Thanks for all the feedback. I also see I put wrong subject in as it was really question about package B vs. C. The link to the pictures was very helpful. So think I have now finally finured out that Towing Package is 53 (B) and Max Towing Package is 53 (C) as the language was not really defined. The chain attachment angle and not going all the way around the tube, suggests it is the 53(B) towing package. But the good news either way is that several key elements of 53(C) were added as well like the 36 gal tank, and trailer brake controller so a bit of a hybrid. So it seems I have everything I wanted for towing in hotter weather. I'm pulling well under both payload capacity and towing capacity, so it is just more that the AZ heat extremes challenge vehicles doing any extra work.

 

I'm towing less than 4,500 so well within all the weights including payload. But I traded up because on my prior vehicle I was well within towing capacity but at or slightly over payload. So I agree that payload is reached nearly all the time way before towing capacity. I really didn't understand that when I was looking for a truck, but fortunately I didn't make a big mistake despite my ignorance. I wish I had discovered this forum before I bought.

 

There isn't a huge difference between the two hitches. I would agree based on your photos you have a 53B. If you go through that thread where someone did the "upgrade" they even admitted that they didn't do the swap for towing, I think he even said he doesn't even tow with his truck. He did it more for the information. I haven't read that thread in a while, I just have it book marked because there are good photos of the hitch differences.

Keep in mind the Max Tow Package is more of a marketing thing than anything. Pretty much everything that makes up a Max Tow Package is also available individually or as part of other packages. For instance you can basically add everything individually to a 5.0 truck but it wasn't technically a Max Tow truck because in that 2015-2020 model range you had to have the 3.5EB. Though now for 2021 they opened it up to additional engine options. Heck you could manually configure all the options on a 3.5 but not tick the box for Max Tow. I don't know why someone would do that though as they would likely pay more for the truck that way. By having 53B and not 53C the one thing you might not have is the upgraded sway bar. Of course you could swap it out if you really wanted to.

I will say the heavier duty hitch is a bit more beefy and while the chain plate is thicker and angled, it also is a bit heavier so it will impact payload a bit more. I think that other thread he weighed them. It isn't a difference of a lot of weight though so really probably not going to be that big of a deal.

When I was truck shopping I wanted Max Tow and it isn't easy to figure out what a truck has on the used market. Sometimes they don't have complete window stickers. Dealers can go to places to print them out but I did a lot of online shopping and would look for those angled chain plate loops, look at the gas gauge trying to figure out if it was the bigger tank based on the range and look at the engine. I was looking at Platinum trims with 701A which all come with backup pro assist so I couldn't use that as a possible indication for Max Tow. I then used that link I sent you to sign up for the Blue Oval Forum where they will get you a copy of your window sticker. I didn't bother posting a bunch of trucks as I was shopping as I didn't want to overburden them but once I pretty much found the truck I was buying I did that as a final check. It is nice to be able to see all the options that are on the truck and that is the best way that I found. In my case my truck was at a Nissan Dealer so I don't think they had the ability to pull up the full factory window sticker like the other forum did for me. I assume the people doing it there work for Ford in some capacity. Either at a dealer or corporate. That is one thing that is nice about GM. They put a sticker in the glove box with a long list of RPO codes. You can have a sales person take a pic of the RPO codes and send it to you and there are spreadsheets that translate all those codes into the build sheet with all the options of the truck. It makes shopping used a lot easier.

 

I purchased mine from a RAM dealer so they also knew perhaps less about the Ford trucks. I looked at the 2019 towing guide for F150 and the only differences I can find between the 53(B) package and the 53(C) package that I cannot verify whether I have it or not, or even how useful it is were upgrade rear bumper, and upgraded rear axle. Not even sure what upgraded means in these two cases. Probably a way to verify both.

 

Max Tow is:

3.5 EB engine
3.55 elocker rear dif
36 gallon fuel tank
Aux transmission and engine oil coolers
Upgraded hitch (bumper)
Brake Controller
Front Stabilizer Bar

Some of these things are included as part of other packages. So technically the Max Tow Package is a better value if applied to say a XL truck compared to adding it to a Platinum. I say that because odds are a Platinum if a 3.5 EB would already have the engine, 3.55 e-locker, I don't remember the year of the change but basically they all have the oil coolers.

So the two things you don't have are the upgraded hitch which they also call bumper. We could tell that based on your photo, I really wouldn't worry about that personally since you are good on your numbers. Also it isn't clear if you have the upgraded front sway bar. I also don't know how big of a deal that is. If you can see a part number on it you could probably figure that out. I don't know if the stabilizer bar is part of another package.

I have a buddy that has a 2015 F150 Plat and his truck is 701A with FX4 but no Max Tow, from crawling around his truck the only thing we could tell he was missing was the front sway bar as he had the upgraded bumper/hitch and larger fuel tank. He also bought used and it must have been an individual upgrade. We pulled our camper with his truck to try out a F150 once. He was borrowing our camper for Oshkosh and we needed to set up the hitch for him anyhow so we swapped vehicles the week before. It pulled it great and was what sealed the deal for us to jump from GM to Ford. Why his truck was ordered with everything that makes up Max Tow but not be a Max Tow is kind of odd. Mine happened to be the other way where it is a 701A with Max Tow but no FX4. I didn't care about the skid plates and added the hill decent control button to mine not that I really needed it but it was $14 maybe.

The sway bar might help prevent trailer sway but if you properly load the trailer and are in your numbers with 13% or so of tongue weight with a good WD hitch you will likely never notice the difference. I am not sure how else it will help.

 

The axle code is L9, which the 2019 tow guide shows as 3.55 with Electronic locking (as best I can tell), but not quite sure if that is the same. The towing guide also checks the box for Upgraded Front stabilizer bar for both 53 (B) and 53(C). So It seems they mostly put together a max towing package, and it includes everything I'm interested in. The upgraded bumper doesn't seem at all important. Too bad there is not more transparent disclosure on these things, but I think I'm almost there

 

confusion abounds still.
.Towing packages in capacity order are
53B receiver/wiring package
53A Towing Package
53C Max Towing Package
53A & B have the same receiver.
The only easily seen difference between 53A & 53B is the LED hitching light on the tailgate. As was previously mention, base model XL is the exception, not getting that lamp.

 

Another way to tell what towing package it is not is the axle minimum for the package.
53C gets a 3.55 minimum
53A gets a 3.31 minimum
So 3.31 could be an A or B but not a C
Less than 3.31 can’t be an A

 

I have the same L9 rear axle in my 2018 with Max Tow Package. So it is the same. That is a pretty common axle to be mated with the 3.5EB more so in the mid to high trim levels.

I wasn't 100% sure on the stabilizer bar in 53B which is why I mentioned it. I know it is a thing in 53C.

I agree the hitch (bumper) isn't going to make enough of a difference for the expense/time to replace it. Yeah I really like how GM does the RPO codes in the glove box.

 

I am pretty sure the 53C only gets the L9 3.55. At least in the 2015-2020. But like I mentioned, I see that axle in a lot of 3.5EB trucks at least in your mid to higher trims.