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I am on my upteenth trip through the towing guide, trying to make sense of all the footnotes.
I have a base 2023 XL RCSB 4x4 5.0 3.73, with cheapest hitch option (53B? by item list).
As I go through, I seem to sumarize as:
GCWR 14600
OE Hitch max 5000 limited by p9
OE hitch with WD 7000 limited by p4 note 2
upgrade hitch w/WD 9600 limited by p4 chart
5th/gsnck 9000 limited by p7 chart
Is my logic sound?
Climb under the truck and see what the hitch says.
That doesn't help, that's just going to show the max rating for the hitch itself. You can put twine on a 3000 pound come-along, but that doesn't rate it for 3000 pounds.
I have seen the hitch sticker - 5000/11600
Payload 6400 empty 4403
Hitch only tow package - 53B?
If I'm interpreting right, I can tow xxxx with extra equipment.
I read 4.2 "with only the Class IV hitch (53B)" as needs different hitch. Perhaps they mean as needs additional equipment - the WD system. (That still leaves a conflict between 5000 on the hitch and 7000 on the page. I think, in case of a wreck, the Trooper is gonna' look at the hitch sticker before the book.)
Looks like adding the WD without additional hitch gets me all the way to 9600.
And the bed hitches get me to 9000 (almost make sense as hitch in bed adds weight before trailer).
But, wow that's complicated for a chart that leads with 9600.
I'm to make sure I really understand my limits, and what is required equipment to get to them.
Last edited by timshephard; 02-15-2024 at 01:34 PM.
@timshephard bballer is right, use his link and sign in using your Ford sign-in. This is what you'll see (screen shot below). The longer way to get here is to sign in at ford.com, click vehicle dashboard (under the bust/person icon at the top-right), then scroll down to the towing calculator tile.
That doesn't help, that's just going to show the max rating for the hitch itself. You can put twine on a 3000 pound come-along, but that doesn't rate it for 3000 pounds.
No. Not even close. He's asking what the limit is for the hitch itself as well. As for your analogy, for the come-along to reach it's rating it has to be properly equipped.
OP, your hitch is limited to 5,000 with a basic hitch and 11,600 with a weight distribution hitch. 53B is just the basic hitch that comes standard F150s. To tow over 6k with it you need to have either the tow package or max tow package. Ford likely uses the same hitch on all trucks but if you don't have either of those packages your truck is missing hardware and/or the frame to tow higher than 6k.
Your "legal" weight is listed on the yellow sticker on the drivers door jam. It will state your GCWR as well as the Ford site.
OP, your hitch is limited to 5,000 with a basic hitch and 11,600 with a weight distribution hitch. 53B is just the basic hitch that comes standard F150s. To tow over 6k with it you need to have either the tow package or max tow package. Ford likely uses the same hitch on all trucks but if you don't have either of those packages your truck is missing hardware and/or the frame to tow higher than 6k.
Your "legal" weight is listed on the yellow sticker on the drivers door jam. It will state your GCWR as well as the Ford site.
What is OP missing though? I know things get mangled over the years with these tow packages and what they include, but OP is missing the ITBC as the relevant difference between the 53A and 53B package. That’s definitely important. Add that and “Voila!” The 10-speed doesn’t have the radiator and trans cooler upgrades like the 6-speed needed.
The LED and smart backup assist doesn’t add to the fun. He doesn’t have HDPP, so 53C isn’t relevant.
02-15-2024, 07:32 AM
Reading towing guide for a specific truck
