nihilus

Nice setup. I had the 3.55 and wondered the same thing. I wouldn't worry too much about the rated GCVW. Your truck has great payload being a supercab stx. You have a perfect truck for the job. There is only like a 5% difference between the 3.55 and 3.73. The 6r80 with its super low gear does great.

Wannafbody

I'm convinced that Ford's numbers are screwy. The 5.0 has a 7350 GVWR while the EB has a 7200 GVWR-identical trucks.

IMO the max tow rating should be determined by the hitch.

Mike Up

I completely agree, the truck tows much easier than my previous 2010 5.4L Crew 4WD w/3.55 LS . The 3.73 locker on my 5.0L should had made up for the supposed lower torque out of the 5.0L but it feels much torquier down low than the 5.4l did.

Funny thing is that the 5.0L has the exact same tow ratings as the 2009/2010 4.6L 3 valve base engine and the Ecoboost has the exact same tow ratings for standard tow and Max Tow as did the premium optional 5.4L did for both standard and max tow packages as well.

I initially thought the lower tow rating was because of the smaller block size and how well it was able to cool under stress. Though it might overheat when pulling more than the rating. BUT now I see your point and the ratings should had only dropped down 340 lbs going from a 2WD Scab 5.0L to a 4WD Scab 5.0L. No different than carrying two big guys in the truck while your towing.

What I found is that Ford loves to play games with marketing.

For instance my 2010 F150 had 7200 lbs GVWR which was really to low for this new model as it's heavier than the previous 2008 model generation and older. In 2011 the 5.0L and Ecoboost Screw 4WD 5.5' box still had that 7200 lbs GVWR but the Ecoboost could be had with the Max Tow which went up to 7650 lbs GVWR. The Max Tow package really helped with Towing when having heavy tongue weights.

Now in 2012 the Ecoboost still stayed at 7200 lbs GVWR and still had the 7650 lbs GVWR with Max Tow. The 5.0L doesn't have the Max Tow package available to it but for some reason the GVWR went up to 7350 lbs. A whole 150 lbs more than the Ecoboost although they both carry the same axle ratings. Ford is playing games so that people who won't buy the Ecoboost, will still buy their F150 5.0L for towing since it now has a high enough GVWR (payload) for most trailers.

Also in 2013, the Ecoboost Screw 4WD 5.5' bed w/3.31 axle went from 8100 lbs to 9200 lbs tow rating. No difference just a wonderous 1,100 lbs gain in towing.

I thought this 5.0L towed exceptional as well.

Ford plays games and that's obvious.

Z7What

I'm sure this has been asked hundreds of times but how can I find out what my truck is rated to tow.

It's a 2013 FX2 Supercrew 5.0L 3.55

Weird thing is that according to this chart my truck should have 3600lb Front Springs and 3850lb rear springs.


But my door sticker says 3600lb front and 4050lb rear. Which according to that list above is a Eco Max Tow.


Wayne

Mike Up

You have the 20" wheels. Sometime ago there was a poll and everyone who had 20" wheels had the rear 4050 lbs axle. Maybe because of the added weight of the wheels compared to a 17" wheel.

Plus you can't go by the fleet body builders guide. They are for special order vehicles and I've found they are usually more robust with higher rated parts than the typical dealer lot truck.

Z7What

Yes I have 20"s, I would think the 20"s would give me LESS tow rating. The limited has less rating due to it's 22"s. What am I missing here?

Wayne

Feathermerchant

Well Ford has to look at the lowest rated part (weakest link) in the chain. Without knowing the weight ratings or the wheels and tires it may be difficult to determine.

Boulevard

FORD has been 'sand bagging' the 5.0 since day 1 and has nothing to do with the 5.0 being weak and everything to do with FORD pushing the 3.5. FORD de-rated the 440 hp mustang engine by 80 hp and than put it in the F150. That's 80 hp UNDER what this engine is made to do....with warranty. The 3.5 is borrowed from the Taurus and is working at max capacity in both the F150 and the Taurus. Not to argue that the 3.5 doesn't have some truly great characteristics I just do not see the engine lasting and I see no reason why the 5.0 should be treated any less than the 3.5.


If you look at the numbers than the 3.5L engine makes 108 hp per L while the 5.0 makes 72 hp per L. This means that the 5.0 is under 30% less stress than the 3.5 on top of being de-rated by 80hp. How does this equate to the 5.0 being any less of an engine than the 3.5?

Wannafbody

Look at the dyno graphs of the 5.0 truck engine and the 5.0 Mustang engine. There is a reason why the truck doesn't make the power up top, it's most likely making more low to mid range torque.

5.0GN tow

I understand the tuning for torque and I get it. I have now pulled with this truck enough to know as far as the numbers go they are snagging the ratings. Logic and math applied when studying the charts makes that pretty plain especially when paired to the performance of trucks like mine at supposed max or 90%+ of max rated load. It literally tows the load so easily stops it well and handles the pin weight better than many of the mid 2000s and up 250s towing similar trailers. Guys have come up to me at shows and said my rig is making them consider getting a half ton. The rear sag on mine is nill it just gets to level where a lot of the 250s sag bad under loads.