byoungblood

Here's the payload sticker on my 2012 EB Lariat with the max tow package. 6.5' bed, 4x2. I pull a 25', 7200# gross weight Keystone Outback TT with it, and it does a great job.

Fx4_5.0Man

iTrader: (1)

I still the think that overall the Max Tow is a marketing joke by itself. I know the tow hitch is a little different, but the rear axle in which the rating gets the increase in payload is the same Sterling 9.75? The hitch on a regular tow is not a weakness to begin with, nor is any of the Sterling 9.75 axles. The weakness to me would be in the leaf springs, and the Max Tow still only has 3 for 2011+. HD payload is a nice option, I wish it was offered in a 5.5 Crew Fx4. Oh well. Max Tow does get you that brake controller tho...

Fx4_5.0Man

iTrader: (1)

So much put into it and on certain models that are optioned heavily it adds little to the capacity. Like I said, my FX4 is not fully loaded and I'm in the 1550-1600 range for payload.

acadianbob

I called Ford before I ordered my Max Tow package. It includes: integrated brake controller, larger extendable mirrors, an upgraded hitch, an extra HD radiator with additional cooling tubes (yes, more than other HD radiators), an upgraded rear axle, and an additional 500 pounds in GVW netting an additional 350 of payload (2,000 for me.) The additional payload is warranted by increased capacity rear leaf springs, the upgraded axle, and HD suspension bushings (including the front end).

There has to be something to the package as the GVW goes up 500 pounds and the payload 350 pounds. There's an extra 150 pounds in the truck.

Fx4_5.0Man

iTrader: (1)

I understand that's a good list of equipment, but upgraded springs? The springs ride and squat the same in any of the non max tow and max tow trucks I use. I wouldn't really call them upgraded. Axle upgrade? Unless it's internal I don't see anything. Hd bushings? Don't really buy it either, what bushings ae we talking here?

Mike Up

Where are you getting this number. That's really high for a 2011 5.0 FX4. Every 2011 5.0L FX4 I found had under 1400 lbs which makes a lot of sense.

I had the lighter 2010 XLT Screw 5.4L and only had minimal options and it was only 1430 lbs of payload as stated by the tred act sticker.

Now 2012 5.0L Screw 4WD 145" WB (5.5' bed) trucks added 150 lb of payload over the 2011 by going from a 7200 lbs GVWR to a new 7350 lbs GVWR for the 5.5' 145" .

Mike Up

Your calculations don't use the equalization of weight that a Weight Distribution Hitch does.

With the actual weight calculated into the figure, an 'average' 80% of the hitch weight is transfered to the tow vehicles suspension (axles) while 20% is transfered to the travel trailer's axles (suspension).

Also, with a dual axle travel trailer that is 'properly loaded', an average of 13% of total loaded trailer weight is usually what the hitch weight is.

So you won't be putting your full hitch weight against your payload, only about 80% as an average.

Here's another thread I talked about this. Here's another.

Ford F150 1/2 tons have the most payload out of any 1/2 ton truck and is why I choose Ford. I tow and payload is important to me. My tow vehicle is my daily driver and I put about 80 miles on per day. I simply could not afford to drive a 3/4 ton truck with a large displacement V8. I also don't have unlimited funds to pay the $8000 optional charge that a Diesel engine requires.

While the F150 Screw 4WD does come in HD form, the HD package couldn't be found in my area and does give up many of the options I would want. If you don't mind getting an Ecoboost truck, which wasn't for me, you'll have an easier time find the HD package.

The Max Tow package will help but not much. The payload increase sometimes is more of a paper trail as the axle ratings don't go up as much as the GVWR which is very puzzling as the brakes aren't upgraded. Axles and brake ratings would dictate GVWR but don't always match with Ford.

Forgot to mention, the standard tow package only has a hitch rated at 1050 lbs and the Max Tow package hitch is only rated at 1,150 lbs. With a 13% hitch weight, that leaves a "LOADED" weight of only 8846 lbs !!! Most load around 1200 lbs but some load much more. Also the options that come on most travel trailers can be up to 300 lbs but usually are around 200 lbs. So to find a travel trailer 'dry' and unoptioned weight like you'd see in a brochure, subtract 1200 lbs and 300 lbs from that loaded max weight of 8846 lbs and you have a brochure specified 7346 lbs !!! To go higher than that, you'll need a 3/4 ton truck that can use a class "5" hitch that goes beyond the 1150 lbs Class "4" weight limit.

There are so SO many that are overloaded just on hitch weight alone, then are overloaded on GVWR and GAWR. I don't think most will ever get anywhere close to their Max tow rating or GCWR with these 1/2 ton capacity limitations.

If I was going to tow anywhere near 9000 lbs, it would be with a much heavier 3/4 ton truck. I wouldn't use even a HD package truck (still with only a class "4" hitch) as all that's upgraded is the axles and they're not even full floaters .

2012 5.0L Screw 4WD 145" WB (5.5' bed) trucks added 150 lb of payload over the 2011 by going from a 7200 lbs GVWR to a new 7350 lbs GVWR for the 5.5' 145" .

Now my new 2012 is pretty much a fully loaded XLT.

That being said, I have a very healthy "ACTUAL" 1582 lbs payload. That is right on the Tred Act sticker. The unoptioned specified payload on Ford's Website states 1700 lbs of payload. So obviously I have 118 lbs of options added.

Now that higher payload is because of the added 150 lbs in the GVWR over an Ecoboost truck or earlier 2009 - 2011 145" WB Screw 4WD truck that only had 7200 lbs GVWR. If it were a 2011, it would have 1432 lbs.

Now the Ecoboost trucks still have the lower 7200 lbs GVWR unless you get a 6.5' bed, 157" WB truck which is 7350 lbs. Of coarse you can get the Max Tow which goes to a 7650 lbs GVWR for 5.5' bed or 7700 lbs for a 6.5' bed.

6.2L trucks have a 7700 lbs GVWR for either a 5.5' bed or 6.5' bed.

Also standard axles are 3750 lbs for front axle and 3850 lbs for rear axle.

The front axle gets upgraded to 3900 lbs for the 6.5' bed option or the 20" wheel option (a thread was on payload and discovered this). The rear axle gets upgraded to 4050 lbs from the Max Tow option. GVWR ratings are all over the place and do not always follow axle ratings (brakes are the same for all models) on 5.5' bed models.

So you will have the highest axle ratings on 6.5' bed Max Tow optioned trucks. For an Ecoboost truck, that an increase of 350 lbs of total axle rating with an increase of 350 lbs in GVWR. On 5.5' bed trucks, the GVWR goes up more than the axle rating.