Originally Posted by AC53

I think you've likely gotten most of what you need in responses and perhaps more than you wanted, but strangely enough, not necessarily direct answers to your questions. I'll try to provide slightly more direct answers for you....

Originally Posted by AC53

I think you've likely gotten most of what you need in responses and perhaps more than you wanted, but strangely enough, not necessarily direct answers to your questions. I'll try to provide slightly more direct answers for you.


I do believe that the notion of having a safety margin is misunderstood by a lot of folks. The rating on all new Ford vehicles is the safe amount for that vehicle. What Ford is saying is that if the vehicle is new or in like-new condition, it can safely tow that amount. It doesn't say that the driver is competent or that the vehicle isn't capable of towing more than that safely if appropriate modifications are made. All it says is that based on SAE criteria that vehicle when new, in that configuration, is able to meet or surpass the requirements to satisfy the SAE testing for safe towing.

The Ford rating is arrived at using the SAE Jxxxxx specifications for determining safe towing ratings for each specific vehicle configuration. Therefore, there is no "safety margin" required per se. There are three reasons why one should consider adding a safety margin, however:

1. Non-SAE rating - A vehicle older than the SAE specs and/or not rated per those specs. When the SAE specs were introduced GM reduced the tow capacity ratings on almost all their trucks whereas AFAIK, Ford only needed to do that on a few specific configurations
2. Tow vehicle not in excellent condition - Tow ratings are for a new vehicle, not a 10-year-old one.
   • SAE Rating is for a new vehicle (they can't test and verify anything else). So, based on having full (or near) brake rotor and brake pad thickness with fresh quality high-rated brake fluid, good fresh coolant, properly rated and inflated near new tires, good suspension, no modifications, etc., etc.
   • A tow vehicle that is 3-4 years old and in good condition and properly maintained, might run at a lower rating if subjected to the SAE testing, but I've not seen anything on that and barring such info, for anyone to say that you should drop 20% vs 10% or 30% is mostly pure speculation. So I'll say drop 10% because there are so many that will want to take issue with any figure. ;-)
3. Driver has little experience or low comfort level - Safe towing is not just about ratings. Some folks are naturals at towing and some veteran towers will never be good or safe (just like so many drivers on the road). As a rule-of-thumb, the less experience one has the greater margin they should leave themselves because things can seem to happen suddenly and out of nowhere that an experienced driver might have anticipated.

There has been a lot of talk on frontal area here, and that what is being towed is very important, not just the weight. My 2-cents worth would be that it is an important part of the equation. Don't forget, however, that Ford is simply using the 60-square-feet as the parameter for the tow ratings because that is the frontal area required for the SAE testing, so Ford is simply identifying that their ratings are based on that frontal area. That in no way shape or form means that there is a limit of 60, only that the rating is based on 60. More frontal area (over the same type) would reduce your max tow rating, but I don't know by how much, therefore, the fact that your specific TT has more than the SAE tested area but has better aero means that one can't easily identify whether there is a need to introduce a safety margin based on that or not. If you are towing with more frontal area than that, but with better aero than a straight slab or V-nose (doesn't help nearly as much as most think - a sloped top is better), you might arrive at the same or better ratings if tested.

Originally Posted by TerryD64

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Please do not confuse Tow Rating with Payload (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GWWR) - Curb weight of truck). Remember you are carrying the tongue weight of the trailer not merely pulling it...

Originally Posted by TerryD64

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In most cases Class 2a trucks (1/2 tons pickups and vans) max out on payload before hitting the the stated tow rating...

Originally Posted by TerryD64

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especially if the vehicle is carrying more than a 150 pound driver and/or the tongue weight of the trailer is greater than the 10% provided for in the test.