Identifying 53(A) vs. 53(B) tow package
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Joined: Jan 2017
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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.
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 problem is Ford doesn't give you an inclusive list of everything the package includes, sometimes list things that are already standard and sometimes list things like auxiliary coolers that don't exist.
It becomes very hard to tell what the differences actually are.
5 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2020
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From: Franklin, PA
Yes, I was just listing the minimum gearing the package would have. Such as someone trying sell an F150 with Max Tow but if it has a 3.31, that would be a lie. My point being minimum gear ratios, because you can upgrade your gear ratios as a separate option.
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 643
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From: Twin Cities, MN
There are some pros and cons to this type of cooling. For instance in some situations it is actually pumping heat into what you are trying to cool. That can be good and bad. Good if you are trying to get to operating temp bad if you are trying to keep it cool but your coolant is at 250F and the transmission is at 220F. Now you are just pumping heat into it. Though if your coolant hits those temps you are probably towing in some big hills and it will pull power on the 3.5EB.
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Joined: Aug 2018
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From: Kentucky
Is the transfer radiator on the input or output side of the engine coolant flow?
I would presume the output side so it does not add heat to the engine. The transmission and it's fluid can handle a lot more heat than the engine.
With the engine is at 250ºF, you've made it to the power reduction point (congrats!) and will be forced to cool down, while still being within the transmission fluid operating range. You'll at best split the difference, bringing the transmission fluid to 235ºF, well within it's normal operating range. If you had a big enough transfer radiator and could actually transfer enough heat to bring the transmission fluid to 250ºF, that's the transmission temp in the F250 where it turns on fans to push the temp back down five degrees.
I would presume the output side so it does not add heat to the engine. The transmission and it's fluid can handle a lot more heat than the engine.
With the engine is at 250ºF, you've made it to the power reduction point (congrats!) and will be forced to cool down, while still being within the transmission fluid operating range. You'll at best split the difference, bringing the transmission fluid to 235ºF, well within it's normal operating range. If you had a big enough transfer radiator and could actually transfer enough heat to bring the transmission fluid to 250ºF, that's the transmission temp in the F250 where it turns on fans to push the temp back down five degrees.
Last edited by Flamingtaco; Mar 11, 2021 at 04:03 PM.
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