars based on that.
If the specs says I can, and people who are towing heavy with HDPP 1/2 tons are doing it, I'm rolling the dice on that.
I've rented the gas 2/3 tons, and I know without a doubt I don't like those. It towed on flat land well, but I wouldn't want anything to do with it when not towing.Fordlover wrote:
FishOnOne wrote:
bid_time wrote:
That's were you're wrong. Most everyone here uses their truck 85% of the time going back and forth to work, 15% of the time towing a traier. Good news though, there are forums for elitist, smart ass know it alls.
Well said...
And if a F150 Max Tow was in my future I would simply order it. No big deal.
Agreed.. But I wasn't willing to make a 55K dollar gamble on the chance that a HD F-150 would be sufficient to tow my camper. Because of course there weren't any HD F-150's I could rent to test tow, nor even a truck on the lot in all of the Houston area to test drive. This needle in the haystack effect was a contributing factor to going with the F-250. I was able to test drive a truck that the suspension and drive train was identical to what I ended up ordering.
It's worth repeating... 3/4 and 1 tons aren't for everyone. I towed with a Ford Explorer for 10 years before I upgraded, and it's not even as stout as a modern half ton, but towed circles around my previous mid 90's F-150. Not everyone tows the same distances, in the same circumstances, with the same regularity.
While visiting dealers, one thing I discovered about the HDPP trucks, they don't order them because few people know enough about them to ask about them. A lot of the sales personnel are clueless, and they using the term Max Towith as if it is the HDPP.
I wasn't looking for one on the lots, but I was looking for the best deal when ordering.
I got a $53,000 truck for $45,000 plus Tax/Title, and the dealer didn't resist my offer, because that was profit that wasn't coming until I brought it to them, as opposed to the truck already sitting on the lot.
As for gambling on the HDPP being able to tow my trailer, the specs said I could, and reading about HDPP equipped trucks towing in the F150 forum, I was convinced it would tow.
The only persons proclaiming it can't were guys with big trucks who either towed with some over burden, antiquated and old 1/2 ton, or guys who if faced with heavy towing, would never tow heavy with a 1/2 ton, and go straight to a 3/4 ton or larger, but proclaim it can't because they wouldn't.
I'm not spending my dollars based on that.
If the specs says I can, and people who are towing heavy with HDPP 1/2 tons are doing it, I'm rolling the dice on that.
I've rented the gas 2/3 tons, and I know without a doubt I don't like those. It towed on flat land well, but I wouldn't want anything to do with it when not towing.FishOnOne wrote:
bid_time wrote:
That's were you're wrong. Most everyone here uses their truck 85% of the time going back and forth to work, 15% of the time towing a traier. Good news though, there are forums for elitist, smart ass know it alls.
Well said...
And if a F150 Max Tow was in my future I would simply order it. No big deal.
Agreed.. But I wasn't willing to make a 55K dollar gamble on the chance that a HD F-150 would be sufficient to tow my camper. Because of course there weren't any HD F-150's I could rent to test tow, nor even a truck on the lot in all of the Houston area to test drive. This needle in the haystack effect was a contributing factor to going with the F-250. I was able to test drive a truck that the suspension and drive train was identical to what I ended up ordering.
It's worth repeating... 3/4 and 1 tons aren't for everyone. I towed with a Ford Explorer for 10 years before I upgraded, and it's not even as stout as a modern half ton, but towed circles around my previous mid 90's F-150. Not everyone tows the same distances, in the same circumstances, with the same regularity.- “So in other words "I got no answer so I dazzle you with my bull sheet".
Simple question - why is a F150 not capable of towing wihin its ratings?”
Simple answer provided by the manufacturer below. If you can find a TT that will tow well under the specific conditions then yes it can. Good luck.
“Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight
(as shown in the Trailer Towing Selector charts pages 18–32) is the highest possible weight of a fully loaded trailer the vehicle can tow, based on a minimum towing vehicle GVW. It assumes a towing vehicle with any mandatory options, no cargo, tongue load of 10% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15% (5th-wheel trailer), and driver and passenger (150 lbs.). F-Series Super Duty® Chassis Cab models also assume a second-unit body weight based on 80 lbs. per foot cab-to-axle (CA). Weight of additional options, passengers, cargo and hitch must be deducted from this weight” Maury82 wrote:
CWSWine wrote:
Still the first rating you probably hit with a Heavy Payload F150 is the hitch rating. My neighbors 2014 Heavy Payload hitch of 1140 if I remember right. Maybe someone would post a picture of the sticker on the hitch of Heavy Payload. When I towed TTS I liked my tongue weight at or over 13% so that will keep the TT less than 9000 pounds(9000 X 13% = 1170). Ford got the 11,000 plus rating using 10% tongue which I wouldn’t want tow with that low percentage. That rating is before you hook up the W/D. My 2015 Ford 1 ton had a 1250 pound hitch rating my 2016 GMC had 3 inch receiver rated like 1800 pounds.
