It's not about tow rating, or the strength of the diff, sort of. The 9.75" will get you a higher GAWR, which will translate into more tongue weight capacity. I headed down this path just trying to figure out how to get the highest payload with a 5.0 motor so that I could tow 7,000 with a 750 tongue weight and still have payload headroom for some gear and people in the truck. I'm by no means one of the tow ***** we all love so much, however, to me it's just common sense to do one's best to be well equipped within given constraints. If I didn't need a winch inside the nose I'd just get a 3.5 Eco max tow and be done with it.

Based purely on strength I wouldn't sweat an 8.8 unless dropping a blower on it. I'm using an aluminum 8.8" on my hotrod with 700hp and sticky 315 race tires. That said, Ford isn't really marketing the 9.75, and no doubt it costs more. I figure they have no reason to use it if their math didn't show a need.

 

I have a 2016 SCab 2.7L 8.8 inch 3.73 ratio w/ locker and electric parking brake. I have the "trailer tow package".

 

Not true, you get the 3800 lbs rear axle with any of the axle ratios/sizes, 3.31, 3.55, or the 3.73. I've checked.

Only the 2.7L Ecoboost gets a lower axle rating and GVWR with it's lighter, light duty frame, to save weight, and to get soccer mom friendly MPGs. You have to go up to the 2.7L Ecoboost payload package to get the 3.73 differential and higher rated axle. Even then you don't get the higher rated GVWR of the 5.0L or 3.5L Ecoboost which is 7000 lbs.

BTW, the HDPP (Heavy Duty Payload Package) is only offered on the 5.0L and 3.5L Ecoboost, it is not offered on the 2.7L Ecoboost trucks. Only that 2.7L ecoboost payload package is offered to come close to the axle rating and GVWR of the 5.0L/3.5L Ecoboost trucks.

So if you want to tow or haul heavy, you should really only be looking at 5.0L or 3.5L Ecoboost trucks and forget about the lighter duty 3.5L N/A(2015 - 2017), 3.3L N/A(2018+), and 2.7L Ecoboost engines.

* Above statements based on Crew Cab 4WD 5.5' bed trucks (like there's others )

 

Thanks for clarifying that. I have the Screw 5.0 4x4 and my sticker shows max cargo as 1980 lbs. I didn't realize the 2.7's have lighter duty frames- That's very interesting though as a buddy of mine has the Screw 2.7 and he seems to think he has the 2600 lb payload capacity. I tried telling him I don't think that's possible and he put 2 pallets of sod in the back- I'm surprised he didn't pop his leaf springs as I think each pallet weighs 1300-1500 lbs😱😱

 

Yeh, the 2.7L Ecoboost in Screw 4WD trim, gets a max payload of 1960 lbs with a 6900 lbs GVWR but needs the 2.7L Payload package to do that. Without the Payload package it only has a max 1630 lbs payload with it's 6500 lbs GVWR. The 3.5L N/A and 3.3L N/A engine options are the same weights or lower.

By contrast the Screw 4WD 5.0L has a max 2100 lbs payload with it's 7000 lbs GVWR and with the 6.5' bed and HDPP it has a max 2650 lbs of payload with a 7850 lbs GVWR. The 3.5L Ecoboost is nearly the same.

 

Interesting discussion in a few ways. One being, so which differential does my F150 have? Ok, mine is an 8.8 inch. Now what? Not going to change anything. I got the 3.55 e-loc gear I wanted at purchase. Oh, and I test drove 3.31, 3.73 (previously owned a 2500HD with 3.73l), and the 3.55 gear on three different trucks.

Here's an interesting point. My F150 has been on a scale already because I dumped two motorcycle tires at the local county collection yard--weighed in and out. With me in the seat the truck weights 5,160 pound--both weightings.

Interesting to know this is about 550 pounds more than my Frontier crew-cab, 4x4, with manual transmission! Oh, and the gvwr is much higher-up from the Frontier's 6,500 pounds. Didn't really tow at max with the Frontier, and don't plan to with the F150. Still, I do anticipate towing around 5k once I get my lightweight toy hauler in the coming months.

I guess what I'm getting at is if gear/axle size and tow ratings are important in the purchase decision, wouldn't one be considering a three-quarter ton pick-up? Better brakes. Stiffer springs and tires. Etc....

In the end, these are still half-ton trucks, right?



Years, ago GM produced 1500HD pickups. Did Ford ever do anything like that?

 

Yes, it's called the HDPP (Heavy Duty Payload Package). Although an option, it's really a trim limiting certain options and coming with it's own wheels, differential, axles, springs and frame.

They've been available for years but you need to order them as I found no dealers within a 300 mile radius that stock them.

I was going to order one until I found my truck that has 1890 lbs of payload and better capacity rear axle next to the weight of the truck. Much better rated axle and payload than my previous 2012 F150 Screw 4WD 5.0L w/3.73 locker truck.

 

Would sure like to know where you checked, because Ford has been unable to add clarity for me. The Ford Fleet site charts do not go into that level of detail. Don't know about your combination, but on the extended cab short bed 5.0 going with the 3.73 gets higher GAWR, higher payload, and higher tow rating. The 5.0 short bed extended cab does not have HDPP as an option.
Regardless of your opinion on the GAWR, it doesn't change that the 3.73 gets the 9.75" on 5.0 and 2.7 ecos.

Ford did run my build of 5.0 extended cab short bed lariat 4x4 with 5.0 and 3.73. Came up with 2,100lb payload. Don't remember the exact number, but running build with 3.55 as the only difference came in at around 1900 payload.

 

It's very important because of the incredibly wide range of ratings available in the F150. If you cannot configure the 150 with sufficient capacity then yes get the bigger truck, but this thread is about figuring out exactly how to configure the 1/2 ton to meet capacity needs. I've already got the numbers for my build and they are sufficient for my tow need. After adding my extras, I'll have around 1,000 left over for passengers and gear while towing my trailer at 7,000.

Edit: I'll ad this. Configuring an extended cab short bed 5.0 to tow 7,000 and actually haul some gear in the back while staying within the door sticker numbers is a very tricky proposition. Ford makes life much easier if getting the 3.5 eco.

 

When you're paying a large sum of money, you actually go out and look at the trucks.

You climb underneath and look at the suspension and axles. You look at the axle and GVWR rating stickers in the door jam of the trucks, you climb underneath and look what size axles they all have, you climb underneath and look at the hitches and their ratings. You know, you actually look at the vehicles you intend to buy. With about 400 trucks within a 30 minute drive, I can look at an awful lot of trucks.

And the Fleet Buyers Build Sheet does break everything down by axle, differential, suspension and even frame thickness. I even had a report done stating all the specs of my truck down to the 9.75" size of the differential. You just put in your VIN #.

To get the HDPP option, you have to go to a 6.5' bed on a Screw and an 8' bed on a Scab.

You might want to go here and go to the specs. Most of what I posted can be found right on Ford's website.