What Is Included in the Ford F-150 Max Trailer Tow Package?
The 2023 Ford F-150 has a solid track record of being powered by strong engines with an impressive towing range. And the 2023 Ford F-150 has more engine options than any F-150 before, so it can tow anywhere from 5,000 to 14,000 pounds
This maximum towing capacity ranks the F-150 at the top of the full-size pickup class. By comparison, the 2023 Ram 1500 maxes out at 12,750 pounds. Also, the 2023 Silverado maxes out at 13,300 pounds.
Of course, not all Ford F-150s are configured for this tow rating. You’ll need to select the right cab, engine, and packages. The same holds true for maximizing Limited and Raptor’s towing capacities. Let’s dig into what’s required to configure the F-150 to get the highest towing capacity and what’s included in the Max Trailer Tow Package.
Configuring for the F-150’s max towing capacity
If you want an F-150 with the maximum tow rating, choose the base rear-wheel-drive XL trim SuperCrew with the 6.5-foot bed, 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6 engine, 20-inch tires, and Max Trailer Tow Package. The EcoBoost engine produces 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed transmission.
The Max Trailer Tow Package consists of a 4-pin/7-pin wiring harness, Class IV receiver hitch, 3.55 electronically locking rear differential, 36-gallon fuel tank, auxiliary transmission and engine oil coolers, an integrated trailer brake controller, and an upgraded front stabilizer bar.
Altogether, an F-150 with the max tow rating specs out at $43,515. Should you opt for four-wheel-drive, the tow rating drops to 12,900 pounds. If you want the SuperCab with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost, 2WD, and 6.5-foot bed, the maximum capacity is 12,000 pounds. A regular cab with 2WD, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost, and eight-foot bed will yield a tow rating of 12,100 pounds.
Be aware that upgrading to a higher trim level will reduce the truck’s tow rating. These trim levels have more features and thus weigh more. The extra weight decreases the weight used for a trailer’s tongue weight or for payload.
For example, a King Ranch trim F-150 with the 5.0-liter V8 engine weighs at least 600 pounds more than the XL we’ve described. The upper trim truck tows 1,700 pounds less and also delivers 70 lb-ft less torque.
Also, note that the max tow rating can only be reached by conventional towing with a weight distribution hitch. If you don’t use this kind of hitch, the F-150 is limited to a maximum capacity of 5,000 pounds.
The max tow ratings for the F-150 Limited and Raptor
The towing capacities for both the Limited and regular Raptor diverge from the rest of the F-150’s lineup. They are the only variants powered by the high-output 3.5-liter Ecoboost turbocharged V6, which churns out 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque.
Even though they have a powerful engine in common, the Limited and Raptor differ in max towing capacities due to the Raptor being at least 500 pounds heavier.
Both models are feature-heavy. As with other F-150 trims, the extra weight of additional options is reflected in a lower towing rating. The max towing capacity for the Limited, which is only available in the SuperCrew configuration with the 5.5-foot bed, is 11,100 pounds. Choosing the 4WD option reduces the capacity to 9,400 pounds.
For the Limited to max out its tow rating, you must opt for the Trailer Tow Package. It includes everything the Max Trailer Tow Package has except for the trailer brake controller, big fuel tank, and front stabilizer bar. For the Limited’s 2WD version with max towing capacity, expect to pay $69,725. The 4WD version costs $73,150.
The tow rating of the Raptor is 8,000 pounds for the SuperCrew configuration. The SuperCab is 6,000 pounds. The Trailer Tow Package comes standard on the Raptor. The SuperCrew cab style starts at $54, 540 and the SuperCab is priced at $57,435.
With the F-150’s range of engines and trim levels, it takes a little decoding to sort out Ford’s max tow ratings. But now you know what it takes to get the best-in-class trailering capacity that this full-size truck offers.