Well, I just got back from the dealer with my 2018 3.5 EB, S.Crew, XLT HDPP with the 6.5 bed, and the hitch is rated at 13,200lbs and 1,320lbs tongue with WDH.
My payload according to the yellow sticker is 2,470lbs. GVWR is 7,850lbs, RAWR 4800lbs, truck weight is 5,380lbs
Now, my trailer is well below all ratings and capacity of this truck, this is one of those things you can't tell me that this truck isn't capable of towing my trailer just because it's a "half ton", but I have to see it to believe it.
They made some advancements since 2014 If you are like me and prefer a hitch of 13% or more you should be able to get close to 10,000 pound TT before exceeding the hitch rating. That leaves close to 1100 pounds of people and cargo.- Maury....it is a bell curve...as are most all things
Like the general comment that all half ton’s can’t tow heavy...is at one end of this bell curve...to your comment...is at the opposite of the same bell curve...and...many, many, many other Half ton’s between these ends of the bell curve
Too many take either end as an absolute that applies to all of the one in between
Last time someone posting the numbers of Ford half tons was, IIRC, 14 models.
Why always say to compare or reference their GVWR’s and RGAWR’s. Proof is in this and most all half ton discussions...which one are they talking and/referencing?
Another example is a PM thread with a guy who took the advice of a forum member. No one knew that advisor had a +8K GVWR “half ton” (I call that a fake half ton) giving advise “sure you can...ive been doing that for years”...while the poor guy with a +6K GVWR “half ton” burned up his diff out in the boonies...spending their vacation time and money repairing their diff..
This also applies to higher class TV’s and NOT only these lower class TV’s...they too have this metric of fake 3/4 ton’s...fake 1 ton’s CWSWine wrote:
Still the first rating you probably hit with a Heavy Payload F150 is the hitch rating. My neighbors 2014 Heavy Payload hitch of 1140 if I remember right. Maybe someone would post a picture of the sticker on the hitch of Heavy Payload. When I towed TTS I liked my tongue weight at or over 13% so that will keep the TT less than 9000 pounds(9000 X 13% = 1170). Ford got the 11,000 plus rating using 10% tongue which I wouldn’t want tow with that low percentage. That rating is before you hook up the W/D. My 2015 Ford 1 ton had a 1250 pound hitch rating my 2016 GMC had 3 inch receiver rated like 1800 pounds.
Well, I just got back from the dealer with my 2018 3.5 EB, S.Crew, XLT HDPP with the 6.5 bed, and the hitch is rated at 13,200lbs and 1,320lbs tongue with WDH.
My payload according to the yellow sticker is 2,470lbs. GVWR is 7,850lbs, RAWR 4800lbs, truck weight is 5,380lbs
Now, my trailer is well below all ratings and capacity of this truck, this is one of those things you can't tell me that this truck isn't capable of towing my trailer just because it's a "half ton", but I have to see it to believe it.- I test drove a Gas Crew Cab 4x4 standard bed (6.5ft)GMC Sierra of the 2002 vintage yesterday. It has nearly the same footprint as my 2008 SCrew F150 has with the 5.5 ft bed. It was a whole 12 inches longer. Not perceptible at all.. drove good, ride was good (not to rough at all), and is something I could live with every day. I really liked that truck.
The compromise over a half ton was....a few MPg less (maybe) and a few inch longer wheel base. But I gained so much, heavier truck, heavier frame, heavier axles, LT tires....and this one came with a pre installed B&W turnover ball!
Why can’t a half ton tow within its ratings? That’s the question right? The answer is that it can. It’s not a junk truck. They are very capable.
I can dig out a ditch for a waterline to my house with a shovel, a pick axe, and some manual labor. A ditch witch will do in minutes what it would take me HOURS if not days to do.
Here is the thing. Most gravitate from Half Tons to 3/4 and 1 tons for a similar reason. Especially those towing heavy and long TT’s. A heavier truck is a more sturdy platform. Sturdy platforms equal an easier experience and less stress. Less stress equals more enjoyment and more enjoyment and pleasure is what RV’ing is all about.
Never mind that most RV’ers are weekend warriors which means hitch up on Friday and burn rubber ASAP to get to the camp ground and start relaxing before we come home on Sunday or Monday. A HD truck removes a lot of stress from traveling with a 30 plus ft RV.
Now I am speaking in general here and many are pleased with their half ton. Heck I loved mine. I just want back in RV’ing again and I am walking straight past the half tons and looking at the 3/4 tons.
Look at RAM for example. They will flat recommend a 3/4 ton truck for towing a TT. There is so much more to it than just checking the weight boxes. As my Buddy BenK says...and I am paraphrasing....do you have enough truck to manhandle your trailer when Mr. Murphy comes calling?
Any doubt? Go to the 3/4 ton.
Tons and tons of people on this very forum have switched from half ton to 3/4 ton and say “why didn’t I change earlier”
If you are any a half ton...go for it... you can make it work and be safe. Just don’t get over zealous on the size of the TT (true for any truck)
Thanks..and JMHO as always.
Jeremiah
