For over four decades now, the Ford F-150 and its F-series siblings have dominated America's pickup truck segment in terms of sales. One of the F-150's best offerings is its class-leading towing capacity. So how much weight can a Ford F-150 tow? Here's what our research has uncovered.
The 12th-generation F-150 (2009 to 2014) can tow up to 11,300 pounds. The 13th generation F-150 (2015 to 2020) offers a maximum tow rating of 13,200 pounds, while the current 14th generation (2021 to present) boasts a class-leading towing capacity of 14,000 pounds.
Would you like to know more about the F-150's different towing capacities and other performance numbers? Do read on, because we've prepared a lot of tidbits for you to appreciate this iconic American truck.
How Much Will A Ford F-150 Tow?
In 2021, the Ford F-Series marked its 40th year as America's best-selling vehicle. In the same year, the iconic vehicle nameplate also celebrated its 45th year as the best-selling pickup truck in the U.S.
Although 98% of the truck's sales come from North America, the F-Series still takes the crown for the world's best-selling pickup truck.
As the most popular model in the F-Series line, the Ford F-150 has made its way into the garages of homes and businesses all over the country. Aside from the build quality and the all-American brand name, this full-size truck also boasts of its versatility as both a work truck and a family vehicle.
Whether you need to pull some farm produce on a trailer or you want to tow a camper out for recreation, the F-150 can be your dependable truck. Of course, you'll need to know the truck's towing capacity so you can have a safer and more enjoyable trailering experience.
So how much weight can a Ford F-150 tow?
2022 Ford F-150 Towing Capacity
The 2022 Ford F-150 has several towing capacities corresponding to trim levels and drive configuration. However, the single largest determining factor of this truck's tow rating is its engine type.
We've listed the different available engines and their corresponding maximum towing capacities below.
- 3.3-liter Ti-VCT V6 - 8,200 pounds
- 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 - 10,100 pounds
- 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 - 14,000 pounds
- 3.5-liter PoweBoost Full Hybrid V6 - 12,700 pounds
- 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8 - 13,000 pounds
- 3.5-liter EcoBoost H.O. V6 - 8,200 pounds
To illustrate, you can achieve the class-leading 14,000-pound maximum tow rating with the following combinations:
- SuperCab 8-foot bed or SuperCrew 4x2 configurations
- 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine
- Max Trailer Tow Package
Ford F-150 Towing Capacity By Year
The current 14th-generation F-150 (2021 to present) has the highest towing capacity to date among all F-150 models. However, previous generations are no slouches when it comes to pulling power.
13th Generation (2015 to 2020) Maximum Towing Capacities:
- 3.3-L Ti-VCT V6 - 7,700 pounds
- 2.7-L EcoBoost V6 - 9,000 pounds
- 3.5-L EcoBoost V6 - 13,200 pounds
- 5.0-L Ti-VCT V8 - 11,500 pounds
- 3.0-L Turbodiesel V6 - 11,500 pounds
- 3.5-L EcoBoost H.O. V6 - 11,000 pounds
12th Generation (2009 to 2014) Maximum Towing Capacities:
- 3.7-liter Ti-VCT V6 - 6,700 pounds
- 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8 - 10,000 pounds
- 3.5-liter Ti-VCT EcoBoost V6 - 11,300 pounds
- 6.2-liter VCT V8 - 11,300 pounds
Here's a video explaining the different towing capacities you can achieve from just one of the F-150's engine choices.
What is The Difference Between Ford Tow Package And Max Tow Package?
Ford makes two towing packages available for the F-150, namely the (a) Trailer Tow package and (b) the Max Trailer Tow package.
The Trailer Tow package is standard on the F-150 Limited, but you can have it as an option on the XL, XLT, Lariat, Tremor, Platinum, and King Ranch trims. This towing package includes the following:
- A class-IV trailer hitch receiver
- A 7-pin trailer connector and wiring harness
- 7-to-4 pin adapter
- Integrated trailer brake controller
- Pro Trailer Backup Assist
- Pro Trailer Hitch Assist
- Smart Trailer tow connector with blind spot information system (BLIS)
- Tailgate LED
The Max Trailer Tow package, on the other hand, will provide F-150 owners with the highest towing capacities possible. However, the Max Trailer Tow package can only go with specific engines, particularly the 3.5-L EcoBoost, the 3.5-L PowerBoost, and the 5.0-liter V8 engines.
