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datadr's avatar
datadr
Explorer
May 04, 2013

Question on F150 Eco GVWR

Hello all,

We are zeroing in on our new TV - we've decided on an F150 SCREW... previously looking at a Suburban but the GVWR was too low on the 1500 and the 2500 was out of our range.

I've researched the differences in the max tow package and standard tow package, and there seems to be some strange inconsistencies in the GVWR that don't make sense. A 145" WB with the std tow and 3.55 rear has a GVWR of 7200#, GCWR of 15500#. Same vehicle with the max tow package has a GVWR of 7650#, GCWR of 17100#. Only difference is a slightly updated hitch (extra 800# capacity)and tow mirrors. The 3.73 rear is a requirement for the max tow, but you can find 3.73 rears without the max tow, and their GVWR is 7200#. I've inspected both on the lot and the suspension is identical, same number of leaf springs, same shock part numbers, etc.

From my understanding, GVWR has everything to do with frame, suspension, brakes, axle, etc. Here's how the axle ratings flush out:

MAX TOW
GCWR: 17100#
GVWR: 7650#
Rear GAWR: 4050#
Front GAWR: 3750#
Axle Ratio: 3.73

STD TOW
GCWR: 15500#
GVWR: 7200#
Rear GAWR: 3850#
Front GAWR: 3750#

The max tow pkg has a combined axle rating of 7800#, and std tow has a combined rating of 7600# (adding the two together). So therefore, if the combined limit of the axles on a std tow F150 is 7600#, why is the GVWR only 7200#? And if the max two gets you 450# additional capacity, why is there only a 200# difference in the two?

Here's why I care: I'm stressing over whether to get the max tow or not. They aren't easy to find in the XLT with the specific options we want and we don't want to order it. Plus, we aren't big fans of the mirrors, preferring to use slip-ons when towing. This vehicle will be used mostly as a daily driver for my wife, and we'll tow 3-4 weeks out of a year max. Our TT loaded for camping is only 5040#. However, when we do go camping, there's 5 of us which will put us at or slightly over the GVWR on a std tow F150. I think the numbers are a little fudged for marketing... suspension is the same, frame is the same, brakes are the same. The GCWR of the std tow F150 is 15500, which we won't even come close to.

Thoughts? Advice? Am I overthinking this?

Thanks, gents! Appreciate the feedback.

- Mike
Tow Vehicles

17 Replies

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  • BenK's avatar
    BenK
    Explorer
    May 04, 2013
    Oh...answer to your question....

    Sizing and class of vehicle is the most important to me

    Very high on my 'have to have' list...aka performance and ratings.

    Note that all things designed is not for the good days out there, when a riding
    lawn mower 'can do it'. But for the worst day out there when Mr Murphy crosses
    you path.

    Either you have the right stuff or not. No time to go back to the store to buy
    bigger stuff. Nor time to resetup the system

    I prefer to have the biggest I can afford or get.

    To then know it's ratings and live by those ratings.

    Only you can make that risk management decision...aka...gambling...unless you
    are only looking for those 'sure you can'...which you will get tons of
  • BenK's avatar
    BenK
    Explorer
    May 04, 2013
    Welcome and you are asking the right questions, but you are using
    marketing verbiage where this is really a 'ratings' game

    First decide if you believe in the ratings/limits/specifications or not

    If not, then do whatever but know that if you still have warranty that
    the OEM is now off the warranty hook if you exceed those ratings (that
    'R' in all of the acronyms). Plus you are now on the hook for any
    liability based on that 'ratings' system

    If yes, then read up and learn how that system works. Yes, system
    and most folks take an individual 'rating' by it self. Dangerous as
    it is a 'system' and not any one component is a stand alone 'rating'

    Since a system, any of the 'summations' of 'ratings' trump those
    individual ratings

    Below your quote is a diagram of how the ratings system looks like
    as a whole. Also a link to a thread posted trying to answer your
    question. Bottom line on that is to forget the marketing verbiage
    and only use the 'ratings' acronyms

    Like that another forum member posted that he found IIRC, 15 different
    'half ton' truck offerings from Ford. These are 'half ton' trucks: 6.3K GVWR,
    7.2K GVWR, 7.4K GVWR, 7.6K GVWR, 8.1K GVWR, 8.6K GVWR and am sure
    there are many more

    'Half ton' is the most common, as folks new to pickups normally only
    look at a 'half ton', which has 'P' class tires (passenger car) that
    has to be de-rated a min of 9% when used on a truck

    Another point that confuses newbies and even older or seasoned pickup
    truck owners is that the different classes (half ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton)
    all use the same base body. Take the half ton Suburban and the 3/4 ton
    Suburban. They both use the exact same body, but everything underneath
    that body is different (frame, drive train, suspension, brakes, etc)




    datadr wrote:
    Hello all,

    We are zeroing in on our new TV - we've decided on an F150 SCREW... previously looking at a Suburban but the GVWR was too low on the 1500 and the 2500 was out of our range.

