QuickM3

I'm waiting to pick up a new 2016 F-150 when the ordering finally opens this year and was trying to sort out what some of the towing "caveats" are that I'm seeing on the 2015 spec sheet. Other than the occasional enclosed moving-type trailers I've never really towed anything of significant weight and am a completely ignorant of all the in's and out's of towing, so be gentle.


I'm seeing Ford list maximum towing capacity with various build configurations, but also seeing a note about "max bumper towing capacity". What are they referring to, just the tow hooks in the rear bumper that you might use to drag stuff with or pull out bushes/tree stumps? I'm assuming the max towing capacity that they are talking about is when you have something hitched up. Is that an accurate assumption? Or are they telling me that I'm going to have to drop in a goose neck to hit the max towing capacity?


Any guidance would be GREATLY appreciated.

Feathermerchant

If you look at other posts in this forum, you will find out that what limits the weight you can tow is PAYLOAD. You run out of generally payload before reaching the GCVW or Ford stated towing limits.

QuickM3

That part I understand. However, what I'm missing an explanation on is when they tell me that the max tow capacity is 9K, but the max bumper tow is 5K? What does that mean. Does that mean 5K using the tow hooks in the rear bumper or the hitch or is that 9K with a hitch, 5K using the tow hooks? Just trying to sort out what the note about "Max bumper tow" is all about.

QuickM3

If I take on the Max Tow package, regardless of the actual numbers... if I have a 10K towing capacity, can I hitch up a 7K travel trailer (water weight included) and be OK, even if it says 5K max bumper towing capacity..? Or do I have to drop in an aftermarket goose neck in the bed to actually tow something like that?

tsigwing

bumper pull is when you install a ball on the center of the bumper vs using a hitch ball.

QuickM3

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Now that makes sense I've seen that before. Very much appreciated.

Feathermerchant

Well not exactly. Look at a Ford bumper. There is no way to mount a ball to it. Look at a hitch though and you'll see a sticker on the bottom. It typically gives a 5,000 lb tow rating/ 500 lb tongue rating w/o weight distributing (WD) hitch. Then about 10,000 lb / 1,000 lb with WD hitch.

Typical tongue weight of a 7,000 lb trailer is about 12% or 7,000 X 0.12 = 840 lb. A WD hitch usually weighs 100 lb.
That all comes off your payload. So if you have a truck with payload of 1400 lb then you're down to 1400 - 840 -100 = 460 lb. That's got to cover the passengers and whatever gear you carry in the truck.

EventHorizon

Go look at your bumper again. On all there is a plug you pop out and mount a ball in to it. This would be used mostly by the ones that do not have a 2" receiver hitch and only tow light loads. If you have a proper hitch I would find it weird to put a ball in the bumper hole too.

130428

FWIW, I would suggest you don't tow with the tow hooks or only forward, and no stopping !

humblerb

It is stated above, but maybe not clear. Using your receiver (not bumper mount), the max is 5,000#/500#. This is without a Weight Distribution hitch. If your load(s) exceed these weights, you need to use a Weight Distribution hitch.