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Terryallan's avatar
Terryallan
Explorer II
Jun 06, 2014

So went to the ford store this morning.

Had to get the Escape computer flashed. So, I thought I'd check on the tow capacities of the 150s on the lot. Ask a sales guy to let me see a towing guide, or owner's manual. He just said. They tow 11,000 lb. I said No not all of them. I been selling for 26 years. They do. I said no they don't just let me look.
So he gave me to another guy, and he FINALLY came up with the towing guide. And Guess what? They DON'T all tow 11,000lb. Some tow 5000, and some tow 11,300lb.

Believe it or not the one that is rated the highest is ........ wait for it.......The 2 wheel drive Ecoboost, AND the 2 wheel drive 6.2. Both need the 3.73 to reach the lofty rating of 11,300lb. 4x4 will cost you 200lb of towing capacity.

For some reason the 3.73 beats the 4.10, Probably because of the truck they put it in. The 3.55 will get you 9800lb in the right truck. The 5.0 will not reach 11,000 in any configuration.

Bottom line. Know what you need when you buy. Do your homework. Cause the salesman. Don't have a clue.
  • Yep, my F-150 had a max-tow package and was rated for 11k. But I only had about 1,400 lbs worth of payload going off the load sticker. Crew Cab, 6.5 bed, 5.4 liter motor, FX4. Loved the truck, but the payload was just too light for what we were looking at. Hell, even hauling the occasional dirt and mulch it wasn't quite enough.
  • APT wrote:
    And then you get the RV salesman who thinks the same thing, all F-150s can tow an 11k pound (dry) RV. Good times.


    What he said!!! :C
  • So BTW. After he told me they would tow 11,000lb. I found. They did NOT have a F150 on the lot that was rated for 11,000. Not one.
  • I vaguely remember that my F250 with 4.30's was ratted for 15000 in 2012.
  • Then you have to start looking at the payload stickers and it goes down from there.. Sure, the "tow rating" is still whatever it is, but I've seen payload stickers on fully loaded F150's as low as #850!!

    Then look at the GAWR on them... Even thou I have a #7700 GVWR and #1920 payload sticker, I have the same GAWR as the #7200/#1500 trucks on the lot (#3750/#4050 respectively).... So, what good is it if I have this great payload, but run out of axle rating???

    It all ends up being the "game" and you go from there... ;)

    Mitch
  • Wait, are you saying an F150 wont tow a 40ft 5th wheel toy hauler? So much for that idea. :-)
  • And then you get the RV salesman who thinks the same thing, all F-150s can tow an 11k pound (dry) RV. Good times.
  • Yeah, but they'll do their best to convince you they do! I'll second OP's advice; do your own research and don't fall for it.