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Here's the 2018 Trailer Tow Package and what it means... Snapshot from the 2018 Ford F150 brochure.
Apparently Ford printed the brochure before the final specs were set.
The order Guide for 2018 F-50 no longer includes "auxiliary transmission oil cooler" for either the 53A tow pkg or 53C max tow pkg. Instead with the 5.0L engine it now has "higher capacity cooling fans". With the 3.5L EcoBoost engine it now has the higher capacity cooling fans plus "higher capacity radiator".
Went to build my 2018 truck online at Ford.com a few minutes ago... here's what you get with the tow package. I guess I'll go look under the hood next to see the aux oil cooler next.
Apparently Ford printed the brochure before the final specs were set.
The order Guide for 2018 F-50 no longer includes "auxiliary transmission oil cooler" for either the 53A tow pkg or 53C max tow pkg. Instead with the 5.0L engine it now has "higher capacity cooling fans". With the 3.5L EcoBoost engine it now has the higher capacity cooling fans plus "higher capacity radiator".
Smokey - they do come with the aux Tran cooler it's just not in the traditional location. There are some other threads showing where it's at which is right next to the transmission. Same cooler as what's on the super duty is what they're saying.
Smokey - they do come with the aux Tran cooler it's just not in the traditional location. There are some other threads showing where it's at which is right next to the transmission. Same cooler as what's on the super duty is what they're saying.
That's not an Auxiliary tranny cooler - it's the only tranny cooler. The auxiliary tranny cooler on 2017s and earlier was an oil-to-air (OTA) heat exchanger. The heat exchanger next to the tranny is an oil-to-water (OTW) heat exchanger. I suspect it replaces the smaller OTW heat exchanger that was in the bottom of the radiator in earlier F-150s.
That's not an Auxiliary tranny cooler - it's the only tranny cooler. The auxiliary tranny cooler on 2017s and earlier was an oil-to-air (OTA) heat exchanger. The heat exchanger next to the tranny is an oil-to-water (OTW) heat exchanger. I suspect it replaces the smaller OTW heat exchanger that was in the bottom of the radiator in earlier F-150s.
Here's the thread I was reading showing the aux tranny cooler - pages 4 & 5 were telling for me.
Page 16 of the Trailer Towing Guide shows what is included with each option package.
Yep. And that undated version of the towing guide shows that only the Raptor has an auxiliary tranny cooler. The hitch pkg 53B and the tow packges 53A md 53C do not have an auxiliary tranny cooler.
The OTW tranny cooler is not included on that list, I guess because it's standard on all F-150s so it's not considered as "towing equipment".
I've seen one document that limits 53B trucks to 5000 lbs, but the towing guide doesn't. Pages 18 & 19 show conventional towing limitations and do not specify that 53A is needed. However on pages 20 & 21 for fifth wheel/gooseneck towing there is a note that states 53A or 53C is required.
53A gets you (as apposed to 53B) upgraded stabilizer bar (wish I could find part numbers, it appears 2018s are different), rear LED and Pro Backup assist. Out of those 3 items only the stabilizer bar affects towing. I could care less about led and assist. $995 towing package basically gets me a $40 bar. I'm not even sure about this until I see the part number for my current 53B bar and the part number for the 53A bar. That's why I left the tow package off for the first time in my long history of special ordering trucks. 302A package gets me everything I need. I almost got the tow package for the Aux transmission cooler, but decided I could install latter if necessary. Now that I have my 2018 and have read these threads..... It turns out there is no extra "Aux" cooler with the tow package. I'm so glad I saved $995. I don't understand why Ford puts tow related items in trim packages. I attached picture of stabilizer bar tag. All other threads mention a FL3Z-5482-A or B bar.
I've seen one document that limits 53B trucks to 5000 lbs, but the towing guide doesn't. Pages 18 & 19 show conventional towing limitations and do not specify that 53A is needed. However on pages 20 & 21 for fifth wheel/gooseneck towing there is a note that states 53A or 53C is required.
53A gets you (as apposed to 53B) upgraded stabilizer bar (wish I could find part numbers, it appears 2018s are different), rear LED and Pro Backup assist. Out of those 3 items only the stabilizer bar affects towing. I could care less about led and assist. $995 towing package basically gets me a $40 bar. I'm not even sure about this until I see the part number for my current 53B bar and the part number for the 53A bar. That's why I left the tow package off for the first time in my long history of special ordering trucks. 302A package gets me everything I need. I almost got the tow package for the Aux transmission cooler, but decided I could install latter if necessary. Now that I have my 2018 and have read these threads..... It turns out there is no extra "Aux" cooler with the tow package. I'm so glad I saved $995. I don't understand why Ford puts tow related items in trim packages. I attached picture of stabilizer bar tag. All other threads mention a FL3Z-5482-A or B bar.
Gotta agree with you. I'm not overly thrilled with paying $1k for the package if the only thing you get is a better stabilizer bar. I got the lariat se package. I'm very happy with it. This would not have changed my decision on which model or options to buy.
02-06-2018, 07:51 PM
