Sailorkane

Just bought the 2018 F150 base (3.3L engine), 3.55 rear end, no special tow package. Tow limit is stated as 5100#. What is the determining factor on tow limit? Receiver, truck, engine, etc? Max limits for 3.3L with 3.73 rear end are 7700#. I have used WDH in the past and would do it again.

Is there any way to increase the tow limit to 6000# without gutting the truck? Is it receiver that is the limiting factor? Would like to tow a travel trailer and would love to see 6000# wet.

Apologize in advance if this is redundant, but I've read a bunch of posts and am still confused.

Gladehound

• There's nothing you can do to "officially" change the tow limit. Meaning, Ford rated it a certain way and if you want to be on the conservative side of any potential legal issues down the road you should stick to those ratings.
• If it has a 2" receiver, what does the rating sticker on the receiver say? (lay down and look up at the bottom of the receiver)
• from a drivetrain heat management perspective, all you need to do to tow 6,000 pounds if you have a 5,100 pound rating is not drive as fast. Just go a little slower and your drivetrain won't see any more heat load than with 5,100 pounds going a little faster.
• Make sure you stay within your payload rating and use a WDH.
• The one problem you may have is with frontal area. Your truck may not have proper cooling to cruise down the highway at 65mph pulling a travel trailer due to the large frontal area. I think the 60sq ft frontal area rating starts with trucks rated at 7,000+ towing. You may want to put on an auxiliary transmission cooler if it doesn't have one. Do you have temp reading for tranny, oil and water? If so watch them carefully and slow down if they are too high. If not, get sensors for each of those.

Steve83

There is no "tow limit". With the right equipment, you could tow a battleship. Just not very fast or far.

There's a "GCWR" which can't be increased. But it looks like the number you posted is the GVWR, which really has nothing to do with a trailer. Read the owner's manual; a few times, if necessary.

Apples

Off the top of my head, I doubt any 3.3-engine'd F150 has a Payload Package (GVWR) of 7700 lbs. That's HDPP territory, and powered by the 3.5 EcoBoost if not also a 5.0.





The "determining factor on tow limit" is what Ford says it is for that particular truck. Why you'd want to tow more than 5100 lbs with only 200 cubic inches naturally aspirated is beyond me. You could get away with a flat bed trailer and loads that didn't stack very high, but as soon as you want to pull a vertical wall (front of a travel or enclosed cargo trailer), that anemic 3.3 will fall flat on it's face from the trailer aerodynamic resistance.

The 3.3 is great for getting around town, but even when the truck is empty and with no trailer the truck won't get out of it's own way at highway speeds.

"A man's gotta know his limitations." You may have to face the fact that you more than likely have the wrong truck for what it is you'd like to tow.

If you're ever involved in an accident and towing heavier than the rating given to your truck's VIN, your insurance company *may* deny your claim. That would suck most of all.

Sailorkane

So, with a frame mounted receiver and transmission cooler and of course a wdh, I can push it to 6000#? Just prepared to drive slower? There is a transmission temp sensor....
That seems logical, since the 3.73 rear end has a 7700# limit. That just spins the engine faster....

Apples

Legally, no, you cannot "push it to 6000" lbs.

And you're forgetting trailer brakes. Unless the trailer uses a self-contained hydraulic surge-brake system, you would need a provision to run electric trailer brakes. Your truck is not equipped with that paraphernalia.

chimmike

Even if you could tow 5,000lbs, such as a travel trailer, it might be a less-than-fun experience fighting the weight and aerodynamic drag of a travel trailer with the 3.3. Buy a F150 meant to be used for towing, not a 3.3. That's a fleet motor or motor for folks who just need a 'truck' for truck stuff, not including towing.

Keep in mind you haven't discussed payload ratings either. Those will factor in.

chimmike

that 3.73 setup may also have a different frame strength and GVWR.

blkZ28spt

What would your tongue weight and total, including that tongue weight, payload be? What does yiur yellow sticker say payload rating is? Payload will probably get you because of gvwr

Apples

What he means is that what you can carry in the truck, after you and a full tank of gas, is limited, and that does not include the weight of the hitch you might add let alone the tongue weight of the trailer.

The Tire And Loading Information placard affixed to the driver door jamb should say, "The combined weigh of occupants and cargo should never exceed:" xxxx lbs. How many lbs is it on your truck? It varies from truck to truck depending on the truck's factory-specified "Payload Package" and the amount of bells and whistles factory installed in your truck. Your Payload Package minus what your truck weighs empty (but with a full tank of fuel) will be the remaining payload capacity from which you must again subtract the weight of the hitch, the slider, the tongue weight of the trailer... and forget about a WDH. Your truck isn't rated to tow anything that would require a WDH.

Hate to be harsh, but if you pay attention to the reality now, you may save yourself some massive legal and financial reality later.