kscherzi

Been looking for a new F150 and found the 2013's have made some subtle changes that cause them to be less than desirable for towing if you want to tow more than just a skijet.

First the Lariat screw. It's a really nice truck, has all I'm looking for except no payload. After options a 2013 Lariat payload sits around 1,000 lbs. Really? A Toyota Camry can do that. My travel trailer hitch is about 900 lbs. I'm just looking for an honest 1,600 lbs payload, exactly what my 2003 Expedition (all leather and 4WD) has. From what I can tell Ford dropped the HD Payload Package for the Lariat, so the Lariat payload sucks.

The XLT has lots of payload but getting it configured to keep that payload is the problem. Add a backup camera that I think is invaluable for hitching, causes a package to trigger that omits the HD Payload Package for the XLT. The only way to get decent payload on the XLT is to configure a pretty plain jane truck with few luxury options, but no backup camera regardless. To me this too is a deal breaker.

I don't want a massive diesel 350 dually, I just want a truck that can outhaul a minivan but still park in grocery store parking lot. I'm open to thoughts. I really hope I'm missing something. If not I guess I'll start looking at Chevy/Dodge/Toyota.

willieboy

You can get the Lariat with MaxTow and HD Payload, I know, I have one. I have a 4x2, 6.5' bed version and it has 2428 lbs of payload capacity according to the door tag.

SkiSmuggs

If you select the 3.73 E-locker in the build, you lose the choice of HD Payload as it requires the 3.73 Limited Slip.

kscherzi

Willieboy, not sure how you got yours configured. Maybe the "build your own" on the Ford website is busted. Here's a screen shot of the configuration. Notice only 1,560 of payload max, which realistically means closer to 1,000 on the final door tag.

Fx4_5.0Man

iTrader: (1)

Its unfortunate that you can't get a locker and HD payload. I opted for the locker and did an AAL. The locker would have been harder to add later on. I got my own E rated tires and the truck does great, although you can't legally add payload to the truck once it leaves the factory.

At the end of the day its a big ole 150, but my truck does well for me. Mine is an FX4, but the payload is in the 1550 range.

RedOne

Mine is in the 1850 range.

kscherzi

Since I don't need a new truck right away I' strongly tempted to just wait till the 2015 F-150 comes out. I'm hoping the trumpeted 700 pound weight reduction will translate into increased payload across the board.

BCMIF150

What you can load in the bed and what you can pull for a trailer are two different things.

astraelraen

I have seen Max Tow Lariats with payload across the board. All the way from ~1450lbs (!!!!! crazy low for a max tow) to ~1750lb.

I came to the same conclusion as you though and searched for two months for a max tow Lariat with decent payload. I finally settled on a one local to me with ~1600lb payload.

I would suggest you check the F150 builder on the Ford website though. I think they added the ability to add a backup camera to the HD Payload Lariat now. It was not available earlier in the 2013 or 2012 models though. I don't think the Ford builder calculates max payload correctly for the HD payload package on their website.

Ford website build link: Look under interior options and rear view camera is there
http://bp3.ford.com/2013-Ford-F-150?fmccmp=sharethis&lang=en&branding=1&zipcode=83 686#/MakeItYours/Config[|Ford|F-150|2013|1|1.|501A.W1E.....SS6.99T.AWD.XB6.CCAB.NO NFLEET.446.LAR.]

kscherzi

Thanks astraelraen. I think I get it now, and I also think that the builder website gives the wrong max payload for the Lariat. I see now with the right configuration (SCrew, 6-1/2 foot bed, and 3.73 Limited Slip, the HD Payload Package appears on the next screen. The only thing is the website shows the non-HD Payload Package payload. Looking at the 2013 Source Book I think the payload should be around 2,310 lbs (minus options). The best part of the HS Payload Package is that nearly all the extra payload capacity is on the rear axle.

BTW - The reason I mentioned towing but talk about payload is because hitch weight is a percentage of trailer weight, 10% to 15%. A good way to calculate how much can be towed is to subtract people/dogs/and junk in bed weight from payload. Take the remainder and divide by 0.15. That will give a good approximation of maximum trailer weight for your truck. That mythical 11,300 lb trailer is unlikely to ever see a F-150 because its hitch weight alone would probably exceed the rated hitch capacity of the truck.

It's too bad Ford doesn't just include the HD Payload Package to all models. It only adds 60 lbs but does so much to make the truck more useful.