The package includes the following components and configurations:
- Class IV hitch receiver
- 3.55 ratio for the electronic locking rear axle
- 3.73 ratio for the electronic locking differential (for models also equipped with Ford's Heavy-duty Payload package)
- 36-gallon fuel tank (except for PoweBoost and 3.0-L diesel engine options)
- Separate 4-pin and 7-pin trailer connectors and harnesses
- Pro Trailer backup assist
- Integrated trailer brake controller
- Smart Trailer tow connector with blind spot information system (BLIS)
- Upgraded rear bumper
Although the Max Trailer Tow package is an option for all trims with the proper engine and configuration, it comes standard with the F-150 Raptor trim.
What Can I Tow With My F-150?
Whether you use your F-150 for work-related cargo towing or for recreational trailer towing, you can enjoy the trailering activity as long as you practice safe towing rules. Perhaps one of the most important rule here is to stay within your vehicle's towing capacity.
For your guidance, we've listed a few campers and trailers that fall within the F-150's towing capacity range. When considering trailers, we should take note of their dry weights as well as their gross or loaded weights.
Dry weight includes only the weights of the trailer and the factory-installed equipment. Gross trailer weight, on the other hand, includes passengers, supplies, luggage, trailer fuel, fluids, and any optional equipment.
Lance 1685 Travel Trailer
The Lance 1685 is a luxurious travel trailer that comes with a well-furnished kitchen, a toilet and shower, air conditioning, a queen-sized bed, and several other features. This 16.5-foot travel trailer has a dry weight of 4,620 pounds and a maximum gross trailer weight rating (GTWR) of 6,300 pounds.
Jayco Jay Feather
At 26 feet long, the Jay Feather is surprisingly light with a dry weight of only 5,185 pounds. This luxurious travel trailer achieves this lightness through a fiberglass exterior construction.
Recreational campers will enjoy this trailer's six-person sleeping area, a well-equipped kitchen and dinette, a walk-in shower, and solar-powered electronics.
Airstream Flying Cloud
The Airstream Flying Cloud is one of the famous American brand's aluminum-construction trailer product lines. Flying Cloud trailers range from 23 to 30 feet in length.
On one end, the Flying Cloud 23FB is a 23-foot double-axle trailer with fantastic amenities and ample sleeping space for four adults. This model has a dry weight of 5,000 pounds and a GTWR of 6,000 pounds.
At the other end of the range, the Flying Cloud 30FB Office and 30RB Bunk are the 30-foot models whose layouts focus on workspaces and sleeping spaces, respectively. The FB Office provides a comfortable, exclusive office area and enough sleeping space for six people.
Alternatively, the RB Bunk maximizes its layout for an eight-person sleeping capacity.
Both the FB Office and the RB Bunk have gross trailer weights of 8,800 pounds.
Can A Ford F-150 Tow A Fifth Wheel?
Fifth-wheel trailer towing has been traditionally reserved for 3/4-ton to 1-ton trucks like the Ford F-250 and the Ford F-350, respectively. However, trailer manufacturers have recently developed lightweight fifth-wheel trailers that half-ton trucks like the F-150 can tow safely.
One such lightweight fifth-wheel trailer is the StarCraft Telluride 292RLS. This 32-foot trailer has an open living room layout that sits 10 people and can convert into a comfortable sleeping layout for six adults.
As you may expect from a relatively large trailer, the Telluride 292RLS comes with the following features:
- kitchen with stove and refrigerator
- dinette
- pantry
- bedroom with queen-size bed, closet, and dresser
- toilet and shower
- living room with theater seating, sofas, and TV
This fifth-wheel trailer's living room has an eight-foot ceiling and even a fireplace option. Despite this size, the Telluride's dry weight is only 8,250 pounds while its gross weight tops out at 9,995 pounds.
Check out this video of the F-150 pulling a lightweight fifth-wheel trailer.
How Much Does A Ford F-150 Cost Now?
If you're considering the F-150 as your next vehicle, then we're here to help you with your window shopping. Here are the 2022 F-150's starting prices for its different trims.
- XL - $ 31,520
- XLT- $ 39,165
- Lariat- $ 49,100
- Tremor - $ 54,120
- King Ranch- $ 60,320
- Platinum- $ 63,100
- Raptor- $ 70,555
- Limited- $ 77,625
These starting prices are correct as of October 2022.
Wrapping Up
When properly equipped, the 12th-generation F-150 can tow between 6,700 to 11,300 pounds. On the other hand, the 13th-generation F-150's towing capacity ranges from 7,700 up to 13,200 pounds. Finally, the current 14th-generation F-150 can tow between 8,200 to 14,000 pounds.
Thank you very much for reading. We hope we were able to help you appreciate the best-in-class towing capacity of the Ford F-150.
For more interesting reads about towing and other automotive topics, you may also check out these great articles below.
Installing Ford F-150 Towing Mirrors – How To
Is My Truck Wired For Trailer Brakes?
Why Does My Truck Start On The Second Try But Not The First Try?
