bjw

I am considering ordering a Lariat without the tow package; I don't want the back up assist, I think is it silly and don't want to pay for it.. I intend to add a trailer brake controller and the front stabilizer bar. I don't have an example to verify, but believe that the max towing capacity for a 5.0 Lariat without the tow package is 5k lbs. The only thing in the tow package that seems to be capacity related are the front stabilizer bar and the aux transmission cooler. Can I not just add these items? I have to add the trailer break controller anyway. I am assuming that payload would be my limiting factor for a 7500lb trailer with a WDH.

Thanks for any insight.

iknfixit

chimmike

for resale purposes, why would you buy a lariat without any tow package at all? You're already spending $50k on a truck, what's another $750?

I mean, do any dealers even have a lariat on the lot without a tow package of any kind?

Catcher22

to get the max tow package don't you have to get the 3.5?

Ricktwuhk

Unless you never plan on selling it, you need to think about features that a potential buyer wants, or where the lack of the feature would have them look elsewhere. People expect a Lariat to have certain features. Not having factory aux transmission cooler is simply a bad decision.

Backup Assist is a feature that many experienced towing people find very useful on long, tight driveways and boat ramps. People laugh at the tailgate assist step until they use it also.

Make sure you add a trailer brake controller, the trailer break controller is not recommended.

acdii

ROFLMAO

bjw

Ricktwuhk

Solid advice on all points, thank you-

PerryB

X2. Get the truck equipped and ready to tow. I woukd strongly recommend getting the TBC factory instalked. There's been issues with non-factory equipped trucks not having all the requisite wiring. Read the "2018 trailer brake control" thread in this section.

smokeywren

Assuming you're talking about a 2018 F-150, there is no such thing as an auxiliary tranny cooler. That was 2017. For 2018 the increased cooling capacity in the 53A towing pkg is achieved with

- higher capacity cooling fan

- higher capacity radiator.

The oil-to-water (OTW) tranny cooler has been moved to outside the radiator, and it's standard. Increased cooling is achieved by pulling more air through a bigger radiator, to suck the excess heat out of the water (coolant).

So yes, you can add that higher capacity cooling needed for towing by replacing the fan and radiator with the correct parts. But that, plus the cost of the front stabilizer, will probably cost you about the same as the option cost of the 53A towing pkg. So order the 53A towing pkg, and if you don't want to use the Pro Trailer Backup Assist, nobody says you have to use it.

bjw

smokeywren,

I appreciate the detailed explanation; I am glad to know the details. It would be a mistake, I now believe, to not order (at least) 53A, certainly with the higher powered engines. I guess I'll just have to wonder why back up assist is included in the package but a trailer brake controller is not

bjw