brulaz

etrailer.com lists several upgrades for the superdutys, and Tork-Lift ( not sure if I have the name right) makes an add-on HD receiver, but only for the 1050# non-MaxTow receiver, for the F150. You end up with two receivers with the Tork-lift.

I'm hoping Ford's receiver "ratings" are more "guidelines" for the truck as a whole rather than the structural aspects of the receiver ...

Mike Up

Ford only gives tow ratings, not tongue ratings. The hitch's ratings should reflect what the truck structure along with the receiver structure can handle according to the receiver design and how it's attached to the truck's structure. Most unibody car/crossover hitches have a very low rating as there is nothing substantial to install/attach the receiver to.

My previous 2004 Nissan Titan had low hitch weight rating in the manual for any receiver. The model I had had a low 650 lbs rating. Don't know why but the hitch itself was rated for 930 lbs (which was still very low). Perhaps due to suspension differences that would handle badly with higher hitch weights.

My Titan payload was very low as well. It was a stripped down XE model that only had a factory payload of 1373 lbs and GVWR of 6500 lbs on a Crew Cab 4WD model with 5.5' bed. This payload did not include side steps, tonneau cover, bedliner or receiver hitch that weren't installed at the factory. When all those were added it was only 1150 lbs compared to my F150's 1540 lbs payload. It's suspension was very soft and handling would had been bad with heavy weight behind it.

As far as going up to 1500 lbs on the F150, I would talk to Ford over that to get an idea as no hitch weight rating is available.

Troublemakers

Thanks for all the comments. I am going to hold off until the new breed of 8-10 speed trannies start popping up. The ratios will allow a lot more lenience in rear end ratios with the low first gears, closely spaced from there on out and overdrives to suit most. I'm hoping there is an update for the 16s this summer and I can either place the order then or purchase a 15 with more room to deal.

brulaz

More gears in the tranny should help with down hill engine braking as well, a weakness of the EcoB engines. With more gears you should be able to find the right ratio without revving too high.

PerryB

For the money you're going to spend on a maxed out (tow package wise, I mean) F150, why don't you look at a nice, used 250 with the 6.7? I know you said you want to stay out of that category but you now have a trailer that is pushing the envelope for the 150. The EB motor with 6 speed auto has plenty of power and gear divisions (definitely want the lowest possible rear axle ratio) but I'm looking more at stability of the tow vehicle with the load attached. Driving in heavy crosswinds, passing big rigs, heaving road surfaces -especially on downgrades- can all be very uncomfortable when driving a maxed out tow vehicle.This is where the difference between these trucks become huge. -- opinion.

I always think back to that classic line in the movie "Jaws" when they got their first good look at the size of the shark. "We're going to need a bigger boat".

SkiSmuggs

There isn't much difference between an F150 HD and an F250 gasser as far as payload and towing. The F150 would be a more comfortable family vehicle. But I still say the F150 Max Tow is all you need with a good WDH.
I have towed my 9500 lb fifth wheel across country and back and never felt I didn't have the truck for the job.

Troublemakers

Thanks for the advice, but i can put some closure to this thread. The 6.7 I have at work sits with a 95% clogged exhaust filter when normally used. If I can get it out for a run I can get it down to 50%. Its been a pain in the butt since we got it, and after the crap I went through with the 6.0 and now the newest issues with the 6.7, a Ford diesel wasnt in the cards. I ended up with a 2015 Ram 2500 Crew with the Cummins, so I kind of went the other way.

DieselDawg

The other BIG FACTOR in the mix is the 98% use...daily driver. You can make it work with the 1/2 ton 3.5L Ecoboost with the correct model...and still have a good daily driver.

KR Kodi

iTrader: (1)

Huh???


Maybe I don't understand what you mean by "not tongue ratings" and "no hitch weight rating is available".


The F150 hitch weight limit ratings are on a sticker right on the hitch. Below are a couple pictures of the stickers I pulled off the internet.


Below is one just like the sticker on my 2013 with the standard tow package - you can see it says what the max tongue weight and max trailer weight are for either with or without a WDH:









And below is a sticker probably from a 2011 to 2014 with the Max Tow package - and you can see that with a WDH the Max Tow hitch can support 100 lbs more and tow an 1000 lb heavier trailer than the standard tow package hitch:





Take a look at the 2015 F150 Towing brochure:


http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/g...0_r1_Jan12.pdf


Scroll down to page 4 and you can see the 2015 hitch is rated for 5000/500 or with a WDH 12200/1220. And further it states: "(This capacity also is shown on a label affixed to each receiver.)"


So....it appears to me that the max tongue weight of every Ford hitch is posted right on a label/sticker that is on every hitch.


.

PerryB

Give me some feedback on the Dodge after you get a few tows on it. I have been considering going that route next time.