Heavy duty tow package vs heavy duty payload package.
 

After reading a lot of towing threads, I've come to the following conclusion, the heavy duty payload package, probably worth the money. The heavy duty tow package, probably not.

This is based on the following. What does the heavy duty tow package bring to the table. Someone did a nice write up on the hitch differences. They weighed the same. The one with the heavy duty tow package looked different, but not really any stronger in my opinion. What exactly did they do to the rear frame to make it "stronger". Does anybody know? What else do you get, a different sway bar. It seems like you are always maxed out on the GVWR of the truck so adding to the towing weight just doesn't do much for you.

The heavy duty payload package bumps up the payload capacity of the truck, thereby bumping up the allowable hitch weight. Seems to me this does more the real world tow capacity than the heavy duty tow package.

Any thoughts on this or am I looking at it wrong?

The hdpp doesn’t allow you increase hitch weight limits, it increases the GVWR which allows the truck to carry more payload.

the max tow pkg does get you more tow capacity, trailer brake controller, 3.55 rear gear ratio, 36 gal fuel tank, & I believe it gets you still an upgraded radiator and transmission cooler. The only thing it will not net you on the current gen is the big tow mirrors, those are an add on, but you could only get them on the previous gen with this pkg.

I agree, it seems someone priced out the heavy duty tow package as separate items and dollar for dollar, maybe not a bad buy. It just seems from the stand point of what your truck will tow, it doesn't do much.

Yep. The words "upgraded rear bumper" is misleading. In effect, it's an upgraded receiver hitch.

The rear bumper frame on an F-150 has three sections. The middle section is available in three different components:

1] Without a receiver, the center section is just a "reinforcement" that holds the bumper frame together.

2] With the 53B hitch, or the 53A towing package, the center section includes the "regular" trailer hitch receiver.

3] With the 53C Maximum towing package, the center section includes the maximum available receiver, rated for more tongue weight (TW) and trailer weight than the regular receiver.

53C also includes the integrated trailer brake controller (ITBC) and the 36-gallon gas tank that are options with the regular tow pkg.

True. Best of all for a towing machine is the F-150 with both the heavy duty payload pkg (HDPP) and the max tow pkg. Max tow requires the 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbo engine, so if you're a fan of antique technology, you cannot have the max tow pkg.

Without max tow, the TW limit of your receiver hitch may be the limiter as to how much trailer you can tow WITHOUT BEING OVERLOADED. And you have to remember to order not only the tow mirrors, but also the ITBC and the 36-gallon tank that are part of Max Tow, but not included in the regular tow pkg..

You're mostly right, but don't discount the advantages of max tow. When I order my new 2019, I plan to order both HDPP and max tow.

When you say "heavy duty tow package", are you referring to the Max tow package? The reason I ask is because depending on where you look, Ford references the regular tow package as "heavy duty tow package". Then there's the "max tow package" that sounds like is what you are referring to.

Assuming you are talking about a new truck, I've read on the forum that the max tow package is a lot cheaper than adding the regular tow package + some of the add ons. In fact, I just looked at Ford's build and price for 2018 F150, The max tow is only $300 more than the regular tow. The brake controller is a $275 add on. The 36 gal fuel tank is a $445 add on IF you are getting at least the 301A package. If you want the base XLT 300A package, it's an $1100 add on because it forces you into the 301A. But you can get the Max tow on a 300A that includes the 36 gal tank. IMO, the max tow is worth it for those 2 items alone.

yes, I'm using the wrong term, max tow is what I meant to say.

My truck is basically set up like a max tow in some ways, 36 gallon tank, tow package and 3.55 e lock rear end, but it didn't have the brake controller. Why they build them that way I don't know. I have a 7000 lb car hauler trailer so I'm well within the limits of what I will ever tow but I see a lot of posts on this issue.

small thing, it's called max tow package, not heavy duty tow package. not sure if that's throwing you off or not. also, I think the standard tow pkg comes with a class IV hitch, the max tow has a class V. the trucks I've seen without the max tow are not rated much over 8k. those with max tow are 11-13k. neither tow package increases the payload.

Load the trailer to 7,000 pounds, and approximate hitch weight (including the required WD hitch) will be about 1,000 pounds. Does your wet and loaded F-150 have enough unused payload capacity to haul 1,000 pounds of hitch weight?

The payload on my truck is listed at 1940 lbs on the door sticker.