Either Ford is grossly underrating the F-150's towing numbers or Chevy is substantially over exaggerating theirs. Chevy claims that the Silverado 1500 4 door with the 5.3 (315hp/338ft-lb) and 3.42 gears can tow 9,600 lbs. Ford puts the 5.0 (360hp/390ft-lb) with 3.55 towing only 7,700 lbs and the 3.73 towing 9,300 lbs. How the hell is that even possible that the Silverado can out tow the 5.0 even when the 5.0 has a major power and gear ratio advantage?

What makes even less sense is when you pin the Ecoboost against the Chevy 5.3. The 3.5 with twins (365hp/420ft-lb@2500rpm) is only rated at 9,600lbs with 3.55 and 3.73 gears(non-max tow). That is that same towing capacity as the 5.3 with 3.42 gears. What gives Ford? Are you purposely underrating the F-150 so you can do like Dodge does and keep adding more towing capacity year after year without changing a damn thing? In a way I hope so cause that means I can do more with mine. I think it is more on Chevy's part of trying to over hype it's numbers again to the unknowing masses that ignorantly buy them. What do you guys think?

BTW, the reason I am compairing the Chevy's with 3.42 gears is becuase that is the lowest gear (highest number) you can get in a Chevy with a 5.3. Your only other option is a 3.08 ratio which only tows 1,000 lbs less then the 5.0 with 3.55s per Chevy. Yeah, go figure!

Edit: Also, if Ford shows us these videos with a beefier frame and suspension then the Chevy, then why do we have the same if not less tow rating? Are we paying more for nothing?

 

I think you are making the mistake of assuming towing capacity only depends on engine power and gear ratios. There is a lot more to it, and the engine in many cases is not the limiting factor.
Also, you can't necessarily compare the rear end ratios if different transmissions are involved.

 

That is pretty crazy for numbers to be that different. Suspension will play some roll to what tow limits are but I do think ford has under rated there tow numbers for years. I always see people pulling more then what they are rated for. Example a company f-550 diesel is only rated to tow 20k max it is an 05 with 120000 miles on it. For 90% of its life it has pulled total weight of bout 38k pounds five days a week for six years with no issues. It is a diesel but just an example.

 

I understand that, and that is why I think it is Chevy that is over exaggerating the 5.3 especially after seeing the head to head in the torture videos. Hell, the 6.2 with it's 403hp/417ft-lb is only set at 9,700 lbs.

 

Maybe Chevy makes a better truck?

 

Lots to consider:
Engine cooling, tranny cooling, braking ability, etc.

And then the fact that there is no standard to follow, until next year when all brands have to comply.

 

I wouldn't consider a Chevy in the first place so the numbers don't really matter to me.

 

I do think Ford is sandbagging a bit, but by keeping tow ratings modest, Ford can then encourage owners who truly require more than 1/2 ton capacities, to spend more money moving on up to the F250.

 

My 5.0L with 3.31's is rated for around 8000lbs. I think if I exceeded that by 500 - 1000lbs it would pull it without much problem. Might just have to keep in in 4th gear more often.

Ford probably uses a comination of a factor of saftey and a sense reserved confidence in the new engines, when rating the towing capabilities. I however have no doubt that Ford has under rated the towing capabilities of these trucks. Whether it is to make room for future "improvements" in towing, or to make the super duties seem more appealing I don't know. Either way I will probably never need to pull anything over 8000lbs for as long as I own the truck.

 

While it may be *possible* to tow that much with a Chevy, maybe it just isn't *safe*!

Ford may have underrated its trucks quite a bit to make sure that when you're towing the max advertised weight, that you've got plenty in reserve and it's safe

-John