    I've researched the differences in the max tow package and standard tow package, and there seems to be some strange inconsistencies in the GVWR that don't make sense. A 145" WB with the std tow and 3.55 rear has a GVWR of 7200#, GCWR of 15500#. Same vehicle with the max tow package has a GVWR of 7650#, GCWR of 17100#. Only difference is a slightly updated hitch (extra 800# capacity)and tow mirrors. The 3.73 rear is a requirement for the max tow, but you can find 3.73 rears without the max tow, and their GVWR is 7200#. I've inspected both on the lot and the suspension is identical, same number of leaf springs, same shock part numbers, etc.

    From my understanding, GVWR has everything to do with frame, suspension, brakes, axle, etc. Here's how the axle ratings flush out:

    MAX TOW
    GCWR: 17100#
    GVWR: 7650#
    Rear GAWR: 4050#
    Front GAWR: 3750#
    Axle Ratio: 3.73

    STD TOW
    GCWR: 15500#
    GVWR: 7200#
    Rear GAWR: 3850#
    Front GAWR: 3750#

    The max tow pkg has a combined axle rating of 7800#, and std tow has a combined rating of 7600# (adding the two together). So therefore, if the combined limit of the axles on a std tow F150 is 7600#, why is the GVWR only 7200#? And if the max two gets you 450# additional capacity, why is there only a 200# difference in the two?

    Here's why I care: I'm stressing over whether to get the max tow or not. They aren't easy to find in the XLT with the specific options we want and we don't want to order it. Plus, we aren't big fans of the mirrors, preferring to use slip-ons when towing. This vehicle will be used mostly as a daily driver for my wife, and we'll tow 3-4 weeks out of a year max. Our TT loaded for camping is only 5040#. However, when we do go camping, there's 5 of us which will put us at or slightly over the GVWR on a std tow F150. I think the numbers are a little fudged for marketing... suspension is the same, frame is the same, brakes are the same. The GCWR of the std tow F150 is 15500, which we won't even come close to.

    Thoughts? Advice? Am I overthinking this?

    Thanks, gents! Appreciate the feedback.

    - Mike



    Ratings, terms and opinions of what they mean... howmuchcanitow2


    howmuchcanitow
  • datadr's avatar
    datadr
    Explorer
    May 04, 2013
    Correction - Tires are the same with and without the max tow package.
  • datadr's avatar
    datadr
    Explorer
    May 04, 2013
    Tires can be upgraded, but the 3.73 axle alone changes the tires - max tow pkg option does not.

    Why suggestions for the HD payload? We won't hit the top end - the payload on the max tow is 1900#. We might hit 1600#, but that's a stretch even accounting for the hitch, people, dogs, etc.

    Of course... the other side of the coin is the possibility of shredding the camper one day and wanting to upgrade... Right now I don't see it, but one wrong turn can change all of that. :-)
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    May 04, 2013
    As for max tow compared to regular versions? Ask the dealer what the difference is. I suspect things like HD trans cooler will be part of the equation. For towing get the max tow package and the HD tow package. You don't know what might come up in a year or so that could change your plans.
  • Learjet's avatar
    Learjet
    Explorer
    May 04, 2013
    datadr wrote:

    Front GAWR: 3750#

    Plus, we aren't big fans of the mirrors, preferring to use slip-ons when towing. This vehicle will be used mostly as a daily driver for my wife, and we'll tow 3-4 weeks out of a year max. Our TT loaded for camping is only 5040#. However, when we do go camping, there's 5 of us which will put us at or slightly over the GVWR on a std tow F150. I think the numbers are a little fudged for marketing... suspension is the same, frame is the same, brakes are the same. The GCWR of the std tow F150 is 15500, which we won't even come close to.


    Not getting the MAX tow is a mistake, you really should be looking at the HD option along with the max tow. Slip on mirrors are a joke compared to the real tow mirrors....Think Safety.

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