Sean F

I know what my door label and owners manual say that my truck can tow, but I have an anomaly. The chart shows for my 157" 5.0 a GVWR 7,350, a GCWR of 13,500 lbs, my max payload is 1,400 and I can safely tow 7,500 lbs.(under the 3.55 axle ratio). But I have the 3.73 ratio because of the Off-Road package. I have 10 ply tires, Hellwig helper springs, but I don't have the HD or max-trailer tow package. So. in reality what about could I safely(not legally) tow? I tow a travel trailer that is just at my sticker limit.
Sean

smokeywren

Get the axle code from the Federal Certification Label in the driver's door jamb. That's the sticker that includes GVWR, GAWRs, tire size and specs, and several codes, including "axle". Then look up your axke code in this list:
15 - 3.15 non-limited slip
19 - 3.55 non-limited slip
26 - 3.73 non-limited slip
27 - 3.31 non-limited slip
B6 - 3.73 limited slip
H9 - 3.55 limited slip
L3 - 3.31 electronic locking differential (ELD)
L4 - 4.10 ELD
L5 - 3.15 ELD
L6 - 3.73 ELD
L9 - 3.55 ELD

Then look in the Ford RV and Trailer Towing guide to determine the GCWR and tow rating of that axle ratio combined with the drivetrain in your F-150.

A 2019 157" 5.0 F-150 4x4 with the L6 axle and regular towing pkg is rated to tow 11,500 pounds max trailer weight with GCWR of 16,900 pound. 2017 was almost that much at 10,800 tow rating with GCWR of 16,200 pounds. You can download your copy of the towing guide from this link: https://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/

Sean F

Thank you. The sticker shows L6. Which I referenced to 3.73. But the manual chart does not have a 5.0 Screw 157" w/ 3.73, it only shows w. 3.55.

BareBonesXL

There is much more to safe towing than just what the general guidelines and legal limits are from the stickers. Your ratios, which also include tire size, are mainly for pulling power, and the engine is part of that equation. But braking is where the safety factor really lies. On top of that is where you'll be towing. Colorado mountains are not the same as Oklahoma flat lands.

The sticker on the axle housing itself is the best way to be sure of what ratio you have. If you feel that the engine needs more leverage or more speed.

There's no magic calculation. If you have trouble stopping, you need better brakes. If you have trouble starting from a stop, you need a lower ratio (higher number). If you can't get up to speed with the ratio that lets you start from a stop easily, you probably need a bigger engine. Ford's towing charts are just a ball-park figure to start from.

smokeywren

Note I edited my earlier post to provide you with more info. In a nutshell, the GCWR and tow rating in your post ware probably understated.

Sean F

Thank you to Smokeywren and BareBonesXL for the great help. Over the past 2 1/2 years I have been on this website for help as a non-member. I am now, glad to say, a member and hope that I will be able to contribute. Now I need to find out how to post an American flag with my name.

2012 5.0 Lariat supercrew

Sean F

Also about GCWR, how do I figure that number out exactly? The door label states GVWRand max payload, but not the combined weight, which is the first column in the charts.

smokeywren

That's called an avatar.

First, on the internet find an American flag image you want to use. Then right click on that image, then click on "properties", then copy the URL (internet address) of that image into the RAM memory of your PC. Then maybe paste that URL into photo editing software, and edit/crop that image to get it exactly how you want it to show up as your avatar. Save that edited image, then post it somewhere on the internet. Then while on that other website, right-click on the image to get the new URL from the properties of the image. Copy that URL into RAM.

Next, navigate to https://www.f150forum.com/, then on User CP (user control panel), then on "Edit Avatar". Then get to the place where it asks for the URL of the avatar, and paste the URL there. Save the avatar, and you should be good to go.

You may need to tweak the above details, but that's basically how you do it.

For your name and truck info, you need to go back to User CP and add/edit your signature so you will have a signature.

Gladehound

Define "safely".

marshallr

The 3.73 axle might theoretically add about 800- 1,000 lbs to your tow rating. While it may not be listed for that specific truck, (at least not anywhere I can find), the 800-1000 lbs is consistent with other Ford trucks where everything else is the same except 3.55 vs 3.73 gears.

But in the real world you will run out of payload before you reach the tow rating limits. A 1,400 lb payload will probably limit you to about 6000-7000 lbs realistically. A 7,500 lb trailer + WDH will put about 1100 lbs on your truck leaving only 300 lbs for passengers and cargo. That is cutting things pretty close. My wife and I combined weigh 360. Having the 3.73's will mean your truck will probably pull the same weights with less stress on the engine than 3.55's. But I'd not plan on towing any more weight.

Some trucks will have significantly more payload, around 1600-1800 is more typical of Supercrews. Some crew cabs and regular cabs could have 2,000 lbs +. Those trucks are the ones that can tow 9,000-11,000 lbs. Most cannot.